To Thine Own Self - Chap 3

[Lockon S.]

Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I didn?t own anything related to InuYasha. The characters created for this fanfic are mine and may not be used without my permission.

Stepping up the pace. Here's where the fun starts. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 3: Weakness

Despite the rising sun, it was getting darker in a swamp near the plains of Musashi. A short, green imp appeared out of the darkness. He walked down a frequently tread path in the muck, using his two-headed staff to push thorny brush aside. The odor was almost unbearable. It was a measure to keep sensitive nosed-demons from finding the secrets hidden deep within the swamp. The imp continued through the smell, holding his nose. He walked a narrow path between pools of demon acid filled with the bones of demons. The imp came to the base of an unusually large tree standing above all the others. The imp waited for only a moment when a ghastly voice called out to him.

?Jaken. Welcome. I have been expecting you.?
?Very good old friend, then we can get down to business.?

A pair of round, red eyes appeared the base of the tree. They were all that hinted at the creature?s preasence. Jaken was showing his serious side. He made regular visits to this demon?s keep. Only with unusual circumstances would he appear out of the blue.

?You wish to know about the unusual increase in demon activity. Specifically, the migration.?
?Your instincts are keen as always.?
?Thank you. Only the best service for the General who vowed to maintain my swamp.?
?It was your information that gave my army the upper hand during that war with the demons of the eastern mountains. You helped us many times when we searched for Naraku as well.?
?I am only too happy to help.?
?What of this migration? Not only have demons began increasing their activities, but many of them seem to be headed in the one direction.?
?South. I have seen and heard.?
?Why would so many demons migrate out of the blue like that.?
?They are not migrating. They are fleeing. Demons from the far north have entered this region. They are driving the local demons away from this area.?
?It?s an invasion??
?The fleeing demons seem to believe so, but I?ve only heard word of a few demons. Possibly one.?
?Are they powerful??
?As to be expected. Demons from the north are naturally stronger than demons of the eastern and western lands.?
?What is their intent??
?I do not know. Despite my sincerest of efforts, I have failed to locate anyone who may have been close to these northern demons, and survived.?
?That?s it??
?My apologies. I will send word if I learn of anything more.?
?I thank you for your services.?
?There is more. It is about your former underlings.?
?They don?t matter anymore. What is done is done. End of story.?

Jaken left, taking the same path as he did before. As the eyes vanished, the voice gave one last utterance to the emptiness of the swamp?

?So as it is for them.?

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The golden sun gently gave light to morning sky as it peered over the hills. The small village settled at the base of shrine was already starting to move. The light from sun finally gleamed into one of the huts, shining over Kagome?s sleeping silhouette. Warmed by the sun, she reached with both arms for her other, the source of her warmth. Her hands found the cold emptiness of the bed, and the feeling startled her. She opened her hazy eyes, and saw nothing. As Kagome realized InuYasha wasn?t there, she awoke and rose out of bed. Still groggy, she looked around the hut, seeing that he wasn?t there.

InuYasha sat at his usual perch in his usual tree. He watched the sun rise, the wind gently blowing his silver hair. He thought about his past life as the sun rose higher in the sky. It seemed like the dawn of a new day, but InuYasha still could not forget the past. That glint in his right eye brightened as sun?s light struck it directly. He remembered the past before Kagome, before even Kikyo. He was lost and alone. He wondered in sorrow, searching for that which would grant him peace in his heart.

?InuYasha??

InuYasha could hear Kagome?s voice from behind. He looked and saw Kagome. She was straining against the sun?s light to see him. Kagome had barely pushed the mat aside, and held her hand over her eyes to see InuYasha in the rising sun. She could barely see it. It was a look on InuYasha?s face Kagome didn?t see very often. He was worried about something. InuYasha dropped off of the tree and ran to Kagome. Something was bothering her.

?InuYasha??
?Kagome??
?What is it, InuYasha? What?s bothering you??
?It?s nothing.?

The typical response? and InuYasha was looking away. He couldn?t even lie to her directly. InuYasha should trust her. The normal reaction would?ve been to pry into his thick skull until InuYasha either caved or was made to sit, but things had changed. They?re married after all. This didn?t discourage Kagome. She had picked up on a few tricks from watching Mom and Sota. She softened her worried tone and opened the mat inviting InuYasha into the hut.

?InuYasha, why don?t you come inside? I?ll fix you breakfast.?
?What is this all of the sudden? Are you up to something??
?Not at all. Come on.?

Reluctantly, InuYasha followed Kagome into their hut. He watched Kagome suspiciously as he took little bites out rice she made for him. She hadn?t fixed anything for herself. She was just watching InuYasha eat.

