Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 167's

"Why do you look sad, Sakura-chan?" kagome asked, looking at Sakura's silence. There was no smile or laughter on his face as usual. Sitting in the corner of the room, the little innuanyou looked glum.

"Sakura's okay, mom." Answer Sakura slowly. Lowering his gaze down, he returned silent.

Everyone in the room could guess what the cause of the little innuanyou was like this now. When the meeting was over, Shura left the room alone, and she did not allow anyone to follow her including Sakura who had always been by her side all this time. Everything that existed could see and feel clearly something had changed from the small inuyoukai—he suddenly became very cold and distant like his biological father; Sesshoumaru used to be.

"Sakura, come here" called Inuyasha who was beside Kagome to see the sadness of her little daughter. Her feelings were very chaotic right now, she did not want Sakura to be close to Shura, but seeing Sakura sad like this, she was also unwilling. "Let me hug you."

Sakura stared for a moment at Inuyasha and then got up running hugging her father. Drowning his little face in the chest of the father's field, he remained silent mutely not saying anything.

Inuyasha returned Sakura's embrace while sighing at Kagome who looked very confused, while Shiro who was beside them could only raise his right hand caressing the head of the gentle sister.

Miroku who saw the Inuyasha family interaction said nothing. His eyes were then directed at Jaken who had been crying in the room. "Have you cried enough, Jaken?"

"You don't understand!!! How can I stop crying now??!!" reply Jaken loudly while crying. "How can Shura-sama say she doesn't need Rin's painting anymore??"

Everything in the room was silent, and their gaze was fixed on the rest of Rin's painting that had been destroyed in Jaken's hands.

"I guess we better give Shura some time first." Said Miroku slowly. In a short time this had happened many things, and all of it was not at all a good thing for Shura. Such a small Inuyoukai could with a cold head face all of it was already something they were very grateful for.

"I agree." Agree Kohaku slowly. The young Taijiya could only think of the figure of Shura who was so strong in the face of everything that happened—he was really the son of Sesshoumaru, the inudayoukai ruler of the western lands.

Inuyasha's family, Sango and their children, Shippo, Yuki and Koharu said nothing. But, they all also agreed with Miroku's words. The small Inuyoukai needed time to calm himself down.

However, not for Sora who was also silently silently staring at the rest of Rin's painting. A look at Shura's golden eyes while saying it didn't require this painting again flashed through his mind. He was an information seeker, and in these ten years, he had learned to read the expressions and eyes of all he encountered. Therefore he could see clearly on those pair of golden eyes— the sadness as well as confusion that turned into despair and gave birth to a spoken decision.

Shura was strong, Sora could see that clearly. Unlike her childhood self, the inuyoukai did not dissolve in fear when she lost everything. He quickly got up and tried to finish it all in his own way. No matter getting hurt or having to lose something valuable—dia faced it.

When Shura said that she did not need a burning painting, Sora knew that the real purpose of her speech was not a painting, but rather—sang mother. The little Inuyoukai wanted to throw away the figure of the mother he loved so much to come forward, and the white mouse youkai knew, probably because he thought that his mother would be his hindrance.

Shura's motionless shadow while hugging the burning painting as Shui attacked her by imitating the mother's appearance in the western earth palace flashed in Sora's mind, therefore he knew—the importance of the figure of the mother for the small inuyoukai.

Inuyoukai from the west. Youkai is a powerful ruler of the western lands, like what Shura grew up on, Sora does not know. But, seeing and hearing from Inuyasha and the others, he knew, that little inuyoukai must have been raised like youkai in general—feeling was not necessary.

Youkai are the most superior creatures in the world. There's no point feeling. Feelings will only make you weak. Feelings will only make you disappear. Youkai are creatures that can live alone.

Shura must have been brought up with such a teaching—because he is the heir of the western land, the lord of the western land in the future.

The figure of a human woman hugging a small dog in her arms crossed Sora's mind. With her smile as beautiful as spring and her laughter like the clink of bells—youkai the white rat was stunned.

No. gabe. How could he let it go? How could he allow Shura to do that when an unforgettable scene flashed through his mind?

Rise up, not caring about the sight of all that was directed at her, Sora immediately opened the door of the room and walked out. "Everyone, I have business. Excuse me first."

Is what he's gonna do right? Is the decision now right?- Sora does not know. But, for Shura who was the son of a western land kisaki who used to be willing to lend a hand to the neutral land ten years ago—she wanted the little inuyoukai to know the true figure of her mother.

....xoxOx....

Standing alone in the garden, Shura's facial expression was flat without emotion. The wind that blew and also the cold of the night did not bother him at all even though he was only wearing a thin yukata. Lowering his eyes, he saw the wounds on his body that were starting to heal. Soon he will fully recover.

"Are you unable to sleep, Shura-sama?" the quiet voice of a woman suddenly broke the silence of the night.

Shura was not surprised by the sudden voice, as she had already noticed its existence just a moment ago. Raising his head, the small inuyoukai stared at the owner of the voice who was none other than Tsubasa.

"That little guy isn't with you?" tsubasa asked with a smile.

