Another fast update! Okay, this chapter is different from the others. It has flashbacks from InuYasha's birth and then the current storyline. For the sake of getting this show on the road, I own nothing except my own personal characters. Oh yes. And while I was editing this, the editer messed with the formating so I apologize if it is odd looking. (Flashbacks are supposed to be in italics and present in regular, I'm referring to stuff that is supposed to be centered.)
Chapter 11
Past and Present
December, 15th Century Japan
It was nearly midnight. Snow fell gently to the ground and glittered in the full moon. A small temple could be seen in the valley surrounded by mountains and forests. Fires and lamps burned inside and around the large temple. A few guards and monks stood in the courtyard.
Inside, a young woman sat in her quarters, listening to the soft chatter of her maids. The woman turned her soft brown eyes down to her rounded belly. A soft smile graced her lips as her hand danced over her extended belly. She began to hum quietly; the chattering behind her paused.
"Mi'Lady, are you well?" One of the maids, Ana, asked. The woman in question stopped her humming. She gently brushed a strand of her black hair behind her slender ear.
"Yes, Ana. Thank you for your concern." She returned to stroking her belly.
The three maids gathered closer to their lady. "It should be any day now." Another maid, Cho, alleged.
"What do you wish it to be, m'Lady?" Ima asked her. Their mistress looked thoughtfully towards the full moon.
"A little girl would be nice." She whispered. Her maids giggled.
"I just love playing with baby girls! They are so cute in their tiny kimonos!" Cho gushed. Their mistress looked sadly over at Cho. Cho was a small woman, her short black hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her uncommon sapphire eyes flashed happily.
The mistress frowned lightly. "However, a girl is such a pitiful thing to be born as." Cho stopped giggling. Ana reached a hand out and placed it understandingly on her lady's shoulder.
"The gods have smiled on you thus far, mi'Lady. The baby shall be whatever they wish it to be. They have funny ways of making things work out. I am sure that baby was conceived for a reason." The mistress smiled at Ana sadly. Ana was a few years older than her. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and her brown eyes seemed wise.
"Thank you, Ana." She whispered. Inside her, she felt her baby kick. She gasped and doubled over. Her maids swarmed her and worried for her health. She panted as the pain passed.
"Should I fetch the miko?" Ima whispered to Ana. Ana pursed her lips and helped Cho lay their lady back onto her futon. Ana turned to Ima and nodded.
"The baby will not wait for the lord." Ana whispered. Below them, their lady cried out again. Ima's black eyes widened and she nodded fiercely before pushing the door screen aside and running to fetch the miko, her long black hair billowing out behind her.
Cho took a damp cloth and began to pat away the sweat from her lady's brow. Ana held her limp hand.
"The birthing pains came very suddenly, mistress." Ana conversationally told her. She nodded weakly.
"Is he here yet?" She whispered. Cho shook her head.
"Lord Takemaru is here, however…" She looked to Ana for help. Ana looked down at their lady.
"The great inu-yokai is still far off." Her mistress's eyes widened and her free hand flew to her belly.
"Please…baby, please wait." The baby kicked in response and then another contraction followed. She panted and held Ana's hand tightly. Her four lady's in waiting were the only ones who knew of the baby's real father. He was supposed to come for her earlier; however, he had sent a messenger to tell her that he had to stop a dragon who was getting restless. She had hoped to be gone before the birthing. She weakly looked up at Ana.
She wet her lips. "Ana…where is Marika?" Ana's eyes flashed.
"I know not, Izayio-sama."
V
Ima quickly padded down the hallways, searching for the older miko who was to help bring her lady's baby into the world. She paused when she heard quiet murmuring inside a room. Candle light illuminated two figures inside the small room. Ima pressed herself against the screens and listened in.
"Takemaru-sama." She heard her fellow maid, Marika, address.
"Marika, shouldn't you be with Izayio?" Takemaru asked.
"That is what I wished to discus with you, mi'Lord." Ima pressed closer to the screen and chewed on her lip. She prayed to Kami that Marika was not going to tell Takemaru their secret. He had believed up until now that Izayio had been raped by a common theft. That is why he had not broken off the engagement and would allow Lady Izayio to keep the baby.
"What is it, Marika? Has Izayio gone into labor?" Ima heard Takemaru stand.
