Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 9's

Time passed quickly, not feeling that winter had arrived and the heir to the western land was still trapped in the southern land palace. He sat staring out of the window in his room, he was still unable to return to the western land palace even though he felt himself to be quite strong compared to last spring. There was not the slightest sign of his father going to ask him to come home, he was still unable to leave the southern land palace.

The southern land palace was not a bad place, Shura admitted that. In this palace, he was still treated very well, as well as Akihiko who always accompanied him training, although sometimes a bit annoying because the ruler of the southern land was always teasing him. In fact it could be said, in the eyes of all the inhabitants of the southern palace now, Shura was their young master, the most respected figure after Akihiko.

The relationship between the heir to the western lands and the ruler of the southern lands is actually quite confusing. No one can deny that the ruler of the southern land loved Shura, the son of his rival all this time. From the way he trained and taught Shura everything he knew. From martial arts, the use of youki, the youkai tradition to literature, politics and tactics of war, all of which argue that Akihiko is training his successors; training an heir to the southern lands, the, and coupled with the fact that Akihiko did not have children, the blowing news spread and was believed by all who were there, both the youkai in the southern palace and the youkai outside the palace sometimes come to meet Akihiko for political purposes.

Shura never cared about that. He did not know what was inside Akihiko's head when he heard the news. However, the western heiress could sense that the news circulating was not entirely wrong, as she still remembered their conversation on the night of last spring—night in which Akihiko asked her to be her son.

Does Akihiko really want to raise her to be a child and pass down everything she has on her? Or was the ruler of this southern land willing to make him stand opposite to his father? Make it against his own father?

Shura only thought how stupid Akihiko would be if that was her goal, because, she would never betray her father no matter what. The blood that flowed within his veins was the blood of the ruler of the west-blood land of Sesshoumaru. It was a bond that connected the two of them, a reality that would never change. Although his father did not want to be gentle with him, even for his father, he was only a tool, then, although his father never asked the slightest word of news since he lived in the southern land palace. His views on him will never change, he still greatly respects and admires him.

The only thing that made Shura want to return to the western palace was actually just the painting he saw on the east side of the western land palace. He was eager to see the painting again, seeing the smile of spring that he had not seen for so long and always remembered. The feeling had piled up in his heart, the feeling he finally realized was longing. Only the obi girl he owned could restrain himself from running back to the western court, although the western land heir had also begun to hesitate, how long can the obi hold on to it if these feelings keep piling up?

"Shura-sama, Akihiko-sama asked you to meet him in his room." Said a waiter suddenly while opening the door of Shura's room while lowering his head in salute.

Hearing that, Shura could only close her eyes. She had no idea what Akihiko wanted from her right now. Take hunting? Playing chess? Or hear shamisen music while drinking tea? However, because, he also had no work, without thinking much more, the western land heir immediately stood up and walked away from his room towards the place where Akihiko had been waiting.

What Shura saw the first time he entered the ruling room of the southern land was the ruler himself as well as a little frog yokai holding a staff headed by a grandfather and a Jaken-human woman, subordinate to his father.

"Shura-gama!" jaken shouted loudly while running towards Shura.

Shura just stood still in her place, there was a vexation that arose in her heart when she saw Jaken, although her face was still expressionless, for it never crossed the slightest bit in his heart that he would see this chatty and cowardly youkai here.

"Shura-sama, you are getting more and more similar to Sesshoumaru-sama. I am so proud!" jaken said as he stared fixedly at Shura who was in front of him while crying.

Shura's face remained expressionless, However, when the western land heir heard his father's name mentioned, there was joy filling his heart. Jaken was his father's most loyal, though useless, subordinate, Shura knew, his father trusted this little youkai. And now that he's here, his destination must be just one, "Did Father send you to pick me up?" ask Shura slowly.

Hearing Shura's question, Jaken immediately shook his head. "No, Shura-sama. Shesshoumaru-sama sent a servant here to deliver a letter to Akihiko-sama."

Hearing Jaken's reply, the excitement that was in Shura's heart instantly disappeared and was replaced with disappointment. His father did not ask him to return, Jaken's arrival was for political purposes only, not for himself. Without saying anything more, Shura immediately turned herself around and walked out of the room.

"Shura-gama! Where you going? Wait!" jaken shouted in panic as soon as he saw his young master walking out. He wanted to chase after her, but Akihiko's voice stopped him.

