Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
The Chapter 119

"I can't do anything." Shui said slowly. In the neutral ground leader's den, his two white eyes looked at Hima and Koharu who were kneeling in front.

"Shui-sama!!" call Hima and Koharu together. Their eyes looked at Shui, the neutral youkai leader full of supplications.

The bodies of the two youkai kneeling before their leader did not move in the slightest. They came to Shui in the hope that the white-eyed youkai would help them. For, they know, no one else can help them but the honorable of the neutral land.

The leaders of the youkai clan on neutral ground had been deliberating on what they should do to address the problems that were to come in the future, and the decision they agreed upon was to fix the broken balance, he said, namely; lowering the kisaki of the western land from his throne and also stopping the intention of the ruler of the western land that will bequeath the western land to his son who is one; hanyou.

But, they all knew, the decision they agreed on was something impossible. They were not part of the western lands and also, their voices which were weak youkai would never be considered by anyone. The worst possibility if they still dared to do it themselves was none other than facing the anger of Sesshoumaru, the ruler of the western lands; death.

That's why they were facing Shui. Shui was the leader of the neutral land youkai, he was the only figure they could depend on. Moreover, the white-eyed youkai was the adopted sister of Inu No Taisho, the ruler of the western lands before Inukimi—he could definitely do something to improve this shattered balance.

"I understand your intentions and goals" Shui said slowly. Her beautiful face was calm as usual. "Although I am the younger brother of Inu No Taisho, it is just an empty title. I can't interfere in the western lands."

"Shui-sama," Koharu interrupted with her loud voice. He bowed his body and lowered his head down pleading. "The balance in this world is broken. If you let this continue, someday, humans will surpass us youkai!!"

Shui silently listened to Koharu. His facial expression did not change in the slightest, remaining calm.

"Humans should not be kisaki youkai, nor should the title of heir to the youkai ruler be given to a hanyou!!" koharu continued, she remained not discouraged by Shui's refusal.

"I know what you mean, Koharu-san," Shui sighed at Koharu's words. "But I can't do anything."

Koharu raised her head looking at Shui. But the determination on his face remained unchanged.

"I don't have the strength," continued Shui quietly. "Even though I mobilize all neutral ground forces, I will still not be able to suppress Sesshoumaru the lord of the western lands."

Shui's words made Koharu and Hima lower their heads down in despair. They knew what their leader said was true, out of all the regions in Japan, the western lands were the strongest. That fact has never changed since then until now.

"Western power, you all know," Shui could clearly see the expression of the two youkai in front of him. His face remained expressionless flat, but deep down, he was quite elated as everything went his way. "Nobody can press west, including south—unless all other lands unite."

The last sentence that Shui spoke immediately made Koharu and Hima again raise their heads to look at the honorable from the neutral ground. The despair on their faces disappeared, and a glimmer of hope appeared in the eyes.

"Shui-sama," call Koharu quickly. "What you say is true! We won't be able to suppress the western lands on our own. But, if we can combine all the land in Japan, then it is not impossible anymore!"

"True, Shui-sama," Hima said in agreement to Koharu's words. "Both the eastern, northern and neutral lands also experience the same state as us—they will surely understand the essence of our purpose."

To this day, with the exception of the western lands where Sesshoumaru managed to repel all human forces, both the eastern, northern and southern lands suffered losses. East and north lost some youkai villages without a remnant, and the southern land villages could survive without destruction as well thanks to Shui's help. Therefore, both Koharu and Hima are confident, the three areas will not reject the request of neutral ground to combine forces to improve the balance that was destroyed.

"No, east, north and south do not necessarily agree. What's more, this..." Shui didn't know what to say. He closed his eyes as if he was thinking about what Koharu and Hima said.

Koharu and Hima did not waste the opportunity. They had just discovered a glimmer of hope, and the two of them would not let Shui refuse the only path there was. Moreover, the two of them were now here representing the entire youkai clan on neutral ground.

"This is all for the sake of the future of the youkai world, Shui-sama!" koharu said with his voice. "At least we should try!"

"We beg you, Shui-sama," Hima added as she bowed in pleading. "Don't refuse the only way there is! Please think!!"

Shui did not reply to Koharu and Hima who continued to try to convince him to choose the path. The neutral land youkai leader was silent with his eyes closed.

"Shui-sama," called Hima quietly. "You are our leader, the protector of all the youkai clans in neutral ground."

