Unexpected Places

By: Pocahontas20

folder InuYasha AU/AR › Het - Male/Female

Rating: Adult ++

Chapters: 18

Views: 5,923

Reviews: 25

Recommended: 0

Currently Reading: 0

Category: InuYasha AU/AR › Het - Male/Female

Rating: Adult ++

Chapters: 18

Views: 5,923

Reviews: 25

Recommended: 0

Currently Reading: 0

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Wind Goddess

Wind Goddess

Rest. Peaceful sleep. Quiet. His mind was completely blank and no thought seemed to come across as to why he was asleep. The beautiful fleeting image of a woman surfaced behind his eyelids. Her silky shimmering silver-white hair that was pulled half back to stay out of her eyes. Those eyes… The richest cobalt blue eyes that spoke to him, calling him. They said everything without her spoken word. He knew those eyes very well. He knew this woman. Her sun kissed golden skin, the scars she tried to hide, the anguish, the compassion, determination, and finally resolution, tears, sorrow. Yes, he definitely and whole heartedly knew this beautiful creature. He opened his eyes and remembered – Neara.

Somehow he seemed to float within white nothingness. It reminded him of floating in water. Searching around, nothing was in sight except for the welcoming calmness of the light that surrounded his very being.

“Am I dead?”

It seemed quite silly to be talking to his self.

“I assure you this is not death,” a voice rang out all around him.

Startled, Inuyasha whipped all around trying to find the source. “Who are you? Who is this?”

“Forgive me. It’s been a while since I had form.”

In the distance, if there was such a thing in this, the shadow of a lone figure began its approach. Inuyasha watched hesitantly as the person grew. If he wasn’t dead then he really didn’t want a fight on his hands. Well, needless to say, the closer the person got the more familiar feeling they became. First thing Inuyasha noticed was that this person was a man, a golden skinned man; a golden skinned man with cobalt blue eyes and jet black hair. Inuyasha stared once the man stood before him. Whether his jaw was agape or not, he really didn’t care. This man had the exact same eyes as Neara. Upon this realization the man merely smiled his recognition of Inuyasha’s connection.

***

Neara laid there resting her head against Inuyasha’s chest sobbing. She had no clue how to unseal him and quite honestly, when she was taught the powerful spell it wasn’t intended to be undone. Maybe her uncle might know how to undo what she did. He was the Godd of Knowledge after all. He had answers for everything.

Such a pity you killed your hanyou. What a waste of power I might add.

Neara dug her claws within the dirt as she felt her fury boil over. Her skin was hot to the touch from it. Her powers seemed to spark as well from the feeling.

I’m sure his bloodline is very old. Maybe even royalty, but sadly he couldn’t control his youkai blood and he had to be taken down. Tsk. Tsk. What a shame.

She could feel the cold fury that welled up from within even her soul. How dare he speak so sourly against Inuyasha. How dare he speak so nonchalantly about him. She cared about the inu hanyou and would do anything for him. She couldn’t think clearly except for the hatred she currently had for Naraku and his next words made her snap.

Oh well. A hanyou has no place in this world. Such weak creatures.

She felt him smile as she roared out her anguish. Eyes bleeding red she latched on to the connection that Naraku had with her and pulled. Her consciousness went dark, a light flashed before her eyelids and she opened them. Before her stood Naraku with his back facing. She leapt latching her arm around his neck in a choke hold. He gasped in surprise bringing his hands up to keep her arm from tightening.

“You seem to forget that your precious weapon is a hanyou as well. How about I succumb to my youkai blood myself with all of the hatred I feel for you right now and see how well your mind will survive my onslaught?” she whispered into his ear.

“You also do not realize that being in my mind gives me an advantage,” he smirked gripping her arm even tighter slowly releasing her hold upon him. Keeping a firm hold upon her, he turned around until Naraku was facing Neara grabbing her waist to pull her body flush against his as it was her turn to be fearful and shocked.

***

A sense of foreboding seemed to go away a few hours after Sango and Miroku’s hanyou friends had left. Ken’ichi turned to look at them, “I think all is well. Shall we go outside?” The slayer and monk looked at each other nodding in approval.

“The sinister feeling has gone away,” Sango replied.

“I feel something approaching,” Miroku said eyebrows lowering in concentration. “It does not have the sensation of being evil.”