"I know not, mi'Lord. There is something pressing I need to discus with you about the child." Ima heard Takemaru walk around his desk.
"What?"
"Izayio lied. She was not raped. She went willing into the arms and bed of a yokai." Marika murmured. Ima's eyes widened; Takemaru gasped.
"Do you dare lie, wench?" Takemaru thundered. Marika's outline bowed.
"Never, mi'Lord. I just could no longer continue with Izayio's lies." Ima held back her cry of outrage.
'Why, Marika?' She wondered. She heard a loud crash and jumped back. Takemaru had thrown aside a small table. Ima shrank into herself. Marika probably didn't even blink.
"Who is this cursed yokai?" Takemaru bellowed. Ima carefully stepped backwards until her back was pressed against the opposite wall as she walked the shadow show.
Marika stood tall and straight. "Inutaisho." Ima held her hand over her mouth and mutely shook her head, tears pooling on her fingers.
"Is he coming?" Takemaru whispered dangerously.
Marika's shadow nodded. Takemaru pushed her aside and Ima saw him slide a katana into his obi and pull on his samurai armor. "I shall alert the guard. For your honesty, you shall live. The others shall be dispatched. So shall Izayio and Inutaisho." Ima held in her gasp. Marika's shadow turned and faced Takemaru.
"Please, mi'Lord! Leave the yokai to me!" Marika begged.
"No. I shall dispatch him myself." Ima had no time to hide as she saw their shadows move towards the door. Takemaru pushed the screen aside and saw her, Marika was at his shoulder. Ima's eyes widened as Takemaru reached for his katana. A small scream ripped from her throat as he raised it high.
V
Izayio roughly lay back on her futon. The contractions were getting worse. The miko had ordered her maids away and now she was alone. A few monks had set up the birthing barrier and then left her alone. Her only companion now was the full moon.
She prayed that her dearest was near. She wanted him here when the baby was born. When it was born, Takemaru would surely learn that her story was false. He would kill her baby. Another contraction had her panting.
She heard footsteps outside her pink screens. She saw the outline of one of her maids.
"Who's there?" She whimpered.
"It's Cho, Izayio-sama." Her maid whispered back. "Mi'Lady, Ima and Ana have been slain! Marika told Takemaru about Inutaisho! He has doubled the guard! They plan to kill us all!"
Izayio weakly turned to look at the lonely moon. 'Luna. That could be a name for my baby if it's a girl.' "Cho, run. Save yourself."
"My-My…but…I…" Cho stumbled with her words.
"Leave me, Cho. I shall be fine. Inutaisho shall come for us." Darkness began to cover the moon. She heard Cho shuffle and then slowly exit the room.
Izayio swallowed her scream as she felt her womb be clawed at from the inside, followed by a mighty kick.
X
17th Century Japan
Kagome could hear voices. Sango…Miroku. They were talking about her…and InuYasha.
"InuYasha was hurt pretty badly by Kagome. Remember before when InuYasha's yokai would over power him when his life was in danger?" Miroku paused. "I think, that his yokai over powered him again and impregnated Kagome. It not as if a hanyou has planted its seed in her, it's like a full fledged yokai has."
"What do you mean?" Sango asked the question that plagued Kagome.
"I think that InuYasha was still weakened from his fight with Kagome. His yokai needs to avenge Kagome. His yokai also knew that he may not live." Kagome was getting closer to consciousness.
"Are you saying that InuYasha will die if he fights Kiba?" She heard Sango whisper.
Their silence was confirmation for Kagome. Her eyes snapped open. Her hands felt around for her bow and arrows. She could not see past the images of InuYasha being slain by Kiba…her being left alone with Izayio and her new pup. Her fingers curled around her bow.
Sango and Miroku's pleas went unheard to her as she faced them, tears in her eyes. "I don't want to raise my pups alone." She whispered. She pushed past them but Sango held her tight.
Kagome began to squirm and scream in Sango's arms, clawing at the wooden floor. The flap was pushed aside as a few healers peaked in. Miroku reached for Kagome. The large group together worked to hold Kagome on the ground. Kagome resisted, even as the healers used scraps of cloth to tie her wrists and ankles to the floor. Eventually they were able to force her movements to stop.