"Little boy," called Akihiko while looking at Jaken. "What does the dog want to tell me?"

"My name, Jaken. And how dare you call Sesshoumaru-sama like that!" jaken's reply was full of anger. However when he saw the two sky blue eyes of Akihiko who were staring at him sharply, he instantly fell silent, there was fear in his heart.

"It-it's.. Sesshoumaru-sama asked the servant to hand this over to you." said Jaken stammering as he pulled out a letter from his shirt.

Akihiko took the letter and immediately opened it. A second later the ruler of the southern land immediately burst into laughter as he read the letter, whereas Jaken could only silently silence looking at it. He did not know what was written, but whatever it was, it was definitely not something funny, because Sesshoumaru-sama would not be able to write something that could make people laugh. What's more, the sound of this laughter was so wrong, the sound of this laughter sounded so terrifying.

"Tell the dog, little frog," Akihiko said suddenly as he looked at Jaken sharply. His sky blue eyes had turned blood red with anger. "I don't care about everything. I don't care about the war between the west and the north."

Jaken could only swallow his saliva and bow his head. "H-servant understands, I will deliver."

"good. Now get out of this room!" akihiko's orders later.

Jaken did not say anything more, quickly he immediately ran out leaving Akihiko alone out of fear, because if he remained there, his life would surely drift.

After Jaken left, Akihiko immediately squeezed the letter in his hand. Anger filled his heart. "How dare that dog!" his mind in the heart.

The letter in his hand contained only one sentence, namely.

...If you help the north, this Sesshoumaru will destroy the south once the north is destroyed....

...Sesshoumar....

Akihiko had long known of the north trying to attack the west. Although he always felt how stupid the ruler of the northern lands, Takeru always thought he could conquer the west. North cannot be compared to west. Although somewhat annoying, Akihiko admitted, in this Japan, the west is the most powerful. The number of soldiers, strength as well as western backers was simply incomparable to any party.

Indeed Takeru, the ruler of the northern lands had sent his subordinates to the southern land palace to ask for help. Takeru could not ask the east for help, because Akiko, the daughter of the ruler of the eastern lands was a concubine of Sesshoumaru, the only one who could ask for help was the south. And personally, Akihiko never cared about that. The war between the north and the west is not the war.

What makes him the ruler of this southern land angry is actually just one; has the dog forgotten that his son is in the south? Has he forgotten since last spring, Shura has been living in the southern land palace? Destroying south? So arrogant. Don't you fear the dog, if he gets angry and uses Shura as a hostage? Never once did the dog question Shura's state while here. He was sure, the news of him wanting Shura to be his successor must have reached the dog's ears, and researching who Shura really was, Sesshoumaru must have known that there was truth in the news. Therefore, why didn't Sesshoumaru do anything? Why does he remain silent? A device? A successor? Is that what Shura means to Sesshoumaru? So much hate for his son?

Nine years—no! Not even nine years.

A very short time for the youkai who had a long life restriction, and the dog had forgotten 'He'. The dog had truly returned to its former self, a heartless and cold creature. Has the dog forgotten 'He'? Does that mean 'He' to the dog?

....xoxOx....

Shura sits under a leafless sakura tree in the southern isatana garden. His golden eyes continued to stare at the easy red obi in his right hand, disappointment filling his heart, though he refused to show it. He still could not go home, his father still did not allow him to go home, he still could not see the smile of his beloved spring.

"Shura-gama!" yelled at someone suddenly.

Without even looking, Shura knew the owner of the voice was Jaken, a loyal follower of her father. He did not have the mood to serve him, therefore, the western land heir remained silent in his place.

"Shura-sama, ham—" Jaken said. But his words immediately came to a halt as he looked at the pink-colored obi that was on Shura's right hand. Her eyes widened. "Shura-gama! Where did you get that obi?!" ask Jaken to panic.

"It's none of your business." Reply Shura was calm despite the astonishment in her seeing the heat of Jaken. Jaken couldn't possibly know where he got this obi from, right?

"Shura-san.." Said Jaken again slowly, his face paled. "S-shura-san.. Did you infiltrate the red pavilion on the east side of the western land palace?"

Shura was very surprised to hear Jaken's question, but she remained calm, and she refused to answer Jaken's question honestly. "I don't understand what you mean, Jaken? Obi is mine."

