-Father Knows Best-
The next morning, the group trudged away from the Musashi Province in silence, Kaede had passed just as the sun made it to the sky. As they went the entire village had crowded around Kaede's home to say their goodbyes, though the villagers would help Kagome and Inuyasha take care of things Aya still felt badly for leaving. She could sense Kagome's pain and stress, not only did she lose a close companion but now she would have to take her place.
So much to do in such a stressful time.
Aya sighs wrapping her arms around her body, the further she got away from the Musashi Province the better she felt, a dark energy had settled over the place and shadow's danced even in the light.
Somehow darkened by Uryen's essence.
Aya looks at her hands now.
Was I like that as well, darkened by the influence.
But…I never felt it.
Aya glances back at Sesshomaru who walked behind her with Jaken, she sighs looking at the ground ahead. Sesshomaru didn't speak much, not since the night before. She sighs again this time smiling to herself, when did he ever speak much? Jaken scurried behind him struggling to keep up with Aya and Sesshomaru's long strides.
I wonder what it is this Kiyoza knows, and why am I just finding out about him?
She pauses waiting for Sesshomaru to catch up, he stops a bit ahead of her turning his head in her direction.
"Sesshomaru, what do you know of this Kiyoza?" She asks walking next to him, he looks ahead through the trees before beginning to walk again.
"We're being watched." He mutters gently, Aya rubs her arms again looking about at the trees.
"How do you know?" She asks rushing to catch up to him, he looks up with a sneer.
"I smell decay and sulfur, what Uryen reeks of."
Aya touches her nose, it hadn't been the same since she'd gotten sick but every day she woke up feeling a little better than before.
"Is it him," she whispers flitting her gaze from tree top to tree top, Sesshomaru shakes his head.
"I cannot be sure, that is why I haven't acted yet." He says looking down at her, she nods to him.
"How long has it been following us?" She asks looking about, he looks over his shoulder at Jaken who watched them with a raised brow.
"Since we left Kaede's village."
Aya bites her lip nodding to herself, it probably had been watching before then even.
"Are you afraid?" He mutters in a low raspy voice, she looks at him with a small smile.
"I'm not afraid of whatever it may be but I am afraid of how far this will go," she says, " how many more people will die and how many more will be hurt?"
Sesshomaru nods.
Aya looks ahead again.
"Looks like the honeymoon is over huh?" She whispers to him, he shakes his head.
"We will get this over with and go home after…it hadn't truly begun in the first place." He says.
Aya nods.
That's pretty true….
"If only the toad weren't here," she whispers putting her hand to his chest, "we could have taken a break."
Sesshomaru cocks his head looking down at her hand, Aya gives him a devilish grin making him look away with slight amusement.
"Nothing satisfies you." He mutters.
Aya raises a brow and he smirks, she smiles burying her face in the fur of his tail, she nuzzles close to him and he grabs her arms, she looks up at him smiling, he pulls her closer but she puts her hand between their faces.
"Not now," she whispers, " it's watching."
He looks around again giving her time to slink away.
"When we get to the next town my lord," she croons, he looks at her then Jaken who watched the trees as though he'd seen something.
"What is wrong Jaken?" Sesshomaru asks shocking Jaken out of his search, Jaken shrugs.
"I thought I saw something Mi'lord." Jaken says.
Sesshomaru growls up at the trees before turning to quickly catch up to Aya who walked at the distance examining her nails just as he goes to speak a royal blue carriage comes flying past them, Aya gasps when Sesshomaru grabs her yanking her out of the way. She falls into him blowing her hair out of her face.
"Sesshomaru…-" she starts but a young man running past brings her annoyance to an abrupt end, she stands straight watching as the carriage flies over a hill, the man screams before lunging for it and tumbling down the hill as well. Aya looks up at Sesshomaru before running over to the hill, she gasps clapping her hands.
"Look!" She calls excitedly.
Sesshomaru walks over scoffing when he sees what caused her excitement.
The town was draped and blue and white and little girls ran down the streets painted and primped.
