Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha because it does belong to Rumiko Takahashi..the greatest mind on Earth!

Note: The genre of the story might change to drama/romance/horror when it comes to the 4th or 5th chapter, when Inu-Yasha appears. Also, there's going to be a surprise in this story.

Inu-Yasha: -grumbles because he wants to come into ths story already-

-last time-

"FATHER?!"

-this time-

The three looked in horror as they saw King Higarashi on the floor in a puddle of his own blood.

"Father!" Souta cried, rushing over to his side. He lifted his father's head and placed them on his knees, checking his pulse. "Thank god, he's still alive. But only barely..."

"We have to take him to the hospital!" Sango exclaimed, she and Miroku running over to Souta and helping him lift King Higarashi up. As Miroku and Souta held the King, Sango hurried outside and started the car. King Higarashi was put in the car and they sped off as fast as they could to the hospital.

---

Miroku, Sango, and Souta were now currently seated in the waiting room. Miroku was holding onto Sango, trying to convince her that everything would be all right. Souta was staring at the clock as if it was the most important thing in the world. They had been waiting for over an hour, and were really worried about King Higarashi. The doctors had told them that the king had taken poison and he had coughed up the blood that one the floor. They still remained waiting, praying that he was alright.

"You can come in now," the nurse said, poking her head out from the doors that let to the emergency hall. Miroku, Sango, and Souta got up and followed the nurse to King Higarashi's room without a word. They entered the room to see the man was covered in un-familiar tubes. The only sound was that of the machine beside him, showing his heart rate. Thankfully, it was at normal rate.

"Souta...Sango...Miroku..." King Higarashi struggled to be able to speak. Souta shook his head , his eyes filling up with tears, and sat down in the chair that was beside his father's bed.

"Father, what have you done to yourself?" Souta asked sadly, placing his hand on the king's. "Why did you take poison? Why did you attempt to commit suicide?" Miroku and Sango were silent. They didn't want to interrupt.

"I was in a great deal of pain. First I lost Kikyo, you're mother, and now Kagome. What next? I didn't want to lose you as well," he replied, still struggling. "So to end the suffering I wanted to die. Escape. Peace and rebirth it what waits for me above; but down here there's nothing for me."

"You're wrong," Souta said, smiling a bit. "You've still got me."

King Higarashi smiled back. "You are right. But I guess it's too late for me now."

His son started to frown again. "No, don't say that father! Please don't die."

"Son, I have to tell you something," the king said, squeezing Sota's hand into his. He looked over at Sango and Miroku. "I have to tell you all something."

"What father?"

"The reason why I have done all this."

FLASHBACK

Darkness swiftly made it's way over the island of Japan. It was edging ever so near towards Tokyo. King Higarashi, along with wife and his young daughter Kikyo, looked around fearfully. The youkais would come soon. They never expected this to happen so Tokyo was never prepared. No armies were formed to kill the youkais. Their darkest hour was near. King Higarashi had already warned everyone, telling them to hide in the safest place they could. Hopefully, nobody that was innocent would have their blood spilt. They could only hope.

The king and his family had taken shelter in their massive mansion. They hid in a secret passage way, a way that only the family knew. Nobody else knew.

"Daddy, are we going to be ok?" Kikyo asked, clutching onto her mother, her cat ears flattened in fear.

"Yes sweetie, I am sure we are will be fine," her father assured, yet he wasn't quite sure actually. The king looked at his wife. She smiled a smile that said that everything would be alright.

"We just have to pray," King Higarashi continued. "Just hope that everything will turn out good. If we do that, we will be OK."

Kikyo smiled. "Yes you're right! If we just think positive, nothing bad will happen!"

King Higarashi smiled back. The queen smiled again as well.

But, unfortunately, Kikyo had spoken too soon.

A scratching noise came from right above them, along with the roof giving in. A huge hole now appeared along with three giant youkais. The youkais snarled and growled, licking their lips, craving for the sweet taste of blood.

"Run!" King Higarashi yelled over to his daughter and wife. "Save yourselves!"

"No!" the queen cried. "I can't let you fight those youkais by yourself!"

"Neither can I!" Kikyo shouted bravely, stepping in front of her mother.

"GO!" the king yelled angrily. The queen and Kikyo knew that he wasn't joking; he wanted them out of their as quick as they could. The two nodded and ran. One of the youkais jumped at the king. King Higarashi swiped his fearsome claws at it, creating five large gashes on the youkai. It shouted in pain. The king suddenly noticed that the other two were gone. A scream was heard.

"Ah! Kikyo!" King Higarashi cried, running off to his daughter and wife. It was all a blur. The youkai had pinned his daughter to the ground. His wife was screaming and crying, begging for the youkai to not kill her. King Higarashi ran towards the youkai, ready to strike it.