Hima's slow words made Shui open his white eyes again. Sighing, he then opened his mouth. "I understand. Let me think about it— I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

Smiles and laughter filled Koharu and Hima's faces upon hearing what Shui said. Staring at the white-eyed youkai, once again, the two of them bowed. "Thank you, Shui-sama!!"

Cheerfully, Koharu and Hima then pleaded farewell and walked out of the respectable workspace of neutrals. They did not want to bother anymore and intended to give Shui time to think well.

Shui had not agreed to their wishes, but both Koharu and Hima were convinced that the neutral noble would definitely give the answer they wanted tomorrow. The honorable title was not unfounded, the white-eyed youkai could not possibly let the balance of the world crumble.

Shui didn't say anything seeing the two youkai who came looking for him disappear from sight. His facial expression did not change, remaining flat.

Plok-plok

The sound of applause suddenly rang out filling Shui's quiet work space.

Shui slowly turned his gaze to the window that was opening beside him. Not knowing since when, the figure of a youkai had been sitting there with a smile on his handsome face—Takeru the ruler of the northern land.

"You know," Takeru said with a smile. "Rather than being a neutral land leader, I guess, you're more talented at being a showman."

Shui smiled at Takeru's words. But, he didn't say anything.

"Ahh—no," Takeru laughed happily as he stroked his own chin. "Rather than a showman, it's more appropriate to be a playwright. You're really talented."

Shui remained silent. The smile on her pretty face also did not change upon hearing Takeru's words. Rise up, he then walked closer to his desk. Taking the existing brush, slowly and elegantly, the venerable of neutrals wrote something on the available paper.

With an unchanging laugh on his face, Takeru walked over to Shui. Her green eyes stared at what the white-eyed youkai wrote and smiled widely. "As your cousin, I'll be happy to help you" he said softly. "But, as a formality, you still have to write to me."

Shui laughed at Takeru's words. Shaking her head, she smiled. "Yes. I'll write you a letter too."

Takeru nodded his head and laughed. Still staring at the letter Shui wrote, he smiled back. "The old fox will definitely help you—ah, I think he'll thank you."

"Yes" Shui smiled. Both of his eyes were fixed on the letter he wrote. "For Asano-san this is an opportunity. He can't let go."

Takeru agreed with what Shui said. The east is never a problem, but, not for the south. Raising his eyes, the ruler of the northern land looked at his cousin's face. "What about the wolf?" tanyanya slow.

The brush in Shui's hand stopped moving as soon as he heard Takeru's question. Raising his head, the white eyes of the neutral ground leader stared at the snake youkai in front of him with a single smile on his face. "Akihiko-san won't be a problem—he'll help me."

"You sure enough?" ask Takeru again.

Shui nodded his head.  The smile on his face grew wider. "certain."

Takeru looked straight at Shui. He was actually very curious about the white-eyed youkai's belief that Akihiko the ruler of the southern lands would stand with him this time. Because, wolf youkai with high pride it is unlikely to like a neutral land plan that in his view—pecunda. What is Shui's plan?

But, as far as anything in his heart was concerned, Takeru did not ask any longer. This time, he only wanted to see from the side as a spectator.

Smiling back, Takeru then changed the subject. "The monkey thing, how are you gonna handle it?"

The monkey that Takeru meant was none other than Kenji. The ruler of the northern lands himself had also known what had happened between Shui and Kenji not long ago.

"If I were you," Takeru added with a smile on his face. "I'll kill him that second, too."

Shui laughed again. Both of his white eyes were gleaming with joy. "I want Kenji-san to see the end of this all—see who will stand at the top and laugh."

"Your strange baby" Takeru snorted and shook his head. "My advice is, you better keep an eye on that monkey."

Shui replied to Takeru with a nod of his head. No need to be told, he knows too. Kenji now does not have any evidence that would interfere with his plans, but, as subtle as what saru shogun is, the neutral land youkai leader knows—he is unlikely to leave him unattended.

Smiling again without caring for Takeru, slowly, Shui returned to focusing on the letter he wrote. Once again, he again moved the brush in his hand writing.

Takeru didn't say anything else either. Staring at Shui for a moment, he then turned around and walked towards the window again. "I won't bother you anymore. I'm waiting for your letter."

....xoxOx....

Akihiko sat down to hear the information conveyed by a soldier of the southern land palace in his study. A small frown appeared on his forehead, while both of his sky-blue shining eyes disliked what he heard.

