Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Pasts Uncovered	By : FlameWolf666 Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female Views: 4653 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own or profit from Inuyasha. This story is just for fun!

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Author’s Note: We finally meet old Totosai. Should be interesting.

Chapter Eight: The Old Swordmaster

    Soot filled the air around us as we got closer to the volcanic area ahead. Green grass was overtaken by blackened, rough looking rock. Just a few miles beyond that were several, huge volcanoes; more than a few oozing magma. Already, I could feel the heat baking against my skin and we were still quite a distance away from the worst of it. Feeling more than a little nervous, I couldn’t help but wonder if the picky weapon maker really would agree to craft a sword for me. After all, he usually only made swords for people he deemed worthy. There was every chance he would see me as below his skill and send us to another smith.
    As if sensing my thoughts, Kilala swooped close to Shippo so her passengers could give me a pep talk. “I know the territory seems intimidating but Totosai is a good guy. Most of this is to keep the cowardly from wasting his time,” Sango assured with a smile. Giving a small grin of my own in return, I kept my gaze on the rapidly approaching wasteland.
    “Do you really think he’ll make someone like me a weapon?” I whispered, not meeting her eyes as a barrier came up around the both of us.
    An amused chuckle finally tore me out of my brooding, my gaze moving to the slayer riding on the firecat beside me. “I’m guessing a certain hanyou has been telling tales. While Totosai may be a bit picky, he doesn’t just reject someone without good reason. Especially a young, pretty woman such as yourself,” she pointed out, earning a playfully grumpy look from the monk behind her.
    “You almost make it sound like he’s competition for most perverted,” the purple clad male complained good naturedly, ducking a swipe from the taijiya.
    “You’re the only person worried about something like that,” snarled the pink and black clad female, more humor than anger in her expression.
    Watching the pair, I could only shake my head; inwardly charmed by how similar they were to the anime I had watched while I was a teen. So far, almost everything had been amazingly close to what was depicted in the show. This, of course, raised all manner of questions. How had the creators known what had happened? Was it some, weird coincidence? Did all of this mean I was in another reality? All things I would likely never get an answer to. Still, I couldn’t complain that these thoughts were keeping me distracted from my own fears.
    As we began to get closer to the heart of the volcanic wastelands, however, these ponderings soon fled my mind. Once again, I felt anxiety fill my body. Especially when I saw the bony remains of a massive demon laying in the middle of a field full of active lava as well as obsidian. Its fanged mouth yawned open, cooled lava creating walls in the gaps of the ribs. There was even smoke tainted by sparks pouring out of its nostrils, making for quite the intimidating sight. It was no wonder that the smith didn’t get much company. Only my knowledge that he was just an elderly demon kept me from going into outright panic mode.
    Feeling my heart jump into my throat while we descended, I forced myself to take a slow breath to calm my nerves. After all, the worst that could happen was that he would say no. It wasn’t like he was going to kill us. In fact, Totosai seemed to be almost a pacifist. Rather ironic, given the fact he made weapons for a living. Sliding off Shippo and onto the blackened ground, I found myself grateful for Inuyasha’s barrier when I felt a phantom of the heat around us lick at my skin. I would be more than glad to be out of there as soon as possible. As much as I wanted to be more useful to the group, I had no desire to be reduced to a steaming puddle on the croggled, uneven obsidian.
    Watching while the others got into position on the ground, I instinctually moved toward Inuyasha for protection. Despite being able to use my own attacks, I knew for a fact he was much more powerful than I was. There was also the little fact he was considered the alpha of this group. Everyone was supposed to follow his lead, me included. As if to illustrate this fact, the rest of the group fell behind the hanyou as well. Giving all of us a cursory glance, he led the way to the strange entrance, the sound of metal hitting metal becoming more noticeable as they got closer.
    Raising his closed fist, Inuyasha knocked on one of the fangs of the massive skull. “Oi! Old man! Ya got visitors!” he bawled out rudely. Almost immediately, I face-palmed while Kagome simply gave him a dumbfounded glare. Shaking her head, the teen stormed up behind him; giving him a light smack across the back of his head. Spinning on his heel to glare at his assailant, all his aggression instantly faded away for apprehension as well as a little bit of fear.
