Run

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the other amazing characters!


“You’re it!” Kaori giggled as she sped away from her brother.

“Not for long.” He retaliated as he chased after her.


Their teachers had decided to give them the day off, and like most children their age they were determined to devote it entirely to play. Tag was this hour’s game of choice. The two tumbled behind the hut and through the thin line of trees that served as a barrier, hiding them from the human village. Finally they came to rest by the small creek bordering the quaint town. When they took in their surroundings they were shocked to find themselves surrounded by the unfriendly faces of the village children.


After a moment of awkward silence Yasuo straightened himself and bashfully asked “Would you like to play with us?”

“Why would we want to play with filthy half-breeds like you?” Sneered a particularly bold boy

“I don’t understand,” Yasuo responded, racking his brain for a logical reason as to why they refused to play “why not? What makes us so very different from you?”

“Have you seen yourself lately?” laughed the boy “You’re disgusting!”

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” Shouted Kaori, reflexively lengthening her claws.

‘Stop.’ Thought Yasuo, desperate to calm his fuming sister ‘Don’t you remember what we were taught? We are not to harm humans!’

‘Just one’ She thought ‘Who is going to miss one little human?’

‘We’ll get mother in trouble! If you kill him, they’ll kill her…wouldn’t you miss her?’


Kaori immediately calmed at these words, but it was too late, one of the children had run home frightened with tales of two enraged ‘unprovoked’ half-demons. The twins were too absorbed in their thoughts to notice the village head stalk up behind them and grab them by the scruffs of their necks.


***


“They were obviously sent by Naraku.” Inuyasha stated


The group had been discussing the recent attack on their home. Other than the fact that they were identical to Naraku’s demon horde, they had gotten no where


“But why?” Kagome questioned “Why now? What is he planning?”

“Perhaps,” Miroku suggested “perhaps it was his way of calling us out of hiding, and the only reason why he would do that is if he is stronger than before.”


A short silence followed Miroku’s words as each member of the party tried to come up with a possible explanation for the attack. Finally Rin came forward.

“But how could he…”


She was cut off mid-sentence by a loud rap on the door. Before any could even move to answer it it was flung open revealing an angry village head and two fear-stricken half-demons.

“I believe these are yours.” The man spat as he flung the two onto the floor. “We had an agreement. You can stay as long as you keep your rats as far away as possible! Keep them out of you’re out. Do I make myself clear?”


And with that he swept out of the room. As soon as the door slammed shut all eyes were on the two frightened children huddled on the floor.

“We only wanted to play.” Kaori said, allowing all her hurt to seep into her words.

“They called us filthy half-breeds.” Yasuo added, fighting back his tears.


Their mother was instantly beside them, embracing them as if they would never see each other again in an attempt to chase away their sadness. They snuggled into their mother trying as hard as they could to hide their tears. They were supposed to be warriors, and warriors didn’t cry.


***

That night as the twins slept soundly the group continued their discussion.

“You know,” Sango commented “When they fight as hard and well as they do, you sometimes forget that their children.”

“Yes well, they need to toughen up, you can’t cry every time you get picked on.” Shippo remarked.

“Oh really? I seem to remember a certain young demon who cried on a daily basis because of being teased by Inuyasha.” Miroku chuckled.


Shippo blushed as the adults around him laughed; muttering what could only be a denial. When the group settled Kagome was the first to speak.

“Naraku is planning something, and whatever it is, I don’t like it.”

The rest nodded.

“Listen,” Rin began “I don’t know much about this demon other than what you’ve told me, but this is obviously a trap, and I’ll be damned if I let you fall into it. You are part of this family now. We still need you and your guidance; don’t leave us now when we need you most.”

“I’m sorry, but until Naraku is dead, we cannot settle. It’s obvious we’ve stayed too long, Naraku knows where we are and more frightening, he knows of you. The sooner we leave the better. The longer we stay here the higher the chance that you or even the twins will be involved.” Inuyasha responded.


