Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 159

On top of the tree, the monkey youkai stood. His green eyes stared straight ahead at the smoke and flames of the former fight. His face was serious with a small frown on his forehead, for he knew he was looking at something he had never imagined happening in the western lands.

Western land.

The land in which he was born, raised and also later; dead. A land with strong youkai with high self-pride, as well as a land with extraordinary rulers from generation to generation—Kenji always knew the land west was a big tree that was not shaken forever.

But now, Kenji's green eyes could clearly see the black smoke that was clumping in the daytime sky, the blaze in the forests of the western lands region and also the youkai of the northern lands that are free to roam creates destruction everywhere.

Ya—youkai northern land. The northern lands that managed to suppress and enter the western lands, although unbelievable, it really happened. Kenji didn't think how this could happen. Many convulsions were occurring, unlike usual, the youkai clans in the western underground did not put up any meaningful resistance. In fact, the monkey youkai felt that the western land youkai clans were letting the northern land youkai.

Did they betray?—no. Kenji was sure the youkai clan did not betray him. The clan leaders were those who swore blood to Sesshoumaru, the ruler of the western lands. Their loyalty is something that is beyond doubt. So, what really happened?

Kenji who dissolved in his mind tried to think hard about what happened, and without realizing it, right behind him an open dimensional door hole.

....xoxOx.,...

"Sesshoumaru-sama!!!" jaken's voice that broke the silence rang out filling the rooms within the eastern pavilion.

Instantly, with the exception of Sesshoumaru and Shura, all the eye gazes present in the eastern pavilion immediately turned to look at the panicked Jaken.

"Why do you always show up at times you shouldn't, Jaken?" inuyasha asked. That and all of them were waiting for the answer to Shura's question from Sesshoumaru, but perfectly Jaken had ruined it.

"It's not the time you asked like that!!" reply Jaken half-cried looking at Inuyasha. The look in his eyes then returned to Sesshoumaru, however, Shura's figure then grabbed his attention. A moment of laughter on his face. "Jee-sama!! You've gone home? Why didn't you tell Jaken this?"

Shura still did not care about Jaken. Both of his eyes were still staring at Sesshoumaru without budging, as if indeed in this place there was only him and his biological father. The little Inuyoukai had already decided he did not want to lose even the slightest chance of getting the answer he wanted.

"Shura-sama, you are getting more and more similar to Sesshoumaru-sama, a proud servant, ha-hamba—hik.hik.." Jaken's laughter and smile instantly turned into a cry. Looking at the figure of Shura who had grown big after such a long time, she was unable to hold back her tears. Rin did you see him? The son you love has grown up.

The sudden change in Jaken's attitude only made Inuyasha and the others sigh. What did youkai frog really want to say just now?—seems like he has forgotten.

"Oi, Jaken!" Call Inuyasha then. Handing over Sakura who was in her carriage to Kagome, she walked over and hit Jaken's head hard. "What do you want to say??"

"It hurts!!" Shouted Jaken in pain. Looking at Inuyasha, his face was full of anger. But, instantly also the question of this inuhanyou just made him realize. The anger turned into panic again, staring at Sesshoumaru, the frog youkai shouted back, "Sesshoumaru-sama!! Asa—"

"I didn't expect the western land palace to be such a crowded place." A soft voice full of laughter someone suddenly sounded cut through Jaken's speech.

In contrast to Inuyasha and the others who were shocked, both Sesshoumaru, Inukimi, Kiri and Kira did not notice the slightest change in expression with the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest, for they have known the existence of the youkai ever since he set foot into the palace.

"Yahanda!!" Akiko called out loudly to the figure. Both of his eyes sparkled with joy as well as his face, for he knew that his father who had arrived at the western court would not allow anything to happen to him.

"Old fox, have you come to watch the crowd?" ask Inukimi. Her beautiful face was flat emotionless, no one could guess what was on her mind.

Asano smiled and shook his head. "No. I didn't come to watch the crowd."

Remaining smiling, Asano looked at the expectant Akiko for a moment and then looked at the figure of Shura who was in front of him. His eyes sparkled happily. "Ah, it turns out that my grandson is already this big."

