To start this chapter special thanks to Tina-Chan 0 for her neat review. Also want to welcome back the kind Kaihaku No Iroke and thanks for your very well received review. One of the things I loved the most about my story before I started writing it was the idea that Healo's abilities would be this huge secret that point to his origin. Anyway on with the story! Review!!!

CHAPTER XVII

A PROMISE KEPT

Kagome blinked as she tried to focus on her surroundings. She was in a dark cave with only a small opening ot her left that let in patch of light. The miko tensed when she felt a hand on her shoulder, but she realized it who it was a moment later. "Calm down. I wanted you to see the first time I met Inuyasha," the demon lord's voice came gravely.

The miko nodded in understanding before asking ", How long did it take you to find them?" Healo responded in a matter-of-fact tone ", I sent most of the army back towards Ionin with a message for Sesshomaru detailing the death of our father. I also informed him of Inutaisho's claim of a mate and new-born son hiding nearby. So I kept a company of troops and searched the local area. It was only two days later that I arrived here."

She nodded in understanding but stilled herself when she heard a small sound. Glancing deeper into the darkness she made out the face of a woman only a few years older than herself. 'Izayoi,' the miko thought with certainty as she watched the woman's face twist between hope and despair. "Yes," the demon lord confirmed a loud ", it is she. Inuyasha is hidden behind a small stone only a few feet away."

Kagome sighed, turned, and asked ", So when's your younger self going to show up?" The miko was surprised when her friend grinned and said ", But I am already here." She followed his eyes to a dark corner of the cave only about ten feet from the petrified woman. The lady seemed to realize that something was wrong as she said in a shaky voice ", Who's there?"

The miko was surprised when the young Healo stepped out into the light from the cave's opening. The sight of the demon seemed to paralyze the new mother who only stared in bewilderment. The young demon spoke in a calming voice ", Are you the Lady Izayoi?" The tone had been very pleasant, but surprisingly the woman shook as she replied ", That is my name." The young Healo regarded her with measuring eyes in silence for a few moments.

The young demon lowered himself into a deep bow which caused the woman to begin crying in relief. "My lady there is nothing more to fear. Your mate sent me to find you and your son." Izayoi regarded the demon with a suspicious glance as she asked ", Why did he not come himself?" The demon was obviously surprised at the woman's quick recovery but he said softly ", He fell in battle against treacherous foes only two days ago."

Izayoi's eyes widened and filled with tears as she said quietly ", Inutaisho. No he can't be dead. He was the last of the five brothers. He was the most powerful demon that has yet lived he was—" here she was interrupted when the demon approached her, gently clasped her hands, and said ", and a wonderful father. However, none of that could prevent his death. I am sorry to have to bring this news to you, my lady. I wish to assure you that I will ensure that you and your son will come to no harm."

The woman's eyes cleared at the mention of her son as she said as if awakening ", Yes you're right. I have to make sure that Inuyasha is allowed to live his life." The young demon nodded awkwardly and asked ", Indeed. Where is he at?" The young mother did not respond but moved away for only a few moments. When she returned she was carrying a small hanyou child. "Inuyasha," the miko said softly with wonder in her voice as she looked to her companion. Healo smiled as a warm light sprang into his eyes. "Yes," he replied with a velvety soft tone.

Izayoi regarded the young demon with a curious expression before asking ", So are you Healo." The orphaned demon nodded as he watched the child in the woman's arms. The mother noticed what he was focusing on and so said quietly ", He spoke very highly of you." Healo's eyes caught her own within a second before he said softly ", He exaggerated." Izayoi was confused by her new protector's response and so asked ", What do you mean?"

Healo's eyes hardened as he struggled to contain his emotions before he replied crisply ", If I were really as wonderful as he told me, then I would have been able to save him. If I am destined for such greatness why couldn't I arrived by side ten minutes earlier?" The woman was silent for a moment before she answered ", I am sure that he did not blame you for his death. Surely he would have said this to you."

Izayoi did not wait for a response as she stood slowly and said ", Regardless, we have to leave this place." Healo also rose as he said coolly ", I will take you to the Western Lands. As a mate of Inutaisho, Sesshomaru will be obligated to provide for you, and to help have his brother trained as a lord's child should be." The woman nodded and replied thankfully ", I do not wish to be a burden, but I understand that that is the law of the Inu. I thank you for agreeing to protect myself and Inuyasha. I'm sure that one day he will thank you too."

Healo's eyes softened as he turned to the bundle and said softly ", He is the son of my father. In a sense, that makes him my brother." Izayoi smiled and said kindly ", Well, I guess we better start." Kagome sighed as she watched the group leave the cave before she turned again to her friend. "If Sesshomaru was supposed to take care of Inuyasha why didn't he?" The demon lord regarded her with a sad eye before saying ", It will be simpler to show you."

