Timeless Love

Chapter Eleven: When we're all betrayed


Chiyoko woke up early the next morning. After a nice hot shower she went down stairs to help her mother with breakfast.

“Good morning dear. Your father wanted me to tell you to change your clothes. You’re going with him today.”

“What? And miss school?”

“Yes, but just for today. Besides there’s no school tomorrow I’ll go in and grab your homework for you. We’ll call it a sick day.”

“Are Eien and Hana coming too?”

“No your dad just wants you.”

“Where are we going?”

“To be honest dear I have no idea. He won’t tell me anything. I’m not even invited.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I guess I’ll be down in about five minutes.”

Not sure where her father was taking her Chiyoko had a hard time finding what to wear. “This shouldn’t be so hard. papa almost always wears his fire rat outfit.” Reaching into the closet she pulled out a suite that matched her father’s time. Sango had given it to her. The warrior outfit was an old outfit from Sango’s village that was silver and black. She looked in the mirror and studied herself. The outfit was tight fitted but felt perfect against her skin. Sliding her fingers down the sides of her body she couldn’t help but wonder what the material was made of. It was silky but at the same time tough.

After putting on the boots she headed down stairs for the second time that morning.

“WOW. Honey you look even better in that outfit then Sango did back in the days. You look beautiful.” Kagome said.

“Ain’t it kind of hot out side for that outfit?” Inuyasha interrupted.

“Inuyasha, Sango wore that kind of outfit all year long and never complained. The material it’s made out of something that adapts to the weather. It’s perfect any day of the year.” Kagome gave Chiyoko a loving smile as she put Inuyasha in he’s place “You just think it shows off to much of her body!” Inuyasha didn’t say a word letting Kagome know she was right.

After breakfast Kagome left to take Eien and Hana to school. Chiyoko and Inuyasha sat down at the table having another cup of tea before they were to leave for the day. The conversation started out with school and then when into hunting. Inuyasha knew what he really wanted to talk to his daughter about but didn’t know how to start that particular conversation. Kagome was always the one with the good communications skills. Finally things got quiet as they ran out of small talk.

“Papa, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Why do you think I want to talk to you about something specific? Can’t a guy just talk to his daughter with out being accused of have a reason?”

“Yes, but the look in your eyes says you’re having a hard time trying to tell me something.”

“You’re a lot like your mother. That’s what I love about you most. You share the same kind, giving, loving, and understanding heart as Kagome.” Inuyasha smiled at her finding comfort in her kind eyes.

“Papa whatever it is that’s bothering you I’m sure it will be okay.”

“I need to ask you a personal question and I need you to be honest with me.”

“Youkai’s oath.”

“What’s going on with you and Shippo?”

A rose pink tint ran across her cheeks. The question had taken her by surprise. “I don’t know. Uhmm… we both like each other.”

“Is that all?”

“…” She wasn’t sure what to say. Did he want her to tell him how much they liked each other? Or did he find out some how that Shippo was in this time and wanted her to confess to seeing him there.

“Maybe that’s not the right question. Shit. This is harder then Kagome makes it look. Okay let’s try this, did you know….No wait, I got it. For how long did you…No, no, no. Damn it, I don’t know how to word this stupid question.”

“Well, why don’t I make it a little easier on you and tell you everything. For the last three years I’ve liked this guy who I saw everyday as I went to school and came home. We all call him the mystery man. I would tell Shippo all about him. I thought Shippo was okay with it but it turns out he’s jealous of the guy. Anyway, Rei told me a few months back that Shippo likes me. After I found out I noticed that I actually liked him too. The more I noticed it the more I liked him. I started liking Shippo so much that I paid my mystery man less and less attention.”

“Then why did you kiss him?”

Her face turned bright red at Inuyasha’s question. “How did you know?”

“Chiyoko I have a perfect sense of smell. Not only did I smell the fact that you kissed him but I could smell exactly how much you love him.”

“Papa, I wasn’t cheating on Shippo. You have to know that. I think I’m in love with him. He doesn’t know how I feel about him yet, but I love him. And I didn’t mean to hurt him that day. Even though I know I did. But when I noticed… … .”

“He knows how you feel about him.”

“I don’t know what to do papa. How can my heart play such a mean trick on me? My mystery man turned out to be Shippo when he’s older. I love both of them as one, how is that possible?”

