Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
The Chapter 169

The end of autumn where there are no more green leaves like summer on the tree. The forest is now full of brown leaves that fall from the twigs and the cold that blows unstoppable. Walking slowly and alertly, Shura focused her gaze around.

"Why do we have to hide like this again?" ask Inuyasha slowly. There was a frown on his forehead, he felt that what happened a few years ago when the north-western war reoccurred.

"My answer remains the same, Inuyasha," Miroku replied unconcernedly. He who is in front of Inuyasha does not look back at his best friend's innuanyou. "We don't want to attract attention."

"We can't fight all the youkai that exist, Inuyasha." Sango was beside Miroku. Like Miroku, he also did not turn his head to Inuyasha. Taijiya slowly raised her hand stroking Kirara, a cat youkai over her shoulder that sounded in agreement with her words.

Kohaku who was at the front row in the group only a small smile heard the conversation. Inuyasha was completely unchanged from before, and for eternity, he would definitely not change either.

"I didn't know you were too stupid or too brave, Inuyasha," said Shippo who was beside Kohaku while looking back at Inuyasha's astonishment. "Or are you blind?"

"Just ignore this fool." Kagome said later. He did not care about Inuyasha's sharp gaze that was now fixed on him at the side.

Shura and Tsubasa who were in the middle of the group did not say anything. They also did not intend to participate in the conversation. What Miroku and Sango said is true—they should not attract attention, and also, they will not be able to fight all the youkai that exist.

Time had only passed not long, but changes had occurred amazingly in this usually calm and peaceful western land. Above the sky, above the ground as well as within the land—youkai rampant. They are not hiding and appearing openly to them now.

"But, I didn't expect things to be this severe right now," sighing, Shippo was full of sadness. "This is even more severe than Sora's information."

Inuyasha and the others fell silent at Shippo's words. While still in neutral ground, they did hear information that youkai were everywhere and were attacking humans. Just that, seeing and hearing are quite different. They had passed through several villages as well as cities that were usually always crowded, but were now empty with blood and destruction everywhere.

"Didn't Sora have any information on where the captured humans are, Shippo?" ask Miroku slowly. From the ruined and blood-soaked villages and towns, they did not see the bodies of the inhabitants at all. The monk really hoped that nothing would happen to the innocent inhabitants.

Shippo sighed and shook his head. "Sora doesn't know. He can't move freely. You see for yourself, no, how hard it is to move now."

Inuyasha and the others remained silent saying nothing, they dissolved in their minds. Silence filled their company.

Shura who was silent from earlier heard the conversation stared for a moment at their entourage consisting of himself, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kohaku and Tsubasa. He was grateful that their group was not so big, he could not imagine what if Shiro and the others also came along. The larger the group the more difficult they will move.

Shiro's face, reflected in Shura's mind. He clearly remembered the inuanyou's expression and eye sight before they parted. Not accept, upset, angry and disappointed—it seems like this you want to come along. Then for Mamoru, Aya and Maya, they three brothers look as usual though there is clearly concern in mata—worrying about those who leave. Then—Sakura.

"Sir Shura has to get home quickly."

Hugging Shura tightly, Sakura was unwilling to let go of the inuyoukai despite being behind them, Inuyasha and Shiro loudly yelled commanding them to let go of the embrace.

"Sakura, don't hug the little guy!! Little one, let go of my daughter!!"

"Sakura, hug your father or mother!! Don't hug the boy!!"

Shura did not push Sakura away, nor did she care about Inuyasha and Shiro's sharp glances directed at her. Staring at the pair of large golden eyes that were holding back tears, he let the little hand embrace him.

Warm.

Sakura's small body was always warm, and the smell could also calm her down. To this day, Shura still did not understand why this little innuhanyou could have this kind of effect on her.

"Sakura will be waiting for big brother. So, brother should go home immediately with the tensaiga sword."

Sakura's tears flowed down her cheeks. The worry and sadness of being separated was evident in her golden eyes, and Shura who was looking did not know why she felt so happy. Therefore, raising his right hand, he wiped away the tears. "I'll be home soon."

"Keep your hands!!!"

"Let go my sister!!!

"—Inuyasha, osuwari. Shiro, stop."

"What do you think, Shura-sama?" ask Tsubasa slowly. She who had been silent from earlier opened her mouth for the first time while looking at Shura, a small smile puffed up on her beautiful face.

"Nothing." Shura answered briefly without looking at his face from the road ahead.

Tsubasa just smiled wider and wider. Shura might not be aware, but her self who had been beside the small inuyoukai was clearly able to see clearly. It was so thin it was almost invisible, but there was a smile on that emotionless flat face just now. To whom was that smile addressed?—youkai the bird could actually also guess it inwardly.

Stared continuously with a full smile by Tsubasa, Shura still did not turn her head. He really did not understand why the youkai bird was now in their group now. His existence would indeed be of great help, since he himself knew how powerful Tsubasa was, just that the unanswered question kept coming to mind.

