Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 24's

Akihiko stared silently at the hugging scene in front of him, confused, not knowing what to do. Seeing Shura who returned their embrace, immersing her face in Shiro's chest, there was sadness that filled her.

Families.

The view in front of him is indeed a family sight. Shura acknowledged them. The inuyoukai who had always been cold and indifferent to his surroundings, from his heart had regarded them as his family, unlike his...

"Let go of Shura-sama, Akihiko-sama," Tsubasa said slowly from beside Akihiko. "It's time you let go. Shura-sama does not belong to the south. Although the body is in the south, the soul is always in the west, being in the place where it comes from. He is not your son, Akihiko-sama...."

"I don't want him to get hurt, Tsubasa." Cut Akihiko down.

"I forgive the leniency of the servant. But stop that attitude. You know for yourself, don't you? He is strong, very strong. He must be able to face that reality."

Akihiko went back to silence.

Tsubasa then turned her face to look at Shura who was still in Shiro's arms and the others. "And also, behold, someone is standing beside him now. He is no longer alone..."

Akihiko remained silent, but she also knew. What Tsubasa said was true. Shura is not alone anymore, now, beside her there are those who will help, defend and protect her from whatever her family. Only, Tsubasa may never know, how heavy her heart was to allow Shura to leave the south. Although her appearance and attitude were like the Sesshoumaru she hated, she could always see the shadow of the human girl she loved so much. He could remember the girl's face, voice, smile and laughter just by looking at Shura—'s face - remembering Rin who had gone so clearly.

Looking at Shura, she could only wonder to herself, why was Shura not her child? Not his flesh? Why is Rin's only precious relic not her son? He used to be able to give up and let go of Rin because he could see how happy the girl was when she was next to Sesshoumaru. But, Sesshoumaru let him die. Without doing anything, he lets Rin die just like that. How much he hated the inuyoukai for it. If only he knew, this was what would happen, he shouldn't have given up just yet. She should have taken Rin no matter what, because then, the girl would have been alive, smiling and laughing as she should have.

Tsubasa just silently stared at Akihiko. Looking at the blue eyes that were staring at Shura's figure. He knew what the Southern Land Ruler had in mind.

Rin's.

Akihiko must have thought about the girl again. How much Akihiko loves Rin, he knows. But, how hurt her heart was seeing that, Akihiko may never know. Although she was a loyal Beloved Concubine accompanying her, she never managed to obtain the love of the Southern Land Ruler youkai. And he realized, it was only natural, because he could not possibly be compared with such a special girl—a girl who was adored and respected by all those in the west and south.

Once upon a time, when she first learned Akihiko loved Rin, she once tried to hate the girl. But, that's impossible. Who could hate that girl if they knew her? As the girl breathed her last and disappeared from this world, she once thought, maybe Akihiko will stop loving the girl as time goes on. But how wrong he is. Akihiko never stopped loving Rin. He still loves her to this day.

Idiotically.

Loving a man, loving a woman who does not love him, loving a woman who belongs to another from beginning to end, how foolish Akihiko, the Ruler of the Southern Land.

Then how stupid of him. He who still continues to love the youkai and hope someday will get the love he so aspired. Yeah, he's probably more stupid. But, what's the power? What can he do? There aren't.

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.

The words he had always taught and heard long ago flashed through his mind. A small smile flashed across Tsubasa's beautiful face. If only he could truly live by that principle, how much easier his life would be, simpler and happier.

Love's.

Love shackled them—himself and Akihiko. His love keeps him trapped here. His love was a cage that held him back from flying over the blue sky. However, for Akihiko, his love for Shura being trapped here, his love for Rin has now become a prison for the little inuyoukai, and Tsubasa knows how wrong it is.

Moving her legs slowly, Tsubasa approached Shura and the others. Shura, Shiro and the others immediately looked at the bewildered Concubine. A smile bloomed on Tsubasa's pretty face looking at their reaction. Slowly again, he then turned his back to look at Akihiko with a gentle smile still on his face. "Hamba too, Akihiko-sama. Servant siding with Shura-sama."

The eyes of Shura, Shiro and the others widened in shock, as well as Akihiko. Never did they expect there would be a day when Tsubasa would oppose Akihiko. Shiro and the others immediately let go of their embrace. Shura walked up to Tsubasa, staring at the confused Concubine, "What did you mean just now, Tsubasa-sama?" tanyakanya.