Shura did not answer Tsubasa's question. He knew who the inuanyou meant the youkai bird. It seemed like the existence of Sakura who was always smiling beside him had become a common sight for the surrounding people.

Approaching Shura, Tsubasa stands beside the small inuyoukai. He did not ask anymore, nor did he expect an answer from his question just now.

The silence of the night filled them. The two of them silently stared at the dark night garden until Shura finally opened her mouth. "Do you regret loving, Tsubasa-sama?"

Looking at Shura, Tsubasa smiled again. "Why are you asking like that, Shura-sama?"

"Because I finally know, it's true love is a weakness." Reply Shura flatly without turning her gaze from the dark garden in front.

"Love is a weakness—I think it's true," Tsubasa said softly with a smile still on her face. "Then you—are you sorry you loved?"

Shura did not answer Tsubasa's question. Silence shut her eyes. Regretting? For all that has happened, for this state of being—is he sorry?

I love you Shura...

A whisper full of love, a simple sentence that he could not erase from his mind. Something that always comes to pass without being stopped.

Shura, forget...

Her biological father's last words, the nightmare that always haunts her even when she comes to her senses.

Regret?—Shura don't know. What is the importance of love in your youkai life? Such a misleading feeling—may be yes; he's sorry. How many times did he think; if only he had not tried to defend the figure of his biological mother who had been missing in the painting, if he did not doubt the figure of Shui who imitates his mother—if only he never knew and knew the truth, then what has happened will not happen.

"He loves you." Tsubasa suddenly said. He did not know what was on Shura's mind now, but he knew the little inuyoukai was now lost—losing the grip on his life.

Shura turned her head to look at Tsubasa as soon as she heard what was said, but then again, she did not reply.

"Rin-sama has always loved you, Shura-sama." Tsubasa remembers Rin. A gentle and weak human woman, a mother who bravely faces the human world and youkai for the child in her womb an incredible love for her son.

Shura remained silent. The love? Does his mother still love him until the end of his life?—love his own killer. Then now, would he still love her?—she was the cause of her father's death. For her like that—is she loved?

"Shura-san." The voice of someone's call suddenly sounded.

Looking at the source of the voice, Shura and Tsubasa saw Sora standing alone not far from them. Bending his back for a moment saluted, his attitude was respectful as the white tikua youkai knew the difference in status between them. "Good night."

Neither Shura nor Tsubasa gave any reaction. Standing still in place they did not return the greeting Sora had just given.

"I'm sorry because I'm not polite" said Sora. He was not at all offended at the attitude of Shura or Tsubasa. "But, will you be willing to follow the servant for a moment?"

Shura was still staring expressionlessly at Sora, she did not know the purpose of the white rat youkai and intended to reject it. However, he clearly remembered that the youkai in front of him was the one who brought him back the painting of his birth mother. Even though he did not need the painting anymore, he still felt indebted, "Alright," Shura replied later.

The smile on Sora's face became wider hearing Shura's reply. Respectfully and politely, he directed the small inuyoukai. "Come on, Shura-sama."

Nobody says anything anymore. Tsubasa also follows despite her being uninvited, and neither Shura nor Sora stop her at all. Together, they headed for a room.

Shura did not understand why Sora was leading her into this room, but, as usual, she did not voice out what was on her mind. He preferred to wait for the youkai to explain itself. However, not for Tsubasa, looking at the mirror in the room, the bird youkai could guess what Sora might want to do.

"Hamba is a white mouse youkai, Shura-sama," Sora said with a small smile Both eyes looked straight at the mirror in front."Ten years ago, our clan was wiped out and only told about the servant and elder brother."

Walking forward, Sora approached the mirror. "We both lost everything overnight. Old man, family—home."

Shura did not understand Sora's intentions. The story he heard now had absolutely nothing to do with him. So why is this youkai telling his past to himself?

"Memories in memory," turning over, Sora looked at Shura. A small smile still rose on his face. "That's the only thing I have when all has disappeared—the most beautiful memories of my fellowship with them are of great importance to me."

Shura was stunned to hear Sora's words. Memories—the most beautiful memories with them that were very important to him.

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

Shura closed her eyes and tightly clenched her hands. The most beautiful memories of his life—memories with his parents. The faint memories he saw in a dream.

Rin hates you

Shura, forget...

Shui's hateful face imitating Rin's face as well as Sesshoumaru's last words came to light. Memories seen in dream—what if it's fake? The reality may not be as beautiful as a dream, which is why his father told him to forget.

"You know, Shura-sama," Sora said again. He stared gently at the small inuyoukai in front of him. "The white rat clan is a very weak clan. We are not good at fighting. But, I'm always grateful to be born as a white mouse youkai."

Shura opened her eyes and looked back at Sora. Again, he did not understand the direction of the white rat youkai talk in front of him.

"Because we are the life recorders" Sora continued and chuckled. "Life recorders who can see what we've seen."

Tsubasa did not say anything from now on, but hearing Sora's words now, she was sure that now the reason the white rat youkai was leading Shura here.

Sora smiled and looked back at the mirror in the room. He is grateful that this mirror belongs to Koharu—mirmin, who was given by his grandfather who was gone to his best friend. Why?—because of the memories in the memories he could see again.