    “Couldn’t you have been just a little more polite? Last thing we need is for Totosai to get offended and refuse to see Jade,” hissed an irritated whisper that made the inu’s triangular ears lower. Before he could respond, a plume of smoke billowed out of the open maw of the dead beast.
    “Still disrespectful I see. Ah, if only your father could see how you treat this poor, old man,” wheezed a wavery, elderly sounding, male voice as a hunched silhouette slowly became visible in the thick smog.
    Gradually, a hunched, withered youkai came waddling out; leaning heavily on a long handled hammer with his bulging eyes closed and an expression of deep pain on his wizened features. “He would be so ashamed of how you treat your elders. Especially the one responsible for the upkeep of your precious weapon,” he complained, his goatee swaying comically while he spoke. To my amusement, the very tip of the small crop of facial hair was burned black. Likely due to the fact he was a fire-breather. Opening his bulbous eyes, he turned his head to focus on me with his abnormally tiny pupils.
    “And in front of new customers too,” he continued, shaking his head while making his way toward me.
    For all appearances, he looked like any elderly man. He was hunched from arthritis, skin wrinkled and hair completely white with age. A tattered, green and blue striped kimono draped his shriveled frame and he wore no shoes on his feet. The only things about him that gave away his true heritage were his pointed ears, fangs and claws. Feeling all my nerves return in a rush, I bowed my head deeply; showing him the utmost respect I could. “I apologize for the behavior of my alpha and hope you won’t hold it against me. If you can find it in your heart, I would appreciate it if you could make a sword for me,” I murmured, my heart beating a staccato against my breastbone.
    “My! And I thought such courtesy was dead. Certainly couldn’t tell from how your leader acts! I would be happy to fulfill your request but ya gotta show me what you can do! If you have any powers, I’ll want to properly enhance them,” he cooed, crossing his arms and backing away to allow me room.
    Apprehensive about showing my powers to a stranger, I closed my eyes and forced myself to take a deep breath. Gathering the flames that now dwelled inside me, I forced them into my closed fists before taking one of the stances Inuyasha had taught me. With a few, quick punches in the air, I sent out a flurry of fireballs toward a near-by volcano. “I can also heal minor wounds but I don’t get as much opportunity to practice that one. Just healing the most superficial cut takes it out of me,” I murmured, lowering my hands while I turned to face the youkai smith.
    A thoughtful expression was on his wizened face, an arthritis twisted hand rubbing his rounded chin. “Take Inuyasha’s sword for a moment. I have a hunch a katana would suit you just fine,” he requested after a moment, a sparkle in his bulging eyes. Nodding, I held out my hand, wrapping my fingers around the weathered hilt that was placed in my palm. Balancing myself, I took a few swings; showing off my rather clumsy technique.
    “That’s fine. Come inside, all of you. I’ll tell you what we need to do next once we’re all settled,” Totosai commanded, turning around to shuffle his way back to his home.
    The small group fell in step behind him, me trailing behind everyone else. All my anxiety had left for a rather self depreciating feeling. A large part of me wondered why I had been so scared to begin with. Shippo, who had hopped up on my shoulder after the demonstration, decided to add a bit of salt to my wounds. “See? That wasn’t so bad,” chirped his scratchy voice while a tiny hand patted the top of my head. Gritting my teeth, I fought against a sudden urge to fling the youkai child into the distance.
    “Thanks,” growled out of me, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
    “Though, something bothers me,” he continued, acting like he was oblivious to my ire.
    “What’s that?” I hissed, not even bothering to keep my irritation out of my tone.
    “When you referred to Inuyasha as our alpha... Not just anyone would know about that. In fact, only people that know about youkai should even be aware that’s what the dynamic of the group is,” came a declaration that almost stopped me in my tracks. If it weren’t for the threat of instant incineration, I would have frozen in place.
