Tender Love

Chapter 26

Trying to catch any breeze which might find its way across the island, Inuyasha usually spent her afternoons reclining on the small garden patio, reading a book or just talking to Kaede and relaxing. Her hair was in a single braid hanging down her back.

It was on one such after noon that Inuyasha sat reading from a book of poetry, when she heard loud shouts and laughter coming from the beach. She could imagine only one thing that would cause the island population to gather on the beach and that was the arrival of a ship. When, after a moment, she heard the cannon fire, she was sure of it. She felt her heart thump against her rib cage as she set the book upon a small table and called for Kaede to come quickly.

When Kaede arrived, she saw fear and agitation on the face of the young woman she had grown to care about and almost think of as a daughter. "What is it child? You look as though you have seen a ghost."

"Do you know if a ship has been sighted Kaede?" she asked, clutching the fabric of her kimono.

"I don't know, honey," Kaede shook her head from side to side.

"Hurry, Kaede, and run down to the beach. Find out if those people are cheering for a ship and see if it is the one Naraku is on." Inuyasha was beside herself, as she paced back and forth on the marble flooring.

"Right away, I will be gone but a short time." Kaede hurried from the room, wishing she could break down and weep with pity for the lovely young girl. She knew how Inuyasha had dreaded the thought of Naraku's return and she wished to God there was something more she could do to help her.

Inuyasha quickly took off the kimono and put on a pair of crimson colored hakama and a matching haori. She slipped on a pair of boots that was made for her small feet. Then she went to the door and yelled for Shippo to bring his brother and come to her room. Shortly the little kitsune walked into her room carrying his little brother.

"What is it mother?" he asked watching his mother take the tunic of one of the pien-fu and placing it on the bed. Then she sat both boys on the bed to wait. She was not going to wait any longer. She would take her chances on the island.

Inuyasha walked the bedchamber floor, her mind filling with terror each time she heard a noise about the house. Each minute she feared Naraku would be coming through the door.

Kaede had been gone only a few minutes before she came rushing through the front door. "It’s him, Lady Inuyasha, it's him!" she shouted, running to the bed chamber. "I waited until the first boat was dropped and then came back as fast as I could to tell you."

"Are you sure it was the Black Widow, Kaede?" Inuyasha asked softly, feeling herself beginning to panic. "Did you see him?"

"No, I didn't see master Naraku, but it's his ship and everyone on the island is down there to greet them that's coming to shore."

Perhaps Naraku had been killed. Inuyasha clutched at this thought. Perhaps he had been killed attacking the Spanish ship or he could have been drowned in a storm and is lying at the bottom of the sea. She could only hope but she was not going take the chance that he is still alive.

Using her claws to slash the material, Inuyasha took Keitano from Shippo and wrapped him in the tunic making a make shift pouch to carry him in. "Help me, Shippo." She had to get away and fast. She had no idea of what the future might hold for her and her sons on this accursed island but she was not going to hang around to find out. She did not want her boys growing up on the island to become evil, vile pirates roaming the seas. And then there was herself. What would become of her? Would she become a wretched-looking hag like Sya? She had seen the girl twice since that day she sent Kaede to find her and to see if she would help her out of her imprisonment. At first Inuyasha had not recognized the woman, who was squatting on the ground outside and looking up to the house.

Inuyasha had looked closer in order to see what the woman was about and to her utter surprise, when the woman had looked up at the window where Inuyasha was, she had known at once that the dirty ragged creature below was Sya Fu. At first, Inuyasha had thought to run and call to her from the door, to ask her to come in. But by the time she had reached the door and looked out Sya was running away, her dirty blue kimono, which was twice too large dragging in the dust.

It had been a terrible sight for Inuyasha to see and now she had to put herself in the other's place. Would she come to the same fate if Naraku grew tired of her and cast her out? Would she then be thrown from the hands of one lecherous pirate after another, until she also looked like Sya?