Rin remained silent at these words; there would be no reasoning with him or any of them now.


“I think it would be wise to resurrect a barrier as long as we’re staying here. It might not last long, but if Naraku decided to attack it would keep him at bay until we were ready. We could potentially gain the upper hand merely by being prepared.” With that the young monk got up to leave.

“Wait!” The slayer called “Let me join you…to…keep watch while you work.”

She blushed furiously for she knew what the others were thinking, save perhaps Inuyasha. As the couple left Rin and Kagome giggled before settling down to rest. Inuyasha on the other hand sat against the far wall making plans for the next day. He would wait until about mid-morning before insisting that they leave.


***

“So…we’re going to leave tomorrow aren’t we?” Sango asked sounding rather downcast.

“It would appear so. What’s bothering you Sango?”

“It’s just…since Naraku destroyed my village I’ve had this empty feeling and since I’ve come here that feeling has left, and now I know why. This place, it feels just like my old home. Miroku, I don’t want to leave home again.”


Miroku turned away from the barrier he had just created to face a very distressed Sango. He gently called her name as h e cupped her face with loving hands. Ever so softly he pulled her into a warm embrace, lowering them gently to the ground. She nestled into his chest as he pet her hair in a soothing manner gracing her forehead with the occasional tender kiss


“You know we’ll return, but Inuyasha was right, the longer we stay here the higher risk you run of losing your home again.”


There was a pause as Miroku continued to rub soothing circles into her back. Suddenly something caught his eye. He removed his hand from her back to search the ground below. He gently swept away a film of dirt to reveal an arrowhead from the daily training. Both gazed contently at it before Miroku reached into his robe and removed a long strand of black twine, a spare hair tie. He securely fastened the tiny arrowhead to the twine and then draped it around Sango’s neck. It was surprisingly elegant and seemed to embody her wild, untamed spirit.


“Here,” He said “now your home will go wherever you do.”

“Oh Miroku!” She cried flinging her arms around his neck and drawing him into a passionate kiss. Together they gazed through the tin water-like barrier at the breath-taking starry night sky. They remained there until they fell asleep, still wrapped in a loving embrace.


***

Meanwhile, under the very same moon, a less tender scene began to unfold. All elegance and composure forgotten, Lord Sesshoumaru tore through the once peaceful forest, scaring off a flock of resting birds. He stumbled towards a tree and in a fit of rage embedded his lethal claws into it. Finally he slid to the ground, raking his claws down the tree as he did so, leaving behind ten deep gashes in their wake. Tears openly fell from his eyes. He couldn’t believe she was actually gone. Why had she run? Didn’t she know? He loved her, he would always love her. Inuyasha! That bastard brother of his would pay! Clouded eyes began to drift shut, and there he rest, slumped under a mangled tree with a mind shrouded by revenge.


***

Sesshoumaru squinted his eyes against the intruding morning sun. It was improper for a lord to awaken so late in the day; however, he found that he no longer seemed to care. When he awakened fully he was stunned to find an elderly woman humming to herself as she collected berries. What a sad day it was when he, a demon lord, didn’t sense a mere mortal approach. She turned to stare at him with a curious look about her face.


Sesshoumaru stared right back, taking in her face with critical eyes. Deep wrinkles covered her leather skin. Her form was slumped and her clothes tattered, however an odd shimmering beauty was undeniable.


“Dost thou yet live?” She asked quizzically, cocking her head to the side.

“What do you mean woman?”

Again she repeated “Dost thou yet live?”

“I tire of your games, woman, either tell me the meaning of this or hold your tongue.”


The woman smiled an odd knowing sort of smile but did as she was told and remained silent.


“Enough of this!” Sesshoumaru snapped, clearly annoyed with her antics.


With that he rose to his feet and sped into the fresh morning light. As soon as he was no longer in sight the woman’s age began to melt away to leave behind a breath-taking beauty, the embodiment of love. She shook her head as she spoke to herself.


“He needs to figure it out on his own. I just hope he doesn’t do something he’ll regret.”