“Come on,” the Water Goddess piped up lifting her skirt rushing through the doors to the hall beyond. The others scrambled to follow except for the Godd of Knowledge, who leisurely brought up the rear. Ken’ichi stepped through the entrance doors just in time to see the twin spheres of blue light descend to the ground and disperse. The Guardian’s uncle looked upon the two figures with a smile. The Fire Godd reacted quickly to catch the wolf youkai ahead of him before he crumbled to the earth. The red haired man waved off the guardsmen who encircled the unconscious youkai with weapons at the ready.

“Stand down,” Kasai ordered staring daggers at the encroachment of men. Warily the warriors looked at him then to themselves. The Fire Godd never helped out their sworn enemy and never ever told them to stand down if they by chance saw a youkai and quickly attacked. Was he possessed or sick?

“Lower your weapons. It is quite alright,” Ken’ichi reassured them quirking his eyebrow. “I believe one of our own has had a change of heart?”

“Suck it Knowledge. It is the least I can do for The Guardian,” Kasai snorted, “She saved my ass and happened to help him with the possession he was under.” He gestured to the okami youkai currently lying upon the grass.

“How about we get him inside so we can dress his wounds properly and give him something more comfortable to lie on?” Miroku suggested.

“Miroku, do you think he will attack us when he wakes up?” Shippo questioned.

“I do not think so… Neara saved this young man for a reason instead of dispatching him like other youkai. Perhaps he has some good in him just like you Shippo.” The monk gave the kitsune a reassuring smile. Chosen guardsmen picked up the limp figure of the youkai walking towards the Meeting Hall. Believe it or not but when first constructed the great Meeting Hall came furnished with spare rooms for visiting guests; like they ever had any.

Looking to the Fire Godd with a concerned questioning look upon her features, Sango asked, “Where are Inuyasha and Neara?”

Said Godd’s face fell and Sango took it as a bad omen. “Last I saw The Guardian; she was fighting an inu hanyou.”

“Did this hanyou perchance be wearing a fire rat haori-hakama ensemble with golden eyes?” Miroku asked.

Kasai looked pensive for a moment. “This one was attired in fire rat, but his eyes were red and he looked pretty feral.”

Sango looked back at Miroku, worry written all over her face. The monk read the questions that she didn’t need to speak and answered.

“Sango, I believe our friend has been possessed.”

“We should go. Shippo stay here where it’s safe.”

Hoisting up her Hiraikotsu and Miroku wielding his shakujo, they both raced off to find their companions.

***

“Are you…” Inuyasha’s question hung in the air.

The man grabbed the train of thought. “Yes I am,” he confirmed. “I am Neara’s father, the Godd of Time, but you may call me Minoru”

“But how? Why?”

“Well, to make things easy I needed to talk to you and for that to happen it was imperative that Neara seal you to the Goshinboku.”

“The Godd Tree?”

The man nodded his answer. “There is something I need to ask of you and as well as give to you, but that will have to wait until later. Right now I just wanted to let you know that certain events have to take place in order to achieve the best end result possible. If you had of not been sealed to this tree then Neara would have not lost all fear within her heart which is a key in defeating Naraku.”

“She hasn’t shown any fear so I’m confused,” Inuyasha said.

“Well seeing is believing as they always say… When you awaken you will see a difference. Trust me,” Minoru replied with a smile.

“I have a funny feelin’ that this ain’t all you wanted to talk about”

“I am the Godd of Time. I have seen many outcomes of the future depending on what happens today. It is my blessing and my curse. I am doing what I can to save my little girl.” The determination in his eyes was of a father’s protectiveness. “Your own father did what he could in order to see to your survival.”

“Yeah, but Neara actually got to know her father. Mine died on the night of my birth saving mother and me. I didn’t grow up with a father to care about, love, or one who would protect me. I was the one protecting myself after mother’s death.”

Placing a hand upon the hanyou’s shoulder, “And I’m sure he wishes that he could still be alive in order to be there for you and your brother.”

“Keh. You know too much shit about me,” Inuyasha scoffed.

“Your birth and life was actually foreseen before my death.” Laughing slightly, “Hell, I saw my own daughter’s birth during my youth years before I met her mother. I was quite embarrassed to say the least. At the time I didn’t understand why her conception was so important. Just like how important your birth was.”

“I really don’t give a rat’s ass. All I know is that everyone else thinks that I am some dirty, tainted creature that’s not even worthy to be the grime on the bottom of their shoes.”

“Inuyasha” Minoru’s voice held such an intense parental authority.