Or would she, like Kaede, after having been violated by Naraku, feel as though she no longer had the will to live? Would she feel degraded and not wish to leave this island again and face other people?

She could not picture herself, Inuyasha Aoki living the life of either Sya or Kaede. Somehow she would find a way to get off this island. She would never be content to sit here and waste away as others had. She was abruptly pulled out of her thoughts by Shippo pulling on her shirt sleeve.

Kaede realizing what she was doing helped to secure the make shift pouch with the infant sitting snugly in the front. "Shippo, get on my back." She turned around and let the little fox get on her back. She took a green obi and slung it around Shippo and tied it in the front securing him to her back.

"Mother, what are you doing?" the kitsune asked frightened.

"We're leaving. I don't care what Naraku said. We are leaving this island one way or another."

"Wait," said Kaede. She rushed out of the room and came back a minute later with a small bundle, a dagger and an old rusty sword. "Naraku said this sword is powerful but it will not let him or any other demon touch it." She held it out to Inuyasha.

"If it won't let a demon hold it . . . ?" Inuyasha hesitantly held out a hand and grasped the sheathed sword but nothing happened.

"I thought as much. I think this sword won't let anyone evil touch it."

“But what am I going to do with an old rusty sword?” Inuyasha frowned as she stared at the weapon. “It won’t be able to do any damage.”

“If Naraku has it then its safe to say that there is something special about the sword. Just take it.”

Inuyasha sighed and placed the sword at her side. “This is some food and water for your journey. It’s not much but if you need more there are small animals you could capture and take with you.” Inuyasha handed their supplies to Shippo to hold. Then Kaede placed the dagger in her hand. "Now, there are four guards but actually, there are five demons. This demon is called Jurormaru. He’s a silent demon but you must be very careful around him. He is extremely dangerous." Kaede lead her out to the patio. "Now, this path will lead you to the other side of the island. You will find a small boat covered with leaves. I had a feeling that you would not be staying here one minute longer. So, every night I would leave to hide the boat there for you."

"Thank you Kaede," Inuyasha said kissing the elderly woman on the cheek. "I promise you that once I get back to Sess. we will come back to get you."

"You're a sweet child. I’m glad I was able to meet you." She took Inuyasha's hands in her hands squeezing them gently. "Now, go before Naraku gets here."

Inuyasha quietly leaped down from the patio and ran off down the path Kaede had shown her.

"Good bye Inuyasha, and thank you for caring about this old woman. I wish you luck in escape."

xxxxx


Suddenly Inuyasha came upon one of the guards. The demon smirked at her. "Where do you think you're going woman?"

"I have no time for you," Inuyasha snarled. "Hold on Shippo and make sure to keep your head down." She pulled the dagger from its sheath and rushed the demon. As he lunged at her, she ducked and thrust the dagger upward through the guard’s chin piercing his skull and penetrating the demon’s brain. Quickly removing the blade, she slashed him across the neck. Before the guard hit the ground, Inuyasha was already gone.

Not far from where she killed the guard, she came upon a small stream. She came to a halt when she saw someone crouched in front of the stream. 'Could this be the other guard Kaede was telling me about?' the demon said nothing as long pink pair hung over his shoulders and down his back.

/And where do you think you're going,/ came an insidious voice. Inuyasha frowned because the demon before her wore a muzzle.

/The master will be angry if you escaped from him./

Inuyasha took a step back. "Just let me pass. he never has to know that you let me escape."

/I'm afraid we can't do that./ Suddenly the muzzle fell from over the demon's mouth. Inuyasha gagged as she saw something move up the throat of the demon and then a worm like creature with a humanoid face and long pink hair also, and long scythe like appendages for hands came out of the demon's throat. The thing smiled at her. “Greetings my pretty little hanyou, I am Kageroumaru and this is my younger brother, Jurormaru. I suggest you return to the house or we shall return you by force.”

Inuyasha gritted her teeth and snarled in anger. “Never! I’ll never return to your vile, evil master of my own free will.”