"Hamba wants to return the favor." replied Tsubasa quietly. He knew, Shura was confused by his existence in this entourage right now. The time he spent with this inuyoukai in the southern land palace used to make him quite able to guess the mind of the heiress of the western land that was always without emotion.

"Reply?" looking back at Tsubasa, confusion filled Shura's golden eyes even though her face remained emotionless.

Tsubasa laughed softly and raised her head staring at the autumn sky above. "Yes. To your birth mother—Rin-sama."

Tsubasa's reply made Shura stunned for a moment. The Inuyoukai had no idea what the relationship was between his birth mother and Tsubasa, but, he always felt the youkai bird was very respectful and appreciative of his existence.

Tsubasa's laughter turned into a smile, she knew Shura must be confused by the answer. But, that's the truth. Rin in her life is her love rival, the woman who has the heart of the man she loves. However, in his life as well, Rin is the only living being who sees himself and wants him to be free and happy.

The courage to leave Akihiko and the peace in her heart now, Rinlah who gave it even though she was ten years late to reach it. So, how could she not be indebted?— forever, that human woman would always be a very important and irreplaceable figure in Tsubasa's heart.

Nobody said anything anymore. In silence they continued their journey. However, just a few meters away they took, both Shura, Inuyasha and Tsubasa could feel the aura from the many youkai that were pointing towards them from both front and back.

"Stop!" inuyasha said quickly. "There's a youkai heading this way."

Along with Inuyasha's words, Shura, Kagome and the others immediately hid themselves. There is a strange feeling they have, because they have hidden the aura of their existence since the beginning, coupled with powder to confuse the sense of smell of youkai from Kohaku they use, their presence detected is not so easy.

From their hiding place, Shura and the others could see a large number of youkai speeding up from the front as well as the back of the place where they were. However, the familiar voice of someone instantly made them stunned in disbelief.

"Damn it!! Die you!! !!!"

In front of the youkai troops that were speeding up from behind, the figure of a red-kimono-clad innuanyou ran while attacking and cursing at the youkai who attacked him.

"Shiro??!!!"

....xoxOx....

Not allowing Mamoru, Aya, Maya or youkai on neutral ground to approach her, Sakura sat alone on the veranda of the room staring at the garden in front. The sweet face that was usually always smiling was very sullen now, because, how could they all stop his intention to catch up with Shiro, his brother?

No one was aware that the moment Shura and the others left the neutral land hidden village, Shiro followed. The Inuanyou only left a message to Mamoru, Aya and Maya to keep Sakura in the room. Panic immediately filled all of them, yet they were also unable to do much. The present situation is very uncertain as well as dangerous, and it will not be easy for the weak neutral land youkai to chase after those who have left the village all day.

Sakura is furious now, as she feels she has been tricked by Shiro. Shortly after Shura and the others left the village, Shiro asked himself to sleep and rest in a room. But, he did not expect that when he woke up the next day, the figure of his elder brother had disappeared from the village.

He who fell asleep due to the influence of the fragrance that was burned, and Mamoru, Aya, Maya and others did not visit their rooms even though all day he did not look—Sakura felt his brother had long prepared this plan.

On the grounds that they wanted to be alone and would not attend dinner because there was already food in the room, Shiro successfully tricked Mamoru and the others. Maybe his face full of sadness is quite convincing all who see it—Sakura do not understand how can his brother use himself like this??

Closing her eyes, Sakura shouted loudly full of annoyance. "Bad Shiro!!!!"

Taking a deep breath trying to calm the anger in her heart, Sakura then opened her eyes. Then something caught his attention.

Not far in front of him, above the ground within the garden, Sakura could see something sparkling. An overwhelming curiosity immediately filled the heart of the little inuhanyou. Without realizing it, he had jumped down from the porch where he was sitting and ran over.

Sakura's golden eyes could see what the shiny object was, that is; a gemstone. Shaped round like a ball with a purplish black color, the gem sparkles with autumn sun light.

Lifting the gemstone, Sakura looked at him fixedly. A smile filled his face. "It's pretty..."

....xoxOx....

"Sankontesso!!"

Shouting while attacking the youkai who were trying to attack and capture him, Shiro ran as fast as he could. His golden eyes could see dozens of youkai chasing him behind. How could he be in this state?

Shiro had followed Shura's entourage from behind. Keeping a distance so that he was not caught, he intended to show himself as they fought the youkai. At least if he were to appear as reinforcements, neither his father nor mother would definitely blame him. But, why is he the one who caught the youkai first?

"Sankontesso!!" launching his attack again, Shiro began to be overwhelmed against the invading enemy. They were too many for him to fight on his own, moreover he saw a large number of youkai heading towards him from the front.

"Kaze no kizu!!!"

A powerful attack hurtled at the youkai in front of Shiro, and instantly the inuanyou could not stop his smile. Looking towards the attack, he called his helper. "Dad!!!!"

In the distance Shiro can see Inuyasha and Kagome running over, as well as Shura, Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, Shippo and Tsubasa. But the joy in his heart did not last long as he looked at his mother's facial expression. As soon as he finds out, surviving these youkai, he will enter into great danger again.

