Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 8's

"Thank your sword higher, turn your youkimu and channel it to your sword." Akihiko orders while dodging Shura's attack.

Shura obeyed Akihiko's orders, he raised his sword higher and channeled his youki on the sword. Akihiko smiled at what Shura was doing. The western land heir had never experienced great difficulty in carrying out every single one of his instructions, and whatever he taught, would definitely be absorbed quickly.

"Give the youki at the end of your sword and launch it out." Akihiko's orders again. Hearing Akihiko's words, without wasting any time, Shura immediately jumped back and did what Akihiko said.

A streak of green light shot out from the tip of the sword in Shura's hand aiming for Akihiko, and the ruler of the southern land immediately raised his sword to resist the attack. The attack did not injure Akihiko in the slightest, but her body was clearly pushed back a few centimeters. Inevitably, Akihiko had to admit, Shura's strength was really similar to Sesshoumaru's. In this world right now, he might be the strongest little youkai there is.

"That's great. Shuras. Never forget what you just did." Praise Akihiko while smiling and lowering his sword.

Shura just nodded her head hearing Akihiko's praise. His face remained expressionless, as if the praise was completely meaningless, and it instantly made the smile on the face of the ruler of the southern land disappear. "At least show a smile or a little expression on your face."

"Don't tell me to do such a useless thing." Reply Shura quietly while looking straight at Akihiko with a face that remained expressionless.

Shura's words again made Akihiko smile, although Shura also knew, it was a sneering smile, "A similar attitude to the dog, blood is indeed unopposed," akihiko said as she sheathed her sword and turned her back to walk away. "Today's training was enough here."

Shura still did not say anything, however, he lowered his head slightly as a sign of respect to the ruler of the southern land who had become his teacher now. His golden eyes continued to follow the movements of the youkai in front of him. Then, just as Akihiko had completely disappeared from his sight, with a quick movement without hesitation, Shura sheathed the sword and walked away from the training ground towards his room.

A week had passed since their hunt and betting—bet which Shura finally won. However, the heir to the western land himself never acknowledged his victory, for he knew, the ruler of the southern land deliberately allowed him to win. In the hunt, Akihiko did not hunt at all, he just followed Shura and saw him hunting until the afternoon arrived. When their annihilation had ended, the ruler of the southern land clapped his hands saying Shura won and their training would begin tomorrow.

Training with Akihiko is not like training with his father. He admitted, Akihiko is a kind of teacher who is quite gentle when compared to his father. Because, during the week that their training had begun, she had never suffered the slightest bit of cuts or bruises, and not only that, Akihiko had not only taught her how to use the sword and its power, she said, the ruler of the southern land also taught him the literature, tactics of war, politics that exist in the youkai— worldeverything that he also learned in the western land palace, in other words, is, the ruler of the southern land was teaching him how to become a ruler.

Shura did not understand Akhihiko's attitude. The ruler of the southern land and his father were not best friends, and from his attitude of always looking at himself with a scornful look while saying how similar he was to his father, he could feel that Akihiko did not like his father. That's why he didn't understand, why would he train her? Why would he want to train the heirs of the western lands? What exactly is Akihiko's relationship with his father?

With his head still filled with unanswered questions, Shura's feet were walking towards his room down the corridor next to the southern earthen palace garden filled with cherry blossom trees.

"Shura-sama, has your training been completed?" ask the soft voice of a woman suddenly.

The western land heir immediately turned his face to look at the owner of the voice. A female youkai, or rather, Tsubasa, the beloved concubine of the southern land lord was standing while smilingly looking at her in the garden, "Do you not mind accompanying the servant, Shura-sama?" ask again.

Shura just stood up with an expressionless face hearing Tsubasa's invitation. Tsubasa is a youkai bird. Human beings have white skin with red eyes and hair. Among the dozens of concubines Akihiko had, Tsubasa was the prettiest, perhaps that was what made her Akihiko's favorite.

During the weeks in this palace, Shura had known enough about Akihiko's nature. The ruler of this southern land was quite different from his father, he was a very laid-back youkai, delicately liked and had many concubines. However, what confused Shura was that despite having many concubines, Akihiko did not have a legitimate partner and also a successor.

"The blooming cherry blossoms will fall soon. Spring is coming to an end. Do you mind accompanying me to enjoy this beauty, Shura-sama?" tsubasa asked me once more gently.

