Third Time's a Charm
By Sahara1256
6 months earlier…
He sat there, staring down at the water glistening in the sunset. The water was reflecting the sky's appearance, and his mood. Inuyasha's ears were nearly flattened against the top of his head.
The too proud dog demon was fighting an internal battle, and he wouldn't admit his wounds. The thoughts reverberated in his mind, her words echoed in his ears, piercing his heart.
"I…I love you Inuyasha. Please take care…" Inuyasha's shoulders began to shake. His fists were trembling like an earthquake.
"I could've done so more…" He muttered, anger oozing from the words. "If I had…you…you wouldn't be dead." Inuyasha's emotions were spilling over like a full tea cup. A steady stream of tears flooded down his cheeks, dripping into the water making it ripple violently. The sun had just set, and the last tear he shed made a small rainbow on its way down. But, Inuyasha's vision was too cloudy with remaining tears to see it. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his kimono.
He caught the trace of her scent that was still there. He pounded his left fist hard into the ground beneath him, yelling in fury.
"I wish I could make him back to life, and kill him again for what he did!" Inuyasha nearly shrieked.
Chapter One: Cat Nap
Kaori's POV
I finally reached a nice tree to spend the night in. God it took forever to get away from those pesky villagers without hurting anyone. Can't be forgiven for fishing in their fishing-hole. Heavens forbid I even try to catch a fish on my own; I would've had more luck asking for one.
I lay down and sprawled out over the long, sturdy branch. I yawned and got comfortable to go to sleep. I put my hands behind my head as a, sort of, pillow. I shut my eyes and waited for sleep to take hold.
Inuyasha's POV
I sniffed the early morning air. There was a stench lingering around. Great…
I stood up and had placed a hand on the hilt of Tetsaiga, I tried to get another whiff of what was nearby. It tickled my nose, like it was harmless, and yet familiar. Most things that smelt familiar to me were not harmless. I kept on my guard as I left the shrine with the completed jewel. I ran through the forest that was surrounding the shrine, evading foliage and following the scent. It started to dawn on me why this was sort of familiar. A cat demon? Nah…It couldn't be.
I stopped underneath a large tree where the smell was potent in the air now. It was nearby whatever it was. I looked around, and no sign of it. Suddenly I heard a quiet purring. I cocked an eyebrow in confusion. Really? There was a cat in the vicinity and it didn't come seek me out? I gazed up and saw a sleeping girl, with short black hair, cat-like ears atop her head like mine, and a black tail that was swaying off the branch.
"What the hell?" I muttered aloud.
Kaori's POV
I could hear footsteps on the grass. That's the perk of being cat-like. Cat naps were perfect for being on guard when you're by yourself. I heard him mutter something to himself so I guess I should give a formal introduction. After all it seemed like were very similar, by scent at least.
"Hello, my name is Kaori." I stated, rising and stretching. I got comfortable once more and watched the man just stare up in total confusion as I shook off the sleep.
"Uh, why are you here? I settled my problem with your clan a long time ago." He stated. His long silver hair was actually glittering in the moonlight and his ears were twitching with annoyance. His hand was tremulous on the hilt of his sword as well. I cocked my head to the side slightly. My ears cocked as well and my tail swished.
"What are you talking about? My clan?" I inquired. I was puzzled.
"You're a part of the panther tribe, aren't you?" He asked. I shook my head in response. He released his slight grip on the hilt and stood up straight.
"Well…" I started. He looked at me puzzled now.
"What?" He replied, obviously annoyed.
"Where are you're manners? I introduced myself, what is your name?" I demanded. He let a small growl escape and his ears folded.
"Inuyasha." He answered.
"Well it was an honor to meet you Inuyasha. Seeing as you and I are similar, would you mind helping me out?" I asked.
Inuyasha's POV
I scoffed. Similar? What the hell was this batty cat babbling about?
"Whatdya mean 'similar'?" I asked again, trying to put her off by sounding as rude as possible. "What could we strangers have possibly in common?"
"Well, you are half-demon, are you not?" Kaori asked. Oh don't tell me she was a half-demon too?
"Why, are you?" I retorted.
"Uh, you can't tell?" She answered with a question…how annoying. I looked at her up and down, and finally took a serious note of her clothing. All she had on were just simple white robes, and they were huge on her. They were nearly falling off her shoulders they were so big. I felt my face go red. I shook it off and stood firm again.
"Well I knew you were some sort of demon…" I answered.
"Well then, can you help me?" she asked again, sounding slightly cheerful. I sighed.