And in a burst of light she disappeared without leaving any evidence that she had even existed at all.


***


Rin awoke scratching the blue teardrop shaped mark on the inside of her left wrist. It had appeared there quite a while ago. In fact it was right before the twins were born, when she was still living with her pseudo-mother, Keiko. She found that every now and then it would begin to throb with pain, it usually only lasted about an hour, but it had been almost burning for three days now. She didn’t want to alarm the others; she supposed it was just a motherly instinct, so she kept it to herself. She gazed upon her wrist, holding in a gasp when a silvery wisp danced along the inside of the tear before vanishing, causing her to wonder if she was going insane.


She rubbed her wrist in an attempt to dull the pain and was rather surprised when she found that it had worked, at least for the time being.


***


Sesshoumaru stopped dead in his tracks. All thoughts left him, whatever he had been doing, whatever he had been feeling, it didn’t seem to matter. The pain, the pain he had been feeling was soothed. He felt a shiver run down his spine, these feelings they were, indescribable. An eerie warmth was spreading through the inside of his body, chasing out all the cold through his wrist.


He looked down at the tear drop on the inside of his left wrist; it had turned a brilliant shade of blue and was cool to the touch. Just as the last ounce of frost was about to be forced from his body he slapped his hand over his wrist. He didn’t want to forget his Rin. He was going to stop whatever force that was trying to ease his sorrow. He would morn for his lost mate, he would have his revenge.


…and then he would have his own life.


***

“What the hell are you waiting for?” Inuyasha shouted “It’s time for us to go. The first time we get a lead on Naraku in weeks and you suddenly turn all sentimental.”

“Inuyasha, sit.”

There was a loud thud as Inuyasha fell to the ground.

“We’ll miss you Rin.” Kagome said tearfully as she drew her friend into a hug. “We’ll come back, I promise.”

They turned to face Miroku and Sango giving their pupils some farewell hugs and reminding them to behave themselves. Sango walked over towards the two girls grinning sheepishly, she knew that they must have been talking about her and Miroku spending the night outside and finding themselves in a very awkward position when they were caught still snuggled together the next morning.


“Well?” Rin giggled

“We kissed, that’s all.” Sango assured them as she turned a lovely shade of crimson. “Oh and Rin”

“Yes?”

“In case we don’t make it back in time, give these to the twins on their 16th birthday.” She said as she handed over two wrapped bundles.


Rin nodded as she drew the slayer into a hug.


The sun was in its highest position by the time the traveling warriors departed. Tears fell from each member of the family’s eyes as they waved farewell to their extended family. The twin’s minds were a torrent of thoughts, but one thought stuck out in particular, and that was the farewell that Inuyasha had given them.


***

“Kaori, Yasuo.”

“Yes Inuyasha”

“I know I’ve been a hard teacher, but I’m really proud of you both, you have become fine warriors, but now I must tell you something else, something that is, perhaps, more important. I heard you the other night when you were talking about how Kaori and I look so similar. That is because you are my kin.”

“I know, we heard mother say that all of you were part of our family now and that…”

“No, I mean that I am actually your uncle. Your father…he is my brother.”


***


The twins sat on the road long after their mother went inside to prepare dinner, staring at the hill that their mentors and family had just disappeared over. When the sun began to sink into the horizon the two made their way back towards the border of trees in which their home was nestled. They were about half-way there when a clod of well aimed dirt exploded on the back of Yasuo’s head.


They turned to see the village children armed with dirt. They sneered as they let loose another hail of ammunition. They were stunned when the two dodged the bullets with ease and flipped back into the protective lining of trees. Seeing that they could no longer harm them physically they gang of children decided to move to their next plan, emotional damage.


“Black rose, black rose
Stab you in the back rose,
Never trust the half-breed,
We all know what they need,
Blood, blood,
Blood to feed the hanyous,
Yes, yes, it is true,
Blood to feed the hanyous,
Black rose, black rose.”