    Looking up at my tiny passenger with wide eyes, I saw a disconcertingly sly expression on his young face. With a wink, he tapped his nose while smirking down at me. “Also, while you smell like you came from the same time as Kagome, you smell a lot different than her,” he pointed out quietly as I forced myself to keep walking toward the open maw of the skull.
    “I bet the others have a few questions as well after the display you put on for Totosai,” whispered his falsely sympathetic voice as I stepped over the shorter fangs that were near the front of the jaw.
    “Don’t worry though, I’m willing to help cover for you. Provided you come clean what your deal is with me later on tonight,” rasped an ultimatum before he was hopping off my shoulder to join the others.
    I could only watch, not feeling all that surprised. After all, he was a kitsune. Add that to the fact he had already hinted that he knew something was strange and it would have been a matter of time before he’d made this ultimatum. Yet, this didn’t leave me feeling any less rattled. Sitting on a ratty blanket that had been laid out, I forced myself to focus on the elderly youkai that was sitting at the head of our group. After all, I had more things to worry about in the present. “Now that we have everything settled, what will we be using to make this weapon?” came a question that only proved me right.
    Despite the encounters we’d had on the way, I had found nothing that would make suitable material. Opening my mouth to tell him this, I was interrupted by a certain hanyou. “I’ll give ya one of my fangs old man. Nothing else would do for a member of my pack,” he offered, taking all of us completely by surprise. Everyone stared up at him like he had grown two heads, Kagome and I far more flabbergasted than the rest. Then, with a sniffle, the teen was throwing her arms around her crush; thanking him over and over for his selfless sacrifice. After all, the giving of a fang was never done frivolously.
    “Inuyasha...,” I managed, losing myself to the moment and forgetting the fact I was supposed to have no idea what the significance of the gesture was. It was only when I felt eyes on me that I noticed I was now the center of attention.
    There were expressions of curiosity as well as slight suspicion on the individuals before me. Almost instantly, I felt the urge to curl up in the tiniest ball possible. An urge I had to fight for the sake of staving off suspicion. Feigning some confusion myself, I tilted my head to one side while widening my eyes. “What?” whispered out of me, making the others go from on the defensive to seeming slightly guilty. The only exception was Inuyasha. The half dog youkai had his ears lowered slightly, golden eyes narrowed while they locked on me. It was almost like he thought I was a copy of Naraku’s, an assumption I couldn’t really blame him for.
    Thankfully, Totosai took it upon himself to break the almost oppressive silence. “Very well then. Inuyasha, get over here and sit down,” he ordered, bringing us back to the matter at hand. Giving me one last, suspicious glance, the half-breed went over to the man that had made not only his weapon but that of his half brother as well. Despite his silent doubts, he opened his mouth compliantly; swearing loudly when the smith yanked out one of his upper fangs.
    “Yes, this should do nicely. Come back in three days and I’ll have ‘er all fixed up fer ya,” came a dismissal that had me feeling uneasy all over again.
    Once we left the skeleton turned cave, the group would no doubt have questions for me. Questions I wasn’t sure I could answer without fucking things up for everyone involved. It was bad enough I was interfering with their timeline as much as I was. If I told them where and when I had come from, they would likely want me to give them information about the future. Yet, I had no choice. I couldn’t lie to them if they confronted me. If I tried that, it would only engender more mistrust. So, reluctantly, I followed behind them when they began to exit Totosai’s home.
    Climbing onto Shippo, I fought to keep my breathing even as we rose into the sky. Only this time, my anxiety was not due to heights. I could feel Sango and Miroku’s eyes on me and could only imagine what Inuyasha and Kagome were thinking. “What do I do now?” I wondered out loud, not really expecting an answer.
    “Just follow my lead. You’ll be okay,” assured a scratchy voice that made me jump. After a few seconds, I realized it had been Shippo.
    Looking down at the pink balloon I was was riding on, I felt gratitude and hesitation well up inside me at the same time. “What’s the catch?” I whispered, dreading the response. When I only got a chuckle, I felt the fine hairs on the back of my neck rise. Shaking my head, I let out a sigh.
