Chapter 11: Unknown Links
The village that was terrorized by Kaira was finally free. But Kagome and the others did more than just save the women, they decided to help the village even more. Reina taught all the girls about healing herbs, Tomoe and Shippo helped out by gathering fruits and nuts in the woods with the village children, Masahiro helped Shion and some of the village men make Iwao and Kuri's hut, and Hansuke and Akari helped out in the fields.
The villagers finally accepted Kuri and Iwao's relationship and allowed them to marry. Michiko gave them her blessings to her brother and his bride. They decided to stay at the hut Shion and Kuri were using until their hut was finished.
A few weeks later, Kagome and the others decided to head out again. The whole village made a farewell feast for them. Even though Kagome's pack felt guilty for the villagers giving so much of their food to them, they decided to let them have the feast. The next day, when they were about to leave the village, Shion, Michiko, and Iwao came up to them. All of them were carrying small beautifully carved boxes.
"Before you leave for your journey, there is something that we would like to give to you, Masahiro." Michiko said as Iwao took out a folded cloth that revealed a beautiful navy blue vest with sky blue markings on it. Masahiro never seen this kind of clothing before. He could sense the amount of youki and reiki that resides in it.
"What is this?" Masahiro asked.
"It was found by my grandfather. I've kept it as a memory of him. But I think you need it more than me. It's made from the blood of the Raijū beast and woven by a spider demoness. Then it was blessed by a powerful priest. It's made to protect to anyone who wears it." Michiko said. Iwao handed the vest to Masahiro. Then Shion opened the box that he was carrying. Inside the box was two Chinese vambraces. They were made with silver steel and had strange markings on them as well.
"These embraces were made from a pair of fangs from a holy dragon. They instantly heal the one who wears them." Michiko said.
"But I…" Masahiro began to say. Then Michiko put her hand up in front of him.
"We insist. You have done so much for us. You and your comrades have saved our village from the control of Kaira. We can't thank you enough." Shion said. Masahiro sighed internally. He was uncertain if he should accept these gifts, but Michiko, Iwao, and Shion insisted that he should have them. He knew it would rude if he didn't accept them.
"Than I shall wear them with pride." Masahiro said as he unfolded the vest and carefully put it on. After that, he put on the vambraces. They were a little bit cold, but they fit perfectly on his wrists. When the others saw him wear the vest and vambraces, he looked a war general ready for battle.
"They look wonderful on you." Shion said.
"Thank you." Masahiro said as he bowed to Michiko, Iwao, and Shion.
"I also have something for you, Akari." Michiko said.
"Me?" Akari said. Michiko opened the box she was carrying. Inside it was a Tessen. Michiko handed it to Akari.
"This weapon belonged to a white winged tengu." Michiko said.
"A white winged tengu?" Akari asked, shocked. She didn't know that there were more white-winged tengus around. She was also fascinated with the fan, she sensed an incredible amount of youki in it. She opened the fan and saw white feathers on the black background of the fan.
"Yes, I believe that you are more suited to have this weapon." Michiko said.
"Thank you, Michiko." Akari said as she accepted Michiko's gift. Everyone had their packs ready to go and set out again.
"We wish you luck on your journey." Shion said.
"Thank you very much." Kagome said. Then they all turned around and walked along the path out of the village. Shion, Iwao, and Michiko waved good bye and smiled as they watched the miko and her friends following the road that led them out of the village and further along their journey. Shion and the others were incredibly thankful towards Reina (Kagome) and her friends. They had rescued them from further tyranny of Kaira's control. Shion was glad that they had come to their village to help them. Iwao was glad as well. His sister was finally free, he found a wonderful bride, and Kaira was finally defeated.
"Your sons have grown up well, Jitsuko onee-san, Ameya onee-san." Michiko said as she watched the group walk down the path until she could no longer see them.
After a few days of traveling, the group decided to rest for a while near a large tree on the side of the road. After having a bite to eat and some water to drink. Hansuke decided ask the question that has been on his mind ever since they defeated Kaira.
"Masahiro." Hansuke said.
"Hai?" Masahiro asked.
"I want to know." Hansuke said.
"Want to know what?" Masahiro asked.
"That attack you used when we were facing Kaira. The attack, 'Energy Bullet' is the same one that Ryūkotsusei used. How did you learn it?" Hansuke asked. He was curious to how Masahiro was able to master such a powerful attack. He knew that very little of dragon demons are able to perform an attack like 'Energy Bullet'. Masahiro sighed at that moment.