Hearing Shura's reply, Jaken immediately shouted. "You're lying, Shura-sama. Obi belongs to a woman! Obiit that can't be yours!"

"This one belongs to my mother!" shura shouted in anger. She dislikes Jaken's tone, because after all, her status is higher than the little youkai in front of her. And even if he knew he was wrong here, he wouldn't admit it. He would keep the obi in his hands until the end.

Jaken instantly fell silent, his eyes widening as if he could not believe what he was hearing.

"This Obi belongs to my mother, Akiko, daughter of the ruler of the eastern lands, Jaken. What do you mean I lied?" Shura lied to Jaken again.

Hearing Shura's words, anger filled Jaken's heart. "No!" loud shouting. "That pig couldn't have belonged to that female fox! Obi belongs to Rin! Obi is a gift from Sesshomaru-sama to Rin!"

Shura's world was as if it had stopped when he heard what Jaken had said. His golden eyes instantly widened, his heart pounding very quickly without knowing why.

"I'm the one who went looking for Onimura, the youkai spider, the spinner of the yarn to make that obi-tailed kimono with Sesshoumaru-sama! I delivered the obi to Rin! I can't be wrong! That Obi there's only one in the world, so it can't possibly belong to that female Fox!"

"I think Sesshoumaru-sama took the obi from Rin's room. But, it turns out that you were the one who took it, Shura-sama!"

"Why do you know?" shura asked slowly, his mouth felt very dry and made himself have trouble making a sound.

"of course. I clean that room every week. Who do you think I am?! All I can do is enter Rin's room, I'm the only one!" jaken replied full of pride while hitting the chest with his hand.

Rin's.

Rin's.

Rin's.

The name kept spinning inside Shura's head. Is that the name of the girl in the painting? Rin's? His father knew him? His father who was famous for hating humans knew him so much? And not only that, his father was directly looking for Onimura to make the kimono and obi he had in hand now for the girl? Who exactly is that girl? What is the girl's relationship with her father?

"R-rin.." said Shura slowly as if the name was so difficult to pronounce. "Who is he? Who's Rin, Jaken?"

Hearing Shura's question, Jaken immediately silently remained silent. He immediately raised his hand shut his mouth as he realized the mistake he had made. Fear filled his heart, what had he done? What did he say to Shura?

"T-No. The servant didn't say anything." Jaken answered nervously.

Shura knew Jaken was lying. The heiress of the western land walked up to the little youkai in front of her, looking at her sharply. He couldn't possibly let the chance to find out who the girl was actually just gone. "Jake! Answer my question, who is Rin?" shura's orders were cold.

Jaken could only remain silent, looking at Shura now, she was like looking at Sesshoumaru. "H-servant doesn't know what you mean, Shura-sama.. I'm not— " replied Jaken later, but his words immediately stopped because Shura had grabbed her by the neck and lifted the small body from the ground she stood on.

"Jawab my question! Who is Rin?!" shura shouted in anger, his golden eyes had now turned blood red.

Jaken remained silent. He was afraid to see Shura who was in front of him. However, he remained silent, because he would not be able to explain who Rin really was to the heiress of the western land in front of him. He was a coward, only for this, even though he would die, he would still secret it.

Seeing the jaken who remained unanswered, the anger within Shura intensified. He strengthened Jaken's neck grip. "My answer is, Jaken. Who's Rin?"

Jaken immediately closed his eyes, he did not dare to look at Shura's blood-red eyes. He knew, his death must have arrived, he would definitely die at the hands of this western land heir by now. Suddenly, someone's voice stopped him.

"Take off the little frog, Shura."

Shura did not let go of the grip of his hand. He knew who it was, he could already smell and feel the aura of his presence since earlier, the ruler of the southern land, the owner of this palace; akihiko.

"Take him off, Shura." Akihiko's orders again.

Slowly Shura finally released the grip of her hand and dropped Jaken onto the ground. Jaken instantly coughed and as he raised his head, his eyes again met with a pair of blood red eyes of the western land heir.

"My answer is, Jaken? Who's Rin?" shura asked again for the umpteenth time.

Jaken immediately lowered his head down, refusing to look at those blood-red eyes and remaining silent in silence. Seeing that, Shura knew, Jaken would not answer his question no matter how many times he asked. The little youkai will keep the girl's identity a secret in the painting even if her life is the payment. His blood-red color returned to gold, and without wasting any more time, the western land heir directly turned himself over, walking to leave the southern land palace garden.