?So what?s this all about? Why aren?t you eating??
?Don?t worry about me. I?ll get something here soon? Besides, I was worried about you.?
?Nothing?s wrong. You shouldn?t worry.?
?Really??
?Really.?
?By the way. Why have you been so grouchy lately? Is it because you haven?t been able to return to your own time??

Since Kagome was acting strange like this, InuYasha figured this was the safest time to ask.

?No, I?m not! I?m just pregnant, that?s all!?
?P? pregnant??
?Yeah! Pregnant. Pre-eg-nant. Haven?t you noticed??
?Wha! How did that happen??

Kagome?s expression went completely blank. She couldn?t believe the words that had come out of InuYasha?s mouth. He wouldn't accuse her of being unfaithful.

?Wha? What the? how did? what? ? You really don?t know??

InuYasha looked confused at Kagome?s response.

?You?ve gotta be kidding me. You don?t know.?
?Well??

InuYasha didn?t know what to think. He had never thought about these sorts of things. With Kagome giving him this look... <i>Was I supposed to know?</i> Kagome?s head dropped on the table. InuYasha was beside himself. What had he done?

?I can?t believe what I?m hearing.?
?Well? when did the bird show up??
?Eh? What bird??

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<i>?Hey, InuYasha?? Sota asked InuYasha.
?Yeah, what is it??
InuYasha was curious as to why Sota dragged InuYasha to his room and shut the door.
?Just between us guys, do you know how babies are made??
?Eh? Babies??
?Yeah. Mom said she?d tell me when I was older. I read this book that said a stork brings a baby to its parent?s, but there?s no way that?s true.?
?What?s a stork??
?It?s a bird. So is that what really happens??
?I dunno.?</i>

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?? No??

Kagome released a stressed sigh. She hadn?t realized that InuYasha was that clueless, especially considering since he did pretty well in playing his part. InuYasha was at a loss. On top of that, the tension was rising. <i>What the heck do I say?</i>

?So??
?Y-Yeah??
?Are you happy? about the baby??

Kagome seemed worried all of the sudden. She was vulnerable somehow. Every moment that passed seemed like a dagger pressing into her heart. InuYasha hadn?t realized what kind of an impact having a child would have on them. InuYasha knew it would happen someday, but he just hadn?t planned for it. Before he knew it, InuYasha had become a father.

?Kagome?? InuYasha said warmly, ?Of course I?m happy.?

Those were the magic words. Kagome?s spirit started to rise, her eyes brightening with happiness. InuYasha was about to reach for her when he noticed something was coming. There was no time!

?Kagome!?

InuYasha tackled Kagome just as the top of their hut was smashed. InuYasha quickly got up, pushing ruble off of his back. Looking down, he saw Kagome with small cuts on her shoulder. She opened her eyes to see if everything was all right.

?You okay, Kagome??

Kagome replied with a nod. InuYasha looked at what had caused the damage. It was some kind of beastly demon with wings. It was struggling to flaps its wings to fly away. Its behavior was odd, until InuYasha saw that its legs had been torn off somehow. The villagers began screaming in the background.

?Demons! Hundreds of demons!?
?Run!? a woman screamed, ?Demons are coming!?

InuYasha saw Tessaiga in the ruble and ran for it. He grabbed and turned to run for the village.

?InuYasha!?
?Stay down Kagome!?
?Wait, InuYasha!?

InuYasha had already ran off towards the village. Kagome pushed a few pieces of wood off of herself, and started to follow InuYasha. <i>Stay down, huh. I?ll show you who stays down.</i> Demons flew in from the sky, screaming and whaling as they descended on the village.

?Wind Scar!?

With one swing, the demons were blown away. More demons attacked from a different direction. InuYasha?s thoughts were only of Kagome. <i>You will never harm her.</i>

?Never!?

The first wind scar arced towards the second group of demons and struck them down as well. A small lizard demon bursts from ground right underneath InuYasha?s feet. It would?ve sunk its poisonous fangs into InuYasha?s leg, had Kagome?s arrow not pierced its head. InuYasha watched it drop to the ground. InuYasha looked to see Kagome with her bow, the bowstring still vibrating. Her hair and clothing swayed in the strong wind, the morning sun?s rays wrapping around her.

?Kagome?? InuYasha said with a small voice, ?Why did you come??
Able to hear him, Kagome smiled. ?Do you have to ask??

An ogre crashed near Kagome. Kagome quickly drew another arrow.

?I go this one!?

<i>Wait a second</i>? The arrow hadn't purified the demon, it just died. Kagome must?ve lost her spiritual powers somehow.

?Kagome! Get back!?

The ogre curled its huge fist into a ball and swung at Kagome to crush her. Kagome released her arrow. It was the ogre or Kagome. The arrow bounced off its thick skin. She hadn?t even slowed it down?

?Kagome!?