CHAPTER 14:
One of the women was the first to speak out. She put herself between the people staring and the lady Izayoi. .
"we just cannot!" She exclaimed, "Both lady Izayoi and the young master," her meaning Inuyasha, "Are two innocent lives! We all know this too!"
At that moment everyone around her looked a bit ashamed. They were all thinking the same thing; they should have been branded fools for thinking they would still carry out an order from that long ago. After that awkward silence, one of the men, clearing his throat, spoke to the entire group.
"Tis it be a shame that our dear lady Izayoi Perished in the crimson fire; and that we be too late to save her from this tragic fate." He hung his head in a light sorrow look stretching across his face.
By that performance everyone understood that they were to keep their mouths shut. That none should speak a word of Izayoi still being alive, for if they did they would have been putting the lives of everyone in the scene in danger. To them Izayoi was dead, and that meant that the orders for her retun to the capital city were to be disregarded.
Izayoi smiled, thankful for them helping her. All that was left to do was send one of the scouts to the capital city to announce the lady was dead. And with that being done, Izayoi would be able to live on, and alongside Inuyasha too.
All they had to do now was hide the lady. So the entire group lead her down a hill to the foot of the mountain. There, they came upon the small village where the people, who survived the burning building, were being housed. The villagers were more than happy that they were being very good help to them.
What was more is that they gave their own oath that they would not tell a soul of Izayoi's true existence.
Even with Sympathizing with Izayoi and her harsh story, they were still a little terrified of her child. Though he was half human he was also half demon. A creature that didn't belong in either world, human or demon.
Since Izayoi was still a "princess" she lived in the upperclass mansions of another village not far from the one she was rescued from. They all gladly invited her in and made her feel at home, but of course there were those who did not take kindly to Inuyasha.
As Inuyasha got older, the more he was shunned by the rest of the humans. Some would make fun behind his back while others ignored him completely.
Izayoi was sad. She wanted so badly for Inuyasha to fit in so badly, but she knew what she was signing up for when she had him; knowing what his life would be like. All she could do was keep supporting Inuyasha in any way she could; even when her health began to decline once Inuyasha turned the age of 7.
7 years later.
Izayoi sat in her room. The wooden doors to the garden opened wide so that the fresh air could enter the room. She had not been feeling well for a couple of days so the doctor of the house told her that she would need to stay inside for her to get better.
Inuyasha was sitting his mother's lap looking outside as well. He was nodding off to sleep in her arms; Izayoi smiled. She was glad to see that her young son was growing up well and strong. His hair seemed to get a little more silver by the day, and his golden eyes seem to sparkle anytime it hit the sunlight.
But the sun was shining, flowers swaying with the wind, and the middle of the day. She really didn't want Inuyasha to be inside all day; she nuzzled for him to wake up.
"Why don't you go and play outside for a bit?" She cooed softly as he yawned and looked at her. He reminded Izayoi so much of Inutaisho.
"I don't want to, other people are out there," Inuyasha said sort of looking back outside. Izayoi felt bad for him.
"Never you mind what others say to you, I have always told you that remember?" Izayoi said trying to cheer her son up a bit.
"And besides, once you come back inside I have a surprise for you!" Izayoi said smiling. This got Inuyasha really excited.
"Okay!" He said and dashed off to play on the garden grounds. Izayoi just laughed a bit but coughed a little so suddenly. Almost like she had a tickle in her throat.
Outside, Inuyasha was just running around the garden, but he soon came to be pretty bored. He looked right and then left; he saw a group of children playing tag with each other. It looked like fun, and he really wanted to try and make friends, mainly for his mother's sake more so than his own.
The kids that were playing around stopped almost instantly when they all saw Inuyasha running over to them. They all ran away from the half demon. Inuyasha stopped and frowned. It was nothing new; people always did this to him anytime he wanted to get close.
"my mom told me not to play with him, she says he's a half breed," one of the boys said.
"My dad said the same thing," another agreed. But even with the mumbled whispers of the children, Inuyasha still had excellent hearing and heard every word that muttered from their lips.
