Chapter 8-A change of past
Total Disclaimage!
In the past, they'd made excellent time heading to the village, but they'd had to camp. No choice. That meant a small grove near a hot spring that Inuyasha checked carefully.
"Crap," he frowned as he looked at the lay of the land. All of these people to look after, deep in a wood that was likely crawling with trouble too.
"What? Is there a problem?" Miroku asked.
"No. This is just a little too familiar is all, bonzu. It's been awhile, but I remember," Inuyasha admitted with a grin that the monk returned.
"I can imagine," Miroku smiled. The hanyou glanced at his sons.
"Wood, water. Don't wander off too far, I ain't hunting for you two idiots." Nods as they set the bags down, Akiyoshi grinning around.
"Give you a hand with the fishing afterward, Father?"
"Sure," he nodded.
"Thank you," Kagome told them as they collected the water bottles.
"No trouble," Ichiro answered.
They let the women bathe first, and they came back and started supper with the fish Akiyoshi and Inuyasha caught, letting the guys head for the spring to clean up.
"What odd er-I've never seen such symbols. Do they have a purpose?" Miroku asked, looking at Akiyoshi's tattoos.
"Hm? Just decorative, Miroku. Like them? They're quite popular at home, I had to have mine done magically though. I regenerate," he explained.
"No one made you!" Ichiro laughed.
"Keh. Still hurt," Inuyasha snorted as he relaxed. At Miroku's questioning look, he grinned and showed him his back. His right shoulder was tattooed. A scrollwork box framing the name 'Kagome' in elegant kanji.
"I...don't think I'll mention that. She's already disturbed enough," the monk commented.
"Good idea. She's doing alright though. Kagome's always been able to roll with stuff," Inuyasha noted affectionately, eyes flicking to the camp. There were so many things Miroku wanted to ask. But he contented himself with a comment.
"I look forward to speaking to her older self when she returns. When she came into camp-it was quite remarkable."
"You knew when she dropped the Shard off?" Inuyasha's eyes widened. Kagome hadn't said! Not having gone back through the well-he didn't yet remember as she had.
"I guessed. Kagome of now and Sango don't know, but even a Yoda like herself could not fool me. Ichiro didn't say what that was, though I assume it is a title of great prestige to your time," Miroku commented with a modest smile.
There was silence. Inuyasha considered-and swatted Ichiro across the back of the head.
"Ow! Figure of speech!" Ichiro mumbled as both hanyou glared at him.
It wasn't long before they were settled in and eating. Akiyoshi and Ichiro were both intrigued by the entire mission. They were going to do something rather backwards to their minds, after all. Help humans-against youkai. Even Ichiro, a human himself, thought it was slightly weird.
Kagome for her part noticed...she was being watched. Akiyoshi kept glancing covertly at her as Ichiro went over her math homework by the fire. She shyly returned the favor. Ichiro's little brother, a hanyou, but an archer. No fang blade. Quieter, calmer and more formal seeming than his brother really, not at all like Inuyasha save for looks. He sort of reminded Kagome of Sesshomaru.
'A true hanyou, with the soul of a powerful monk.' Midoriko's description of him. While it disturbed and worried her, if Akiyoshi knew any of that, he'd take it as a compliment.
"Since we're likely to be going into battle, Akiyoshi, we need to know what you can do," Sango told him finally over supper. He nodded.
"Of course. I'm an archer as you know, Sango. Regeneration, speed, strength. I've got the same claw power as our father, and I'm pretty good with tracking and the chain scythe." Sango's face became shadowed for a moment. Kohaku's weapon. But she nodded, leaning back a bit as she listened.
"Useful. Yet I do not sense any powerful magic in your bow or arrows, Akiyoshi," Miroku commented thoughtfully. Did he er...need them to control his blood?
"No. I use youkai made items, but no magic arrows or whatnot. If I can see it, I can generally hit it. No need for any magic."
"He ain't half bad, Sango. Just stay out of the way, and look after your brother, Aki," his father admonished. He nodded.
"So, what exactly is the procedure here?" Ichiro asked as he ate.
"Procedure?" Kagome asked, confused.
"Sure. This is rather new to us, so what exactly do we do once we arrive at this village? What happens?" Akiyoshi replied.
"Well, we'll hunt the youkai and either kill it or drive it off, then we are paid or receive something in trade for it, like lodgings," Sango answered.
"Interesting," Akiyoshi just nodded.
"Do you get paid much? What is scale for this?" Ichiro asked.
"Scale?" Sango blinked.
"He means what you usually earn, Sango," Kagome explained, and the woman nodded.
"Ah. It depends on the job. It's not a bad living, really. We manage fairly well."
"But of course, if you two might have some funds to contribute as we journey, why, I would be happy to add it to what little we have," Miroku offered cheerfully.
