Fragile Dreams, Chapter 11



written by Christine

Chapter 11

48 years prior to Otherworld 1

That morning Isabo rose before anyone else. She moved through the den kissing and hugging each one of her sleeping children. The two new couples, her newly mated daughter and son, were the hardest to impose upon so she went to their "rooms" last. Their family den was an open cavern but there were privacy screens in front of several hollowed out niches to allow older children and mated couples some privacy. She made sure each pair were only sleeping before she intruded. Isabo was surprised that Ryo decided to join their clan and stay in their den. Tradition usually had the female mate move to her mate’s den. The mating celebration of Akira and Ryo along with Botan and Mai was just the night before and it lasted until nearly the crack of dawn. Even though the official celebration was last night, they both committed to their mates the night Inutaishou came home. He gave them his approval but after seeing Isabo in such a state, he wanted to spend some special time with her to try and draw out what was bothering his mate. He told Akira and Botan not to wait for the celebration. He told them the most important commitment they could make was to their life mates, not the clan. Isabo walked out of her den and up the hill to InuHaru’s den. InuHaru looked up as she entered. Even after a big celebration, InuHaru was a early riser. “So today’s the day?” he inquired. Isabo nodded and held out a letter to him. “You know wh...at to do?” she asked, her voice cracking mid sentence with sobs. InuHaru stood and took the letter, and then he embraced her. “I’ll take care of everything,” wiping away the tears on her face as he pulled away. “Are you going to be alright?” “I’ll survive,” she said. “Don’t forget your promise about Akina.” “I won’t,” he said to her back as she left him. He never saw Isabo again.

Isabo entered her den one last time. She sat on the edge of her bed and looked at the kind hearted demon that she shared the last 17 years with. She fingered his long hair. She hated leaving this way but she never could have done it face to face. He would have seen right through her and never have let her go. She bent over and hugged him. "Forgive me my love." she whispered in his ear. "I will never forget you." She kissed her sleeping Inutaishou one last time then turn to leave the cave

	“Momma, you’re leaving now?” Isabo swung her head and looked into the eyes of her youngest. She had been forced to tell her young daughter the whole truth. Akina had also been haunted by visions ever since that day on the hillside. Isabo felt she had no choice, despite her daughter’s young age.

“Shh... Don’t wake the others,” as she sat on the corner of her bed. Akina raised up and walked to her mother on her knees. They desperately embraced each other, both crying. “Always remember I love you, no matter what. Can you remember that?” Akina nodded and hugged her even tighter. Isabo returned the hug, kissed her, and then disengaged her arms. Isabo rose and walked out the den with Akina trailing after her. Taking one last look behind, she transformed into her Unicorn form and disappeared into the woods. Akina stood at the mouth of the den and watched her go.