"Yeah sure…why not." God I was such a softie sometimes.
Kaori's POV
Inuyasha was definitely a different character. He was kinda awkward on the walk back out of the woods. He would throw backward glances over at me from his shoulder. I could sometimes hear him muttering extra quietly to himself. Things like "why do things like this keep happening to me? Why can't it be any other half-demon?"
I sighed as he gave another back glance at me. I ran forward and ahead of him and gracefully spun around to walk backwards. He raised an eyebrow.
"So you do not have to keep looking over you're shoulders." I slyly stated. He let another tiny growl escape again. "I'm not going to harm you. I'm in a very lackadaisical mood." I stated. He face went from angry to befuddlement.
"Lackdaiasa-what?"
"I'm feeling lazy." I summed up. I guess not every half-demon was raised by a scholar.
"If I'm gonna keep helping you here, you're gonna have to help me by using smaller words. I ain't the sharp like my blade." Inuyasha stated referring to his sword at his hip.
"Okay." I said as I took up a new stride next to him. He was totally on guard. I felt so un-trusted.
"What did the panther clan do that makes you so wary of me?" I inquired. He gave another rude scoff.
"I barely know you, why should I explain anything to you?" Inuyasha stated. I shrugged.
"Okay. Note to self, panther tribe is a soft spot." I muttered.
"It's not a soft spot, but just what makes you think you can waltz into my territory and expect me to spill information about myself to you?" Inuyasha defended.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe he fact that we are a few and far between race and you are helping me find a place to stay?" I snapped. I hated his attitude already. I was re-considering my plans on staying here with this insolent pup. I could be sleeping soundly back at my tree, dreaming of tasty cooked fish. He was silenced by my argument. We walked in an awkward silence the rest of the way to a village. I sensed a heavy aura of purity about it. It seemed nice, and perhaps, welcoming. Seeing as they welcomed him, I guess they could me.
Inuyasha's POV
What kind of nerve does this bitch have? Asking me semi-personal questions after what, 15 minutes of knowing each other? I suppressed a lot of growling. My head hurt even from that one crazy sounding "L" word she used earlier.
I walked her through the main path to Kaede's. I'm glad she finally shut her trap after what she said about us being half-demon. How does she feel like since we are half-demon, that we should help each other? Bah…I don't care. I'll give her a place to stay and some food and send her off her merry way later tomorrow or the next day.
I put my palm up, motioning for her to stay put, while I entered Kaede's hut through the cloth door. Shippo was staying the night with Miroku and Sango tonight, bless his poor young soul, and Kaede was sitting by a fire, tending it and a kettle of food.
"Ah Inuyasha. What brings ye here so late?" Kaede inquired. I tucked my hands into my robe sleeves as I usually did.
"Well you see, Kaede, while I was standing guard at the Jewel's shrine, I smelt an unfamiliar scent." She looked at me concerned. "Nothing huge was here, she wasn't even here for the jewel believe it or not. I found a…half cat demon girl. She asked for a place to stay and some food." I finished. It was hard getting out that I had stumbled across another half-demon. Kaede's face lit up.
"Well what are ye waiting for invite her in!" She said getting up. I guess this was Kaori's queue to walk in, 'cause she did it without me telling her.
"Hello, I am Kaori." She introduced herself immediately. Like her presence must be known. Bah…damn cats.
Kaori's POV
"Hello there, Kaori. That's a very pretty name. Please come sit and eat something child you look so tiny." Kaede, I assumed from Inuyasha's earlier conversation.
"Thank you so much! You are very kind!" I announced as I sat down near the kettle. She readied a bowl and looking down at whatever chowder thing she was working on made my stomach growl louder than Inuyasha had earlier. She fixed a bowl for me and Inuyasha had sat cross-legged across from me.
"I promise I won't be a burden for too long." I said as she handed me the bowl and spoon. I think I nearly inhaled what she gave me.
"Ah don't be foolish. Ye are welcome here for as long as ye need." She corrected me. I think I nearly choked and Inuyasha had to catch his own breath,
"Thank you! You truly are kind!" I exclaimed. Inuyasha muttered something under his breath again but I paid no mind, I was re-considering my earlier re-consider.
AU: So this is a newer format I've decided to experiment with, so please if you think this is hard to read with the alternating POVs, let me know and I'll be glad to revise xD. Inuyasha's love life also intrigued me enough to start this up so my little "what if..." thought has finally made it to writing. Hope you enjoyed reading it, I should hopefully update soon. Thankies ^,^. ~Sahara