"Whose grandson? Don't confess!!" cut Inuyasha pissed off. The father-son from the eastern lands in front of him was indeed shameless. One claimed to be a mother, and now, another claimed to be a grandfather??

Asano as if not hearing Inuyasha's words, he laughed. His eyes slowly then directed at Sesshoumaru. "Didn't you allow my visit as an in-law in your palace, Sesshoumaru?"

Asano's words this time made Inuyasha even more annoyed. But he could not say anything, because indeed the fox youkai was Sesshoumaru's in-law. She did not think what was on her brother's mind, of all the women in the world, why did she choose Akiko to be a concubine? How could he bear to mess with the ruling family of the eastern lands?

Continuing to laugh, from the figure of Sesshoumaru, Asano's eyes again moved and stared at the painting of the most beloved human woman in the western lands. "Rin," he said and smiled. "If it's not wrong, it's the name of this human woman, right?"

Rin's name called Asano brings tremendous effect to all those in the eastern pavilion of the western land palace. Everything squinted at him except for Sesshoumaru who remained motionless.

"Be quiet you fox," left sneer full of anger. "You don't deserve to mention his name."

"I will pluck out your tongue if you dare to speak his name with your dirty mouth." Kira added, her two golden eyes turned red with anger.

The other Inuyasha didn't say anything, but they didn't stop Kiri and Kira either. They clearly remembered what the eastern lands had done to Rin first, so the twins' anger from the western lands was clearly grounded.

Asano laughed loudly at Kiri and Kira's reaction. Slowly, he looked back at Shura. "You see, Shura? With just a name, the famous western twins without emotion became like this. Ah—no. Not only the twins, but believe me, the entire western land would also be like that when it comes to the human woman."

Asano's words this time inevitably made Shura stare at the ruler of the eastern land. He did not know the direction of the conversation that existed, but he was willing to hear it if it concerned the human woman that meant so much to him.

Asano smiled gently looking at Shura's pair of golden eyes. Although his face was calm without emotion, both of his eyes were clearly thirsty for the desire to hear the story of the human woman. "She was a human woman who was loved throughout the western lands. The only woman your father loved; Sesshoumaru, the ruler of the western lands."

Shura was silent in silence, but this time, she could no longer hide the excitement in her golden eyes that were gleaming with joy. The human woman who was loved all over the western lands, the woman that her father loved.

I love you, Shura.

In a dream of his past, the sound is like the clink of a bell that whispers love. Smile and laugh like spring on her soft face—Shura was satisfied. Sure was! Who wouldn't love that woman?

"Therefore" continued Asano quietly, and at once his gentle smile turned into a grin on his face. "You are the most sinful man in the land of the west."

Shura was stunned to hear Asano's words. His two eyes widened, he did not understand his intention, and did not give any chance to anyone who was there to stop him, the ruler of the eastern lands continued his words. "Because you killed him."

"Hey!!!"

"Shoppers!!"

"What do you mean!!!?"

The shouting voice of Inuyasha and the others was heard protesting Asano's remark, while for Kiri and Kira, the two of them had run attacking the ruler of the eastern lands.

Asano jumped away and laughed loudly. "You know why you're a child, Akiko? Why were you banished to the south? Why didn't Sesshoumaru let you go back to the western lands?—that's because you're the human female assassin!! She died giving birth to you!! Sesshoumaru hates you for that!!"

"Oahh!! Don't make it up, you son of a bitch!!" Inuyasha who could not stand the tessaiga and attacked Asano. What nonsense did the fox say??! He can't keep quiet anymore.

Asano swiftly dodged back, however, Kiri, Kira and Inuyasha did not let him. Raising his sword, Inuyasha prepared to launch the bakuryuha. However, Shura's loud voice suddenly sounded stopping them. "Stop!!"

Inuyasha, Kiri and Kira immediately stopped hearing Shura's voice. Looking at the small inuyoukai, they saw her face flat with no expression. "If you want to fight, fight outside. Don't ruin this room."

Kimono, jewelry and paintings—all in this room clearly show who the owner of this room really is, therefore Shura will not allow anyone to damage it. Although he did not remember, he knew that there were pieces of memories from the human woman here.