Doctor Hyousuke pushed himself in and forced a horrible tasting medicine down her throat. Kagome could not stop it as it began to force her into sleep. The crowd left the room at Kagome's eyes glazed over and began to close.
Miroku and Sango turned to Hyousuke in the hallway. "What was that?" Sango demanded.
"The medicine?" He asked.
"No! Why did she suddenly go mad?" Sango clenched her fists. Miroku placed his hands on her shoulders, slightly holding her back.
Hyousuke shrugged. "The curse, perhaps. InuYasha should have stayed here." He whispered.
"Doctor, I believe she is pregnant again." Miroku said seriously.
Hyousuke scoffed, "That is impossible. Even if she wasn't just brought back from the dead, it would be impossible to become pregnant that quickly. Most yokai could not, much less a hanyou, impregnate a woman that quickly."
"InuYasha is not like any other hanyou. You know his father, correct?" Miroku reminded him.
Hyousuke held his chin and thought. "It is possible with that type of yokai blood." He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "I'll go in and see for myself." The two moved aside as he walked towards the door. He pushed the flap aside and gasped. Sango and Miroku peaked over his shoulder. They gasped as well.
Kagome was gone.
X
InuYasha's clawed fingers curled over the top of the mountain; with a groan, he pulled himself over the top. His wounds were bleeding openly now. He panted for a few moments before sniffing the air around him.
The stench of wolves surrounded him. However, he was easily able to find Kiba's. Like a bloodhound, he sniffed the wolf-yokai out. He faintly remembered his way around from the last time he had been there. Therefore, after a while he no longer needed to sniff as he recognized his surrounding. He spotted a cave carved out from the stone of the mountain peak.
InuYasha cautiously entered. This was where Koga had taken Kagome after he had kidnapped her. After Kagome had ran off in a huff after he had asked her what she and Koga had done together, Shippou had brought them here. Surprisingly, Koga and his wolves had not been here. Sango said it was likely that they had moved to another cave because the group knew where their cave was.
InuYasha walked further into the cave. At the very back of it, was a large bed of wolf fur. InuYasha kneeled before it and stroked his hand across the rough fur. Shippou had said that this had been where Koga had thrown Kagome. InuYasha's hand curled into a fist. If Koga had forced himself on Kagome…well, he was dead now so it didn't matter anymore.
InuYasha's ears twitched and he stood and turned. At the mouth of the cave, Kiba stood, his brown hair billowing out in the mountain air. InuYasha's hand twitched towards his sword.
"You are just as foolhardy as your father." Kiba called out, his voice echoing in the cave.
InuYasha unsheathed the Tetsusaiga and pointed it at Kiba, wordlessly. Kiba laughed.
"You really think you can destroy me with that old fang?" Kiba sneered.
InuYasha raised it over his head and visualized the Wind Scar.
X
Sesshomaru could hear the sounds of battle from the top of the mountain. InuYasha had gotten there first. No matter, he would just kill them both. Sesshomaru jumped and floated towards the top of the mountain.
He landed and reverted back to him humanoid self. InuYasha and Kiba were exchanging attacks in the middle of the destroyed mountain top; a cave behind them had been nearly caved in. Sesshomaru unsheathed his own blade and sent an attack towards Kiba. InuYasha looked up and jumped out of the way.
When the smoke cleared, Kiba still stood. InuYasha snarled and Sesshomaru's golden eyes narrowed. Kiba's loosened hair blew in his face as he turned and narrowed his red eyes, a trail of blood trickled from his mouth. Kiba snarled at Sesshomaru.
X
15th Century
Cho carefully closed the screen behind her. She turned and her heart stopped. Takemaru stood before her.
"Move aside and I will spare your life, wench." Takemaru ordered.
Cho blinked her unnatural blue eyes. Her duty was to serve Izayio, not Takemaru. "Please, sir. The lady is in labor."
Takemaru raised a long spear higher. "She will birth a child fathered by a yokai. There is no need for decorum."
Cho's eyes widened. "The birthing room is forbidden to men!"
Takemaru raised his spear higher, pointed in towards her. Cho's heart sped up.
"Takemaru-sama!" She begged as he stepped closer to her.
V
Marika bowed before the statue of Buddha, her hands clasped together in prayer. The candle on the alter flickered, casting her into shadows.