This caused the hanyou to meet the elder’s eyes in astonishment with a slight tainting of fear. A lump formed in his throat and he gulped to force it down. Now it was time for a severe tongue lashing…

***

Naraku’s evil pride could not hide the smirk that formed on his lips at her fearful-shocked expression. He looked into her round eyes almost feeding off her fright wanting to lick his lips. He needed to worm his poison deep within the recesses of her mind and gain full control of his precious puppet. What better time than now to do it. She actively reached out with her own mind to enter his without understanding the consequences of doing so. He alone was the master of manipulation and no one surpassed him. No one.

Grabbing fistfuls of Neara’s silver-white hair, he peered deep within her eyes; like looking into the windows of her soul.

Determination. Hatred.

He just about did a double take, confusion spelled out on his face. His smile faltered. Time seemed to slow down as he watched the corner of her lips curl up into a prideful smirk of her own and the twinkle of confidence lit her eyes and radiated from her powerful aura. What. The. Fuck?

CRACK!

Time definitely went back to normal or her speed increased. One minute she was leaking pride and confidence and the next Naraku found he had a splitting headache, blood was dripping in his eyes and he was lying upon the nonexistent ground.

“You can no longer feed off my fear you lowly leech. I am not afraid of you anymore,” Neara seethed with conviction after head butting him between the eyes. Crouching low to grab his face with one hand she looked at him sinisterly. “I will come and I will destroy you. I will hunt you down just like the lives you took without a second thought and to remind you…” Her opposite hand reached up flashing a deadly claw upon her slender fingertip. Carving his face from temple to jaw line with not only her natural weapon, but searing his flesh with her youki she engrained the memory within his mind. He hollered with pain, but she kept complete control of his body. Gaining a sense of relief and pride at his pain it almost verged on the line of enjoyment. Her inner beast was itching for retaliation, pain, and blood. Slowly it was clawing at her inner barriers that she had painstakingly put into place. Shaking her thoughts her head jerked to the side when she felt a strong energy near. Someone or thing was in the forest and it was powerful. Briefly looking back at Naraku, she knew within his state there was no way he would be coming after her, relishing in his torment, Neara retreated from his suffering mind disappearing into nothingness. Her body was in danger and Inuyasha was definitely helpless in his eternal sleep.

The blood lust was still lingering as her eyes opened quickly scanning her surroundings before her body pushed itself forward away with the inu hanyou’s limp figure behind her. Neara’s youkai still screamed to fight and bathe in the precious life fluid. It had a taste and it didn’t want to let it go just yet. Eyes tinting with red, Neara pinpointed the source of the power crouching to place her hands upon the ground preparing to strike. Her prey was near, very near.

“Retrieve Tetsusaiga”

“Yes, my lord”

Little feet scampered off into the forest. Neara pounced.

***

Padding through the forest softly with determination, the demon was answering the call that seemed to carry his feet to this specific location within the Forbidden Forest. Halting within a clearing, delicately he scented the air. With just that inhalation of breath through his perfect nose, the youkai was able to determine quickly the scenario that took place just a couple of hours before his arrival. A battle took place that escalated through the tree line before him. His lowly half brother’s beast took control in order to survive due to the hanyou’s wounds and The Guardian had no choice, but to fight him. Somehow this did not sit well with the lord. Letting the scents of the miko and his transformed brother lead him, he followed their trail ahead taking care to not move quickly due to his travelling party’s inability to do so. The battling duo covered a lot of ground if it took him a while to reach another clearing where their scents were the strongest. Inhaling again, the inu youkai quirked an eyebrow as he smelled the fading, but lingering, saltiness of tears then swiftly an abrupt change of the miko’s aroma. Her aura flared dangerously against his own. He stopped, turned to his travelling companion who silently followed his every move and spoke evenly without an ounce of emotion, “Retrieve Tetsusaiga,” and pointed in the direction where he could sense the sword’s aura.

“Yes, my lord,” she replied and ran off into the foliage.

Rotating, he caught the woman’s wrists before her claws had a chance to cause any damage upon his person. Analyzing her face his suspicions were correct when he noticed the change in her natural perfume once he entered the area. The whites of her eyes were tinted with the bloodlust of her youkai that she was fighting to regain control of. She seemed coherent, but the wildness in her demeanor and therefore her eyes was fighting to break free and slowly it was rearing its ugly head. She was fighting on protective instinct and apparently she deemed him a threat. He half smiled. Maybe he was.

“Underestimating your abilities in our previous battle is a mistake that will not be repeated Guardian,” he coolly stated. She snarled struggling within his tight grip. Curling her knees up to her chest she thrust her legs out to him. He instantly released her upon realizing what her motives were, her feet grazing his chest. Hands cushioning her fall, she pushed herself forward landing on her toes assuming a defensive stance eyeing her prey. The white warrior kept his gaze pinned to the feral woman before him waiting for her to make the first move while he contemplated a strategic attack of his own. She was aggressive like a mother bear protecting her young or guarding her mate, but he didn’t scent a change within her. Her youki had a slight mingling of his half bastard hanyou brother. They were courting… interesting.