"The truth is...Ryūkotsusei...is my uncle." Masahiro said.
"WHAT?!" Everyone minus Masahiro exclaimed.
"You're related to that monster?!" Hansuke said with anger in his voice. He couldn't believe that Masahiro was related to such a monster. The monster who was responsible for two of his family members' death. When he looked back at Masahiro, he noticed something strange in his aura: sadness, anger, and regret. He didn't understand what he could be regretting.
"Yeah, I wish I wasn't related to him at all. But my older brother is just like him though." Masahiro said with a look of regret on his face.
"I see." Hansuke said. Then he realized it. Masahiro hated his lineage. He didn't blame him. Who would want to be a relative of a power hungry dragon?
"As I was saying, my uncle has been trying to take control of the Western lands ever since our grandfather was alive. He wanted to rule over the humans. He destroyed villages and killed those who would defy him. But after he was sealed away by Lord Inu no Taisho, my father assumed the throne and was able to make peace with the humans. After he died, Shinji, my older brother took the throne. He decided to cause trouble for the humans. He sent out demons of all sorts, bandits, and murderers as well. The people are beginning to lose hope of living." Masahiro said.
"But how come you're not like your older brother who hungers for power and control?" Hansuke asked, his brow arched. It was a mystery to Hansuke of why Masahiro wasn't like his older brother. He thought that most dragon demons were nothing but selfish bastards who liked rutting women and terrorize ningens.
"I was raised by my mother instead of my father. She cared about me more than my father who mostly cared about my older brother. She taught me about what true strength is and that you should protect those who are precious to you." Masahiro said, placing his and over his heart. Hansuke could see the look in Masahiro's eyes: nostalgia. He was remembering the gentleness and kindness of his mother who treasured him.
'Protect those who are precious to you'. Just like Lord Inu no Taisho would always say. Hansuke thought as he remembered the tales of the mighty dog demon general who sacrificed his life to protect the woman he loved and his newborn son. Other demons thought he was a fool for sacrificing himself to save a human and a half demon. But Hansuke knew that Inu no Taisho was a true warrior who protected those who were precious to him.
"Who was your mother?" Akari asked.
"My mother was one of Lord Taisho's servants." Masahiro said.
"She was?" Hansuke asked, interested.
"Yes, she was a servant to Lady Ameya who was a black inuyōkai. She was Lord Inu no Taisho's younger cousin." Masahiro said, "She was very kind to my mother. They were like sisters almost."
"What was her name?" Reina (Kagome) asked.
"Jitsuko." Masahiro said.
"She must have been very kind as well." Reina said.
"Yes, she was." Masahiro said as he began to remember his mother. He remembered the way she would put him to sleep whenever he had a nightmare, the way she gently wrapped his wounds whenever he got injured, walking with her through the castle gardens, and the way she read stories to him. His mother remained an irreplaceable person in his memories. He had more memories of his mother than of his father. He had very few moments that he spent with his father. Very few were good as much as some were bad.
"If it weren't for Inu no Taisho, my mother would've never fallen in love with my father and helped them make peace between the dragons and the ningen." Masahiro said. His mother would always talk about the life she had at the western palace and the sister she had there. Sometimes she told Masahiro how she and his father met. He had to admit that his parents were lucky to find each other and rule peacefully.
"So that means your mother knew my mother?" Hansuke asked.
"Hai...wait a minute, Lady Ameya was your mother?" Masahiro asked, shocked. He didn't think that Hansuke was the child of the mother who treated his mother like a sister.
"Hai, she often told me about her sister, Jitsuko. Even though she was a dragon and she was an inuyōkai, they were still sisters." Hansuke said. He remembers those times when his mother would tell him of all but blood sister. He also didn't expect that Masahiro was Jitsuko's child. After a moment of silence came and went, Masahiro spoke up.
"So I guess that means we're brothers...or cousins if you prefer that." Masahiro said.
"Huh?" Hansuke asked, confused.
"I mean, our mothers were like sisters. So that makes us family." Masahiro said, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Brothers, huh?" Hansuke asked. He smiled at the thought. It's been awhile since someone had called him 'brother'. He had to admit that he wanted to be known as an 'older brother' again.
"I'll always be your older brother, Masahiro." Hansuke said, smiling at Masahiro.
