23

Darkness had taken Satomi deep into the mountain. It was so quiet, she hear her own blood flow through her veins as she started to open her eyes. Images were coming in slow waves over her, but they were not her own. Images of a life farther back than her own started. Closing her eyes again, the images continued in a soundless blur and disappearing before coming back over and over again. There was nothing but black around her as she felt dizzy in the emptiness.

"Listen to me…," she could hear a voice say quietly in the distance. "There isn't much time…"

If her eyes were open or shut, she still couldn't see a thing. The voice sounded so soft and motherly, like a lullaby as she continued to drift in and out of consciousness. Finally, a wave of light hit her and she let her mind go.

She was in the middle of a forest, the trees light with the sun and a woman was picking flowers. Her yukata was plain and her hair long and elegant. Surely not a common woman, but she was just picking flowers. Humming a tune Satomi barely recognized, she seemed quite content with herself. Walking towards the woman, she leaned forward to touch her shoulder and realized that it was a dream. Her hand went right through her and the woman didn't so much as look back.

However, there was a disturbance in the trees with a twig snapping and she looked up quickly. Satomi felt on guard too, reflexes she supposed. The woman stood up slowly. "Whoever you are, come out now." Backing up, she put her hand in her obi and seemed to grab something, a dagger?

"I mean no harm, human," said a man with long white hair, much like Sesshomaru's and same with his armor. Another dog demon? However, this one actually seemed like he had some social skills. As he approached the woman, the memory started to fade. Being pulled from it, she was put inside the darkness once more.

Just the same, she was put into another dream. This one was in the mountains; the fog was dense as the woman walked along a narrow path. She seemed aggravated as she looked up and around. "You would do well to help me if you insist on following me. This is getting really old, demon," she yelled to the sky as Satomi floated near her. The woman's sweat was dripping down her face as she scaled the unbeaten path and forged a way through with some rock climbing in between the tighter spots.

"Your aura is different than anyone I've met," said the same demon she saw in her dreams, however, he seemed much younger and the armor was lighter. Over confident and carefree seemed to be radiating from the demon here. Different times, but the woman looked the same. Looking intently, she noticed the similar cloud that this demon sat on as Sesshomaru used. The demon seemed to be mocking the woman as he floated around her with wide eyes and wonder. Just as curious as a puppy from the looks of it.

"Yeah, well… I'm not human. I'm a goddess. A goddess of the sun actually if you must know. I'm training, so if you'd be so kind to either help or get out of the way and leave me alone, that would be great," she said as she almost slipped. Seeing the woman take in a deep breath, he cocked his head to the side.

"You smell human though," he said as she did miss her step this time. However, he reached forward and grabbed her wrist to make sure she didn't fall. "You are very interesting. I think I shall join you for now." The woman looked at him with wide eyes as she shook her head. He started to set her down near the more flat part of the path and the memory started to fade out again.

This back and forth was making her nauseous as she felt pulled in so many directions. Like all the visions were coming to her at once. They weren't her memories, but there was a likeness to the women. Same eyes, hair, and aura although slightly different in terms of energy output. The first one was definitely more human if not all human. The second felt like Satomi did.

Another memory ran through her as she stopped thinking out the differences in aura. This time they were in an open plain. The flowers were abundant as the woman danced in the fields of flowers. The demon stood back and watched quietly with an odd look to him. He looked confused to her antics. "Why do flowers make you so happy? They die soon after they bloom," he said stomping on them with a disgusted face.

The woman looked to him sadly as she placed a hand on his cheek. "That is why they bring such joy, Toga. Their beauty is fleeting so it must be enjoyed while we can still see their petals. Otherwise they turn into just a memory, or worse forgotten if no one is here to take in their beauty. Now their fleeting life will live through me and my memories," she said as he was once again wide eyed.