“I don’t know but I can understand how you feel completely. Your mother and Kikyo both shared the same soul. The day I realized I wanted Kikyo to be my mate our souls we’re bonded. You see many kinds of demons will mate for life and their souls will be forever connected. After Kikyo died and I meet Kagome I was still bonded to that soul and I fell in love with your mother. When Kikyo was resurrected my soul became divided. Just like you I loved both of them as one even though they were two different people. Kikyo died trying to purify the sacred jewel. It was hard for me to know I would never see her again but I was also finally given some peace. My soul mate was still with me and my heart was no longer in two places. You don’t have to make a choice; fate will make it for you. But let me ask you this, if either one of your Shippo’s asked you to be their mate tonight, what would your answer be? And I want the truth!”

Chiyoko thought for a moment. First she thought what her answer would be if Shippo in the past asked her. She could see herself living in the past and never returning to the present. She could grow old with all of her friends and live a simple and happy life. Then she thought of the present day Shippo. She thought she’d be happy having a career and living the rest of her days with Shippo in a modern world. “I don’t know which life I’d rather have. I guess in truth if either one of them asked me tonight, that’s the one I would make my life with. I don’t know which one it would be but I do know he's my soul mate. ”

“Come on I want to take you somewhere.” Inuyasha got up and took the tea cups into the kitchen. After washing them out, he and Chiyoko went for a walk. After walking down a few blocks Chiyoko started to wonder were they were going. “Papa, where are we going?”

“To take a peek at the class that trains at this time. It’s a different kind of fighting, it’s called boxing. Master Yoshi teaches it. In fact he teaches just about every kind of fighting ever invented. Master Yoshi lived a hard life but through it all he traveled and learned many things.”

They finally stopped and peered through the window. Chiyoko watched the old man skillfully training about ten men. She studied the man’s face finding something that pulled her soul to him. Touching the glass softly with her finger tips she felt something inside want to scream. Her heart started to beat fast as she was pulled into a trans.

Inuyasha watched his daughter closely as she started to lose grip on herself. Breathing in Inuyasha could smell the love her soul was giving off. ‘She doesn’t know its Shippo yet her soul calls out to him.’ He placed a hand on her shoulder waking her from the spell she was under.

“Chiyoko, that man right there is my best friend and I would do anything for him to see him happy. He’s a good man. You know, he’s got his eye set on marring you and if there’s anyway I can make that happen I’m going to do it.”

“But papa, I don’t want to marry master Yoshi. I want to marry Shippo.”

“Oh, yeah I forgot. It’s just that for a moment there you looked like a little girl drooling over her favorite piece of candy.”

“I was not. I just was drawn to his style of fighting.” Chiyoko partly lied to her father. ‘There’s something about that man that makes me want to get up close and study his face. I don’t know why.’ She thought to herself as they started walking away.
* * * * * * * * * * *

Inuyasha stopped at the entrance when they arrived at the well. He knew she had no idea that this will be the last time she saw some of her friends because this would be her last trip down the well.

“Papa, why did you stop? Is everything okay?”

She saw sadness in his eyes that reached to the bottom of his soul. Never in her life had she seen him this sad.

“Papa?”

“I was just thinking. I’ve always taken this well for granted.”

A small sad smile washed across Chiyoko’s face. “I guess in a way we all do.”

Inuyasha sorrowfully smiled back at her. “Let’s go see your friends.”

Chiyoko climbed on to the wells ledge, taking one last look at her father she jumped in and the blue light engulfed her as she floated through time. Inuyasha looked down the well into the darkness “Please forgive me Chiyoko. It’s what he wants.” With that said he followed her to the feudal era.

Landing at the bottom of the well Inuyasha grabbed his daughter and jumped out. Inuyasha had her last day there all planned out. The first thing they did was hunt. He knew the forest held so many memories for her. It was where she had spent most of her time growing up. It was her playground and the place where she learned how to hunt. She killed her first bad youkai there and it was also the place Shippo had saved her life. This would be the last time the two of them would enter the forest together and fight side by side. Not only were they able to catch a huge boar for dinner that night but they had also killed a youkai who was trying to eat some travelers.

After taking the dinner they caught back to the hut they quickly prepared the meat and gathered fire wood. After making sure everything was ready for the night they headed out to Miroku and Sango’s house.

Sango was pleased to see that Chiyoko was wearing the outfit she had given her. Being that it was all dirty from hunting Chiyoko and Yin decided to go for a bath in the hot spring.

The hot spring wasn’t too far from were Yin’s house was and within five minutes the two girls were ready to stripped down and take a bath. Chiyoko spot washed the outfit and hung it on a nearby tree to dry. Yin was already in the water relaxing when Chiyoko got in.