What Tsubasa said managed to make the heir of the western land aware of what he was thinking, and he admitted, the concubine of the southern land ruler was indeed not wrong, spring will soon be over, these beautifully blooming cherry blossoms will soon fall. For Shura who no longer had any activities, the invitation did not sound so bad.

Tsubasa only returned smiling as she saw Shura step foot into the garden towards her. Shura did not answer his advice, but the concubine of the ruler of the southern land knew that the heir to the western land had accepted his invitation. Always calm and expressionless, preferring action over word to answer one's question—according to Akihiko, Shura completely inherited all the attitudes and traits of Sesshoumaru, the ruler of the western lands.

"Come." Take Tsubasa to guide Shura to the deepest part of the park.

A place was provided within the park. Under a very large and beautifully blooming sakura tree, chairs, tea were provided, as well as a shamisen. The few servants who were there immediately moved towards Tsubasa and Shura when they saw the two of them. With a respectful and careful gesture, the servants let Tsubasa and Shura occupy the prepared place. A waiter who was there immediately played the shamisen, and the soft tone of the picked shamisen immediately made the atmosphere more peaceful and calm.

"Are you comfortable enough to be here, Shura-sama?" tsubasa asked suddenly as she looked at Shura who was sitting beside her.

"Lumayan." Answer Shura briefly.

"Thank God then" smiled Tsubasa. "If there is nothing in your heart about this palace, and if you need anything, please tell the servant. I will try my best to help you."

"Why do you always treat me with such respect?" shura asked suddenly as soon as she heard Tsubasa's words. The beloved concubine of this southern land lord was a very strange youkai to her. Although the same as his mother, a concubine of a ruler, he was never greedy, full of selflessness and hatred. This concubine was very kind, humble, and most importantly had always treated her who was the heir to the western lands with great respect since their first meeting.

Tsubasa's red eyes widened in shock upon hearing Shura's question, but a moment later, a smile was again etched on her face. "Because of this there are things that I should do, Shura-sama."

"Is this an order from Akihiko-sama?"

"No, Shura-sama. Akihiko-sama has never ordered a servant to behave like this to you. Servants do this, purely of their own will, without the coercion of others."

"Why?"

Tsubasa did not answer Shura's question, he just smiled and made the heir of the western land confused, even though he did not show it. However, the western land heir also knew, he could feel the youkai in front of him would not answer that question. And if this concubine would not answer, she would not ask any further, for she was not very interested in hearing the answer.

"You're just as weird as Akihiko-sama." Said Shura suddenly while turning her gaze on the cherry blossoms around them.

"I'm sorry servant, Shura-sama. What do you mean, 'weird'?" ask Tsubasa confused.

"He trained me and you're being so respectful to me. I don't know what's in your head right now. However, if you are thinking of making me indebted and intend to use me later, then forget about it. I'm not gonna be that stupid." Reply Shura while turning her head to Tsubasa, her pair of eyes stared intently at the concubine in front of her.

Tsubasa's eyes widened to hear the answer and saw Shura's eyes. A moment later, however, he laughed. "Akihiko-sama and servant never thought so, Shura-sama. Akihiko-sama is indeed right, you are indeed very similar to Sesshoumaru-sama."

Hearing his father's name mentioned, Shura again asked, "You know my father?"

Tsubasa's laughter stopped, with a smile still on her face, she nodded her head. "Yes. I know your father, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Shura kept looking at Tsubasa with an expressionless face, yet deep in her heart, she was quite surprised. Judging from the laughter and speech that existed, this western land heir knew, this concubine seemed to know her father well enough.

"Do you love my father?" shura asked again calmly, because in his mind, that was the only possibility why this concubine was being respectful towards him. He must have wanted to find information about his father. Many youkai women wanted their father from the past until now, who did not want to be the legal partner of the western ruler? She became queen of the west.

Tsubasa's eyes widened again, "No, Shura-sama. Servant does not have such feelings for Sesshoumaru-sama. The only one I love is Akihiko-sama, even though he never loved my servant." she explained, laughing.

"Never love you?" shura asked again calmly, although in her heart, she was confused again, because she knew clearly that Tsubasa was Akihiko's favorite concubine. But a moment later, a grin flashed across the face of the western land heir. "It turns out there is also a similarity with Ayahanda."

"You mean?"