They were at a stalemate. The silver haired demon lord knew she was toying with him like he was a mouse in her elaborate game. She was a warrior serving the great Godds as their guardian for a reason. Whether her strategy was to wear him down or make him lose interest, he had no idea. He was not going to let this go easily. This destination called out to his beast and goaded him to travel here without knowing the circumstances or the outcome. A mere 50 feet away he watched as her ear twitched off to the side picking up on the rustling of feet getting closer to their small battlefield. The red in her eyes deepened to a maroon before her features twisted into an evil half smile. He could smell the faint copper of blood in the air and that smell alone triggered total control of her youkai to burst forth. The neko darted towards the sound and with anger and fear swelling his heart and mind, he disappeared.

***

“There was a lengthy battle here,” Sango stated observing the many footprints within the dirt. “They were circling their prey and I’m sure they were kicking up a lot of dust with as fast as they were running.”

“Probably a ploy to cover their numbers and surprise attacks,” Miroku replied watching Sango reveal the story as she read the tracks in the earth. It was quite interesting how she was able to determine the events of only this morning. His head cocked to the side with a single uplifted eyebrow as her round and delectable derrière reached towards the sky as she bent over at the waist. His hands itched to sample the perfect posterior. Before he could contain himself, his cursed hand was caressing her bottom.

Sango went stiff with brows lowering into a frown trying to process the information rapidly before her torso up righting in a rush with the feel of his hand disappearing from her quickly. Rounding to face the monk her eyes narrowed as he rubbed his head in slight embarrassment. He chuckled but not out of mirth. “My apologies, Sango. My hand had a mind of its own.” Bad hand! Naughty hand! That felt oh so good though.

SMACK!

“I agree that I deserved that,” he replied rubbing the red hand print across his sore cheek.

“Do that again and you will draw back a nub,” she ground out between clenched teeth. Lifting her weapon upon her shoulder once more, she fumed off into the direction the tracks led her.

Both humans ran through the forest hoping to catch up with their friends. Something told them that not all was well. They just came through another clearing where blood littered the ground along with Neara’s weapons and Inuyasha’s Tetsusaiga. Miroku now held the sheathed demonic sword along with Neara’s bow. Sango carried the miko’s blade and her quiver with a hand full of arrows. Both heads stared as a small girl approached and without saying a word ran right passed them. Stopping in their tracks the taijiya and monk looked at one another’s puzzled look before following the auburn haired child.

“I’m sorry little one, but why are you running alone in the forest?” Sango questioned loudly watching as the small female stopped to look at them.

“I’m not alone. My lord asked me to retrieve something,” she responded.

“What is your name small one?” Miroku asked.

“Rin”

“What were you asked to retrieve?” Sango questioned.

“A sword… Tet something,” Rin stated obviously trying to remember what exactly her lord called it.

“Tetsusaiga?” Miroku answered questioningly.

A smile brightened her face in recognition, “That’s it! Tetsusaiga!”

He simply showed her the sheathed sword within his grasp. She dashed forward before the monk or the taijiya had time to react and wrenched the sword from his hold running off into the direction from which she came. Both had a look that spoke volumes. What the hell?! Taking off again they chased after the limber, agile little imp.

The little girl darted left and right through the trees staying just out of reach of Miroku’s and Sango’s grasp. Miroku looked over the child’s head to see a clearing was just up ahead, but a blur of white, black, and blue caught his eye. Was there a battle being waged just a short distance ahead and they were about to burst right into the middle of it or was his eyes playing tricks on him? The child just touched the edge of the bright light before she took a spill falling to her knees. Sango reached her first just a few seconds before a forceful wind blew then stopped revealing a silver haired demon blocking none only than a feral Neara snarling, spitting, with ruby colored eyes that mirrored the scary stories human parents told their children in order to keep them in line and in sight. This transformation caused the breath to escape the slayer and the priest. Was she possessed and finally Naraku took full control of their beloved friend for the final time? Did she put up a fight, but lose after giving it her all? Did Inuyasha come to their rescue as before? No, this silver haired demon was not a hanyou and actually radiated with a powerful youki that nearly wanted to take Miroku’s breath away.