“So be it. We did give you an option.” Without saying another word, Kageroumaru leaped toward her.

Inuyasha moved but one of its blade like appendages cut the obi that held Shippo to her back. She knew she could not fight them with the children on her back. So, Inuyasha sat Shippo down on his feet and placed Keitano in his arms. She unsheathed her dagger and stood facing them. ‘When we get off this island I swear I’m going to make Sesshomaru teach me how to use a sword properly.’ “Shippo go hide.”

“Yes mother.” The little kitsune held his baby brother tight and ran off into the jungle.

"You're not going anywhere, runt," said the worm. It went after the children.

Inuyasha tried to intercept it but Jurormaru leaped in front of her racking its claws at her. Inuyasha quickly back flipped out of the way. Inuyasha's heart filled with fear as she saw that vile worm chasing Shippo.

Suddenly Shippo tripped and fell. Kageroumaru leaped at them with pincers raised ready to strike. “I have you now!”

Inuyasha screamed. Kageroumaru seemed to be floating in mid air as he just hung there. The silence seemed to stretch on for hours even though it was only a few seconds. Then Kageroumaru gasped and began to cough up blood. In his small hand, Shippo held a knife from the kitchen and had driven the blade through the little worm's chest piercing its heart killing him instantly.

Apparently, the kit had sneaked down to the kitchen and stolen one of the knife he intended to use on Naraku if the pirate tried to hurt his mother. Shippo's eyes widened in horror as blood trickled down the blade of the knife onto his hand. He threw the knife away staring at the blood on his tiny hand. Wiping the blood off, he cradled Keitano close to his chest trying not to cry as tears trickled from his horror strickened eyes.

Jurormaru snarled in rage and lunged himself at the children. "No!" yelled Inuyasha running alongside the demon and swung the dagger at him.

Jurormaru leaped out of the way landing on the branch of one of the trees. Inuyasha stood protectively over her children. Suddenly, she felt the sword vibrate at her side. Pulling the sword from its sheath, it turned into a large glowing fang pulsing with power. Inuyasha looked in awe at the magnificent weapon. 'Kaede was right. It does have great power.' She looked up at the enraged demon and frowned. Some sort of black purple phenomenon appeared before her. She frowned as she could feel this bizarre wind catch hold of her braid lifting it up. She sniffed it and realized that it was demonic winds colliding with each other. Jurormaru snarled in rage and then with claws bared leaped at them. Without knowing why, she swung the sword cutting through the demonic wind and three white claws of power raked across the ground leaving deep gouges in the earth to engulf Jurormaru in its wake. The attack destroyed a little over half of the jungle.

Inuyasha stood there in shock and then stared at the sword.

"Mo-mother," Shippo said frightened. Inuyasha turned and held the little kitsune along with Keitano in her arms.

"We have to hurry." Shippo helped to secure the pouch around her and she used her obi to tie Shippo to her back. Then she off.

xxxxx

The longboat with Naraku was pulled ashore as he and his men got off. just as he was about to give the Thunder Brothers an order, they felt the ground tremble and heard a huge explosion. Naraku turned to his home and saw the trees in the back of his home disappear in a bright light. He frowned as he and the others watched the light fade. He had a very unsettling feeling about that light.

"Marten! Hiten! Follow me." He and the Thunder Brothers ran up the path to his home. They burst through the front door. "Inuyasha!" he bellowed. "INUYASHA!"

Suddenly Kaede walked out of the bed chamber Inuyasha slept in. slowly making her way down the stairs, the elderly woman stood on the last step glaring at the pirate. "She is gone."

"No," Naraku said shocked as he ran pass Kaede up the stairs to her bed chamber. He burst into Inuyasha's room. "Inuyasha!" It was empty. Then he burst into Shippo's room. "Inuyasha!" But no one was there either. The human was right. Inuyasha was gone. Naraku rushed back down stairs. "What have you done with her?"