"The Winter Festival." Aya breathes folding her arms.
Jaken walks over scoffing.
"You are excited over a stupid human festival?"
Sesshomaru glares down at him and he turns away covering his mouth.
Aya grabs Sesshomaru's hand pulling him toward the village, he pauses and she sighs.
"This is on our way to Kiyoza…right?" She asks raising a brow, he looks away nodding.
"Then let's go!" She exclaims pulling him along.
It's been a long time.
"I remember the last time I went to one of these, it was just before Mio's 14th birthday" she says smiling, " We were the only ones to come because everyone else at home had something to do."
She smiles when she sees paper ice flakes being hung about by the children of the town.
The Winter Festival, well it can't be called THE Winter festival exactly, the different provinces has theirs at different times. This day is used to celebrate the season and to welcome in good spirits for the next year when spring comes.
Aya pauses at a booth where a large group of men steamed large batches of clams, Aya smiles up at Sesshomaru who quirks a brow.
"You know what they symbolize right," she asks looking at the tightly closed shells, he nods.
"Usually, in festival it is shared by couple's to symbolize the two halves of one whole." He mutters.
Aya smiles hugging his arm, he sighs.
"Have you ever been to one?" She asks looking up at him, he shakes his head.
"No, unlike you I am not interested in human affairs." He says looking down at her, Aya frowns and he smirks looking ahead.
"Of course I have to take interest now." He says as she begins pulling him away from the booth, she cocks her head and he sighs.
"You are my mate," he mutters dragging her closer, "your interest matter to me."
Aya blushes lightly while nodding her head.
Aw, how sweet of him.
Who would have thought?!
She grabs his hand when she catches sight of another booth, an old woman sat surrounded by kimonos of all colors. Aya bats her lashes up at Sesshomaru as she begins to drag him over to the booth, he sighs.
"Aya-."
She shushes him before leaning into the booth to get a better look at the kimono's, the woman seems to shrink away a bit but Aya takes no notice, the woman gasps when she looks up at Sesshomaru.
"It is the Lord Sesshomaru." She gasps bowing her head, Aya looks back at Sesshomaru who paid the woman no mind at all, she shakes her head looking back at the lineup. She gasps when she sees one of her liking, she points up at a long midnight blue one with a black obi.
"I want that one!"
Much to Aya's annoyance Sesshomaru doesn't even move to get a better look, she squeezes his hand and he looks at her then the kimono.
"How much?" He asks in a deadened tone, Aya kisses him on the cheek as he moves to go into his top, the women smiles up at the kimono.
"This one is special to me, it was made by my sister…I'm just getting the courage to sell it."
"How much?" Sesshomaru asks again, the lady sighs.
"59 Gold coins." She says nodding, Aya purses her lips.
I wouldn't be surprised if she hiked the price for Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru drops the gold onto the booth counter, the woman smiles scooping it into a large jar, Sesshomaru nods to Aya who holds her arms out for the kimono; the woman grabs it holding it for a moment before giving it to Aya.
"Take good care of it." The woman sighs, Aya nods pulling Sesshomaru away again.
"Well I'm gonna change right away," Aya whispers looking at the kimono, "isn't it beautiful?"
Sesshomaru snorts and she pouts.
"Aw don't be angry," she moans, "we're leaving now."
She raises her brow up at him when he glares down at her.
"Are you changing now?" He asks looking aside, she nods.
"Where?"
Aya shrugs looking about but Sesshomaru grabs her arm pulling her toward the woods again.
"Where are we going?" She asks looking back the little human children playing; he ignores her dragging her quietly along the trail away from the village. Jaken trailed behind them with a small smile on his face.
"Perhaps he has realized his mistake." Jaken whispers smiling even more.
"Jaken, you stay we will return." Sesshomaru mutters back to him, Aya raises a brow looking back at Jaken who know watched them with confusion.
"It has left." Sesshomaru says.
Aya searches the trees with her eyes, nothing out of the ordinary.
"So…what is this about?" She asks nodding down to his hand on her arm, he smirks making her eyes widen in shock.