Eyes continuing to radiate, but not with so much intensity, Neara seemed to gather some coherence the longer she peered into her opponents eyes as they too emitted a glow of garnet. “Sesshomaru, you will not lay a finger on Inuyasha.”

“I care nothing about the hanyou”

“If you are not here to kill him in his vulnerable state then why are you here?”

“It concerns you not”

“The hell it doesn’t,” she ground out through clenched teeth still resembling the big bad demon as her own youki flared, an unfelt breeze around her form, while her muscles tensed. She disappeared.

Shocked and worried for the young one as Sango made a mad dash to catch the girl again when she lurched away from the safety of the slayers arms, the determined petite female jumped in front of Sesshomaru as if to protect him from the oncoming attack raising her arms wide. “NOOO!” Her anger, loyalty, and protective nature flowed from her at that moment. “You will NOT touch my Lord Sesshomaru!”

Neara stopped mere feet away from Rin at that moment looking upon the girl with complete awe as the demon lord within that same moment stepping around said child in a protective manner of his own emitting a growl towards the neko hanyou; his own eyes deepening in color and growing in clarity. Eyes lifting slightly to stare into the youkai lord’s own, his spoke volumes to her once more sapphire ones. Ears twitching to hear the whispers of the wind through the Goshinboku leaves only one word came to mind since they last parted ways.

“Mercy,” she all but whispered; a simple utterance of a word that came out more of the finality of an answer than the uncertainty of a question. His stance relaxed slightly at that one word remembering her words to him so long ago before she tossed him away. Had he learned mercy? It was a complicated human emotion that did not suit him, but looking down upon Rin thinking of how she came to fall under his protection, he concluded that maybe he was capable of learning such a complex feeling. Maybe it was this feeling that persuaded him to travel here? His ruby eyes waned as they searched out the answer to his journey. Neara followed his gaze to the slumped hanyou propped against the Godd Tree. That damn whispering wind again swept through the grand tree’s branches. An unseen force was trying to tell them something and quite frankly she was getting annoyed. Before she could figure out what Sesshomaru’s particular part to play in the grand scheme of things happened to be, Rin’s child-like form made a bee line towards the sleeping man upon the ground delicately placing the katana she held so preciously within her grasp in the hands of its rightful owner.

Sesshomaru soon followed Rin’s footsteps to stand before the hanyou placing his hand upon the hilt of his father’s fang within his obi. The metal scraped against the sides of the sheath as he drew his sword waiting.

***

There was fire in the former Godd’s eyes. Inuyasha’s ears flattened ready for the yelling that he was about to receive, but never really came.

Minoru spoke sternly hoping his words would penetrate the hanyou’s thick skull. “Give yourself more self worth than that boy. Your self confidence is severely lacking or are you afraid of your past?”

Inuyasha’s eyes looked away. That was the only answer the Time Godd needed.

“You have much to learn. Both of you do… from each other.” Minoru grabbed Inuyasha’s arm almost willing him to understand and let his words sink in. A blue light seemed to seep from the godd into Inuyasha bathing his arm in a soft hue. “I have a request for you before you leave”

“What was that?”

“That was a small gift. The next opportunity when you use Tetsusaiga it will become clear… I have a request,” he repeated again.

His words seemed to fall on deaf ears as the sound of metal scrapping pierced his hearing. Inuyasha turned upwards in surprise searching for the sound and where it came from. His clawed hand rose to rest upon his heart feeling its slowed rhythm begin to beat in a stronger, steady tune. Looking back into the elder man’s eyes, they showed understanding and happiness. The hanyou didn’t know what was going on. His hearing seemed to be fading or becoming more acute to his surroundings. He was hearing the wind and the rustling of leaves, the shuffling of feet and the murmur of cloth. What was happening?

“What was your request?” Inuyasha asked quickly both satellites turning to concentrate on the Godd’s voice.

The man smiled. “Build a well in Goshinboku’s clearing. That is all I ask.” Inuyasha’s eyes were questioning. “I do not need to ask you to take care of my daughter. You will do it without hesitance, without question and she will do the same for you.” He smiled at the younger man. Inuyasha turned feeling that he needed to run. A hand stopped him. He looked over his shoulder at Neara’s father. “Tell her that I love her and before I forget do not be alarmed to see your brother. He is in a process of change where he will find his Peace if not now, but later.” Nodding that he heard, Inuyasha took off into the white oblivion knowing not of what he was searching for or what he would find. The light seemed to fade before going completely black once more.