"Stop! Or else I'll kill her instantly with one swipe!" the youkai warned. The king stopped and hissed deep in his throat. The youkai smiled and swiped at Kikyo without warning. The queen screams rocketed through the mansion. The king ran at the youkai as fast as he could.

Another scream, other than the queen's, was heard. Blood went flying.

"Huh?" Kikyo asked, feeling the warm liquid fall against her face. It wasn't hers. It was his. It was the youkai's. Kikyo retreated from under the youkai before it fell on her and collapsed into her mother's arms, sobbing. King Higarashi stared at the fallen youkai. Beside him was another youkai, but he looked like that of a human, except that he had pointy ears and a wolf tail. The other youkai looked over at the king.

"Are you all alright?" the youkai asked, smiling a toothy grin that showed off two fearsome fangs.

"Yes! Yes! Thanks to you!" King Higarashi thanked ever so gratefully. "What's your name, kind man.

"The name's Koga," he replied, still smiling. "My wolf tribe and I have been trying to wipe out those youkais, but they kept getting one step ahead of us. So we decided to come here so we'd be one step ahead of them. And don't worry, no one here is dead."

"Thank you mister Koga!" Kikyo cried, running over to the wolf youkai, hugging his leg. "You saved my life!"

"You saved all of our lives," the queen corrected. She smiled at Koga. "How can we ever repay you and your tribe?"

Koga looked down and Kikyo and unlatched her hands from his leg. Then he looked over at the king. "Can I talk to the king about it please?"

"Certainly," King Higarashi replied happily. Koga grinned.

"Great. Is there anywhere where private were we can talk?"

"Yes there is. Come with me."

The two walked out of the secret passage way and up the stairs of the mansion to the second floor. They walked down a long, narrow hallway and to a door that was at the very end of it. King Higarashi opened the door and invited Koga inside. It was a study room. They both sat down in two large chairs.

"So, Koga," King Higarashi started, leaning backwards to get himself comfortable. "What can we ever do to repay you and your tribe for saving us all? We'll give you anything."

Koga grinned lazily. The king frowned when he thought he had seen a flash of lust go through the wolf youkai's eyes.

"Mates."

"Beg pardon?"

"Mates," Koga repeated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Going around all the time, we don't ever meet any girls to become our mates. But- Oh yes, I have to ask you something. Is Kikyo you're only daughter?"

"Yes," King Higarashi replied, not really liking where this was going.

"Well, here's what I want. The only youkais in our group that needs mates is the leaders. For example, me. There's different little parts in our tribe, and they all have leaders, but I'm the main one. So, here's what I was thinking. Every daughter you have, when she reaches the age of 18, will become one of the leader's slave," Koga explained.

"Slaves?!" the king repeated in horror. "But a minute ago who were just saying mates!"

"Yeah, well, I changed my mind in that minute," Koga replied blandly. "And you said anything. By the law of rule, if someone does a good deed and the king and/or queen says that they'll give them anything, that means anything." King Higarashi could feel the blood draining from his face. That was true. He looked up sheepishly at the wolf youkai.

"But what if we don't plan on having any more children?" he asked quietly. Koga snarled.

"We know where the other parts of that youkai tribe that attacked here lived. We can get them and say that you killed all the others. Plain and simple. So, do we have a deal?"

King Higarashi thought about this for a moment. If he didn't accept, not only his family but the whole kingdom's life would be on the line. The king looked into Koga's eyes and shook the wolf youkai's hand. "Deal."

END OF FLASHBACK

King Higarashi was completely out of breath after telling that story. Souta and the others were wide-eyed, but thankful that they finally understood that the king was doing this for everyone's life.

"Oh father," Souta said, his and his father's hand still intertwined. "Now that I know why, I'm so sorry I yelled at you and said I hated you. Even though I don't think that an apology would even quite cover it."

"No son. Don't apologize. I'm a fool for saying I'd give him anything," his father replied. The king looked at all of them deeply in the eyes. "Promise me one thing. Promise me that you'll dedicate you're time to finding Kagome and saving her from Koga. Promise me that you'll tell her that I love her." He closed his eyes.

"Please, father, don't die!" Souta begged. His father's clutch on his hand loosened. The machine's beeping slowed down. The line on it went straight. There was silence now. Souta sobbed into his father's chest, while Sango sobbed into Miroku's. Once the crying died down, Souta looked over at Sango and Miroku with a determined look on his face. The last thing he said before they left the hospital was,

"We have to fulfill the king's last wish."

MUHAHAHAHAHAHA! That was so sad...again -sighz- I don't know where I got that whole idea...I just really hope you all like it!

TeArS oF gLaSs: Um..no not really. I hope this clears it up. Thanks for commenting anyway