She felt no regret. Even as she watched her fellow maid murdered. Even as she called for Ana and Cho. Even as she saw the fear in Cho's eyes as Takemaru killed Ana and Cho turn and run. Izayio's affair needed to end.
Marika loved Inutaisho. Izayio was betrothed to Takemaru. Marika could no longer pretend for Izayio. Soon, it would all be over. All she would need to do was warn Inutaisho and together they would leave. He would no longer have to pretend he loved Izayio because of the baby. He would be free to love her completely. Marika smiled as she tilted her head up and opened her eyes.
"Buddha, I pray you watch over me tonight." She whispered. She then stood and turned, preparing to leave the temple forever. Marika stopped when she heard a scream from across the temple.
Takemaru had dispatched Izayio. Marika smiled to herself. As she stepped out into the courtyard, the moon was covered up in an eclipse. A howl tour through the night air. Snow gently fell around Marika. To her, the howl seemed to say: "Marika, I am coming for you." Marika's eyes widened and she smiled crazily.
X
17th Century
Kagome's miko powers had been enough to ward off the sleeping medicine. She was able to loosen the strips of cloth and break free. Now, she was out of seeing distance of the temple and walking back towards Sesshomaru's castle.
She had no idea where Kiba's lair was, but she hoped that one of the inu-yokai there would take her there. She had to stop InuYasha. Her hand strayed to her slender stomach. They had been given another chance to start a family –the right way- and she would not let InuYasha die before they got the chance to have it.
The quiver of arrows on her back began to feel heavy. She was weak as well. Neither of them needed to be out here. They both needed to be resting. InuYasha would receive a very big sit for this.
Her mind remembered back to the story that Myoga had told them about InuYasha's parents. It sounded like a Disney love story…that was, until Takemaru killed Izayio and Inutaisho and Takemaru fought to the death. Kagome would not raise her children alone. After everything that they had went through to finally be together, she would not let InuYasha just throw his life away. She wished that just this once, he would step back and allow his older brother to do his job. Wasn't it the elder sibling's responsibly to tie up loose ends like this? Though, she wasn't in much of a position to scold Sesshomaru as she had left Souta alone back in the future.
Kagome shook her head to clear her thoughts. She would first worry about finding InuYasha and stopping him.
X
InuYasha flew back from the force of the attack. He landed on the ground and began to pant. He was loosing. And fast. If Sesshomaru had not shown up…well, he wouldn't still be here. He used the Tetsusaiga to push himself up; blood splattered to the ground below him, darkening the stark ground. His vision was blurry around the edges as he watched Kiba and Sesshomaru exchange blows.
InuYasha pulled his sword out of the ground, and weakly stumbled back towards the fight.
X
Hiro and a few other foot soldiers were beginning to finish with the castle. Sesshomaru had ordered them to return and salvage what they could. The only disturbance had been when the yokai slayer had asked him what had happened and where the others were now.
Hiro leaned on the boulder behind him. It was a very nice day and there was a gentle breeze. It was early fall and the temperatures would soon drop. Temperature changes did not affect yokai, however they were still nice. After living for over three centuries, small changes like this were nice.
Speaking of changes…Hiro opened his eyes. He could smell the miko. He turned to another soldier and told him he was going to check on something. Without waiting for an answer, he followed her scent.
X
Kagome was frustrated. Shouldn't she be at Sesshomaru's castle by now? She sighed and sat on a nearby rock and began to rub her sore feet. It was a wonder that Sango and Miroku had not caught up with her yet. She looked back down the path she had just walked. Nothing. Either they were really slow or they weren't following her. She didn't know which to believe or want.
She almost wished that she could go back in time. Back to four years ago when they were hunting Naraku and finding Shikon shards. It was much simpler back then. Kagome then blushed as she remembered the kiss that she and InuYasha had shared. It was their second kiss, but it might as well have been their first. She put her fingers on her lips.
"InuYasha…" She whispered. Shaking, she stood and started again. After a few more paces, she paused. She could sense a yokai aura.
Kagome opened her miko sense and felt around. It was a normal powered yokai…and it was an inu-yokai. She squinted against the setting sun on the path ahead of her. Over the bend of the hill before her, a purple inu-yokai was bounding towards her in the form of a dog. Far off, it looked enormous; however, as it drew nearer, it shrank to the size of a large horse.