"The flowers are like humans then?" he asked as she nodded. "I don't think I could forget your beauty even if I tried." Her face flushed a bright red as he took her face in his hands and kissed her in the middle of all the blooming flowers. "I promise to find a way to let you live…"

Darkness again. What was this? He looked so much like Sesshomaru but his markings were different on his face. Wondering what exactly was going on she felt being dragged under again. Would it ever end or was she meant to look at this memory forever? To let her live though… it could mean a variety of things but with the previous vision it could only mean this woman went through what Satomi was going through now. A warning perchance of what was to come? The opportunity to see the folly in her hope that maybe there was a light at the end of the journey?

"Toga, behind you," she heard as she was taken to a battle. It was a battle on a mountain, this mountain? The terrain looked familiar but then if it was what Kaito had said before, Toga had met this woman long before the world they knew it had formed. Even the trees didn't seem so large now. Demon life spans were truly an amazing amount of time.

Toga dodged the energy blast from behind as the woman flew in front of him leading the charge it seemed. The demon they were hunting was burning, but it didn't seem to hinder him it seemed to energize him. They worked together so seamlessly it was like they were reading each other's thoughts. Watching them was mesmerizing and haunting. Satomi felt like something was churning in her stomach as she continued to watch. She could hear the woman yell what she was thinking "Watch out!"

Toga was blasted with an energy spear by the looks of it into his gut as he was sent flying to the mountain base. The woman followed by disappearing and reappearing next to him. His wounds were deep and he was unresponsive. "You stupid demon, how could you get yourself hurt?" she asked trying to heal the wound. He put his hand on hers and yet could barely move.

"Save your strength. We need all we can get right now," he said with a smirk, still trying to be charming as he was bleeding out onto the earth. She just shook her head and applied more pressure as her power flowed into him like small lightning bugs forming a bond to heal him. "Stubborn woman," he added as he looked above and saw the demon charge down to them. Without even batting an eyelash, her eyes turned white as she raised her hand and blasted him away while never moving her other hand to heal him. She was so powerful.

"You were saying?" she asked annoyed as she finished up healing him. As he got up, he just shook his head and smiled.

"That's my girl," he said as he left first, and she just blushed and smiled.

The scene darkened again, and Satomi was left feeling as if she was going to cry. There was a feeling she had that the next would be the last. As if hearing her, the scene changed to one of the woman lying on the ground covered in blood and her eyes blank as Toga cried over her. Begging her to live. The fight was done, her fight was done as she had promised the god. Satomi knew it in her soul. But Kaito told her she lived longer than this.

Moving closer, she wanted to help but knew she couldn't. Beside them was a demon, a small demon who also cried and another woman who seemed to be human.

"Can't you heal her?" he asked the woman as she cried even harder.

"I tried, Toga, it's like she's refusing," the human said with tears streaming down her face. "Oh…" the name had blanked out, strange. "Just let us heal you, please. Just one more day to tell me that demons aren't so bad and good things do happen if you just wait. Just one more time."

The demon child had an olive skin tone and fins for ears. He looked to her and kneeled beside her. "Please, don't die. You're like a mother to me. She was killed, my real mother. I know I told you a bunch of stories, but I promise you this is the truth. Humans hunted her down to steal her scales. They tortured her and killed her. You are the first person who ever hugged me since then and to tell me it was okay to be a kid yet. You were so patient and kind to me, please don't leave me. Don't leave us. I'll do anything! Anything!"

Just like that she was barely sucking in breath as the human leaned above the woman's body and started healing her until her breathing was even. Toga was left there to watch as tears rolled down his face. It was obvious no one was used to that as the demon child looked to him and put his hand timidly on Toga's.

"I said she was like my mother, but I suppose you were like my father. I never thought I wouldn't get the chance to tell you… but now… I know I won't lose that chance again," the small demon said as Toga put his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't know if I'd be good at being a father," Toga admitted as he looked at the woman. "She's way more qualified than I am."

"I don't think you're so bad. A little rough around the edges, but you taught me how to be powerful and she taught me compassion. You two made it work together."

The scene darkened again and they were in a small hut. There was Toga and the woman having a small dinner together, sitting on the floor next to a small fire. However, she looked so weak and frail.

"Sorry it wasn't much. I tried to get something together but my energy just isn't what it's used to," the woman said with a small laugh, as if she was about to cry though rather than humored.