"What are you up to," she gasps trying to pull away, "everyone knows you don't smile.
Sesshomaru's smirk falls and he turns his hardened gaze on her, she raises a brow and he scoffs, Aya goes to pull away but he suddenly tosses her over his shoulder walking her even further into the woods.
"What are you doing!?" She screams pushing at his shoulders.
She goes to kick at him but a low growl brings her struggling to an end, Aya pouts.
"You know…you're lucky I love you or…I would really hurt you right now." She sighs watching the ground below her.
"I love you as well."
Aya frowns.
"Really, so tell me what you're doing or lose your ability to bring heirs into this world…which would cause us to separate because I must spread my genes to the world." She sighs rolling her eyes.
"That is what I plan on doing right now."
Aya gulps when a fluttery feeling moves through her stomach, the feeling of anticipation, she smiles.
"I should have known." She whispers.
Sesshomaru drops Aya on her feet in front of a large spring; she folds her arms shaking her head.
"Sesshomaru, you are something." She mutters when he begins kissing her neck, he kisses the bare side before making his way over to her mating mark; she closes her eyes now gripping his arms as they move around her.
We're about to do this in the woods…I like it.
Aya sighs when he suddenly moves away from her neck, she turns to him smiling but he wore a grim expression.
"What's wrong?" Aya asks gripping his face.
"Someone is here." He growls pulling her closer; Aya turns to the spring looking for any signs of another person.
"Aya Yuta," she hears someone breathe, Sesshomaru draws his sword at the sound of the other person, a man.
"Whose there?" She mutters looking about, she gasps when she feels the presence now from her right side to her left, Sesshomaru pulls her in back of him but she pushes forward so that she could be in the front line as well.
"I come to those who search for me…it is easier that way," comes his reply.
Aya bites her lip looking at Sesshomaru who sneers at the steamy spring before them.
"Are you…Kiyoza?" She whispers bringing her hand to her katana just in case.
"I am."
Aya breathes a sigh of relief but she keeps her hand on the katana, she pushes her hair out of her face as she moves closer to the spring.
"You-."
"I haven't seen you in a long-long time." He mutters cutting her off, Aya looks back at Sesshomaru who looked a little calmer but his eyes still glowed with aggression.
Aya gasps when a large figure moves toward her through the mist, the man before her was tall, even taller than Sesshomaru his image more imposing, he had the darkest eyes Aya had ever seen and his hair glowed a bright burgundy. He had the look of a younger demon but his age showed in his eyes, he had many more years than Aya, more years than she could dream of.
"I've searched for you young one." He whispers moving closer to her, Sesshomaru growls but Aya stands in her place, Kiyoza frowns putting a large calloused hand to the top of her head.
"After not finding you…I assumed you were dead."
Aya shudders when his eyes meet her own, he smirks bringing a hand to her chin tilting her head this way and that way.
Such strength…and age…not even my father had this kind of power.
"Mai…you are her spitting image." He mutters dropping his hand, Aya smiles looking down.
"Hiro would be proud…you seem to have taken good care of yourself." He says folding his arms.
"You knew…my father?" Aya breathes looking up at him.
"Of course I did, he was my student…and my annoyance." He mutters smiling, Aya looks back at Sesshomaru who still looked a bit wound up.
Aya looks him over frowning when she catches the sight of a dark splotch of blood on his chest, she looks up at him but he shakes his head.
"I met with a small shadow demon…it tried to kill me…it was too weak though." He breathes Aya gasps.
The imposter….
"It managed to slink away when I wasn't looking." He growls.
He smirks.
"This is how I knew you were coming, it told me…and then it attacked…it did not want us to meet."
Maybe that's what's been following us…but it was too afraid to attack directly.
Kiyoza looks at Sesshomaru before jerking his head toward the spring.
"Come, my home is not far from here."
Aya nods turning to Sesshomaru who shakes his head.
"I will get Jaken, you go." He says turning away.
Aya frowns but Kiyoza nods.