"I have set her free. I helped her to escape so she never has to know of your sick, twisted cruelty."

"You know by doing this you have sealed your death."

"I know. And I am prepared to die. I would be more than happy to die so I could be reunited with my beloved sister." Kaede stood tall holding her head up.

"So be it," snarled Naraku. Suddenly a tentacle burst from his back and ripped through Kaede's stomach.

The elder woman gasped as blood trickled down the corner of her mouth. She smiled up at the pirate. "You will never have her Naraku. She is free as am I. May your vile soul rot in the deepest level of hell Naraku." Then her elder body crumpled to the floor as she smiled victoriously up at Naraku. 'Fare thee well Inuyasha. I hope you are able to escape and get back that life . . . you . . . so . . . rightfully . . . deserve.' Suddenly her eyes closed and she was dead.

"Stupid old hag. Marten. Hiten. Let's go." The three pirates rushed out of the house to go find Naraku's prize possession.

xxxxx

Sweat glisten over Inuyasha face as she made her way through the steamy jungle. She came to a halt when they came upon a waterfall surrounded by trees and shrubbery. "Are you thirsty, Shippo?"

"Yes mother," he said. She let him off her back as he knelt and drank his fill of the cool liquid. Inuyasha knelt beside him and drank some also. She splashed water against her heated skin trying to cool down some.

Keitano was awake but he was not crying. It was almost as though the child knew that his mother was desperate and that he should not cry. Inuyasha removed him from the pouch and held him in the water as he splashed about laughing.

Inuyasha didn't know what to do. They should hurry and get to the boat but she had not feed Keitano since breakfast this morning. He needed to eat. "Shippo," she said turning to face him. "Go stand guard. The minute you smell Naraku or any demon scent coming this way, come tell me immediately. We’re going to stay here a few minutes and I am going to feed Keitano."

"Okay," said Shippo sprinting over to the nearest tree and climbed up into it.

Inuyasha uncovered one breast and placed Keitano to it. The pup took hold of the nipple and began to drink his fill.

A few minutes later, she covered her breast and placed Keitano back in the pouch. "Shippo, it's time to go," she called. The little kitsune leaped down and ran to his mother. She filled the waterskin with water and reached Shippo a piece of bread. She knelt down and let him get on her back. "Are you ready?" she asked standing up.

"Yes mother," said Shippo and Inuyasha took off into the jungle once again following the path.

It was dusk when Inuyasha made it to the white sand beach on the other side. She wanted to cry for joy but she knew she probably didn't have much time. She found the boat where Kaede had hidden it. Placing Keitano in Shippo's arms, she pulled the boat out to the shore. Suddenly she smelt a familiar scent on the breeze. She wrinkled her nose and swore. It was Naraku and he was very close. Inuyasha had a decision to make. Either she goes with her children and risk Naraku destroying the boat with them on it. Or she stays behind and tries to hold him back while her children get away.

"Mother, look!" said Shippo pointing down the beach. She turned and gasped. She had to decide quickly because she saw the dark figure that was Naraku moving toward here from the other end of the beach.

She grabbed Shippo and his brother and placed them in the boat. She kissed the kit on the forehead and Keitano on his soft cheek. "Shippo once you get pass the waves, I want you to row as fast and as hard as you can."

"But mother . . . "

"No, you have to be strong. When you see Sess tell him that I love him very much." She kissed Shippo's forehead again. “And that I will always belong only to him." Inuyasha began to push the boat out to sea. "Make sure you take care of your brother." Once they made it through the high waves Inuyasha went back to shore and watched as her children escaped from the island.

Suddenly she saw two longboats coming from both sides of the boat that her children were in. "No," whispered Inuyasha in horror as she watched the boats began to close in around her children. "No!" she clasped the hilt of the sword and pulled it from its sheath but nothing happened. The sword remained as it was, an old rusty blade. Inuyasha felt terror welling up in the depths of her heart and soul. She swung the sword trying to get it to transform again but nothing happened.