“Oh, this water feels so good. I don’t think anything relaxes me more then a dip in the hot spring.” Chiyoko said as the hot water covered her body.

“Yeah. I don’t know if it’s the hot water, the smell of the forest or the surroundings but whatever it is it sure does make me feel good!”

“I think it’s a mixture of all three.”

They soaked and talked for ten minutes before Chiyoko decided to tell Yin something she didn’t want the others to know.

“I know that soon you and Haruki are going to get married but what I’m about to tell you, you can’t tell even him.”

“I promise whatever it is I won’t tell a soul. I’ll bring the secret to my grave if that’s what you want.”

“Good, because what I about to tell you can change all of our lives if you ever tell anyone. And I have a feeling that wouldn’t be a good thing.”

“I understand.”

“I think I know why my dad brought me here today. It’s because this is going to be the last time I come through the well.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because I meet Rei in my time and she told me a story about her best friend whose father made her move away from the man she loved.”

“Wait did you just say Rei is in your time?”

“Yes. Haruki and Shippo are there too. I found out a few weeks ago.”

“How did you find out?”

“Shippo had made a drawing of himself when we were working on one of my homework assignments. In the drawing he had a pair of human legs. One day when I was walking home from school I was listening to a song that made me think of Shippo. As I was crossing the street I saw my mystery man standing in front of me. When I looked into his eyes I saw the picture flash over his body. I was so shocked I just stood there. It was like we were pulled into a place were no one existed except for us, everything seemed to have stopped. Before I knew it a bus was about to hit me and he saved my life. When he held me in his arms it felt like … I was complete. You know. Oh yin, when he smiled at me and I saw his beautiful white fangs, I knew more then ever he was my Shippo, the one that I have always wanted. I knew he was my soul mate.”

“That’s so romantic.”

“Only problem is, is that I kissed him. I was so into the moment that I didn’t think. Anyway, that was the last time I saw Shippo in my time. After seeing Shippo I realized my homeroom teacher was Rei and instead of Shippo keeping watch over me on my way to and from school he had Haruki walk with me.”

“Wow. So what’s going to happen now?”

“Like I said according to Rei’s story, my father is going to take me away. That could only mean one thing; I’m not going to be allowed back down the well anymore.”

“What if Rei was wrong?”

“I don’t think she is. My dad has been acting strange all day. I don’t know if this all has to do with the Shippo in my time. But that’s probably the reason he doesn’t want me to come here any more. If it is, I can’t keep coming here to see Shippo. It would only hurt him. And I know my dad doesn’t want that. He and Shippo are really close.”

“Chiyoko, What if your whole theory is wrong. What if Inuyasha doesn’t want you to be with Shippo at all? I don’t know if any one has told you but Shippo isn’t allowed to ask for your hand in marriage.”

“What are you talking about? Where did you hear that from?” Panic and surprise filled her voice. How could that be right? If that was true why hadn’t anyone ever said anything to her about it? And If Shippo knew why did he leave her in the dark? Chiyoko listened to Yin hoping some how that she had the answers.

“Haruki told me a few weeks ago after we got engaged. He doesn’t understand everything yet but it has to do with something that happened when you were a baby. Whatever it was, Shippo’s not allowed to ask your dad. If I’m not mistaking, Haruki said your father has the right to kill Shippo if sees fit. That might be why the Shippo in your time left after you kissed him. Maybe he still loves you but because of your father…”

“Well, then I’ll just make sure Shippo never asks my dad. Tonight I’ll tell Shippo how I feel and if he asks me to be his mate then I will. I’ll become his mate tonight so my father can’t do anything to him. But if Shippo is too scared to ask me then at least he will know how I feel for him and maybe one day he’ll find the courage to ask me. Either way, I’ll find a way for us to be together.”

“Look, maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Maybe your dad just wanted a day for the two of you to be together. After all, it’s not like he can tell the future. His known for a long time that you and Shippo love each other, hell, we all knew. So what would make your dad all of a sudden not want you to come back here? Rei is probably right about you not coming back but I’m sure something is going to happen to make your dad do that. And it might not even happen for a long time.”

“Your right. But just to be on the safe side I think I’ll still talk to Shippo tonight. I could change the future for us and then we could be together. There’s no way in hell my dad will know what I’m about do. Who knows, maybe in the morning you’ll be saying hello to Mrs. Shippo.”

