The Secret Kept

The battle with the wild demon had left the traveling companions weak and in need off rest. Inuyasha had guided them deep into a local forest littered with small hot springs. Kagome had explained to him more than once how the heat of the spring could be used to ease the muscles, and speed up healing.

Warm winds ruffled the hairs of the companions as they made camp for the night. Miroku and Shippo had gone to gather sticks for a fire while Kagome and Songo cleared the immediate area, where they would be camping for the night. When he entered the forest Inuyasha had been hit by the smell of a nearby river. He had decided to go fetch some fresh water, and catch fish for or dinner. Songo was a well-trained warrior and well equipped to handle any demon that came around. She was more than enough to protect Kagome while he was away from the pack.

Kagome herself was not incapable of fighting. As a miko her arrows mixed with spiritual powers were the perfect weapons for fighting demons, better even than Sango’s Hiratsu. The thing with Kagome was that even though she had a shit load of power she’s completely untrained. It was always best to have someone with her just incase something goes wrong. That girl really had no idea just how powerful she was. It would be really fucked up to come back and find that while trying to protect herself she ended up getting killed by her own power.

The river was seated at the foot of the local mountain, a steady stream running off of a waterfall. The surrounding land was clear, but for the grass and flowers that framed the water. It was clear to see that this was the local water supply for much of the forests animals. The river failed to disappoint him; it was filled with fish their colours spanning the rainbow.

“ Perfect for fishing.” He said as he moved to the river adage.

Reaching into the sleeves of his hoari he pulled out some of the water canteens that Kagome had brought with her from her time. Quickly Inuyasha made short work of filling the canteens and set about catching the nights dinner. Unlike humans he came well equipped with his own weapons, and needed only his hands for the fishing. With demonic speed his right hand slashed down into the water, when it came back up two speared fish hung form the tips of his fingers. It was only with the removal of the nights soon to be dinner that you could see what the dead fish had hidden. In place of human nails were the claws of an animal, a predator, and a creature nature had deemed best suited to killing. He repeated his actions several times till a small lump of fish sat beside him.

Soon he found himself more than ready to return having caught all the fish they would need. Packing up and placing the fish in a bowl he had also borrowed from Kagome he turn to leave behind the cool river and the cloud-capped mountain.

While lifting himself off the lush field he heard the trampling of leaves in the forest where it edged clearing. Though it could have been harmless wildlife, the speed and steady rhythm with which the leaves broke argued the point. Any happy thoughts he had about something harmless coming was washed away.

Most people moved quickly when they new that something most likely dangerous was coming their way. Inuyasha was not most people. Over two hundred years, (giver or take fifty depending on how you look at it) he was more than capable of taking care of himself. He knew that whatever was heading to the river was not about to change course; it couldn’t be avoided. By the time he turned to face forest edge he wasn’t alone.

A large white dog glared at Inuyasha as it stepped away from the forest. While the dog was in no way the same size of an Inu Youkai it was still bigger than most regular dogs. Its fur glistened in the waning sunlight, but it was the eyes of the animal that held Inuyasha’s attention. The beast’s eyes were blood red, though it didn’t look as if it were mad, but instead, it looked as if it were considering Inuyasha closely. Its eyes wondered over the hanyo’s body stopping at the two cone like dog ears that crowed the sliver white waves, and gave what seemed to be a nod of conformation. This dog had been looking for him.

“And what do you what pup.” Inuyasha asked frowning at the thought that some random inu would come looking for him. Even though he did ask the dog a questioned he never once expected animal answer.

“I am no pup Inuyasha,” The stray answered. The inu’s voice rushed out, a deep strong current carrying both age and wisdom alike.

“Not a pup huh, well I can see that now. Just what are you? You don’t smell like a demon, and you’re defiantly not a regular inu?” His eyes narrowed on the creature. This thing was odd, and could have easily be a creature sent by Naraku.

“What I am is not important, Inuyasha. I am Inushiro. I was sent here by your family to tell you that the time has come.” The last words fell like a cannon ball on Inuyasha. It was definitely not one of Naraku’s creations then, not if the animal was talking about that time.

Relations between his father’s side of the family had always been touchy, to say the least. If what the white inu said was true, that it came from his family, it meant his mothers side. It wasn’t often that he got to be around his mother’s family. They had thought it safer for him if the whole world was left ignorant about his full heritage.

Time, Inushiro had said that it was time. He didn’t need to question what Inushiro had meant. As a child his mother often talked to him about the time. Had so many years really gone by that it was already time. Kagome always said that time flied when you’re having fun; she never said anything about fighting. He could see all the times he had kill just to stay alive, their numbers far greater than any time he had been at peace.

“Has is been two hundred years already?” He asked himself not realizing that he had spoken out load.

“ Not really. It has been two hundred and four years, by how you’ve aged. Two hundred and fifty four year have gone by, from the time you wore born.” Inushiro answered, full aware that the question hadn’t been issued to him.

“What?”

“You forget that you were sealed for fifty years, you were sealed in your two hundredth year.”
“You must be bad at math that just makes up two hundred and fifty.” Inuyasha smirked.
“No, you have a bad memory. You’re also forgetting that it’s been four years since you were released from the god tree.” Inushiro pointed out with no small amount of sarcasm.

“I guess it really is time then,” and in that case he would have to be going soon. By the fifth sunset he would need to be at the meeting place. “ So are you gonna be showing me the way?”

“Yes,”

“ There are things that I need to do first.” He would have to tell Kagome and the others that he was leaving. He also needed to set up some protection for them. Knowing that bastard Naraku the moment he left, Naraku would attack.

The hanyo Naraku was a constant enemy of Inuyasha’s group, their archenemy, as Kagome would often call him. The evil hanyo was also looking to complete the Shikon no Tama, and tried to kill them whenever he got the chance. The bastard was the biggest pain in the ass ever, the amount of time he had been forced to kill one of Naraku’s creation had gone into the double digits.

Quickly Inuyasha moved to pick up the fishes that he had cached, along with the canteens he had filled, and head into the forest. “Wait for me here. I’ll be right back.” He spoke without looking back and didn’t see Inushiro turn to follow him.

It didn’t take look for Inuyasha to soon pick up the sent of the inu following him. “What the hell do you think you doing? I told you to wait.” He called back to his shadow.

“I am following you of course. I was ordered to also be your protector.” He said calmly, the running not even causing him to become breathless. It didn’t seem to take much for him to keep pace with Inuyasha.

“ I don’t need a protector, I can take care of my self.” Inuyasha shot back quickly. He more that able to taking care of himself, and had been doing so for a very long time. Why would he need the protection of some odd Inu?

“You will not be capable of doing so for some time. As it is your instinct will soon start governing much of your actions.” It was apparent to Inushiro that Inuyasha had forgotten some important details about his mating time. While they traveled he would need to fill young master Inuyasha in on some facts about mating time.

AN: Inushiro is a character that I made up. His name, if I’ve done written it right, should mean white dog. Okay so its not very creative but I am trying to keep all the name Japanese, making coming up with names even harder.