"The heir to the west!!"

"That's Sesshoumaru's son!!"

"Catch her!! We have found the heir!!"

The youkai who saw Shura shouted loudly full of excitement, and Shiro's figure seemed to be forgotten. The youkai who had been heading towards inuhanyou immediately changed direction towards the heiress of the western land that they had long sought.

Shura, Inuyasha and the others knew, the fight was inevitable. Pointing weapons in hand, they darted to fight the enemy that was eyeing them in front.

Sango jumps up to throw hiraikotsu, his giant boomerang, as well as Kohaku who throws Kusarigama his weapon. For Kagome, she kept releasing her arrows, while Miroku, the monk threw his spell paper. Those who can do long-distance combat and are also humans trying to keep their distance because it will not be easy to face the enemy if they enter the crowd of youkai.

In contrast to Shura, Inuyasha and Tsubasa were confident in their strength, without a second thought they instantly darted forward with weapons against youkai in plain sight. Only Shippo remained silent in the hiding place. The fox youkai was confused with so many enemies in plain sight. Rather than resisting, he thought more about finding the right time to throw his smoke bomb so that they could all escape.

Attack after attack met, Inuyasha who then managed to catch up and was beside Shiro shouted loudly. "Shiro, is it just you alone or is there something else?!"

Shiro gulped at the question his father asked. He could feel the anger in his father's voice now that he was really in big trouble right now. "No. Just me alone."

Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief at Shiro's reply while attacking the youkai in front. At least Mamoru, Aya, Maya and especially Sakura were not here, because with such a large number of youkai, it would be difficult for her to protect them.

Shura and the others tried hard to fight back and break free from the youkai. However, due to the commotion from the fight, the youkai who were inside the forest realized their existence. Simultaneously, they darted into the battlefield, until within a few minutes, they had managed to surround the entourage of the heirs of the western land.

"Damn!! They are endless!!" shippo shouted at the increasing number of enemies no matter how many they had killed. He could not hide anymore due to the appearance of the youkai, therefore, the fox youkai ran towards Kagome and tried to help with the fox fire.

Shura realized the circumstances were unfavorable to them. He knew, they could not fight on in this state and the only way was to escape. Concentrating his youkinya, the inuyoukai was intent on returning to his original figure. If he used his large body to break through the enemy's encirclement and open a path, they would all be able to escape.

Red smoke appeared around Shura's body. Slowly the inuyoukai's face began to change, but, suddenly, from outside the siege of the youkai there, a series of attacks darted against the enemy from one side.

The attack is in the form of holy arrows and also a lot of spell paper. Death was inevitable for the youkai-youkai because they were not aware of it at all, but, because it was also an open path for Shura and the others.

"Here!!!!"

The sound of a man's cry rang out loudly, and in the distance ahead of the open road, Shura and the others could see a man waving his hands.

Not wasting any time, Shippo who realized this immediately threw his smoke bomb to trick the sight of youkai who surrounded them. Taking into account the circumstances created, Shura who stopped returning to her original figure as well as Inuyasha and the others immediately ran towards the man.

The youkai who then came to their senses and tried to chase after Shura and the others could not do much, because the holy arrows and spell papers were constantly raining down on them.

"Follow me!!" the man shouted as he ran as he saw Shura and the others had managed to escape the siege of the youkai.

Shura and the others did not ask much because of the unsupportive situation, but they could see clearly now the figure of the man. He was a middle-aged man, and from his clothes, it was obvious that he was a taijiya.

"Arata-san?" kohaku's confused voice then sounded clear. Looking at the man, he clearly knew him. The man who helped them now was clearly Arata, the leader of the taijiyas in Japan.

....xoxOx....

"You sure?"

"Hamba sure, Asano-sama," replied a youkai full of smiles staring at Asano, the leader of the eastern lands in front of him. "That place is a neutral land youkai hidden village."

Asano smiled at the answer he got. The disappearance of Shura and Sesshoumaru's corpse, he could guess that it was the work of the neutral land youkai. Who else would help them if not neutral ground? Since ten years ago, neutral lands have depended on western lands. The fall of the western lands indirectly also meant the fall of the neutral lands, as the neutral land youkai would have known, Shui would not have let them go so easily while he was in power.

It is likely that Akihiko from the southern lands who helped Shura did exist, but until now, Asano knew, the wolf youkai did not move. Moreover, the relationship between Akihiko and Sesshoumaru had always been like water and oil, so it was impossible for him to take the body of the inudaiyoukai.

Asano's smile only grew wider imagining a future that would exist. North, east, west, neutral and last; south. Once their son Sesshoumaru is removed, they will attack the south. Therefore soon, the north, west, neutral and south would unite under Shui, and as their promises, would be, if Akiko who later became the ruler of the eastern land gave birth to a child for the dragon youkai, then—cucunyah who would later become the absolute ruler; the king of youkai.

"Alright," said Asano slowly. Reversing his body, he stared at his kneeling subordinates youkai waiting for his orders. "It's time we destroy the neutral."

....xoxOx....