Chiyoko couldn’t help but to smile at the thought. Getting out of the hot spring they dried up. Chiyoko grabbed her outfit and put it back on. Yin also put on the matching outfit her mother had given her.

Several hours had passed by before Inuyasha and Chiyoko finally took their leave. The rest of the day went by pretty quickly. In the early afternoon Inuyasha went to go train with Shippo like always. This time however, the lesson was focused around defense. Chiyoko watched both of the men she loved fight in a practice battle. Of course, Inuyasha won each practice round.

Before long their training was over and Inuyasha told Chiyoko and Shippo they could play until dinner was done. The two of them walked slowly holding hands until they found their friends. After a few games of hide and go seek it was time for dinner.

It was almost like having a feast. All of their friends were invited to dinner. They ate and talked and had a great time. It wasn’t long after dinner that Inuyasha told the teenagers in the group that they could leave. As the kids started to leave, Inuyasha called out to Chiyoko. “Hey, your mother and the kids are just about ready to go home, so try not to be home to late. And be careful!”

“Shippo’s with me so don’t worry. He’ll make sure I’m safe. I’ll see you at home later. I love you.” Chiyoko gave her mother and father a kiss and hug as well as her brother and sister.

Shippo had being waiting for Chiyoko and was standing close to Inuyasha. Inuyasha grabbed hold of Shippo’s arm as Chiyoko said good night to her mother. “Hey, Shippo. It’s a nice night out. If it’s not asking too much can you take Chiyoko by the lake to look at the stars? She loves nights like this and I don’t know when she’ll be able to see another starry sky this beautiful. I was going to take her myself but I think she’ll enjoy it more with her friends.”

“Sure. I kind of was thinking about doing that anyway.”

Chiyoko finished her good nights and grabbed Shippo’s hand from Inuyasha. “Come on let’s go before we lose the rest of the group.”

Shippo smiled at Inuyasha and waved bye. “See you tomorrow for training!”

Inuyasha watch the two disappear into the darkness and then helped Kagome cleaned the last bit of the mess. He took the rest of his family home and prepared himself for what was about to happen. For a moment he almost didn’t go back down the well but he knew he had too if he didn’t want to lose his daughter forever. Besides it was what Shippo wanted him to do anyway.

Inuyasha entered the well. When he came out he was back in the feudal era. Jumping up into the Go-Shinboku tree Inuyasha sat down and waited.

Inuyasha didn’t wait long before Chiyoko and Shippo came into view. His heart sank seeing that what Shippo told him was in fact true. He listened as Shippo asked a question and Chiyoko gave him an answer.

“Chiyoko, what about that guy you have a crush on in your other time?”

“Shippo, I know I’m only fourteen, but believe me when I say I know my future is with you.”

When they reached her hut next to the well they both came to a stop. Still holding hands they faced each other. They simply looked at each other for a moment. It was the kind of look that holds a hidden message. Inuyasha watched the two of them as they slowly moved closer and then that is when it happened. Shippo reach in and kissed Chiyoko on her lips. The kiss was over almost as soon as it had started.

Chiyoko opened her eyes as the kiss ended and she heard Shippo whisper. It was almost as if he had no voice at all. She saw his lips move and heard the faint voice. “Chiyoko I love you more then life itself.”

In the same barely existent voice Chiyoko responded “I love you to Shippo.”

“Come with me tonight please. Chiyoko, do me the honor and become my...”

Their lips were just inches apart and that’s when Inuyasha noticed it. It had taken Inuyasha a few moments for him to realize they were talking to each other. He couldn’t hear what Shippo was saying but his mouth was moving. “Holy shit, he’s really going to try and steal her from me.” Some part of him secretly hoped Shippo was lying to him about that. Inuyasha somewhat felt betrayed. How could Shippo really try and steal his daughter away from him. They were best friends and yet Shippo was willing to just give that up so easily. Anger filled into Inuyasha’s heart. His own best friend was just about to stab him in the back.

Jumping down from of the Go-Shinboku tree Inuyasha called out from the darkness "Just what do you think your doing Shippo?” Shippo moved in front of Chiyoko as if to protect her as Inuyasha drew closer to them. “Chiyoko, go though the well now and you are never to return to this era again." Inuyasha demanded.


"But papa..." Her words fell deaf to his ears.


"Go now or I will kill Shippo this very moment!"


Chiyoko cried and headed to the well "I love you Shippo, I always will. Remember that!" then she did as her father told her and entered the well into her own time.
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