Shura's flat reaction left everything there was not knowing what to do. Asano's words just now were completely unfounded, however, how was it for Shura who had been living without knowing the truth of who her birth mother was?

Closing his eyes for a moment, Shura then looked at Sesshoumaru who was neither moving nor saying a word from earlier. No matter what was happening around him, the ruler of the western lands just kept staring at the vortex in front of him as if there was no one in this room.

"Ayahanda," call Shura slowly. He was silent for a moment, and after taking a breath as if he was gathering all his courage, he continued what he wanted to ask. "Is this the reason? Why didn't you ever tell me? Daddy hates me—because I'm the mother's killer?"

"No, Shura! You're sa—" interrupted Kagome hearing Shura's question. With Sakura in her carriage, she walked forward approaching the small inuyoukai in panic. But unexpectedly, Jaken's loud voice that was silent was heard cutting and stopping him. "That's not true!! Don't believe that nonsense, Shura-sama!!!"

Shura is Rin—Rin's killer dead from giving birth to Shura? Jaken knew this speech well. She first heard it when she delivered a letter to Akihiko a few years ago. Later, as he investigates further, the frog youkai discovers that there are rumors in Rin's death circulating in this world.

Rin's sudden and unexplained death, no one knows the cause. However, Rin's condition is getting worse and worse since the moment she conceived Shura, everyone knows. Therefore, in the eyes of those who have never seen the whole incident, they will say—Rin died from giving birth to Shura; Shuralah the murderer of Rin.

Stepping forward toward Shura, no matter everyone's eyes, Jaken immediately pulled the small inuyoukai hand. Her eyes were teary and held back tears. "You're not Rin's killer. Don't ever think like that even out there everyone says so. You don't know how happy Rin was when you were born. How much Rin loves you!!"

"Jaken-sama, come here." Rin who was laughing a little while holding the baby fanned his right hand slowly. "Shura is handsome and looks like Sesshoumaru-sama, isn't it, Jaken-sama? Just like Rin was when she was a child. Rin hopes that Jaken-sama will also always look after Shura later."

"Yes, leave it to me, Rin. Later, no matter what happens, even if my life is at stake, I will always take care of Shura-sama."

The little finger raised with a beautiful laugh on the beautiful face. "Promise?"

The little finger that is tightly connected. Humans and youkai; Rin and Jaken.

"Promise."

Jaken's promise to Rin to protect Shura, she knows that it's something really funny, because her weak self is unlikely to be needed for such a small inuyoukai. But, in another way, he would keep that promise.

Jaken's tears fell unbearably. Rin was always smiling and laughing. Rin who always believed and heard his words—how could he forget his promise? "Trust in Jaken's words!!"

Shura looked straight at Jaken motionlessly. He could hear the speech and see Jaken's tears clearly. But, he could not digest or accept it. Everything feels messy and messy—unexplained.

Staring at the back of Sesshoumaru who was behind her, Shura could not find the strength to ask her silent biological father again.

"Sheena..."

A voice so soft and soothing as the clinking of a bell rang out. Immediately, he opened his eyes. In his heart, he knew what he would see. Smile. Warm spring smile—his much loved smile.

He could not stop his smile anymore. The woman was actually in front of him, although still looking pale, she was smiling and carrying her infant self. He raised both his hands to touch the woman's face. How happy he was when he touched her.

The woman laughed, and again kissed her forehead so gently. Then, someone's hand suddenly stroked his head. He did not know whose hand it was, the hand was very big, strong yet also warm—hand of a man. Hands that guarantee safety and protection. Suddenly, he realized that the woman holding him was sitting on the lap of the owner of the hand.

His golden eyes were trying to see who the owner of the hand was. However, she could not see him, because the woman suddenly put her face to her chest, hugging him. Only, the smell of the man was not foreign to him. He knew who he was even better, though he could not remember it. Then, the pair of warm hands of the man moved to embrace them, hugging the woman so tightly, yet so gently, as if they were both his life, his life, his life, his most precious possession—something irreplaceable in his existence.