Behind Akihiko, Tsubasa stood silently silent. His face was calm without expression. But, his red eyes were slowly fixed on the back of the ruler of the southern land. Inwardly, he wondered, what did the wolf youkai think hearing this information?

"What about Rin's condition now?" ask Akihiko later. His voice was flat as usual, but, anyone who heard could clearly feel the worry at hand.

The soldier knew Rin Akihiko meant Kisaki was a western land. It is no secret that the rulers of the southern lands are very interested in the famous western land. "From the information I got, Rin-sama's health deteriorated even though it did not endanger his life."

Akihiko closed her eyes hearing the answer she got. Rin's deteriorating health though not to the point of endangering lives because it brings to life those who die—human women are indeed never changed. From the first time he knew her until now, the woman had always been filled with courage and also; kindness.

Last year's western and southern wars, Rin turned on all the youkai who died without distinction west or south, and this time once again, he turned on the humans who came to kill him. In his brown eyes, there never seemed to be such a thing as; an enemy.

Rin is a living being with the best heart that Akihiko knows, and also the dumbest creature. How could he be so good? So foolish as to be willing to sacrifice his health for others—so different.

Rin is so different from everything in this world. That human woman is the only soul?pure who is in this filthy and despicable world. There would be no more in his long life, he discovered an existence like him. Because of that, Akihiko can only fall deeper and deeper in his beloved—.

Akihiko remembered Rin's dazzling smile and laughter, his voice and gestures, his warmth and innocence, his courage and kindness—however he wanted to protect and not allow him to be hurt.

Rin's deteriorating health, Akihiko can't do anything about it, but to that end, the hatred and anger fixed on Sesshoumaru grows bigger.

Containing the son of Sesshoumaru, Rin has experienced all the things that should not be experienced, and at the time of the human invasion of the western land palace, Rin, sesshoumaru should have been able to predict what Rin might have done so gently—liven those who died. But the dog; it failed.

An overwhelming anger filled Akihiko's heart. Sesshoumaru could not protect Rin. Day by day, it becomes clearer. The deteriorating health is proof that—Sesshoumaru is inappropriate for Rin. But, the dog does not want to let go of Rin, and Rin herself cannot see it either.

It was only because Sesshoum that I saved Rin as a child. It was only because Sesshoum that I spent more time with Rin—just because of the chance and time that Akihiko lost to Sesshoumaru. How could the ruler of the southern lands accept it??

The aura of anger that Akihiko suddenly emitted made the soldier who was in front of him frightened. But, he still did not dare to move, as did Tsubasa.

Opening his eyes, Akihiko looked back at the soldier who was still in front. His sky blue eyes had turned blood red. "Back to your job."

Akihiko orders, making the soldier immediately salute and then walk out of the work space of the ruler of the southern land. There was a feeling of gratitude in his heart of not being in that room anymore, because he knew, wrongly a little, his life would be lost.

Tsubasa was still staring at Akihiko's back. He still guessed the wolf's youkai mind. However, the more he guessed the more pain and anger he felt. The anger of the ruler of the southern lands, he knew was because of the human woman's—.

Akihiko who still has not given up and is obsessed, as well as himself who is full of selfhood and jealousy—Tsubasa do not know until when they will be like this.

"Akihiko-sama." Koga's voice outside the room suddenly broke the silence.

Akihiko closed her blood red eyes and tried to control the anger in her heart. Opening his eyes again, the blood red color of his eyes had turned sky blue again. "Lake in."

Opening the closed shoji door, Koga walked in. His eyes looked at the expressionless figures of Akihiko and Tsubasa. Paying respect to Akihiko first, without wasting any time, the wolf youkai began to report what he found. "Akihiko-sama, the servant found something strange in the forest of Hara located ten kilometers from the village of the golden spider youkai clan."

Koga's words instantly made Akihiko and Tsubasa stare at the wolf youkai with a serious look.

"In the forest, I found the traces of the fight," continued Koga with a facial expression that did not change. "and from the smell that was left behind, I'm sure it's the smell of Shui the honorable from the neutral and Kenji, Saru Shogun from the west."

The name Kenji that slid out of Koga's mouth made Akihiko and Tsubasa think. Shui's existence was not strange, because the white-eyed youkai was indeed on the southern land the night the golden spider village was attacked, but—Kenji? A fight?

"Is there anything else you found, Koga-sama?" ask Tsubasa slowly but seriously.