"No!" she screamed as she saw the pirates get closer to her children. "My babies." She fell to her knees bowing her head as tears fell from her eyes. The sword hung loosely in her hand. "Please. Please help me . . . so that I can protect my babies."

Almost as though the sword was responding to her plea, Inuyasha felt the sword pulse in her hand and then it changed from the worn out tattered metal to a powerful gleaming fang. Clutching the hilt, Inuyasha raised the sword up to look at it. She could feel its power throbbing throughout the blade. "Thank you," she whispered to the sword. Then she got to her feet wiping her eyes. Turning to the sea, she could see the purple black demonic winds clashing together. "Now, stay away from my babies!" Inuyasha roared in rage as she cut through the winds releasing the blade's power. She did it again and watched as the power parted the water and engulfed the pirate ships in its destructive force.

Inuyasha watched, her heart filled with relief as her children rowed away to safety.

Inuyasha turned to glared furiously at Naraku as the pirate captain walked up to her clapping his hands. "I applaud your efforts but they were for nothing," he said smiling smugly. "I had every intention of sending them back to Sesshomaru after I get a hefty ransom for them."

"You're lying."

"No. All I wanted was you. I only took them because I knew you would come quietly if I threatened them. Since you're on the island, I no longer needed them."

"Oh God, what have I done." She turned back to the sea watching as her children vanished from her sight as the last rays of light disappeared. Tears of anguish fell from her eyes.

"You've just sent them to their death," Naraku said laughing.

Inuyasha turned to him and snarled in rage. "You bastard." She lunged at him with the sword. Suddenly several tentacles burst from his back trying to capture her but she hacked them off. She tried using the sword's power to destroy him but a barrier was put up and the sword's power dissipated.

Suddenly a tentacle burst out of the ground wrapping around her body pinning her arms to her side. She held onto the sword in hopes of breaking free and severing his head from his body. Naraku pulled her close to him. Inuyasha struggled in the tentacle’s grasp trying to free herself so she could rip that smug smile from his face. "Hmm, how interesting. I thought only the western lord could use the power of that sword."

Inuyasha had stopped struggling when Naraku mentioned her mate. "Wha-what do you mean?"

"Oh, that's right, you wouldn't know about this. This is called Tetsusaiga. It belonged to Sesshomaru but I relieved him of it. However, the sword never worked for me or any other demon or half demons or even human. So, I kept it as a trophy of my victory over the smug demon lord."

"You lie. How would some pathetic piece of crap like you be able to take anything from my Sess?" She demanded.

Naraku smiled at her smugly. "The same way I took you from him, by using my head and also using Goshinki's incredible speed. The only thing Goshinki did good was when he severed part of Sesshomaru's arm from his body." He laughed. "I was hoping he would bleed to death but with his demonic healing ability he was able to save himself. It only took the bastard a year to properly grow that arm back. But it did not matter, I still had his precious sword even if I couldn't hold it or use it. I still won a victory over him."

Inuyasha snarled in anger.


"But for some odd reason, it worked for you. I wonder why," he said pondering his question but then pushed it to the side. It mattered not to him because he got what he wanted. He really must thank Sesshomaru properly for being utterly useless in protecting such a beautiful mate and making it so easy for him to take her away. Not only does he have Sesshomaru's sword he also has his mate. Life just doesn't get any better than this. "Now my sweet, it is time for us to return home and you to bow to your new master." His tongue slithered out of his mouth and licked Inuyasha on her cheek.

Inuyasha cringed in disgust and could feel her skin crawl as though a million ants were crawling all over her body. "Do not weep, my little one, for soon you shall forget all about those runts as you shall have other children to replace the ones that was lost at sea."

At first, Inuyasha wanted to throw up but began to whimper as she remembered she sent her children to their death. 'If there is any god up there who would listen to me. Please protect my babies from the harshness of the sea and make sure they get back to the safety of their father.' She prayed.