***

The first thing he noticed was the most wonderful and unforgettable aroma ever. The next was the fact that he was sitting upon the ground and propped against something hard and rough, arms to his sides with Tetsusaiga gently laid within his open palm. Opening his eyes just a sliver to the bright light to adjust his sight, his ears turned forward once he heard a gasp before him along with the silent swish of fabric. He felt a presence kneel down more than actually seeing the shadow. His eyes were still adjusting to the brightness as they opened a little further. A warmth covered his cheeks as that same presence reached out and held him. He knew exactly who is was, but didn’t smile until his sight finally focused in to see her tear-filled eyes that shone with happiness and a huge smile that beamed brightly upon her face. His free hand reached up to touch the side of her face. Yep, she was definitely real and he was definitely not dreaming. She leaned forward to caress his lips with her own. He cherished that kiss. It let him know that he was alive, that she forgave him, and that she was thrilled to see him again. He broke the kiss to pull her further down into a fierce hug. Looking over her shoulder he found his eyes looking back at him. Sesshomaru stood there in what looked to be shock, but no emotion surfaced upon his face or throughout his body. He was completely still as if he had been turned to stone. At first a little wary of him standing so close, Inuyasha remembered what the godd had told him about his brother.

“Thank you Sesshomaru. I hope you found your Peace”

Neara tensed slightly at those words but quickly pushed the feeling aside as she let go of Inuyasha to help him to his feet. He leaned against the tree as she stepped before him to formally bow before the demon lord.

“I am very gracious for the mercy that you have bestowed upon us today”

The slight widening of the eyes was the only indication that he had heard what she said and felt rather surprised at her spoken gratitude. Without a word he turned his back on them as Rin received her cue that her master was ready to depart.

“This new development will have to be pondered, but I will take your words under consideration Guardian” and with that he gracefully walked away. Without even knowing everyone in the clearing released that breath they were holding once Sesshomaru disappeared.

“That was rather odd,” Miroku stated.

“Hearing the stories of Lord Sesshomaru has me thinking that this situation and his reaction was completely out of character,” Sango agreed.

“Well,” Neara clapped her hands and rushed to Inuyasha’s side hoisting his arm over her shoulder, “That is fine and dandy and everything, but let’s get the hell outta here before he changes his mind—Shall we” She urged them to start moving by taking the first step while helping Inuyasha along.

“No fuckin’ argument there. The faster we get back the better.”

Judging by the position of the sun in the sky, they still had enough light to get back to the city of the godds. There was still one last thing Neara had to accomplish before the day was out and the longer she thought about it the more determined she was about giving the Council a piece of her mind.

***

Gasps of surprise erupted from the attending members of council as Neara burst through the doorway not even formally announcing her arrival. A few noble elders were asked to attend for a few seats were vacant at the moment since law dictated that if half of the council was not present then elders must be chosen to fill those seats.

“How dare you barge in here without previous announcement,” one grey haired woman scolded.

Neara half bowed, “With all due respects elder, but my lack of formality ain’t shit—“more gasps and whispers rang throughout the room “—compared to the lack of honesty this council has turned a blind eye to. There has been necessary information that you have withheld not only from me, but I’m pretty sure from the whole city since before well—well for a long ass time.” Neara scanned the room to see the three elders whispering amongst themselves while narrowing their eyes in rage at her, the Fire Godd seemed to be stuck between anger and sympathy but gave up and went with indifference. Her uncle seemed calm, collected but otherwise indifferent, but the Water Goddess—whoa. If looks could kill then the daggers, fire, and brimstone she was currently sending her way would have made for her untimely end right then and there. That’s if looks could kill. Lucky for Neara, she really didn’t give a shit and quite honestly she wanted answers. Miroku, Inuyasha, and Sango finally made their way through the open double doors looking in awe at the uproar. They stood politely towards the back of the room waiting. Glancing briefly over her shoulder at them, Neara looked towards the members once more with a smirk.

“How dare you condemn this Council to dishonesty!” the Water Goddess shrilled in an outrage.

Neara held up a hand as if to pause her rant. “I only speak truth and the only reason you are irate is because I called you on it, but I’m certain you are asking yourselves why—Why is she so determined to accuse you of such a misdemeanor? Well, it is simple. I found out the truth and I found out the hard way.”

“GUARDS!”

“I think you might want to hear what she has to say,” Ken’ichi coolly stated tenting his fingers before his face.

“I agree,” Kasai replied as well, “Continue please.”

Neara bowed slightly to acknowledge his decision. The guards that ran to the Water Goddess’ call stood at attention just inside the doorway. “Naraku has escaped his imprisonment—“

“Don’t you dare speak that foul name here,” the goddess spat.

