Feelings

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co. I do own Shrugen.

(Thoughts)

"Speech"

*actions*

A past Revealed

"My Mother!?!?" Inuyasha said.

"Yes your mother asked me about a year ago to find and look after you." Shrugen said

"B-But my mother died when I was only a pup! How could she have asked you to become my guardian?"

"Well technically she is still alive. Her body is dead but her soul is alive." After seeing the confused look Inuyasha gave him he said "Ill explain more later. Right now I think it would be best to go back to the village. We don't want your friends to worry about you now do we?"

Throwing tetsuiga over his shoulder, Shrugen started walking towards the village with a still stunned Inuyasha following behind him. When they got near the village whey were met with a transformed Kirara in fighting position along with Sango and Miroku.
Shrugen couldn't help but smirk at the group’s expression. (They look ready to fight to the bitter end and to protect their friends no less. Maybe I'm not needed.) He thought.

“Guys you can relax. He’s a friend of the families. His name is Shrugen.” Inuyasha said.

The group lowered their weapons slightly, not fully trusting the newcomer.

“So tell us Shrugen why are you here?” asked Miroku.

“I would be glad to tell you, but first might I ask that we enter the village first? I’ve been on the road for days and I’m a little tired.”

After agreeing to his request the group made their way the village making sure to be on guard against any tricks. After returning tetsuiga to its owner they all sat down underneath the got and Shrugen began to explain why he came.

“When Inuyahsa was a young pup his mother found me on their land beaten and bruised.
She took me in and sheltered me until I was healed. Once I was strong enough to set out on my own again, I told Inuyashas mother that I owed her my life and if there was anything she needed from me I would be more than willing to do it. She asked that I look out for Inuyahsa when he got older knowing that life will be difficult to deal with because of his heritage, and also it would be easier with someone who knows what he is going through. I agreed to her request but I told her that if I was to protect him to my fullest potential, I would need to find my roots to know what I am capable of with my heritage. I told her I didn’t know how long it would be but when I found my past I would protect him with my life.”

“Well that explains the guardian part but what took you so long? I mean you made that promise over 100 years ago! That was plenty of time to find your past and know your heritage.” Said Inuyasha

“Well unfortunately things did not go as I had planned. It seamed that my race had died out years ago and the land that they once occupied was overrun with their rivals the birds of paradise and other demons as well. I had to work carefully around them hoping not to be spotted by them. I also participated in the war between the dog demons and the panther demons that your brother fought in. Then after 60 years I finally found out my ancestry. I found that my father was a strong fire bird or phoenix and my mother was a priestess. I also found that the reason that my fathers race became extinct is because they can only mate with other phoenixes do to the fact that only they are immune to fire. But my father found a way to make it so he was not engulfed by flames and mated with my mother. Before I was born Imix, my father gave a pair of bracers to my mother telling her that they would help to harness and protect me from being killed by being engulfed by my own flames.” He said showing his arms the group.

On his left hand he had a copper bracer with gold trimmings and had an eye sized ruby in the middle and on his right hand he had a silver bracer with onyx trimmings with a diamond in the middle. Both stones were glowing faintly. They also allow me to hide my wings for a time.

“You have wings?!?” the all said in unison

“Well of course. You don’t get to be the son of a phoenix and not get SOME of the perks.”

“But anyway once I found out everything there is to now about my family, I began to look for you. It really wasn’t all that hard. I only needed to listen to the rumors going around of a half dog demon searching for sacred jewel shards and eventually I found you.”

“And now that you found me, you’re joining us on our journeys?” Inuyasha asked

“Yep. So are any of you going to tell me your names of should I make some up for you?”

Smirking Inuyasha introduced Shrugen to Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kirara. He also mentioned Kagome and explained that she wasn’t here because she had to go back to her own time to study for a test. When Shrugen asked for and explanation of how this all began Inuyasha told him how it all started. Inuyasha told Shrugen about how Kagome came through the well and how she broke the jewel and began to hunt for the shards. Inuyasha explained how he, Kagome and Shippo first met as well as Miroku and Sango.
He also explained how they are each tied into Naraku and what has happened when they faced him. After hearing everything that had happened a long silence came over the group.

Finally breaking the silence Shrugen spoke. “So let me get this strait. This Naraku killed Kikio, burned a wind tunnel in Mirokus hand and killed an entire demon slayer village? And has over half of the sacred jewel and has enough power to make incarnations of himself? That is… unsettling to say the least.”

“Well it seems that I have my job cut out for me then. When are we moving on?”

“Once Kagome gets back form taking her test witch is about two more days.” Inuyasha said.

Upon ending their conversation Inuyasha looked out the window to find the sun setting and the smell of dinner hanging in the air. Telling the others it was dinner time they all made their way to Kaedes hut. When they got there they found dinner ready and waiting for them as well as Kaede. They all sat down and began eating after Inuyasha explained everything that happened earlier that day to her. After dinner Shrugen stated that he was going for a walk in the forest and asked Inuyasha to join him. Once they stopped to rest in the forest it had already gotten dark and the moon was up in the sky Shrugen asked Inuyasha a question.