Back in the room Izayoi was waiting on Inuyasha to return. But as the sun fell lower in the sky she began to worry; the weather outside was about to turn a bit grey as well. But Izayoi did not care, she stood up and walked out onto the wooden porch and looked around. There was no sign of her son as small raindrops began to fall. It began to sprinkle down upon her.
But after running around a bit she was able to find Inuyasha. He was sitting by himself hidden beneath a small bush. It looked like he had been crying because his eyes were red and puffy and he kept on sniffling.
"Here…" She said as she extended her hand towards him. Inuyasha threw himself in his mother's arms.
"There there," She said to him trying to reassure him. She figured out what was wrong. It was very obvious since he normally came to this spot whenever nothing went right. It was almost like his safe haven away from everyone else.
"Let's get out of this rain," She said to Inuyasha as she carried him back inside. She had to take his wet clothes off and dry him off. Things were silent. Inuyasha was probably not going to talk to his mother even if she was able to coax words out of his system.
"Remember I have something for you," She said finally after a while. Inuyasha stayed wrapped in one of the blankets as Izayoi walked over to one of the closet doors and pulled a box out of it.
"I know its early but happy birthday Inuyasha," Izayoi said setting the box down in front of her son. Inuyasha's birthday was not until a few more days but he seemed so sad lately that Izayoi really wanted to cheer him up.
Inuyasha reached town and picked up a red kimono top, one that was just his size. Izayoi got closer and touched the clothing.
"It is made from a demon's pelt, a fire rat." She explained. "It is said that the fire rat fur is tough against anything that might hurt it, so it means that you should get stronger and be tough as well."She smiled.
Inuyasha really liked the gift and put it on right away. It was nice and warm and still had his mother's smell on it. But his face sort of went sad.
"Why am I different?" He finally asked. Inuyasha really never questioned his existence before, so now Izayoi felt like she was on the spot now.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"What is…a half demon?" He asked studying his mother's face for answers. He was confused and he needed Izayoi to help him. All the things that came to her head were not things that a mother would have been able to tell her child. She had to think of the right words to say.
"How about I tell you tomorrow, it is getting pretty late" She said, almost as if she were intently trying to beat around the bush.
"Okay," He said. Inuyasha walked over to his bed and laid down; Izayoi tucked him in and gave him a small kiss on the head.
She then went over to the lamp and blew out the burning flame.
The next morning.
Izayoi woke herself up by having a coughing attack. After a few moments she cleared her throat and sat up in her bed. Her throat was hurting and she felt a little dizzy. Inuyasha ran over to his mothers side.
"Mother? Are you okay?" He asked. He seemed very worried about her health.
"Not to worry dear I am fine," Izayoi said smiling. She didn't want him to worry, for now.
There was then a sudden knock on the door.
"yes?" Izayoi said.
A man walked into the room with his head bowed low.
"My lady I am sorry to disturb you but there is some news that needs to be told to everyone living in this estate."
Izayoi nodded her head for the man to continue.
"It seems that there is a strange illness going around in this part of the region, so everyone has orders to not leave their rooms for the time being, I am sorry if this is a bother for you," the man said, still not looking at the lady's face.
"Yes, well thank you, it is fine we can comply," She said. And with that the man left.
"A strange illness huh…?" Izayoi muttered to herself. Whatever it was probably began to affect her, so she hoped that Inuyasha's demon side would npt be affected by a virus like this, so hopefully he had some immunity against it.
"Well it looks like we need to stay inside for a while," She said to Inuyasha.
But that didn't last long. It had only been a week since the seclusion of the residents when it sounded as if all hell broke loose in the mansion. There were moans and groans of the others, like they were dying. It seemed that the virus had made its way inside the rooms and had been affecting the people one by one. But by the looks of Inuyasha he had yet to be affected by it.
But something worse, was yet to come.
I am excited to write the next chapter! I wonder what the "worse" thing could be than an illness? oh well you will find out soon enough! please leave comments cause i like reading what you have to say.! ! ~~KAZU~~