"You did wonderful. I could eat this for years," Toga said trying to smile and be cheerful about it. Obviously, she knew her time was ending. But did he? Chances were it wasn't hard to guess.

"Liar." However, this time she did smile. However, as the minutes dragged on, she started to cry. The tears falling down her face as she set down her bowl. "I don't want to die. I want a life with you and the others. I want to run in the flower fields again. I want to feel like me again."

He reached over to her and pulled her close for an embrace. He closed his eyes and let her cry it out on his shoulder. This was the sight Satomi didn't want to see. The end of where everything seemed lost. The end where you knew it was coming but didn't want it to. This was how it was.

"The sunset is coming; would you like to see it?" he asked her once she calmed down.

"That would be nice," she said as he carried her outside. It was near a mountain, so high up compared to the world around them. As they sat admiring the colors, she could see the two figures of a woman and small demon walking up the terrain waving excitedly. "You gave me such peace, Toga. When I'm born again, I would want to have that life with you in it. I don't want to die, but I had such an adventure with you. You have obligations to fulfill as a demon lord, and I want to see your legacy. Maybe when I come back you'll have it all figured out. Tell them I'll be watching so they don't feel alone. Both of them."

He reached to her and kissed her as tears ran down his face. The others were running up the hill as her body slowly started to fade away, like tiny lights toward the sky.

"I'll never forget you, Izayoi," Toga said as a light lingered with them to graze their cheeks before ascending.

Going back to the first memory, everything seemed to fall in place. He didn't mean to harm her because it was 'her'. Izayoi.

"Do I know you? Wait… you seem familiar," Izayoi said unsure looking at Toga as his eyes begged for her to remember. And then, a miracle. "Toga?"

"You did come back, Izayoi. I've been waiting for you for so long," he said as she ran up to him and they embraced. He ran his fingers through her hair and closed his eyes as if everything was coming back to him and even to her as she reached up and brought his lips to hers. Tears ran down their faces as they smiled at each other.

What followed was a flash of memories, as if showing Satomi the rest of the story. A child's birth and Toga's death, along with the life Izayoi had as she raised their son on her own as a princess never to marry because of the sin she committed. The age she was when she passed with her young son next to her as she gave her last breaths.

Opening her eyes now, she felt a warmth in her lap as she floated curled up inside of a small sphere of some kind. It was small and felt furry as she was comforted by its presence. Was it this creature giving her the memories? A light flowed into the sphere and she could see it was like a small white dog with a blue circle on its forehead. The aura felt familiar as she saw its eyes open to reveal a golden color. The markings on its cheek was a bold blue and she couldn't help but ask, "Toga?"

The little dog spirit yipped as she asked its name. Suddenly, the sphere dissipated, and she was left to sit on the ground holding the small dog. It didn't feel demonic, so perhaps a piece of Toga remained here. But why? Looking around, she saw the pool of water with a figure carved into the stone above it. It was Izayoi's likeness, but that of her goddess self with a long flowing elaborate kimono. Was this her resting place? Who would have carved this? Toga? This mountain where her final fight took place was Satomi's guess. She was so deep in the mountain, she couldn't even sense Sesshomaru or the others.

"I suppose you wouldn't know the way?" she asked the dog spirit and it wiggled out of her arms and started running the opposite way. "Go figure." Running after it, it would stop just long enough for her to see it and continue running full on once more. As they went further, something felt demonic ahead. Not only the air but the land itself. This land should have stayed pure thanks to Izayoi's power. Juro no doubt had some role to play.

"You know… that kid looked an awful lot like Inu-Yasha. He never did mention his mother, but if I had to guess. Wait…? If that was his mother, then his father knew of her long before he ever knew Sesshomaru's mother. Unless if it's some weird dog demon thing to know who you're marrying super early on, but it didn't sound like it in the visions. This is so confusing. So you're telling me Inu-Yasha's mother was the goddess from before but the actual one who gave birth to him was the one he met way after. So he's the offspring of a super powered up demon and a reincarnation of a goddess. Does he know?" she asked the dog spirit and he just yipped back to her contentment as he continued running forward. "Why do I even bother? I swear talking to dog demons is like talking to a brick wall."