"There," answered Koga quickly. He turned his eyes back to look at Akihiko. "Hamba found the smell of red fire in the forest."

"Red fire?" akihiko said slowly. A small wrinkle appeared on his forehead.

The red fire is the fire of youkai. A fire that can burn without the rest of the object it burns. Does not leave ashes, smells or marks.

"Then, around there too," added Koga again. "Hamba found the smell of three little youkai. Two of them were unknown servants, but there was one familiar servant, that is, the smell of the little fox that always followed, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru's half-brother."

What Koga said made Akihiko and Tsubasa think about the possibility and the connection between Shui, Kenji and the three little youkai.

"Where is Kenji now?" akihiko asked with her voice flat.

"Hamba did not find his whereabouts. He has erased all traces of her" Koga replied quickly. "However, he also did not return to the western lands."

Koga's answer once again made Akihiko and Tsubasa guess what really happened in the hara mountain. However, they did not find him.

"Koga," call Akihiko then. "Check deeper into this matter and find Kenji."

"Good." Koga answered the new command given by Akihiko. This task will not be easy, but, Koga is confident he can finish it.

"Akihiko-sama." The voice of a southern land palace warrior suddenly sounded.

"Lake in." Akihiko. His sky blue eyes looked at the soldier who then walked in and saluted him. Today was a busy day for him, how many people had come to report something to him?

"What's wrong?" ask Akihiko. His flat face remained unchanged, as did his flat voice.

"Shui, the leader of the neutral land youkai sent a letter to you."

....xoxOx....

Akiko could not stop laughing while reading the letter she had in her hand. Both of his eyes sparkled with joy full of happiness. Lowering the letter in his hand, he stared at Asano, the ruler of the eastern lands. "You must agree to Shui's request, father."

Asano smiled faintly at Akiko's words. Nodding his head slowly, he gulped down the tea he had in his hand.

Putting the letter in her hand on the table, Akiko smiled broadly at Asano. "This is an opportunity we must not miss, father."

The letter from Shui, the leader of the neutral land youkai contained nothing but a request to combine forces to suppress Sesshoumaru, the ruler of the western land.

The letter was written by Shui after getting the insistence of all neutral land youkai who felt threatened with a shattered balance, as well as the fear of the invading humans.

The invading humans, the ruined youkai village and the perishing clan both neutral, northern, eastern lands experienced it. Even the southern land also did not escape the target of the humans even though the effect is not as severe as other regions. Therefore, neutrals cannot stand still—they do not want it repeated again.

The root of the problem is, everyone knows, namely; kisaki west land and son hanyou in the womb. It is the West that should be responsible, but ironically, the west is not hurt in the least.

In the current state of the youkai and human world, lowering the kisaki of the western lands and stopping his intention to raise his only son as heir to the western lands—neutral lands believe, that is the only way to improve the existing balance.

But, the weak neutral ground also knew, they would not be able to face the great west. They would be destroyed if they dared to do so. Therefore, they seek help, to the north, east and also south.

Kisaki man, the heir who is a hanyou, the attacking human, the destroyed youkai village in each region, then— Shui request from the neutral ground.

Really, Asano felt amazed by Shui now. What happens, all youkai in the world are sure west is the source, but in fact, the ruler of the eastern land knows—Shuilah the mastermind.

Shui's strange attitude, Asano never believed that it was the human who destroyed the youkai village. What destroyed the villages was none other than Shui himself to create the current condition of the white-eyed—youkai was already starting to play this world on his palm from the beginning without anyone knowing.

The one Shui was after was the untouched west, and perfectly he put himself in the position of the middle man; no one would suspect him.

Now, everyone just has to wait for the time to answer. For a large and strong west invincible—will the west be strong enough to face neutral ground, east, north and south simultaneously? Then, will Sesshoumaru, the ruler of the western lands face the whole world of youkai only to kisaki man and his only heir?—or will he obey the demands of the neutral?

Sesshoumaru's answer is no longer important now, because everything is clear. If Sesshoumaru complies with the demands of neutral land, then Akiko will definitely become a western land kisaki, and even if Sesshoumaru rejects the demands of neutral land, then it is likely that not only the western land kisaki will change again, the rulers of the western lands will also change. As a result, he was on the favourable side.

Asano laughed happily and returned Akiko's gaze. "Indeed you're the real westward kisaki, my daughter."

Akiko smiled widened to hear Asano's words. His father said it was not wrong; he was the true king of the west, open the woman of man.

....xoxOx....