    “Thanks but... wouldn’t it be better if I just told them the truth? While its a bit of a risk, it might help them trust me more. Whereas if I keep it a secret...,” I murmured, letting the end of the sentence hang.
    “That’s true but, are you sure they’re ready? That you’re ready?” the young fox under me pointed out, making me question if I was doing the right thing after all.
    Confused and unsure, I felt a chill settle over my skin as I watched the trees below gradually get closer. Soon I wouldn’t have much choice. I had to make up my mind quickly. But which was the correct answer? Which answer would make the least amount of impact on the people I now called my friends? I really had no idea and, to make things worse, Shippo was offering me a very easy way out. Placing my face in my hands, I simply sighed and cursed the Gods above while we continued to descend. “So, what are ya gonna do?” whispered a very unwelcome question that only heightened my anxiety.
    “I have to tell them the truth. To keep trying to lie or hide it... it feels wrong! Especially when they have to trust me while I’m in the group. Their lives are likely going to depend on me at some point, after all,” sighed out of me while my shaking hands lowered to clasp into tight fists on my thighs.
    The transformed kit below me stayed silent, the ground getting closer every second. All too soon, we were close enough for me to slide off. Yet, for the first time, I found myself reluctant to do so. It felt much safer on top of Shippo’s balloon-like body for the time being. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t a feasible option. Not only could the kitsune hold his new form for a certain amount of time but it was downright disrespectful to the others in the group to talk to them from such a great height. Reluctantly, I slid off the squishy, pink balloon; not even blinking when it shifted immediately back into the fox kit.
    Soon, Kirara was landing next to us while Inuyasha skidded into the clearing with Kagome clinging to his back. All of them were staring at me with a mixture of curiosity as well as suspicion, filling me with the extreme urge to just run into the forest and never look back. Instead, I stood my ground; determined to face whatever they could throw at me. “How did you know about pack dynamics?” Sango whispered before a certain hanyou could. Flinching slightly, I met her dark eyes carefully while taking in a breath to steel my nerves.
    “While I come from the future like Kagome, its a different future than hers,” I began, pausing to allow this information to sink in. Just like I feared, their confusion only deepened. All, except Kagome.
    Quirking a brow, she only looked more curious. “Like an alternate timeline? Or further in the future?” she questioned, her chocolate eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement. Apparently, the girl had been learning a few things about Particle Physics in her free time. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked such pointed questions.
    “More like another reality entirely. One where... where all of this is nothing but an anime on TV,” I hesitantly answered, bracing myself for the storm. Once again, the only person that really reacted like they knew what I was talking about was the sixteen year old miko from the future.
    In fact, her jaw was now dropped and all the color had drained from her face. She only regained her composure when she noticed the blank looks the others were giving us. Realizing she would have to explain to them, she pulled them aside while I was left alone. Taking a moment to sit with my back against a near-by tree, I watched as confusion faded for more questions as well as doubts about what I’d told them. Rubbing my temples, I silently prayed they would at least see that the story was so outlandish that I would have no benefit to make something like that up.
    Staring up at the sky through the crowded leaves above me, I became aware of the fact I was no longer alone. Moving my head slightly, I met the highly confused, golden eyes of the hanyou I had admired throughout my teenage years. “I don’t understand any of this, even after Kagome explained it but... so far you’ve seemed like you’ve wanted nothing more than to help. In fact, you’ve gone out of your way to learn how to fight as well as use your powers to our advantage. I just don’t think you have any ill will toward us,” came an announcement that seemed to make reality grind to a halt.
    For a few moments, I thought for sure I hadn’t heard him right, that he had kicked me out of the pack. Then his words really sunk in and tears began to well in my eyes. Seemingly horrified by my show of emotion, the squeamish half-breed jolted backward before reaching for Kagome and using the poor girl as a shield. Chuckling while wiping my streaming eyes, I simply shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Thanks Inuyasha. It really means a lot to me that you guys already trust me so much. I’ll do my best not to let you down,” I assured before pulling the flailing male into a tight hug.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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