Tsubasa did not answer the question, she just smiled gently at Shura and made everything there confused. Slowly, he then raised his face staring at Akihiko again. "Free Shura-sama, Akihiko-sama. Stop this gnawing. It's time this all ended..."

It's time for this to be resolved. Tsubasa knew, no longer for the sake of the wrong way of loving, no longer for the sake of a very funny folly. It was time for Shura to be free, and also, it was time for her to be free.

Akihiko was stunned to hear Tsubasa's words. Both of his eyes were wide. However, a moment later, his facial expression immediately returned to how it was.

Selfish.

He is selfish, very selfish. He actually already knew, no matter how hard he changed it, he would never succeed. Shura will never be hers, just as Rin never belonged to her.

Look at Tsubasa's face now. He could only feel two things; suffering and sorrow. To Tsubasa who had served and loved her for hundreds of years, all she could give was suffering and sorrow. He once thought, why doesn't he just love Tsubasa? Why didn't she just give her love to Tsubasa? Her and Tsubasa's lives would definitely be very fulfilling and happy if it were true that way. But love is strange. He can't do that. No matter how hard he tries to forget Rin and love Tsubasa, he just keeps failing. He cannot love Tsubasa as much as he loves Rin.

Sighing, Akihiko raised his head staring at the blue sky above.

It's time this all ended.

The sentence continued to revolve in Akihiko's head. And he knows, it's true. It was time for him to stop his selfishness that made Shura and Tsubasa suffer. It was time to free them both.

"Go away," Akihiko said slowly. "Go where you want to. I don't want you to be my successor anymore, Shura..."

The eyes of Shura and the others were wide-eyed at Akihiko's words.

"What do you say?" shura asked stammered, surprised by the incident she had never expected.

"I won't repeat my words again. Go awayl. Forget our bets first. Go back west." Akihiko replied while looking at Shura.

Not believing what he heard, Shura opened her mouth again to ask. However, Shiro who was beside her closed his mouth. Hanyou immediately turned his head to look at Mamoru, Aya and Maya. Understanding what Shiro's gaze meant, Mamoru immediately whistled to Kirara.

Kirara, the cat Youkai immediately ran over in its original large form. Not wasting any time, Mamoru immediately carried Sakura. Together with his two brothers, they jump onto the backs of their youkai mounts. As well as Shiro, he did not waste any time, he immediately carried Shura on his back. Kirara immediately jumped flying up into the sky. However, just as Shiro was about to jump, Shura suddenly raised a hand pulling the dog's ears.

"Ahhhh! What are you doing?" shiro shouted in pain and turned his head staring at the inuyoukai on his back.

"I'm the one who's supposed to ask, what are you doing?" shura asked back with an expressionless face.

"Of course leave the south, stupid!" reply Shiro upset. Youkai like Akihiko is a very selfish and unpredictable youkai. He said he would let Shura leave the west now, but, just maybe, in the next second, his decision would change. He probably wouldn't let Shura leave in a moment, therefore, they shouldn't waste the golden opportunity they had. Honestly speaking, even though they all combined forces, he doubted they could defeat that Southern Land Ruler.

"Down me." Shura ordered later.

"lowered?" ask Shiro in frustration. "Just kid! I won't!"

"Go Shura-sama," Tsubasa interrupted suddenly quietly. "Go west. You don't need to be here anymore."

Confused, Shura then turned her head to look at Akihiko again. The ruler of the Southern Land remained silent. His face remained relaxed as usual, but, through his eyes, the little inuyoukai could see the presence of sadness. Akihiko wasn't lying, he was really going to let himself go back to the west.

Seeing Shura who was not rebelling anymore, Shiro immediately ran away from their place. However, only three steps were taken, again Shura pulled his ear and stopped him.

"Pull it one more time, and I'll actually throw you out of this palace, Shura!" shouts Shiro full of anger.

Shura did not care about Shiro, she turned her head to look at Akihiko and Tsubasa as well. She does not know why Akihiko released her, allowing her to return to the west. And even though, this was the thing that he had expected so much, he did not feel satisfied. He did want to go back west and leave south for good, but, this is wrong. Not like this. Focusing his gaze on the Southern Land Ruler again, Shura opened her mouth. "I'll come back here again after my business in the west is done. I won't really go back west before I manage to defeat you and win our fight, Akihiko-sama.."

.xoxox.