Two hours had passed when Inutaishou woke and stretched. He reached for his mate but found only an empty space. He sat up and looked around but didn’t see her. He sniffed the wind but didn’t smell her. What he did smell was the salty odor of tears and he could hear quiet sobbing. He got up and wrapped his naked body in the bed sheet. It was one week since he and Isabo had returned from their trip to the lake front. During the trip they has a wonderful time and Isabo seem to emerge from the depression she was in when he and Sesshomaru arrived home. During their walk home he had told her about the young human girl he had rescued from a fall off a cliff. Izayoi was her name. Isabo told him how wonderful he was to save her. She encouraged him to stay in touch with her. “You won’t be jealous?” he had asked. She had shaken her head even though she looked sad. Ever since they returned from that trip, Isabo had been exceptionally affectionate but she was still acting strange. Akina was acting strangely too. She refused to leave her mother’s side. Inutaishou wanted to attribute it to the fact that she would soon be leaving to live with his brother but he couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong. Inutaishou scanned the cave but only saw sleeping bodies. It was very early, considering the late party. He only came across one empty bed, his youngest daughter’s. He followed the soft sound of sobs to the front of the den. There he found his daughter crumpled in a heap on the ground. "Akina? What's wrong? Where's your mother?" he said. Instead of responding the little girl started crying harder. Inutaishou didn’t understand this. Where was his mate? He picked up his daughter from the ground and she threw her arms around him. Something must have happened to her, he thought. Why didn’t she tell them where she was going? Sesshomaru appeared at his shoulder. “What’s wrong?” looking at his sobbing sister. “Don't know yet," Inutaishou replied. "Your mother's gone, Do you know where she is?” “Oh she does that all the time,” Fujita said as he appeared next to his older brother. “She likes to make us hunt her. She’s pretty good at hiding but now that Sesshie’s here (quickly ducked the hand his brother swung at him for using the nickname) she doesn’t stand a chance. I’ll get the others, we’ll find her.” Minutes later Inutaishou watched his children go on their hunt, full of excitement and enthusiasm. When they had vanished from sight, he turned and carried his weeping daughter into the den. Hours of searching came up empty. They returned to their father, who was sitting on a boulder just outside their den, still cradling a distraught Akina. “It’s Uncle InuHaru’s fault, isn’t it?” Ronan said, addressing his youngest sister. “He made Momma cry! She was so happy with you and with what you were showing all of us, then all of a sudden, she was sad and crying! That’s when Uncle left. He didn’t even stay to comfort her! If he didn’t cause it, he wouldn’t have left! You know why, don’t you? You knew we wouldn’t find her, didn’t you!” Akina cringed under the onslaught of her brother's words and buried her head into her father's kimono. Sesshomaru also looked at his sister with accusing eyes. From what Ronan said, he suspected she had betrayed their special secret. Ronan surprised his father. For an eight year old, he had insight well beyond his years, but his anger was too strong. Inutaishou saw how it was affecting his daughter, causing her to withdraw even more.

	“That’s enough, Ronan!” he said sharply. He held his crying daughter and became concerned when he felt her body start shaking and suddenly go slack. She had fainted from the stress and exhaustion. Sesshomaru saw his sister go slack and scowled. He picked up his youngest brother and carried him one handed by his shirt into the den.

After seeing the look their father gave them, the rest of the family followed, leaving the clan leader alone with his daughter. The dog clan had also heard about the disappearance and the whole tribe was abuzz with the news. Still, they had the sense to make themselves scarce. Inutaishou sat there rocking his six year old until she awoke. He knew her tears were for more than just her mother’s disappearance and Ronan’s anger. He was just the catalyst that broke through the last of her defenses. All her father could do is hold her and tell her that he loved her until she had cried herself out. She’s so much like her mother, he thought. He had done the same thing for Isabo when he and Sesshomaru came home to find her crying uncontrollably in a field surrounded by their children. Isabo never told him why she was crying that day, no matter how much he pressured her. He desperately hoped his daughter would be more cooperative. She was starting to hiccup which actually helped slow her tears. “Akina, you know that I will love you, no matter what, right?” her father said She nodded and hiccupped again. “Please tell me what you know,” he pleaded. “Momma’s gone,” she sobbed. “We know that,” wondering why she was stating the obvious, “do you know where or why?” he said. “InuHura said she had to go,” she said. “Where, Akina? Did InuHaru say where she had to go?” he asked Inutaishou didn’t like the feeling he was starting to get in the pit of his stomach; that helpless feeling that comes from when things start spiraling out of his control. His daughter shook her head. “Didn’t say where to go,” she hiccupped, “just said go.” “Sesshomaru!” he called. His son appeared immediately. Inutaishou handed him his still weeping sister. “Take care of her. I have to see InuHaru.” Sesshomaru nodded. “Then it’s true? She left us?” he asked. “I'll let you know when I return,” his father said. An hour later he returned, clutching a piece of paper. Sesshomaru didn’t like the set of his shoulders or his look. The news was not good. “Father?” Inutaishou looked toward him but said nothing. He reached over and took his daughter from her brother. She was no longer crying but instead, looked straight into his eyes and lifted one small hand to wipe away the tears she saw forming there. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him. He buried his face into her shoulder briefly, and then he turned and carried her back to the den. Sesshomaru was shocked. He had never seen his father cry. It made him unsettled. The news was bad, very bad. He trailed after his father, dreading what was to happen next.