"So-you do spend money on occasion, Miroku? That isn't what I heard from some rather irate villagers when I was looking for Ichiro," Akiyoshi asked with disapproval.
"We should get some sleep," Inuyasha interrupted quickly, and Ichiro looked confused.
"What do you mean?" Ichiro asked.
"Tell you later," Aki whispered.
"Sleep!" Inuyasha barked. He sighed as they did. If that got out...the boys would never respect him again.
When they arrived at the village, they found they were definitely needed. It seemed that a lynx youkai was loose in the area and had been coming in to attack them at night, killing several and injuring others. But Inuyasha was frowning slightly...this was sort of-familiar? Mostly, but he'd seen so many villages over the years.
"Four villagers have died, many are hurt. Terrible! So terrible!" Etsuo, the headman and a sad, rabbity looking fellow, wrung his hands as he sighed.
"I see. There was just the one?" Miroku asked.
"Yes. Terrible."
"Hm. We'll take it, no trouble," Inuyasha nodded, still frowning. Familiar.
But both Ichiro and Kagome glanced towards the east of the village. They looked at each other and she nodded to him.
"um..." Kagome began.
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked.
"Go ahead." She nudged Ichiro, and he gulped.
"Don't tell me. Please don't tell me?" his father asked, but the man nodded.
"I-we sense a Shard. That way, faint to me."
"It's a ways off, Inuyasha," Kagome agreed. The older hanyou's face cleared. Lynx, a Shard. So, that was why he remembered this! But if this was then...oh, crap.
"Of course! Shit, I remember now. It's a trap," Inuyasha said flatly.
"Trap??" All of them said it at once.
"Yeah. Naraku gave the lynx a Shard to control it..." he thought hard, "to try and lure us into a trap. It's the leader of the local Clan, they'll all jump us when we go after it. Samiyousho took it afterwards, so assume either they or old Kanna are watching us now." They were all stunned. But then it was history to him, so of course he would remember what happened.
"Clever. But if we know the shape of it, perhaps we can use it," Miroku suggested.
"A pity we don't have Rinao. Her poison's quite effective against them," Akiyoshi noted. Inuyasha frowned.
"Hm. I'd rather not kill the lynx if we don't have to."
"Don't have to?! It killed my villagers!" the headman shouted.
"They've lived here for centuries without bothering you people, and if not for Naraku they'd have left you alone forever. He killed them-not his current puppet, little man. Be quiet!" Inuyasha snapped, fangs baring. The man backed away with a gasp.
"Taking the side of such monsters, I suppose I can expect no less from-"
"You were saying?" Akiyoshi asked coldly...flexing his claws. Etsuo-fled.
"Humans. Fucking typical," Inuyasha scowled and caught Ichiro's uncomfortable expression. "Not all, kid. Just too damned many of 'em."
"I know, Dad," he answered. Such moments always put Ichiro in a quandary-he was a mortal, but the truth was that youkai had to live in the Hidden World because of humans. Even if they meant no harm to anyone, they'd had no choice but to go underground and hide themselves away to survive.
Whenever it came up, Ichiro always felt vaguely guilty.
"Alright. Let's do some planning-Aki, keep a nose out for the bugs. Naraku's the fucking roadrunner and I ain't going to run off a damned cliff this time around." At that, there were puzzled nods...and Kagome actually twitched at the reference coming out of the hanyou's mouth. A shrug, and they started to plan. It turned out Sango had to mix up some herbs to make it work.
So it was that Inuyasha and Miroku stood near the trail the lynx was using to get to the humans, waiting.
Akiyoshi and Kagome were on either side behind cover with drawn bows-but the lynx was not the intended target. Samiyousho were. Sango was with Ichiro behind and above the archers in reserve on Kirara. Her job would be to keep it busy and protect the human. He clutched a dozen small pouches of fine powder, careful to keep them closed tight for the neko's sake.
"You really think this will work?" the monk asked softly. It was...not Inuyasha's style at all. Not the one he knew, anyways. The plan was to hit it with binders and subdue it, then remove the Shard and take it from there. Strategy was such a pleasant change Miroku actually felt rather relaxed about the battle.
"Why not?" Inuyasha asked, tying a scarf around his nose and mouth as the sun set...and crashing was heard coming closer.
Big. It was very big when it burst from the brush. Very animal like, furred and tailed, fangs glistening. He drew Tetsusaiga, it's dragon scale oddly glittering.
"SANGO! NOW!"
"Ofuda!" Miroku threw the papers-missing as it twisted.
"We're on it!" Sango barked, Kirara diving closer. The tajiya's hiraikotsu was flung to slam into the youkai. It stuck true with a heavy thud of impact.
"YOU DARE?! I will eat all of you!" the lynx roared, claws flailing as it staggered. Ichiro threw half of his pouches down as Kirara flew past it.