“Earlier you asked how your mother asked me to become your guardian a year ago. I lied to your friends because only you should hear what I’m about to say. I will leave it up to you if you want to tell your friends of not. Do you still want to know?”

When Inuyasha nodded his head Shrugen began to explain.

“First of all what do you know of your mother?”

“All I know is that she died when I was young and that she was a noblewoman.”

“Well that’s only half of the story. Your mother was a noblewoman but she was also the town’s priestess. She was very powerful and could give your father a run for his money. Tell me Inuyahsa do you know how she died?”

“No I was too young to remember”

“She died fighting a very powerful demon out in the wilderness. She brought a small army with her to help kill it but the army was obliterated. When the demon returned to its cave to recuperate your mother went in after it. They fought for hours both dealing critical blows to each other. In the end the demon struck a tentacle through her stomach and began to devour her. With her last ounce of strength she cast a spell trapping her soul and the demons soul within her heart which became the sacred jewel. That is how she is still alive. Her soul is in the jewel still battling against the demon. That is how she asked me to find and guard you through one of the shards.”

Inuyahsa was speechless. Learning that her mother was a priestess was shocking enough but the very priestess that created the sacred jewel? That was mind-blowing! He hardly believed it! Noticing the look in his face Shrugen continued.

“I know. It’s hard to believe. But you’ve heard her voice haven’t you? When you’re holding onto the jewel shards you hear a little voice like a whisper in the wind or when you were in the cave where your mother is, you felt that loving presence around you correct?”

Hearing this he couldn’t help but recall when he was in the cave. (It felt like I knew someone there, like I was home. I felt loved and cared for. I also recall hearing something when I hold the jewel shards they were like whispers in my mind.) As Inuyasha was still contemplating what he said, Shrugen asked another question.

“Tell me Inuyasha you have transformed into a full demon correct? You’ve felt your blood burn with the power pumping through you, clouding your mind and giving into your lust for blood? Judging by the look on your face you have. Your mother’s power that runs through you helped keeping you from completely giving in and killing your friends.”

“When I transformed I killed everything in sight. I remember it clearly I tried to stop myself but my body was not my own. I nearly attacked my friends but my full demon couldn’t like something was holding it at bay. What happened when a half demon transforms into a full demon? When I reverted back I felt my soul torn and my will broken. I no longer felt whole.”

“When a half demon transforms into a full demon his darker side awakens. In order for it to survive it feeds on pain and sorrow. In order to ensure its survival it wounds your soul, feeding off of your feelings of emptiness and despair. In short it becomes a wound in your soul, a hole that can never be filled. A beast that cannot be controlled. But I have found that with patience and training you can learn to summon it at will and control it. If you are willing Inuyasha, I can teach you to control your inner demon and use its powers to help in your battle against Naraku. I can teach you how to use and strengthen your priestess powers, and how to fight.”

“How to fight? I already know how to fight!”

“You know how to throw punches. What you need is to learn finesse.”

“Finesse?”

“It’s a fancy word for style. I can teach you the arts of battle, how to find your enemies weaknesses, how to dodge, counterattack, evade, and defend.”

(Wow) Inuyasha thought (this sounds almost too good to be true. He can teach me all this but I can help but wonder at the consequences to his offer. Am I patient enough to go through with it?) As if reading his thoughts Shrugen said

“You don’t need to answer now. It would be unfair to dump all this on you and force you to make a decision right a way. Take as much time as you need to think things through. Come let’s return to the village. I’m sure everyone is wondering what has happened to us to take so long.”

As Inuyasha turned to leave Shrugen spoke. “Just one more thing Inuyahsa. Have you found a mate yet?

Inuyahsa turned to face him a little blush on his cheeks. “Yeah what of it?”

“Who is it?”

“Sango”

The demon slayer? Well that explains why your scent is all over her. Strong and sexy. A good choice as a lover and as a mate. You do love her don’t you?”

“Of course!”

“Good, good just making sure. Although I would suggest that you mark her soon. Having her as a mate can help strengthen both of you when you are fighting and can help control your inner demon. Also it seems that the monk has his eyes or should I say hands set on her.”

With Inuyasha nodding an ‘understood’ they both headed back to the village. They returned to find everyone asleep. Shrugen found a place on the floor and went to sleep while Inuyahsa jumped on a tree branch recalling everything he and Shrugen talked about, eventually drifting off into a restless sleep.


Authors Note: Sorry for the lag of up dating. I’ve been pretty busy. Well not exactly what I hoped it would be but still pretty good. Next chapter should have the lemon you’ve all been waiting for perverts (just kidding) and hopefully Inuyasha will be able to talk with mother. Kagome will becoming back and for those of you who are wondering when Inuyasha will break it to her… well… I don’t know yet.

I want to thank everyone for their compliments and recommendations (Inu-shinta, dont have one, Extremely rare, Inuyasha Jr., Merlin8719,I_Naraku, Kiki Ortega, and D_Rose.)
to make the story better. Well until next time. Adios!


P.S. I still need a beta tester. Anyone who’s interested can post their offer in the reviews.