"Youkai is a heartless creature. A creature that knows no love. To her, you and the other concubines are as certain as my mother Akiko means to my father—alat. Turns out he's pretty much the same as Father in this." Shura replied with a cynical smile.

Tsubasa did not say anything, but a moment later, a smile rose on his face. "You're wrong, Shura-sama. Akihiko-sama is not a youkai who does not know love."

Shura did not say a word, he just stared at Tsubasa in silence, and this southern land lord's beloved concubine knew, this western land heir does not believe his words.

Shura nodded her head to answer Tsubasa's question. He admitted that this park is indeed very beautiful, but, as beautiful as this park, the park he saw on the east side of the western land palace was much more beautiful.

"Think you, that until about nine years ago, this park did not exist at all. This garden ground is just a piece of land without a single blade of grass where Akihiko-sama practices the sword." Clearly Tsubasa while turning her face looked at Shura back

Shura was silent on hearing Tsubasa's explanation, because she did not understand what Tsubasa was saying now.

Tsubasa then raised her head staring at the cherry blossoms above them. A faint smile flashed across his face. "Someone told Akihiko-sama. If there were cherry blossoms growing here, this place would definitely be very beautiful. In spring, when the cherry blossoms have bloomed so beautifully, all the inhabitants of the palace can definitely hold hanami here. Then, she will definitely come again to play the shamisen, singing and dancing to celebrate the spring she has always loved. After that, Akhiko-sama also made this sakura garden. He made it for her, so that she would remember his promise to return to this palace to play the shamisen, sing and dance. "

Shura remained silent, hearing Tsubasa's words, the heir to the western land did not know what to say.

"And right. In spring, when the cherry blossoms have bloomed, he comes as promised. In hanami, she plays shamisen, singing and dancing. No one can forget the shamisen sound he picked, the soft singing voice and the dazzling dance of the time. So beautiful, so enchanting, so inexplicable in words. The expression on Akihiko-sama's face when he saw her was so soft, filled with feelings, and that very second I knew, he knew what love was. In his life, he loved one. Akihiko-sama loves her, really loves her, continues to love her until now. Loving her even though Akihiko-sama already knew from beginning to end, she would never choose her."

"Didn't you hate her whom Akihiko-sama loves like that?" shura asked slowly.

Tsubasa smiled and lowered her head back to look at Shura, "How can I hate her? Anyone who knew him would not be able to hate him. He who is so clean, so innocent, holy and pure. A very charming creature. It's too scary to make anyone who sees it think its existence in the world is a miracle. Ah, naw. She was indeed a miracle, that woman was indeed a beauty in this world."

....xoxOx....

Shura remained seated in her cherry blossoms even though the sun had been replaced by the moon, although she now lived alone in the garden of the southern land palace, which she was born in, because Tsubasa who had accompanied him had sent himself back to his room. The heiress of the western lands emptied her head, she thought nothing of it, for she would be unlikely to find the answers to the questions that were in her head now. Everything there is so confusing.

"You're still here? Very good, accompany me through tonight here." Someone suddenly said.

Shura did not reply to the man's words, because he knew who it was. He knew who had approached him since. The aura he had had told him since earlier. The monstrous aura belongs to the owner of this palace, Akihiko-sama.

Akihiko immediately sat down beside Shura and raised his head staring at the cherry blossoms and the night sky above. No one said a word, they just sat quietly in silence letting the night breeze as well as strands of fallen cherry blossom petals pass through their bodies.

"What's he like?" shura asked suddenly without turning her head to look at Akihiko breaking the silence.

Not understanding Shura's intentions, Akihiko turned his head to look at the western land heir.

"She—the woman you love." continued Shura slowly as she turned her head toward Akihiko.

"Ah.. Tsubasa told you about it, huh?" akihiko asked with a smile.

Shura nodded her head.

"Why do you want to know?" ask Akihiko again.

"No need to answer if you don't want to." Reply Shura kalem.

Akihiko laughed at Shura's words, and then, he turned his head back on the cherry blossoms and the night sky above. "She's a very stupid woman, whatever she says is always useless. He was also very chatty, if he had spoken, his mouth was very difficult to be told to be silent. She was too brave, even when I showed her my true form and threatened to kill her, she laughed and said my true form was charming..."

A gentle smile suddenly flashed across Akihiko's face, as well as her sky blue eyes; an expression of a face that Shura had never expected belonged to the ruler of this southern land.