They burst open, spraying small clouds of ashen salt and repellent herbs all around the youkai. Inuyasha's eyes watered, but he leapt without hesitation, slamming his shoulder into the screaming lynx and knocking it down as Kirara circled for another pass.
The dazed youkai was hit with several ofuda. Miroku's hand lifted as he concentrated, and it was bound in place at last. A small groan could be heard so Kagome stood up, relaxing her string.
"Stay down!" Akiyoshi hissed.
"But-"
"Samiyousho. Keep an eye out! Ichiro's going to do it."
"Oh."
"I need Ichiro!" Inuyasha yelled as he approached the youkai, his voice slightly muffled behind the scarf. Kirara landed behind him as he glared at the fallen youkai and pointed Tetsusaiga at it's face.
"Coming, Dad!"
"You. Lynx. Yield the Shard or die!"
"N..never...damned coff half hack breed!" the creature hissed, eyes watering.
"It...um...I see it. It's in his throat," Ichiro offered, holding a reserve bag ready.
"Shame. I didn't want to do this. Miroku, go ahead," Inuyasha said sadly, and faced the woods. The monk blinked, and nodded. He realized his friend had indeed changed much, the old Inuyasha would never have handled the situation like that.
"Bastards..." a groan from the lynx. The staff swung-and he died, leaving a pile of dust with a dark glowing Shard. As he did, hissing was heard from the woods. Angry sounding. Miroku realized what the older hanyou planned, and his jaw dropped.
"KAZE NO KIZU!" Four of them. In waves, ripping into the woods...Inuyasha was protecting his children, and the woman who would bear them-he would offer the enemy no opportunity to harm them in battle.
There were no more hisses as Akiyoshi suddenly fired. A buzzing impossible to hear-but he had seen the flicker of the Samiyousho as it used the distraction to take the Shard back. It was ripped in two.
"Got it," Akiyoshi had another arrow across his bow.
"Wow," Kagome breathed. No injuries, no real battle. It was done just like that!
"Ichiro. We need to know if you can do more then see them," Inuyasha instructed as he sheathed the sword and looked as his gulping son. Who licked his lips at the sight of his first truly black Shard. It was black even to normal sight, for the Kami's sake.
"That thing looks like pure evil," Ichiro said, crouching to stare at it.
"Quit stalling!" Inuyasha barked.
"He's right. Don't think about it. Midoriko called you a Jewelguardian, Ichiro-and I believe you can do it," Kagome said as she came forward now to smile at him.
Sure he could. Ichiro had the same worry his mother had, one he didn't know about. Ichiro knew he was anything but a virtuous maiden miko as she had been...alright, was. He was a grown man, sired by a youkai, married and mated to a youkai, hardly innocent-was he pure enough in spirit to do this? Only one way to know. He reached out slowly with a fingertip, trying not to recall centuries of jokes about his general uselessness to his family in anything remotely magical.
The human didn't notice two clawed hands going for sleeves as the same idea struck.
It turned clear under his touch as a bright light hit his eyes. Ichiro didn't notice as he picked up and stared at the little fragment in wonder. Hitting Kouga had been out of anger and inadvertent. This was his first official priestly type act.
"Ok, that was pretty cool right there," he admitted with a relieved grin. There was another flash! Two, damn it!
"I got the better angle," Akiyoshi commented.
"Feh. I got the action shot, and I bet the better shot of the Shard in his hand." They both lowered the cameras and checked digital displays in the dim light. Ichiro's jaw dropped.
"You-you weren't ready to help me if it hurt me? You got out cameras?!" Ichiro yelled, relief turning to fury.
"Thought Ayame would like to see it. I figured you'd handle it ok, and look-another Jewelguardian right there if you didn't," Akiyoshi answered with a shrug.
"Sure," Inuyasha agreed.
"Ohhhh, you are getting it for that! I can purify now, little brother. Remember that?" Ichiro snarled. Akiyoshi's eyes widened as their father beamed and whacked Ichiro on the back, making him stagger slightly from the force of it.
"Good job, now let's finish the clean up and eat," Inuyasha told them proudly. Ichiro turned to offer Kagome the now pure Shard. She shook her head.
"Maybe Ichiro should carry it. Mine are all green, and he did purify it," she suggested kindly, and he looked flustered.
"I'll need to put it somewhere..." he rummaged in his pockets, and tucked it into his wallet for now.
"Do not lose that," his father instructed as they found he'd gotten the other lynx, finished sealing the remains, and headed back.
"I won't," Ichiro promised. A Jewelguardian. He...was now a Jewelguardian, complete with a piece of the Jewel to protect. He supposed he ought to feel proud.
He found he felt scared to death, and he wanted a drink. Maybe two.
Author's notes-Ok! This one was more of a polish job than a straight up rewrite, it should read much better and more smoothly. Now, Ichiro has gotten a Shard of his very own. Inuyasha's not the kid they know anymore. Things have changed already. More to come next time! Thanks for reading!-Namiyo