He smiled again and buried his face in the woman's chest, closed his eyes and let the warmth of the two people envelop him. He felt very peaceful and protected. Warm. Very-very warm.

Love, Shura. No matter what happens, we will always love you..."

In a dream of a beautiful past, although she had never seen it, Shura knew, who the male possessed such a big, strong and warm hand. Who we are, namely his biological parents; Rin and—Sesshoumaru.

That's why, Shura never gave up on returning to the western land palace, she believed there was a reason why her father ordered her to leave the western land. She believes, Rin loves her, so does—Sesshoumaru.

Eternal bond. Forever, the bond of the three of us will never be broken...

But now everything has changed. His trust was shattered with just Asano's words. Shura knew she shouldn't believe the fox youkai's talk based on Jaken's reaction as well as those who were, but why? Why did Sesshoumaru, his real father not say anything? He did not give the slightest reaction and most importantly; he did not see it in the slightest?—as would allow all Asano's words.

Loving is a human feeling, and human feelings are easy to change. From time to time from one incident to another—was that how his biological father felt to him? He used to love her, but after losing the most precious woman to them, he began to hate her. Shura wants the truth. But is this the truth? The reason why his father did not tell him who his birth mother was and let Akikolah be the bride?—His father hated him because he was the murderer of his own mother.

The room was silent, no one said a word. Their eyes were all directed at Shura and Sesshoumaru, until Inukimi's voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Sesshoumaru, how long will you remain silent?" Inukimi's voice was calm as usual.

Shura looked at Inukimi. He did not know who these inuyoukai were, but, he also knew they still had a blood relation from the smell present.

Inukimi smiled at Shura's gaze. This grandson—how many years has he not seen him? not long after seeing him, he had grown so well. "My name is Inukimi" he laughed softly. "I'm your real grandmother on your father's side."

Shura just kept staring at Inukimi, she was not surprised to know what their relationship was, even guessing. Inukimi from the western lands, former ruler of the western lands—ibu birth from Sesshoumaru from the western lands.

Shura's calm reaction made Inukimi laugh even louder. "You are really the son of my son," he then turned his gaze back to Sesshoumaru. "Don't you think you should answer your son's question, Sesshoumaru?"

Once again, Sesshoumaru remained silent. No one could guess what the ruler of the western lands had in mind.

"If you raise Shura like this," Inukimi continued. There was no change in his face. "I should have brought it when I left the western land palace."

Child raised parents. Inukimi used to leave Shura's upbringing entirely to Sesshoumaru and left the palace. She did not interfere because Sesshoumaru said she would raise her own child.

'Rin's human blood won't make him hanyou. Shura will be born as a true Inuyoukai of high self-worth. Handsome, wise and strong, like you Sesshoumaru-sama.'

Rin's words at that time were stirred in Inukimi's mind. Rin wants her son to grow up like her father, which is why she gave up Shura's upbringing entirely to Sesshoumaru. He did not interfere because Sesshoumaru said he would raise his own child like himself. But, Inukimi never expected this to happen.

Inukimi felt guilty for Shura now, she should not have trusted Sesshoumaru's remark saying she would raise Shura well, and most importantly she shouldn't let the grief eat her up to leave the palace.

Grief.

Living in a palace full of memories, Inukimi has always seen the shadow of the eternal spring beloved of the western lands. Smiles and tears, laughter and crying, happiness and suffering, life and death of a human woman named; Rin—The western palace is not the old western land palace anymore. For her, Kiri, Kira and those who left the western land palace on the same grounds, the memories left behind were too painful. Therefore they choose to leave where everything happened and allow time to heal.

Sesshoumaru's silence doesn't concern Inukimi anymore. His son probably wouldn't say a word—no one could force the ruler of the western land to open his mouth if he didn't want to.

Looking back at Shura, Inukimi smiled. "Shura, if ka—"

However, Inukimi's words were not resolved, because suddenly, Asano who was silent shouted loudly to rule Akiko who was detained by two soldiers of the western land palace. "Akiko, kill miko and her daughter!!"

Kagome who stepped forward a few steps with Sakura in a sling a moment ago had made the position of Akiko who was being held by the two warriors of the western land palace was the closest to the two of them.