Neara’s brow quirked, “With the anger you express at merely hearing his name then maybe my accusations are correct in the fact that the Council has went out of their way to erase the memory of the Godd of Chaos from every heart, mind, and even history itself. I know how difficult it is for my uncle to not even speak of the blemish that has cursed our kind, but to be frank we need to have the knowledge of our past in order to not repeat it in the future. We must all learn from our mistakes.”

“How did you find out about Naraku?” Ken’ichi questioned.

“Uncle I don’t want to cause you any despair, but—he actually found me—Come to find out I possess the Shikon no Tama within me.”

An uproar of shocked gasps erupted from the elders and council members alike. All ears were trained on her now.

“He captured and tortured me—“Even the Water Goddess’ eyes went wide at that piece of information. Her uncle’s hands clenched.

“—Because of the Shikon within my body, he was able to establish a mental connection and possess me. Thankfully if it wasn’t for Inuyasha’s determination and caring then I believe I would have been lost forever. There is something else that I believe might be of relevance…” She paused.

Kasai slammed his fist upon the table, “Speak child! Don’t keep us waiting dammit!”

“I believe I know why Earth and Love did not answer the summons—“ This was the hardest part. It hurt to even think about the reality of things. She could only think about the uncertainty and horror currently spinning through their minds.

“Tell us,” an elder spoke up.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she continued. “Naraku seeks to become Kami and has killed them for their power.”

“That Son. Of. A. Bitch!” Kasai raged as his fist connected with the hard wood of the table again. The meeting hall erupted into angry voices at his outburst, but not due to it.

“I was not aware until recently how long ago they passed,” she continued. “It was the day I was captured when I heard and felt their deaths.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Inuyasha chose that time to speak up in a small expression of shock. “That was almost a year ago.”

Neara turned to gaze upon his questioning eyes. “Yes.” It was a simple statement; a simple answer full of remorse.

“What are your intentions, Neara?” her uncle asked face still resting behind his finger steeples. He looked intense, but closed off at the same time.

“Well Uncle I have accumulated a variety of friends through my journey who will agree with me when I say that Naraku needs to be dealt with. Besides myself, Miroku is the only other one who has felt the wrath of the Godd of Chaos on a personal level.” She waved for the monk to come to her. Quickly he complied and bowed respectfully towards the seated council members.

“I sense you are a descendant, but you still contain a strong spiritual power within you,” another elder spoke.

“Yes I am”

“What grievance has Naraku done upon you?”

“It’s not so much me he has originally wronged, but my ancestors, which has flowed through the generations—“ He paused only slightly to let his words sink in and catch their attention as he lifted his gloved hand to his audience. He was about to continue when an odd twinge erupted from his hand. It started itching, doing everything trying not to scratch it. Looking at his curse in a questioning manner, he had no clue as to what was going on. He heard a slight wind, but they were inside. Looking around the expansive room, he saw no open windows. That was real odd.

“—Contained within the palm of my right hand is a curse that has been passed down from the males of my ancestors.”

Swirling.

There it was happening again. He heard the muffled gusting of the wind. Looking upon his hand once more, Neara looked to the monk to see what the matter was. Miroku gave her a questioning look. Worry laced his eyes. He didn’t know what was going on, but something felt off.

“This curse is an air rift that will collect any and everything within its void. It slowly expands until one day it will consume my body and I die. The history of this curse dates back so far that my family elders cannot remember. I must find and destroy Naraku before the rift consumes me.” His hand chose the perfect time to twinge with an ache that the man had not felt before. He crumbled to his knees with the pain. Neara rounded to face him in order to determine the cause and what exactly was going on. Her body shifted before crouching down. He was clutching his cursed hand as if it had been severed.

Inuyasha focused his attention on the monk when the first signs of moving air graced his ears. His fingers began to twitch in response and slowly Inuyasha crept forward when he saw Neara approach his front kneeling down. Even the council members were interested in what was happening, some even standing to get a better look. The inu hanyou’s sixth sense was kicking into overdrive. Something tingled at the back of his mind to get a closer look and maybe take a certain precaution of what was to soon come. The whirling sounds came again just a little louder and at that moment it was the calm before the storm. All in the matter of seconds the atmosphere of the chamber grew oppressing and dark, a sinister laugh seemed to ring out echoing, and Miroku’s face full of agony jerked up to look upon his female companion facing him.