"Hai!" Masahiro said, smiling as well. Reina (Kagome) could feel the happiness in Masahiro's and Hansuke's aura. She was glad that he had a brother to rely on. She believed that Masahiro's mother and Hansuke's mother would be very happy right now to know that their sons were getting along with one another.
"By the way, how did your parents meet, Hansuke?" Tomoe asked. She was curious how Hansuke's parents met.
"My mother was fighting off a bunch of demons by herself while patrolling and she injured herself from a yōkai bear attack. My father found her in a clearing in the woods and took pity on her. He took her to his home and nursed her back to health. As they got to know about each other, they fell in love." Hansuke said.
"But doesn't that mean you're a hanyō?" Tomoe asked, confused. To her point of view, Hansuke looked more human than of demon.
"Actually, I'm a full fledged demon." Hansuke said. He dropped down his aura. There were two dark green stripes on each sides of his cheeks, claws on his hands, and pointy elf ears. The other pack members now knew that Hansuke was a full-fledged, not a hanyō. This was a first for them. They had never met a black inuyōkai before.
"How are you able to hide your aura so well?" Shippo asked.
"I learned a lot from my parents before they died." Hansuke said.
"What happened to them?" Shippo asked.
"My mother was killed by Ryūkotsusei." Hansuke said. Everyone gasped at the news. Hansuke's bangs covered over his eyes. Nobody was able to see the pain and suffering in his eyes.
"When Taisho was going to bring her to the shiro to get healed, he had received word that Izayoi was kidnapped by Takemaru. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to make it back to the shiro, my mother told him that he had to get to Izayoi before it was too late and that he should save his strength. Taisho wanted to save her with Tenseiga, but my mother refused because she knew that she was beyond saving. Having no other choice, Taisho had to listen my mother." Hansuke said, "I'm probably guessing that my uncle regretted leaving my mother behind."
"He probably still is, Hansuke." Masahiro said as he placed his hand on Hansuke's shoulder. Hansuke put his hand over Masahiro's. Everyone couldn't help but be saddened by Hansuke's past. They had no idea that Hansuke was taking his mother's death so hard. Reina knew that everyone around her had taken their parents' deaths really hard.
"What happened to you and your dad, Hansuke?" Akari asked, trying to change the topic at hand.
"My father and I lived with Eiichi who was a very wise monk. The both of us became family to him. Even though I was a demon, I was still treated as family. When my father died of old age, I decided to protect Eiichi's family as repayment for the generosity. I had to make sure that none of them would get into trouble. Somehow, it seemed like trouble had found them...but then, something terrible happened to his great grandson, Miyatsu." Hansuke said.
"What happened?" Akari asked.
"A hanyō by the name of Naraku put a curse on him. He disguised himself as a beautiful woman and Miyatsu threw his sutra at him. But Naraku pushed the sutra into Miyatsu's right hand. That curse is known as the Kazaana: the wind tunnel. It sucks anything into it." Hansuke said with a sad look on his face, "It's also what caused his death, too."
"What do you mean, Hansuke?" Masahiro asked.
"Every single time he used it, the hole would get bigger and bigger. Then it will suck him in as well." Hansuke said.
"That's so cruel." Kagome said. She knew about that curse. The curse that Miroku has. When she thought about the curse, she began to think about Miroku and his Kazaana. She wondered how big his tunnel had gotten since she left.
"The curse has been passed on to every male in Miyatsu's family. His son suffered the same fate and now his grandson will soon suffer the same fate as well." Hansuke said.
"Isn't there a way to break the curse?" Tomoe asked.
"The only way to break it is to defeat Naraku." Hansuke said.
"So that's why you're searching for him?" Tomoe asked.
"Yeah." Hansuke said.
"So who's his grandson?" Masahiro asked.
"His name is Miroku and he's traveling monk. From what I've heard he's traveling with a half inu dog demon, a female taijiya, a nekomata, a kitsune cub, and a young priestess who are searching for Naraku." Hansuke said.
"At least he's alright." Akari said.
"But why aren't you traveling with him, Hansuke?" Shippo asked.
"He doesn't want me around him." Hansuke said.
"Why?" Reina asked.
"On the day when he witnessed his father's death, Miroku blamed me for not helping him…and then he told me to leave...and to never...come back." Hansuke said as tears were forming in his eyes.