"Where are you going, Shura?" ask Akihiko.

"Home home" Shura replied without turning her head at Akihiko. "I'll go back to the palace of the west. I'll ask you directly to Ayahanda."

Jaken's eyes widened at Shura's reply, he immediately got up and pulled the western land heir's feet. "Don't, Shura-sama! Don't ask who Rin really is Sesshoumaru-sama! Please don't ask him!" pinta Jaken was full of fear.

Shura did not care about Jaken's request, she kept walking away not caring about Jaken who was at her feet. He has no trouble moving, Jaken will not stop him from seeking the truth of who Rin really is.

"You can't leave this place, Shura." Akihiko said suddenly.

Shura's footsteps instantly came to a halt when she heard what Akihiko said. Slowly and confusedly, he turned his face to look at the ruler of the southern land as well as his teacher.

"You think you can come and go as you please?" akihiko asked again while looking at Shura sharply. "You can't leave my palace, Shura."

Anger filled Shura's heart. He lifted his lips and showed a sharp grin of anger, his eyes turning blood red again. What does Akihiko mean? Not allowing him to leave the southern palace? What right has he to keep himself in this place?

"You have no right to stop me, Akihiko-sama!" shout Shura.

Akihiko's facial expression remained unchanged at the sight of Shura's wrath, remaining calm. "I don't need the right to stop you."

Shura did not care what Akihiko said, she turned her back and walked away. However, just a step he took, a sword had stuck to his neck.

"I told you not to leave my palace, Shura." Akihiko held the sword coldly. There was a commanding tone in his words.

Jaken who saw what happened could only tremble in fear. The eyes of his youkai could not catch the fast movement of the southern land fast ruler. However, Shura did not care, she immediately brushed off the sword that was on her neck using her hands.

"Surge you!" shura shouted full of anger, her blood-red eyes instantly staring intently at Akihiko's sky-blue eyes.

"Defeat me first if you really want to go back west."

Shura's eyes widened in shock at Akihiko's words. However, a moment later, anger again took over his mind. She doesn't know what and why Akihiko won't let her go home, but she doesn't care. He wanted to ask his Father now, about who Rin was, about what he had to do with his Father; about what Rin had to do with him.

"If that's what you want, I accept your challenge." Reply Shura was full of anger and suddenly the wind blew strong to lift the long silver hair of the western land heir upwards. A dense red-colored smoke suddenly appeared surrounding his figure.

Jaken instantly let go of her hand that was holding Shura's leg and ran away. She knew Shura would return to her original youkai figure to face Akihiko, and she did not want to get involved in a fight that could have taken her life.

As the red smoke dissipated, Shura's figure had been replaced by a large white dog with blood-red eyes. It was about ten meters in size with one line on its cheek as well as a crescent moon mark on its forehead. He growled furiously at Akihiko who was in front of him, her poisonous saliva flowing downward and her sharp and pointed nails had been preparing to attack.

Akihiko just stood still in his place staring at the real figure of Shura—a big white dog. Seeing this figure, he could only go back to thinking, Shura is really a child of Sesshoumaru, because her true figure is really similar, it makes no difference. The resemblance was very remarkable, and it was for this reason that he could not let Shura return to the western palace to meet Sesshoumaru again. If Shura were to return home to the western palace, she would definitely grow up like the cruel, cold and heartless Sesshoumaru.

"You won't go back to the western palace, Shura." Akihiko said slowly and a second later, the wind again blew around his body as well as blue smoke. The moment the smoke disappeared, his figure had turned into a huge white wolf. It was three times larger than Shura. His teeth are very big, pointed and sharp, as well as his toenails.

The original figure of the ruler of the southern land can certainly make fear of any creature that sees it scared. However, Shura did not show the slightest fear. His blood-red eyes only gave off anger and determination to defeat the youkai in front of him. With an unhesitating movement, the western land heir jumped up while opening his mouth to stab Akihiko in the neck.

Akihiko who saw Shura attack him opened his big mouth without even attacking. He would not hesitate in facing Shura now. He would not let Shura return to the west anymore, he would not let Shura become like Sesshoumaru.

For Shura's sake he'll do that.

For Rin.

....xoxOx....