Asano's orders are not understood by Akiko, but she quickly obeys them, knowing that her real father is the only one who can save her life now. Gathering and releasing her youkin aura, Akiko easily managed to blow away the two soldiers who were holding her back. He won't win against Inukimi, Kiri or Kira, but he's definitely not a weak youkai.

Running forward towards Kagome and Sakura as fast as he could, he raised both his hands which had long claws and exuded a powerful youki attacking, attacking, likewise, the eight large and long tails that appeared behind him were like weapons.

"Kagome!!!!"

"Kagome!!"

"Mother!!!"

The screaming sounds of Inuyasha and the others were heard giving Kagome a warning. But the future miko was still stunned and stood in her place, because everything that happened was very sudden, she did not expect herself and Sakura would be the target of an attack.

Inuyasha, Shiro, Sango, Miroku and the others immediately ran forward as well as Inukimi. Racing against time they try to save Kagome and Sakura, while for Sesshoumaru, Kiri, Kira, they do not move in the slightest to see what happens. However, in the chaos, Shura who was closest to Kagome, Sakura and Akiko suddenly ran forward.

"Akhh!!! Yuri-sama!!!" jaken's loud scream made Kiri and Kira who were silent shocked and immediately ran forward. The two of them did not care about Kagome and Sakura's dead lives, but not for Shura. To them, Shura was not merely the heir to the western lands or their future master, that little inuyoukai was extremely valuable to them because he was the son of the human woman they loved so much.

Everything happens very quickly and is unpredictable. A powerful explosive sound rang out filling the room. Smoke billowed, the indoor tatami floor was damaged as well as the roof due to the explosion. The eyes of everyone were fixed on one place, and as the smoke disappeared they saw Kagome who was tightly hugging Sakura as well as Shura who was standing in front of the two of them with a sword in hand resisting Akiko's attack.

Inuyasha and the others immediately breathed a sigh of relief seeing Shura who managed to save Kagome and Sakura, as well as for Inukimi, Kiri and Kira, as well, they immediately stopped their footsteps seeing the small inuyoukai not hurt in the least.

Then—when the relief filled the hearts of all that was. As they were feeling off guard for a moment, from behind Inukimi, Kiri and Kira a dimensional door hole opened abruptly.

The wind blew fiercely out from within the dimensional door hole and a second later, the hole became sucking.

"Incury-sama!!"

"Your husband-san!! Kirih-san!! Kira-san is!!"

Jaken, Inuyasha and the others shouted calling the three inuyoukai seeing what was happening, but both Inukimi, Kiri and Kira were unable to do anything about it, their bodies were quickly sucked into the open dimensional door hole.

The erratic and shocking change of circumstances immediately left everything in the room stunned. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Akiko immediately jumped and landed near Asano.

"Yahuj." Call Akiko. His face was full of confusion, but seeing the smile on Asano's face, the confusion in his heart then turned into excitement. He didn't know what his father's plan was, but that smile clearly promised them the upper hand now.

Silence once again filled the room, both Inuyasha and the others were unable to say a word. They all don't know what's going on. However, the voice of Sesshoumaru who had been silent from the start no matter what happened suddenly sounded.

"Do you still want to hide?" sesshoumaru's voice was calm and flat without emotion. He didn't seem surprised at what happened.

Shura, Inuyasha and the others immediately turned their heads looking at Sesshoumaru. They do not understand to whom the question is directed. However, the sound of laughter suddenly rang out filling the air.

Alongside the sound of laughter, beside Asano and Akiko, a dimensional door opened again, and from within the dimensional door, a youkai walked out with a big smile on his face. "For a long time no see, Sesshoumaru."

Except for the children, Inuyasha and the others immediately recognized the figure of the youkai that appeared before them.

"Takeru from the North." said Inuyasha cynically.

The short black-haired with a pair of green eyes, that emerged from within the door of the opened dimension was none other than Takeru the ruler of the northern lands.

Reversing his body, Sesshoumaru looked straight at the figure of Takeru who was smiling widely at him. There remained no expression on the flat face of the ruler of the western land. "During did not meet—Shui."

....xoxOx....