"Good, what I need to speak to her about is very personal." Kiyoza says walking around the spring, Aya shakes her head.
"But…he's my-."
"I can smell that…." Kiyoza mutters wryly.
Aya folds her arms prepared to argue Sesshomaru into submission but he shakes his head walking away, she sighs.
Maybe I'm just stupid…but half of the things other demon's do make little to no sense to me.
Aya turns hesitantly to Kiyoza before following behind him, she sighs folding her arms.
"You were…not even a year when I last saw you." Kiyoza mutters back at her, she looks up nodding.
"Your father didn't like for you to be around me…we were into dangerous affairs…he didn't want you any more involved than you already were."
Aya quirks a brow and he nods.
"But he told me that if anything happened to him while I still lived I was to make sure of your safety…I thought I had failed." He says.
Soon they make it to a grassy clearing; he grabs her arm pulling her toward a cave before them.
"I can feel it on you." He whispers glancing at her, she frowns.
"Feel what?" She whispers leaning toward him, he pulls her into the cave leading her in deep.
"The Hikari No Ishi."
"What is that?" She asks gripping his arm.
"Close your eyes." He whispers, she frowns but he brings her hands to her eyes, Aya grimaces when she hears a loud whooshing noise move through the cave.
"Open them."
Aya opens her eyes gasping when she sees the cave all lit up with torches.
"H-How…." She stutters, he smiles.
"Practice." He says sitting in the middle of the cave, Aya looks around before following him.
"I thought that you lived in mountains to the North." She mutters, he nods.
"I do, but I like to move around as well…I have many homes." He says smiling.
Aya nods looking down at her hands, he sighs.
"Uryen…he is alive and well?"
She nods again, he shakes his head standing.
"Your father…he fought Uryen for a long time. Uryen was a destroyer of life and light…he even destroyed Hiro's first mate…the mother of your older brother." Kiyoza says shaking his head.
"We both fought him…and lost a lot…but…one day your father came to me with a plan," he whispers, "he wanted to find the Hikari No Ishi the stone of light to use against Uryen the king of darkness."
"He found it." Aya says nodding, he smiles.
"He did…though I badgered him about its existence…no one believed in it anymore…but he somehow managed to get it…something he'd never tell me how he did…."
Aya smiles lightly looking down, Kiyoza turns to her his face darkening.
"He put Uryen away with the help of a Miko…but somehow he was released." He grunts, Aya's small falls.
"Something Kize did," she whispers, "it's the only way he could have come into possession of his body."
"Your brother's body?"
Aya nods again this time with sadness in her eyes, she sighs looking at the top of the cave.
"He uses my brother's body." She whispers in a thick tear filled voice, Kiyoza turns away muttering quickly to himself before turning to her again.
"He took them all away…and now he wants you."
Aya nods wiping away premature tears, Kiyoza sighs falling before her.
"You are lucky to be alive; your father has taken care of you even in death." He mutters. Aya looks him in the eye and he nods.
"But how…what do you mean?" She says leaning toward him.
"You possess the Hikari No Ishi…I can feel its presence on you…the very same presence that your father held when he carried it." He mutters.
Aya shakes her head furiously, she had no stone.
"And that must be what Uryen wants from you; he wants to rid the world of it so that no one can oppose him ever again." Kiyoya growls, Aya holds up her hands shaking her head.
"I don't have it!"
"Were you ever attacked by him?"
Aya nods.
"Yes but-."
"Did his attack have an effect on you?"
"Y-."
"And yet you are here…you live…you are not sick nor dying…even I attacked by a shadow feel batter now that I am around you." He says nodding.
What is this guy not understanding!
"Something you carry…it holds the Hikari No Ishi…maybe not in its entirety because its essence is weak but you hold it somehow."
Aya looks at her body, it couldn't' be the Katana she'd gotten than in Yurime…she takes her fans from her side holding them out to him but he shakes his head.
"It is not there."
Aya shrugs.
"Then I don't know where it could be." She says throwing her arms up but the sound of a familiar jingle brings her to an abrupt halt.