The next seconds seemed to slow when Neara saw the pain in his eyes then fear and finally realization. He yelled at her before his cursed hand rose to her face not of his own accord. She stared at the glove and sealing beads as they were pulled into the void in his palm. Something hard made contact with her side without her knowing as she went flying towards the far wall. Coming to and mentally shaking the cobwebs from her head, Inuyasha leaned up gazing at her with relief in his eyes. If it weren’t for him then she would have been the first victim of the now unleashed and uncontrollable wind tunnel. Somehow it broke through the seal that was carefully crafted to keep the monstrous rift at bay. Of all the times Miroku had used it during their travels, it was never this intense. There was no ignoring the seconds that led up to the outburst. That sinister laughter was definitely Naraku’s and somehow he figured out where they were.

“HEEEELP!”

The desperate plea was not lost on deaf ears even if there was currently the loud roar of a wind storm going on in the room. Peering through the debris field both Inuyasha and Neara tried to account for everyone in the area. Inuyasha took hold of a length of wrought iron imbedded in the floor. Grabbing Neara’s hand he made her grab it as well. She looked again to see from who the cry was wrenched. The wind intensified again and the miko caught the sight of the Water Goddess clenching with all of her might to a heavy weight curtain that hung over the nearly floor to ceiling window behind where the members sat. The integrity of the fabric was failing. A slight rip was increasing into a rather large rip threatening to break away and hurdle her to her imminent death. Her cry echoed out once more just as Neara curled her feet positioning them to gain purchase against the iron railing she was currently attached to.

“Don’t do it,” Inuyasha begged. Guilt swam in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to try,” she confessed. Feeling her leg muscles coil up like a spring with power she put everything she had in that leap of faith as the last thread ripped and the goddess was tossed towards the void. Neara grabbed her. The momentum of her jump almost concluded in them reaching the destination of the identical railing on the exact opposite of the large meeting room. Before laying fingers upon the cold metal the vacuum started pulling her away. Neara threw the woman in her arms towards safety completely relieved that she wound her arms around something more secure ensuring longer survival. She reached out trying to desperately grab Neara’s hand.

“It’s ok Mizu. You are safe,” Neara cooed trying to relieve the goddess’ guilt and blind need before she did something stupid.

It’s not as if the moments between the Guardian potentially dying and the chaos of the void ending went by excruciatingly slow, but it sure as hell felt like it. Way too fucking slow for her taste.

Neara was nowhere near anything to grab onto and with flying through the air at a great speed there was really no chance to accomplish that feat. Everyone screamed out her name. It was hard not to. Her friends feared her death as they clutched to their respective safety nets. So the next logical step for the miko hanyou was to resolve herself to her death. This was it, Naraku got the last laugh and this was her final hoorah. The evil dickhead got his wish and Neara was happy with the thought of the Shikon going with her. He would never get it now. Stupid fucker didn’t even think about that. The only down side would be not seeing her friends or Inuyasha anymore. Her heart mourned for the thought of not seeing him.

Wind Goddess

Was she hearing things or did that thought cross her mind? Miroku looked guilty, frightened, and sad. She heard Inuyasha yell for her again and then her uncle.

“Neara—Wind Goddess—stop this!”

Her uncle’s words caused her to jerk with a shudder running down her spine and Inuyasha’s fear caused her resolution in her death turn to determination to live. Her reiki bubbled forth producing a powerful shield around her to settle Neara upon her feet once more. Running up to Miroku, she grasped his palm with her own interlacing their fingers effectively ceasing all storm activity. With shock and awe the monk looked into her blue glowing eyes with questions.

“Here!” her uncle called as Neara caught the new set of prayer beads. Infusing the beads with her power, she wrapped them around his cursed hand containing his air rift once more. Remembering her words from days ago Miroku quickly made the connection.

“The out-casted Wind Goddess”

Her power washed over him once the beads fell in place sealing back his curse. It felt warm and welcoming and soon his own energy was replenished from the ordeal. No one perished and it didn’t seem as if anyone was injured. His spirits rose at that thought. But worry etched his face when Neara leaned against him with one arm then collapsed down to one knee. Her heartbeat was erratic and breath slightly labored. Inuyasha rushed over at that point after making sure the chaos was completely over to lift her limp body in his arms. She was exhausted and the dimness in her eyes reflected that. Slowly she closed them and soon fell into a deep slumber.

***********

A/N: Ok, I have seen the increase in the number of hits this story has gotten and yet no additional reviews. It has been a few years since I started back on this story again and I'm sure you can tell when my writing style has changed, but regardless I will appreciate it if you could review and let me know how you like it. Words of encouragement always help with the creative juices. Thanks! :)

IL20

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