Kagome didn't even bother to draw an arrow as it slowed and stopped about ten feet away from her. It began to pulse, shrink, and reshape into a man. His long violet hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and thick bangs hung in his face. His round eyes were purple throughout. His yokai markings were stark white against his dark skin coloring. He wore the uniform of one of Sesshomaru's soldiers. Kagome remembered him being the soldier that had escorted them to Sesshomaru after the battle. The yokai bowed slightly.
"Kagome-sama, I could smell you from Sesshomaru-sama's castle. I feared something was the matter if you were this far out alone." His voice was not rough like other inu-yokai. It was almost like a purr.
Kagome blinked. "Yes…um, I don't think I ever got your name." She blushed.
The yokai smiled faintly before bowing again. "I am called Hiro. I am of the Chaarusu clan."
Kagome nodded to herself. "Ok. Yes, Hiro. Something is very wrong." She wetted her lips. 'Oh, please Kami! Let this work!' She prayed vehemently.
Hiro's wide eyes widened even more. "Is Sesshomaru-sama or Rin-sama hurt?"
Kagome sighed inwardly. Of course his first concern would be that of his lord and lady. "No, Hiro," Kagome calmed his nerves. "They are fine."
Hiro raised a violet brown. "Then what is the matter?"
Kagome swallowed hard. "Can you take me somewhere?"
Hiro shrugged. "Of course, if it's not to far. Where?"
Kagome smiled in thanks to Kami.
X
15th Century
Inutaisho was a dirty liar. He had played Marika for a fool and won. As Marika watched the embers of last night's fire slowly die away, she walked closer to the rubble that had once been one of the most exquisite temples in Japan.
As she watched Inutaisho and Takemaru's exchanges, she learned the truth of Izayio and Inutaisho's relationship. The Great Dog Lord had never loved her. She had mistaken his friendship for love. She would allow no tears to fall from her eyes as she entered the hellish destruction she had caused.
Dawn was not far off. A few dark clouds huddled together in the sky. The sky itself was a depressing dark purple color. The hideous colors of pinks that made up her kimonos made her cringe. For now on, she would take on the colors of night and dawn: black and dark purple. These two colors would always remind her of what she had done.
This is when she realized she could never die. Her heart skipped a beat and she gasped. If she were to die, she would be forced to go to Hell and face Inutaisho. The yokai lord would have no mercy on her soul. She would never again be reincarnated when he was through with her. If only she was not human, if only she was not mortal.
As her raven eyes landed on a flash of red in the early morning breeze, the idea came to her. She would need to become immortal. And to do that, she would need to seal away her soul for all eternity. She slowly walked towards the forgotten piece of Inutaisho. She slowly knelt and carefully reached out for the flapping cloth, as if it would vanish before her eyes.
It didn't. She carefully pulled it out from under the beam of wood that lodged it the ground. Inutaisho's vassals had come as soon as the fire had died away enough to collect his body. Marika held the simple, burnt, and frayed obi to her chest.
A drop of rain fell from the heavens and landed before Marika's huddled over form. With a shaking sob, Marika's dam broke and tears cascaded down her face as the clouds above her broke the rain poured down from the darkness above her.
As her long hair and kimonos clung to her, Marika's plans became solidified. She would become a sorceress. She would hide her soul away in Inutaisho's forgotten obi. She would never die. She would never love. She would never forget.
X
17th Century
Hiro held Kagome in his arms as he ran. The mountain was only about a mile away. Once they got closer, he would jump to the top. His eyes flickered down to the miko he held in his arms. She quietly held onto him as he ran.
This girl was different from any other human he had met, besides Rin-sama. She bravely went to the arms of a full blooded yokai. She was boldly going to stop InuYasha, and possibly Sesshomaru-sama. The only weapons she held were a simple bow and arrows. Of course, he had heard rumors of her spiritual powers, how they rivaled that of Kikyo-sama. He had never met Kikyo, per se, but from what he had heard…well, this tiny human was not a force to be reckoned with.