The miko felt once again the strange sensation that was associated with traveling between the demon's memories as she found herself back inside the Western Palace's throne room. Healo decided to answer the question before she could ask ", One week later. In Ionin." Kagome laughed at the quick use of his mental abilities but she was brought back to reality when she saw the doors near her open wide.

First there entered a small group of about eight or nine, Western Inuyoukai who quickly arranged themselves in a half-circle around the majestic throne at the far end of the hall. A moment later a younger version of Sesshomaru walked through the golden doors. His face was harder than it was in the last memory that Kagome had seen him in, but not any where near as devoid of emotion as it was in the present.

Only a second or so on his heels the young Healo entered the chamber. He hesitated when he saw the other demons in the room, who were all regarding him with an unfriendly eye, but he approached his brother anyway. Healo gave a small bow and said ", Brother I asked to speak with you alone." Sesshomaru's eyes flashed dangerously as he said ", Since the death of my father I have felt it necessary to reach out to others knowledge."

The older brother frowned as he replied ", A usually wise course of action. However, when the wisdom of experience is mixed with the poisen of hatred it produces a deadly concoction." The elders stirred and one of them spoke angrily ", How dare you harangue us? What do you know of wisdom?" The young demon spoke calmly ", I meant no disrespect to you. What I have to speak of is a family affair (I couldn't resist ). It is of no importance to the Western Lands themselves."

"Indeed," another of the elders said sarcastically ", then what could be the harm of speaking of it?" Healo apparently decided to ignore the elders as he turned to his brother and said ", You have received my new message then?" Sesshomaru's eyes darkened as he said in a deadly tone ", Yes." The young demon narrowed his eyes and asked ", And you told no one?" Sesshomaru did not answer but a small change in the color of his skin indicated his answer.

Healo turned angrily to the councilors and asked ", So what advice did you give my naïve brother." Kagome saw Sesshomaru's eyes narrow in anger as another elder replied ", How dare you speak such of the true heir of Inutaisho? However, concerning the harlot and her degenerate child we have found an acceptable solution. We prescribed that the woman, Izayoi, should be first publicly beaten and killed as an example to all women, of the mortal stock, that demons are their superiors. Then, out of kindness, the hanyou boy shall be peaceably killed and thus spared the pain of his spotted heritage."

Kagome inhaled at the horrible decree and waited for a response. She was not disappointed when Healo spoke with a voice of deadly ice ", Brother tell me that you have not accepted their decision. Tell me that you will not give this mockery of justice your approval." The miko was surprised at the level of loathing that entered Sesshomaru's eyes as he replied ", I will not allow some human wench to seduce my father, bear a son, and then claim the throne of the West for him. It would be all to similar to what nearly occurred."

Healo's eyes flashed with rage as he said ", Who would dare to make such an accusation of me? When have I ever made any designs to steal your lands from you." Here he paused as he turned to the solemn elders and asked in a rage ", What have you to say? Come surely one of you will speak! No? You lawyers and chatterboxes at last fall silent? All the better!" The demon was not finished as he rounded back on his brother and said determinedly ", It is the duty of a son to care for his father's mate and his own siblings."

Sesshomaru's eyes couldn't have been colder as he replied ", What of a father's duties to his son? But no, he was too busy with the one he wished was his son. I have agreed to the elders decree and will enforce it." After a moment Healo seemed to break and said ", I see that I cannot convince you. I will retire to my quarters."

The memory slowly faded as Kagome spun towards her friend and said in disbelief ", What?" Healo grinned and said ", Do not be fooled. I did realize that I could not convince them, however, that is not the end of the tale." The miko asked curiously ", What happened next?" The demon lord responded calmly ", Late that night I crept into the dungeons and freed Izayoi. I guided her to a village several days away from Ionin where I paused in order to get supplies in the hopes of continuing to head into the north. However, we were not so fortunate."

The demon paused then continued ", When I went into the village I learned that the elders had rebelled against Sesshomaru. They denounced him and Inutaisho as the bringers of evil into the west. Though a majority of the people supported Inutaisho as the founder of the Western Lands power and grandeur, Ionin itself was rather negatively placed towards Sesshomaru. I made a very difficult choice. I decided to go back and help my half-brother. He accepted my aid willingly enough, but afterwards he demanded that I reveal the location of Izayoi and her son, which I refused to do. By the time I escaped from Ionin and returned to where I had left Izayoi they were gone."

Kagome nodded sympathetically and waited for him to finish. Healo sighed as he ended ", I made a deal with Sesshomaru so that we both held joint reign over the West and the North. After over 20 years of war with the other lords they agreed to accept us as lords. Then I was finally reunited with Inuyasha."

The miko felt a wave of regret come off of the demon lord as she said ", Healo, you did what you thought was best. You were able to help both of your brother's in their times of need." He nodded and responded ", Yes, but only at the cost of alienating one and abandoning the other. Come I have more to show you." She nodded as she closed her eyes one last time.

Ok another chapter done. Update will be Thursday because I am at my dad's tomorrow. Remember that reviewing affects me so review. Thanks in advance.