Could it…
"Father…."
Hiro shakes his head walking past her, Aya looks away saying: I'm sorry, Hiro pauses at the mouth of the hallway saying: we must talk, Aya sighs following him to his study.
"Have a seat Aya." He mutters pointing her to the seat across the desk from his own, she shakily falls into the seat, he sits as well looking at her with harsh eyes, she takes a deep breath before going into a long tale of how she missed him and how sorry she was but he shakes his head brushing her words aside.
"But father…." She moans, he holds up his hand.
"Aya, you are so reckless." He says sending her head plummeting down and her chin to her chest.
"Nothing I do is enough…nothing I say you listen to…nothing!"
He stands now making her shrink away.
"Aya, everything I have done has been for you and your siblings…but you unlike the other's seem to despise that."
Aya pulls her feet into the chair turning away from him, he sighs.
"Even now…you fight my words."
Hiro leans against the desk now watching her with a softer gaze.
"You are my first daughter, my heart I only want the best for you."
She sniffles into her kimono before looking up at him.
"And I love you father…no matter who I may meet you are my first love."
Hiro sighs and she goes back to her crying, he goes behind his desk taking out a small brown box before walking it around the table and placing it before her, she looks up at the box and then him with confusion, he smiles opening it. She gasps seeing a dozen golden bangles.
"I had them made for you and Mio, their very special Aya take care of them." He whispers. Aya stands now peering hungrily at the bangles, she looks at him smiling.
"Oh thank you father!"
She hugs him and he sighs.
"I've spoiled you," he mutters and she nuzzles closer to him.
Aya looks at the four golden bangles on her wrist; she brings her wrist to her breasts as she feels tears well up in her eyes again.
"He…gave it…to m-me?"
I always thought he didn't trust me….
"H-He…-"
Aya never finishes her sentence before she begins to bawl.
"He melded it into your bangles…smart." Kiyoza mutters looking at her wrist, she nods wiping away her tears.
"But that is not all of it…is it?"
No, I gave one to Rin…and the other six went to Mio…but…what about….
"He gave each of us six…but…I'm missing one." She says looking at her wrists, Kiyoza frowns.
Aya stands now, she begins to wrack her brain for an answer but nothing, she didn't remember giving anyone else a bangle or losing one.
As a matter of a fact, I had it when we left Yurime for the castle…I counted to make sure that I hadn't lost any of them.
Aya moans grabbing her head, Kiyoza stands grabbing her wrist, she looks at him and he nods to her.
"Focus on getting the other six for now." He says removing his hand, she nods.
That means…I have to go back home….
Aya and Kiyoza turn when the sound of footsteps sounds against the ground of the cave, Sesshomaru appears followed by Jaken.
"That shadow was around…I took care of it." Sesshomaru mutters, Aya smiles nodding.
"So…we know how we are to deal with Uyren now." Kiyoza mutters, Aya nods.
"We get the rest of the bangles and when the time comes…we attack."
Sesshomaru frowns when Aya grabs his hand.
"Sesshomaru, we are going to have to split for now-."
He shakes his head making Aya sigh.
"We have to…you have to go to Rin and my bangle from her…and I have to go home to get the others." She whispers shaking her head, Sesshomaru narrows his eyes.
"Your home is with me." He mutters making Aya smile.
"Yes…but…I have to go and say goodbye…and to make things right."
Sesshomaru glares at Kiyoza now as if blaming him for this sudden shift in Aya's plans but Aya grabs his face.
"I'm serious." She whispers looking him in the eye.
Sesshomaru turns away, not admitting defeat but accepting it.
"Jaken, you go with her…she may need you for…something…." Sesshomaru mutters down at Jaken who sighs nodding his head, Aya turns to Kiyoza who watched them silently.
"What about you…what will you do?" She asks, he smiles.
"I'm going to keep an eye out for his castle…I do remember where it was but it's a little hazy."
Aya nods.
Here goes….
Next Chapter: Until We Meet Again Mio