Hiro had never thought much about humans. They were simply there to him, much like an insect to a human. However, when Rin started staying with Sesshomaru at the castle, this prospective started to change. Then as he heard of how InuYasha had mated with this Kagome, Hiro began to see the similarities between humans and yokai. He was only one of the few in Sesshomaru's army that believed as he did. Yes, they treated Rin with respect, but that was just because they feared Sesshomaru's wrath; many of his fellow yokai's parents had worked under The Great Dog Lord and knew of the family's temper.
As the mountain became only a few feet away, Hiro launched them into the air, whistling up towards the peak. In his arms, Kagome clutched her bow tighter to her chest.
X
Kagome's POV
Hiro jumped high into the air. It reminded me of the times where InuYasha would carry me and we would practically fly. I held my bow closer to my chest; I missed those times. I longed for InuYasha's arms around me once more and not Hiro's.
Hiro landed on an outstretch about halfway up the mountain and then launched us back into the air. We flew closer to the peak. Hiro then turned in the air and we landed gently on the flattened surface of the mountain top. I quickly scrambled out of Hiro's arms.
And then I was running. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I tried to remember where Koga's cave had been; something told me that that was where InuYasha and the others were. Maybe it was the mate bond, I don't know or care. All I care about is finding InuYasha. Finding him and stopping him before he did something really stupid and got himself killed. My hand flew to my flat stomach. I would not raise Izayio and…InuTaisho alone. I had spent three years without him. I would not spend the rest of my life without him and only small pieces of him in our children.
As I drew nearer, I could hear battle cries. I knew InuYasha's well, and from the sounds of it, he was losing. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I faintly heard Hiro running behind me.
As I turned a bend, I finally saw them. Sesshomaru stood panting about twenty feet away from Kiba. InuYasha…my breathing stopped…InuYasha was on his knees before Kiba. Blood was splattered on the ground and on InuYasha, and I knew it was his. The Tetsusaiga lay on the ground beside him in its katana form.
Kiba was injured. However, he was pristine compared to InuYasha. Kiba held his elongated claws, which were drenched in blood, high above his head. I could hear him mumble something, but the words were lost to me.
I stumbled forward, reaching for an arrow. I felt Hiro's arms encircle my waist and hold me back. I began to kick and scream. InuYasha's hazy eyes weakly flickered towards me. A smile flashed across his face. He thought he was going to die.
'Kagome…I love you.' InuYasha's voice resounded in my mind. Hot tears poured from my eyes. 'Take care of them…' No, no…NO! He was giving up! My struggling slowed.
Oh, shimatta no. I blushed in anger and stamped my foot. I drew in a deep breath. I pinched my eyes tightly closed.
X
Regular POV
Kiba's hand began to fall. It was as if everything had slowed. InuYasha never looked away from Kagome's childish position; it would be the last memory of her he would take to Hell with him. Once Kiba's claws were about a head's length from InuYasha's throat, Kagome's voice rang out.
"SIT!"
InuYasha gasped as a familiar feeling began to pull him to the ground from his neck area. He smashed into the ground.
Kiba's projectile through him off balance and he whipped around. Kagome stared into his eyes like a poor mouse staring into the eyes of a cobra. Hiro's arms tightened around her.
Kiba took a step forward and then stopped. There was a flash of yellow and white light. A look of surprise crossed his face before he disintegrated. His body broke apart and fell to the ground like dust. Not even a soul floated from his remains. Once the dust cleared, the group could see his killer.
Kagome smiled wide. InuYasha had picked himself off of the ground. He barely stood straight and he held the Tetsusaiga in his hands weakly. He panted hard.
Hiro released Kagome. She moved as if to run for him and stopped suddenly. InuYasha's golden eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground.
There was silence. Then, Kagome's shrill scream split the air like a knife.
Yes, evil cliffy. We are now left with the most basic question: Will InuYasha live or die? We have 2 chapters left. Bum bum BUM! Also, fo those who are wondering about Hiro's clan, Chaarusu is Japanese for Charles. Hiro is a King Charles Spaniel inu-yokai. (Spaniels are my favorite dog breed so I thought it would be cool to add something.) And, no. Hiro will not develop feelings for Kagome or Rin. I just wanted to show that Hiro likes humans. With that said, review! Your review could mean life or death for InuYasha!
~Azarath101
Chapter 11
Past and Present