The evil little song was sung by a choir of children, who watched with wicked eyes as the twins returned to their home.


The song was sung so often that Kaori and Yasuo had become known as the ‘Black Rose Twins’. For that is what they were, a black rose upon the town, a dirty secret whispered about each day. It pained the twins to hear the song every day, but it hurt their mother so much more. It killed her to hear the sound of an entire town mocking her children and not being able to do a thing about it.

YAY! ANOTHER CHAPTER! Yes, this chapter was written in Chemistry and Algebra, but I’m doing well in those classes, I promise. B’s, b’s aren’t bad! So I finished the show I was in, it was a smashing success! I’m a wee bit sad it’s over, but oh well! I don’t really have much to say about this chapter. I like it, I’m not sure why, but I really do. I’m particularly proud of the song; it didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would to write. I suck at rhyming so, as bad as the song is, it’s amazing quality as far as my poem and song writing ability goes. Oh speaking of writing during class. I read a challenge the other day and I really liked it! It’s a Kag/Inu fic, and I’ve just been playing around with it a bit during class…and…well….I think I’m going to write another story…when I finish this one that is!


To My Fantabulous Readers


Lady_Hoshi- I’m glad you liked that last chapter! I tried to fit in a bit of Rin/Sess connection there for you…hope you enjoyed! Sorry it took so long to up-date, I’ll try to be faster in the future!

Dimepieceleo- Teehee, yes, my mind is evil, it is a very frightening place. You should visit sometime; we are having a holiday special, half price on all condos! Hope you found this chapter satisfactory!

Ren-How are you my dearest? I wish I had your chemistry teacher…mine sounds like a bear! I went to your deviant art and it blew my mind! I actually just started one myself…it’s called death_by_tampon…you should visit it sometime! I also sent you an e-mail, I hope you got it!

New Fan-HOLY CRAP! I never thought of the whole Sesshoumaru will think that they’re Inuyasha’s kids thing! WOW! THANK YOU…good idea…*makes a mental note*. I’m glad my plot twist was to your liking!

Chew- I LOVE YOU TOO! Come, let us start a new life together! I’ll bring the plot line and you can bring the food and it’ll be a party! I agree, Naraku is one evil bastard! And don’t worry, I won’t kill Inuyasha…or will I? MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Frimmy- I laughed really hard when I read that…I can’t believe you threatened me with jakotsu’s sword….THAT WAS AMAZING! And yes…I am Naraku! *Rips off baboon pelt* HAHAHAHA! Yeah…no. We’ll just pretend that I didn’t just say that…*slowly backs away*

I GIVE UP; I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR NAME MEANS! TELL ME!

Altari- Hahaha…oh I’ll give you more, more than you bargained for! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Inu2Neko5- I’m glad you like it. Always good to have a fan!

Animegirl007-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW the twins know that Inuyasha is their uncle! Hehe! I’m glad that you enjoy! And I’ll keep writing just as long as you keep reviewing!

Hiro- That comment was amazing and informative! Now I know how to insult people in Italian! Thank you!

Frimmy(2)- That is a good point. I might change it later. Chances are I won’t I’ll probably be to lazy…but I might!

Frimmy(3)- That was the greatest review ever. I am now convinced that you are my twin and that we were separated at birth. The utter randomness of that review is enough to make me say…I love you, you made my whole day better!

Lady-Hoshi(2)-sorry it took so long, I hope this is to your liking!

Ren(2)-Here you go!

Kaitlyn-I’m glad you liked the chapter, and I’m sorry that I made you sad! I do like chemistry…but I like writing this so much more!

Sphinx-He might…DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!

Megan Consoer-Always good to have another reader. I would just like you to know that I started to write this chapter after reading your comment…it moved my writers block induced soul!

Hiro-Death by tampon kicks ass! You can’t tell me that that wouldn’t be cool. Maybe I’ll have Kagome kill someone like that later.

Anon-CONTINUATION FOR YOU!

Sphinx (2)-Honestly…I have no idea how or when it is going to end!