She could finally see the exit as they ran even faster. Hearing a commotion, she could still not sense a thing as to what was out there. Demonic energy sure, but there was a block to it. As if anything specific was distorted. Sighing in annoyance, she charged through until she could see Sesshomaru fighting a large dog demon. It looked like a large version of the little guy that lead her through the mountain.

Suddenly, it was as if the demon sensed her and charged fully at her, completely disregarding the fact that he was in the middle of battle. Inu-Yasha and Kagome were further down the base as she had her arrow drawn back and his Tessaiga was ready for battle. Reaching up her hand, Satomi felt the demon stop as its nose touched her hand. "Toga?" she asked quietly as he snarled and then gave a small whimper. "You've been protecting her all this time, haven't you?"

Another whimper ensued as he laid down before her. Sesshomaru and the other looked at her in wonder as she pet his snout. Regret poured from his aura as she moved to just below his eye. "You protected her well, Toga." Seeing his eyes divert from hers, she put her hand soothingly on his nose again. "Come with me and I can help you. A demon did this to you, didn't he? Made you attack us. Your sons."

He growled harmlessly again as she thought that was the problem. There was a glow that covered him as he slowly disappeared and the small demon spirit glowed. A small child's voice sounded in her head. "I am not worthy of the name of my past life. Call me Yaken, an ownerless dog is what I am. However, I shall assist you in the ways I can, goddess. Thank you for bringing my sons. Perhaps I couldn't be a good father, but I can at least help them finish this task."

As Yaken approached her, he yipped at her feet as if nothing had ever happened. Jumping into her arms as she opened them wide, he was quick to snuggle into her as Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. No doubt he knew who this demon was, making this all the more awkward as she just shrugged and smiled. Inu-Yasha approached and looked at Yaken curiously. "So, that demon was that really father?" he asked as Sesshomaru turned away.

"A part of him," Satomi said as she pet Yaken behind the ears. "The part that stayed to protect the goddess. There's a lot I saw there. Some you may wish to know." It was strange to be in this situation, but she couldn't help but smile. The story was grim, but now she could see there wasn't everything to lose. Although Toga did end up dying to protect her and she was left to raise their son, who stood before her now, alone, there was something sweet about how life gave them the chance to be together once more. Perhaps that was all that was needed was a chance to let life play out.

"So Yaken is…?" Inu-Yasha asked pointing to him as Yaken panted and twitched his ears.

"The purified form of Toga to be technical," she said as Inu-Yasha eyed up the little guy. Kagome of course rushed to her side and started petting Yaken as well.

"He's so cute," Kagome gushed as both sons seemed extremely annoyed.

"I will not call that thing my father," Inu-Yasha said turning around as Yaken seemed oblivious.

Sesshomaru walked over to them and narrowed his eyes at Yaken, taking him by the scruff. Yaken growled slightly as Sesshomaru held him in midair.

"I know you and your fondness of mortals. Keep her out of this and I won't roast you for our dinner," Sesshomaru said as Satomi reached forward for Yaken.

"You don't have to be mean, there's a lot to tell you all and you might think differently if you know. I offered for him to come with." Satomi said as Sesshomaru shook his head.

Sesshomaru sighed with annoyance. "You're too naïve. I know this demon more than you do. He may be a part of my father and that's how I know to not trust him completely."

"Well, in this fight, I'll take all the help we can get. I feel I can trust him and if you can't then I'll take responsibility." Having her mind set on this decision, she nodded her head as Kilala, Kohaku, Ah-Un and Rin came into view from the sky.

"Have it your way. If it comes back to haunt us, don't say I didn't warn you. We head East," he said as he flew up seeming to be unhappy with her idea. Just when he seemed to be understandable, another wall was put up. Holding onto Yaken, he whimpered against her as the group settled into who would ride Kilala and Ah-Un. Riding on Ah-Un with Rin, Satomi wondered if this was truly so bad. She knew there was not the best relationship between Sesshomaru and his father, but if he knew… perhaps she couldn't heal the bond but at least help.