Memories in memory. Even if everything he had disappeared, those memories would never be lost as long as he was alive. Not in the form of objects or things that are visible, memories in memory— that is a proof of happiness of their true togetherness.

Taking her body a few steps away from the mirror, with a smile on her face, Sora closed her eyes. Concentrating for a while, he then opened his two eyeballs which were now shining brightly. Blowing the wind from his mouth small flakes that glow like fireflies fly towards the mirror-shinjitsu no kagami.

Shinjitsu no kagami is a different style to shinjitsu no akai me that Yuki showed in the five-nation war first. Unlike her brother who had to sacrifice her eyes to show what she saw to create a mirror, shinjitsu no kagami is a jutsu that reflects the shadow of what he has seen for nothing in a special mirror that has been there—the move that the white rat youkai clan boast of.

The mirror was shining brightly, then slowly, the light dimmed. Like a fog that had disappeared, in the mirror, both Shura, Tsubasa and Sora could see the dark shadows moving slowly.

'Guk-guk-guk.'

The sound of the dog's slow barking filled the quiet room, and was then followed by the gentle laughter of the woman who was like the clanking of bells.

Shura could not move. His two eyes widened, his heart beating rapidly uncontrollable, his entire sense of hearing as well as sight immediately fixed on the mirror in front. The sound of soft laughter was like the clanking of bells, the laughter he had always heard in his dream - the most beautiful laughter ever in his world.

The black shadow in the mirror became clear, and Shura felt like the world had stopped spinning at that moment. A human woman sits on a futon. Black as the night sky and white skin like snow, a sharp nose and tiny lips, and big brown eyes that sparkle beautifully full of warmth—the most beautiful woman in his life.

The shadow of the woman in the mirror moved. Gently, he lifted the small body of a white dog into his arms. His right hand moved slowly, stroking the white dog's back gently affectionately, and in his big brown eyes— boundless love emanated clearly.

Shura moved forward without realizing it, not knowing where and how, she gained the strength to do that. Both of his eyes kept staring at the woman's smiling face as if that was the only thing he could see. Blessing with a trembling right hand, he touched the face that was in the mirror.

Move as in his dream, laugh and smile as in his memory - why is it all like a miracle because it can be seen again.

'Rin is forever your mother, Shura. No need to fear and never doubt, Rin will forever love you...'

Shura was stunned to hear the woman's words in the mirror, and her world that had stopped spinning was now turning again. The speech that miraculously answered all the questions in Shura's heart, freed her from all the shackles.

Rin hates you

Shura, forget...

Shui's hateful face that resembled Rin and Sesshoumaru's last words came to light. Words are like nightmares that always follow and haunt him. But, this time, those words no longer bothered her. Because—

There is no need to be afraid and never doubt.

Does Rin hate him? Shura realized now, she had allowed herself to get lost. He was getting late with the story, he was tricked by Shui, and he doubted the utterances of all that was. In fact, the answer had been in him since the beginning of—in the fondest memory of their togetherness; his mother had always loved him.

Because it—forget.

For the human woman who loved him so much. To the human woman who always hugs, kisses and whispers love words to her—ter to the human woman who gave birth to her; shura cannot forget her.

Love is a useless feeling. Love is something that will make you weak and lost. Love is weakness.

Love is weakness. But for the human woman who gave birth to it, for her biological mother—Shura is willing to accept it. It's okay if it will be a weakness for her, because she finally understands—she's always loved and loved her mother. In their fondest memories, in their happiness; mother was the most important figure to him.

Slowly, a small smile filled Shura's face, her golden eyes sparkling beautifully full of life. "Shura will also forever love you, mother..."

Sora smiled looking at Shura. He said nothing, his eyes then directed back at the mirror. The human woman in the mirror, kisaki the western land where all neutral land owed her will forever not change even if she is gone; her perfect love as a mother for her son.

Tsubasa also smiled looking at Shura. Slowly, his eyes were then fixed on the smiling face of the human woman in the mirror. There was a tingling feeling in his heart, and he could only think of the words he had heard first.

Release your love. Live with freedom.

Hundreds of years she lived, that human woman was the only one who told her that. Free and happy—like when he was still a little bird flying in a blue sky full of happiness. Releasing a chain called love that shackles her.

Ten years have passed, and now he has released that love—the shackles that chained his freedom. Only, he did not expect to let go of his love that clapped one hand for hundreds of years, it was not as painful as he thought. Maybe because he was tired or maybe because he had accepted reality.

Do you regret loving, Tsubasa-sama?

Shura's question just came to mind, and Tsubasa knew the answer; no. His love for Akihiko was unrequited, he did not regret it, because if he regretted it there would be no him now—there would be no Tsubasa the youkai bird from the north in this world.

Live with happiness...

Blissfully. In the future, will he be happy?—Tsubasa does not know, but he only knows, he has now gained peace; the first peace after a long time, and he really likes it.

"Thank you," said slowly and the smile on Tsubasa's face only widened. Ten years passed and he was finally able to say it. "Thank you for expecting me to be happy, Rin-sama..."

....xoxOx....