Inuyasha: Eternity

Afflictions and Affections

~Chapter 6~

Memories swarmed, dreams reanimated; the past conflicted with the present and the future became hazy.

A warmth filled within the pit of the dreamer's stomach as a raven-haired female came into view, cream-colored hands reached towards him the owner giggling as she gripped onto silver strands intertwining it with her own. Another joined the laughter, their ash brown hair flowing as they tackled the viewer.

The man gives a slight grunt at the reception. "Be careful Kaiasha," the man growled out with little patients. But, as soon as the others amber eyes met his the anger dissipated.

A sigh escaped thin lips making the little girl giggle even more, her small hands lightly pulling on his robes, robes given to him from his brother after he fully proved himself to be worthy of their father's sword; Their relationship less lethal.

Bending to a knee he picked up the child into his lap, his lover following to sit beside him. "Why don't I braid her hair with ours too? It will be a good picture for mom." The girl offered.

Annoyance filling once again the man sighed waving his hand nonchalantly. "Whatever just untie it after you use that flashy thing."

The girl nodded gripping the strands of the daughter and fathers hair making a beautiful trail of silver and brown, the colors contrasting greatly from one another, but not nearly as much as the older woman and her husbands hair... Yin and yang.

Finished the girl used her flip phone to angle it as she laid against the man beside her, smiling ever so brightly as she looked up at him, her brown eyes sparkling with pure joy. "Say cheese Inuyasha."

~~

"Inuyasha... Yasha?" a soft voice echoed.

Looking down pink like eyes eyed the sleeping hanyõ, moving pure white strands from her own face she watched the other show recognition.

Golden spheres opened and locked onto her own. A slight smile worn on those stern features. "Morning Shiori." One of his hands lightly grabbed her hair twining it between his fingers, reminiscing the dream that still affected his reality.

Sitting up the Inu brushed off furred covers, kicking his feet off the side before gruffly pushing off to yawn. Looking over he reconnected the eye contact lost in his waking movement. "Hm, anything new with you or the brat."

The girl smiled kicking her feet lightly as she shrugged. "Nothing, Shippo has been hanging around Ginta and I have been becoming good friends with some of the female wolves here. The men still kind of weird me out."

At this, the dog chokes down a laugh. "Heh, that's a good thing. If I'm lucky you and Shippo will just branch out towards each other."

The girl tilted her head innocently. "What do you mean?" She asked just gaining a dismissive hand.

Inuyasha, "Never mind." Slipping both hands on his hip he held his head low drifting to thoughts. (It's been awhile since I had that dream,) he softly spoke within his mind... thoughts and emotions started to swarm as an uncomfortable hole begun to fill his heart. (I think I'm going to need to part for a while.)

Shiori watched in discomfort knowing and remembering all too well what the expression meant. "Are you parting ways again?" She asked feeling saddened. She knew what was going on to an extent and it hurt knowing her and Shippo were not enough to heal it.

The Inu looked up at her nodding his head, pushing off the bed with that still slanted expression. "I need to return to some duties... I've been playing around too much anyway..."

(And) He started to think. (Maybe being around a cold-hearted full blooded dog demon will help me forget again.)

Reaching out he patted the girls head giving a soft smile. "Stay here with shippo until the time of the wolves mating season comes. And, if you need me, simply visit the land of my brother or seek miyoga... Ok?"

The white-haired girl nodded, smiling back softly. "M'kay... and what about Kouga?"

At this golden eyes flashed with befuddlement, a full assortment of warm emotions spewing throughout the Hanyo's whole being. Pushing it down he shook his head rejecting the weird occurrence.

Inuyasha, "he's just a friend. A war comrade... Me disappearing will not mean much, and if he ask, tell him I just had family business." Sighing he patted the girls head a little longer the soft feel reminding him of his daughter.

A pain slicing through him. "See you later," was the last words she heard before he left.

~~

Shiori had told shippo everything that had happened that morning leading him to the field where even the wolfs barely played. The girl was quite lost while the fox seemed to implode in anger.

Shippo shifted to face her sighing as he watched his sister seem to become far too confused and saddened by the half-breeds' sudden leave. After all, the last thing they expected was for him to run when things finally seemed to relax.

Shippo, "Inuyasha is such an idiot!" He started somewhat irritated on how the dog was still oblivious to those who love him.

Shiori watched him for a couple of moments before deciding to sit next to the kitsune, her body pressed against him as she got comfortable. His chest being her backseat support.

"Hmmm," she hummed feeling drowsiness come up. "Well... maybe he's scared to fall in love again... And although Kouga likes him... Maybe, maybe it's not mutual?" Feeling even more depressed Shiori opened her eyes to reach for the flowers in the grass. "I hope it's not like that though... I want him to feel happy again."

Strong arms come down to hug her, Shiori feeling the kit wrap around so to squeeze her close. "I wish for that too..."

Soon the smell of wind picked up and the two knew who was to appear. Kouga the wolf lord appeared before them, seeming to be agitated and worried. The first words being. "Where's Inuyasha?"

Shippo, petting the white stands of his current love interest, moved his mix colored eyes to focus now on the Okami. "Left to his brothers. He uses the time there to try and forget his family. Kind of like a way to numb the pain."

This seemed to pain the jet-haired male. Pale blues lowered with disdain. "Really? Isn't there a better way?"

Nodding the boy snapped his fingers to get the males attention once more. "You can try helping yourself... But first, you have to find him. You know where the dog demon's lair is, right? Use a political treaty as the gateway and Inuyasha as the prize... If he refuses then you can't. But if he accepts I guess you have a mate."

A sudden grin found the fanged canine ahead, the wolfish smile showing the arrogance of a lord. "Yeah, I suppose I could do that... With this, I get a peace treaty and a certain dog... Thanks, shippo, I'll work on that."

Turning the winds brew again and the wolf waved his hand back disappearing immediately.

Shippo just looked down and continued to comfort the relax girl. "Well, I guess we just wait now, huh Shiori?"

The girl nodded back opening her lilac orbs to smile at him. "Yeah..."