"Then, she was very innocent, even more innocent than a child. He is also very soft, very warm, very good... Always happy with everything, always smiling, full of spirit and very beautiful... Very-very pretty..."

"Beautiful? Is she more beautiful than my mother?" shura asked suddenly.

Akihiko turned his head back to look at Shura, surprised by the question of the western land heir who suddenly.

"My mother, Akiko is famous as the most beautiful youkai in the world, right? Is the woman you love more beautiful than her?

Akihiko laughed out loud hearing Shura's question. "That woman? That fox youkai? The most beautiful youkai in the world? Damn right! The fox was probably indeed the prettiest youkai in the world after its face was covered with thick powder and other makeup."

Shura was just silent, there was not the slightest anger in her heart hearing her Mother being insulted like that, because, deep in her heart, she quite agreed with what Akihiko said.

A few moments later, Akihiko stopped laughing. And all of a sudden, he raised a hand patting Shura's head slowly. "The most beautiful creature in the world. That's the woman I love."

Shura raised her hand to keep away Akihiko's hand that was patting her head. He did not like to be treated like a child by the ruler of this southern land, aggravation filling his heart. "The woman you love? You're so stupid, Akihiko-sama, because from the story I got, that woman never loved you from beginning to end. Loving is a weakness, stupid as hell."

Akihiko was stunned to hear Shura's words. A moment later, a smile came back to his face. "Yes. I know, I'm pretty stupid for that. But, I have no regrets. I have never regretted loving him with all my heart until now. "

Hearing Akihiko's words, Shura could only stare at Akihiko full of confusion. For this matter, loving someone wholeheartedly, Akihiko was completely different from his father, Sesshoumaru. "I thought you resembled my father for what it is to love. But, it turns out I was wrong, you're so different from him."

"You too. I always thought you were a duplicate of that dog. But it turns out I was wrong. There's something you inherited from the woman who gave birth to you. Your mouth cannot be stopped when you speak. The dog does not have this attitude, it turns out that blood cannot be deceived." Reply Akihiko with a grinning smile. The attitude that kept asking incessantly Shura right now, the ruler of this southern land was convinced, he must have inherited it from the woman who gave birth to him, she said, because Sesshoumaru is unlikely to ask like this—only the woman will ask like this.

"Don't equate me with that fox." Shura said exasperatedly and made Akihiko laugh again. "You are indeed the perfect combination of the two of them." Said the ruler of the southern land again.

Shura did not say anything more, because he knew, whatever he said now would definitely be used by Akihiko as a weapon to make fun of him. She did not want to hear people say she was similar to Akiko, her mother. He hates that.

When Akihiko stopped laughing, he again raised his hand to pat Shura's head, not caring about the dislike gaze of the little youkai in front of him. His eyes that were staring at Shura softened and without realizing it, his mouth said something very similar to what he had said to someone once.

"Shura's... Leave the dog for good and be my son. I will make you heir to this southern land. I'll give you the love that the dog never gave you.."

Shura's eyes widened in surprise. He could not believe what he was hearing now. What was the thought of this southern land lord? Akihiko did not have any children, but asked him to be her son? Bequeath this southern land to him? Has he gone mad?

"Thank you, but I won't. Because in my life, I'm only destined to be the son of my father and me alone."

Akihiko's eyes widened to hear Shura's reply. He did not expect to hear such a reply from the mouth of the western land heir in front of him, because this answer was an answer that was very similar to the answer he had previously obtained. Looking at Shura's unhesitating eyes that rejected her offer, she really couldn't stop the smile and laughter that was now coming back to her face, because he finally managed to find the similarities of Shura with the woman now— attitude that will always be loyal to the dog from beginning to end no matter what happens.

Seeing Akihiko's laughter, Shura immediately stood up and walked away, she didn't want to be next to the ruler of this southern land right now, because, she was, she would definitely continue to tease and play him with unreasonable questions something he disliked. "Bas stupid." Shura said slowly, though she was sure Akihiko could hear her.

Akihiko's laughter hardened even more when he heard Shura's words surrounding him. He really could not help but laugh, it had been a long time since he had ever laughed like this. And when Shura had completely disappeared from her sight, her laughter came to a halt and she raised her head staring at the cherry blossoms as well as the night sky with a smile still lingering on her handsome face.

"I'm a fool, Shura. But you're one of those things. That dog is just as stupid as me. Ah, naw. Nope. That dog is a lot more stupid than me...." Mumbled slowly.