I know it's been a while since I updated Drunk Temptation, The Spirit Returns or the Difference Doesn't Matter rewrite, but the truth is I've just been burned out and bored with those stories, so I'm not sure when I'll actually continue them. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy my first foray into Inuyasha fanfiction, Moonless Modern!
Slight AU where Kagome's 17 and Inuyasha's not such an insensitive dingbat. He's still an ass sometimes, though…
Kagome looked up at the sky, watching thick gray clouds cover what little blue was left. A few yards ahead, Inuyasha stopped, turning back to look at her.
"Hey, Kagome!"
She blinked, shaking off her daze and hurrying to catch up with him. He tilted his head, gazing at her in puzzlement.
"Everything okay?" he asked. "You've been pretty out of it lately."
"Have I?" she shrugged, she hadn't even noticed. "Guess I've had a lot on my mind."
He hummed thoughtfully, turning back to the path. He'd just started walking when she grabbed his sleeve, her cheeks tinted pink.
"You remember what happened with Kaguya?" she asked nervously. "When she tried turning you into a full demon?"
He thought a moment before smirking, taking her chin in hand.
"Yeah," he leaned closer, his voice getting lower. "I think it went something like-"
They froze as something crashed through the surrounding trees, a ten-foot warthog barging into the clearing. He smiled widely, palming his large spiked club.
"Ha ha, I knew I smelled a dog," he laughed. "Now I can have his pelt and the jewel shards!"
Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga, pushing Kagome behind him.
"You'll have to go through me first," he smirked. "And I don't think you can."
Kagome looked at the demon again, her eyes widening.
"Hold on," she gripped his shoulder. "He already has two shards. They're in his stomach!"
The pig laughed again, his bloated belly bouncing wildly as he did so.
"So, she can see the shards, can she?" the harsh gleam in his eye turned salacious. "Looks like I just found my new wife!"
Inuyasha felt her hand stiffen, practically able to hear the blood as it drained from her face. He growled angrily, his hands tightening on his sword.
"You still have to deal with me, remember?!"
The pig merely glanced at him before smirking, the sudden silence in the clearing shattered by a loud, obnoxious belch. It echoed through the wood, the rumble throwing her off her feet as thick black mud spewed from his gaping mouth. It quickly covered them both, letting them know it smelled, and tasted, even worse than it looked.
"Ew, so gross!"
She quickly started to wipe it away, spitting furiously in the grass as she did so. She'd gotten less than half of it off when the mud hardened, leaving her frozen in a kneel with her hands still fisted on her chest. She watched helplessly as Inuyasha struggled to break free, most of his front hidden by the muck. The demon shoved him aside, chuckling darkly as he hoisted her to his shoulder.
"I'm going to have plenty of fun with you, human…"
"No, let go of me!" Kagome fought in vain, still trapped by the mud. She glanced around frantically, seeing Inuyasha leaning against the tree the demon had shoved him toward. Her mind racing, she yelled out the only thing that stuck. "Sit boy!"
It did more than she'd hoped, his prison shattering as he slammed face-first into the ground. The pig gaped at the sight a second too long, Tetsusaiga cleaving him easily in two. Kagome grunted as she hit the ground, the mud holding fast. Inuyasha sighed, working his shoulder like he usually did after a fight.
"Never thought I'd be happy for a 'sit'," he mused, then turned to her. "But how are we gonna get you out of this?"
"Um…" she could barely think with the foul taste still clogging her mouth. She watched as Inuyasha sheathed his blade, a satisfied smirk coming to his lips.
"Perfect."
He hoisted her up before she could speak, leaping to the edge of the clearing. She screamed when he tossed her, the cry cutting off as she hit the cold water. The small pond was less than a foot deep, Inuyasha lying back in the grass as she leapt to her feet.
"Inuyasha!" she fumed at him, her fists shaking at her sides. "I'm probably gonna catch a cold now! What were you thinking?!"
He shrugged, smiling carelessly.
"It worked, didn't it?"
"Huh?" she looked down, her eyes widening when she saw the mud had melted the second she'd hit the water. It was then she remembered the foul taste in her mouth, stumbling to another part of the pond and gulping mouthfuls of water. She spit several times, panting when the taste had finally been dispelled. She turned back to him, only to find him doing the same. "You could've at least warned me!"
He chuckled, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
"Where's the fun in that?"
She groaned, blushing furiously. He held out a hand; she rolled her eyes before taking it, crossing her arms when she was back on the grass.
"I h-hate you sometimes," she muttered, shivering. He untied his robe, draping it over her.
"The storm'll be coming soon," he turned, crouching in front of her. "We better head back."
"Wait," she hurried to the remains of the pig demon, holding her nose as she searched. "There!"
She swerved around a patch of blood, picking up the shards that had flowed to the edge. They were slightly defiled, purifying the second she touched them. She clutched them tightly, running to take her place on his back.
"Okay, we can leave now."
"Right," he stood easily, grasping her thighs and taking off. She pulled the firerat robe more tightly around her, shivering again as thunder sounded loudly overhead. They'd gone farther from camp than they'd thought, and even with his speed they couldn't beat the rain. It started pouring just before they reached the cave, Shippo leaping up and waving when he saw them.
"Hey, they're back!"
Sango came up behind him, a slightly damp Kilala perched on her shoulder. She smiled.
"We were starting to worry about you two!"
"Yeah, what took you guys so long?" Shippo asked. He held his nose as his friends stopped in the cave. "And what's that smell?"
"Pig demon," Inuyasha said simply. He set Kagome down close to the fire, going a few steps further before shaking himself off. "Don't ask."
"We did get some shards, though," Kagome pulled out the small bottle she wore around her neck. She added the two new ones, smiling at how they glittered in the firelight. "It's getting pretty full."
"How many more do you think we need?" Shippo took one of the sticks propped around the fire, spearing one of the fish he and Sango caught earlier. He blew on it several times before biting into it, moaning softly when he still burned his tongue. Kagome shrugged, tucking the bottle back in her shirt. She looked around, realizing someone was missing.
"Hey, where's Miroku?"
"Kilala took him to his father's grave," Sango stroked the little demon cat, who'd moved to her lap. She mewed cutely, purring as she nibbled on a fish. "He didn't say when he'd be back."
Shippo looked up from his meal, crumbs scattered around his mouth. He swallowed.
"Hey, guys, aren't you gonna eat?"
"Maybe later," Kagome pushed the cloth back from her head. "We had something to eat a little while ago."
"Suit yourself," the young fox reached for his second fish, digging in happily. Inuyasha came back to the fire, his ear brushing Kagome's arm as he laid next to her. It was the most relaxed she'd seen him in a while.
"You're laid back tonight, Inuyasha," Sango swallowed a mouthful of fish. "Especially with the new moon in a few days."
He shrugged one shoulder, keeping his eyes closed. Kagome blushed, loving how his silver hair shone in the flickering light. In the short silence that followed, Shippo fidgeted.
"There hasn't been any sign of Naraku in a long time," he gulped. "What do you think he's planning?"
"Who cares?" Inuyasha was smug as usual. "He hasn't won yet and he's not going to."
Kagome rolled her eyes. Naraku had stolen shards from them several times already; they'd hardly ever managed to get them back. Shippo was still uneasy.
"It's starting to feel like we're just collecting the shards for him," he set his half-eaten fish in his lap. "Every time we get a lot, he swoops in and takes them!"
"Relax, kid," Inuyasha lazily opened his eyes. "We've sliced him to pieces every time we've faced him, he'll die if we do it a few more times."
"B-But what if he comes during the new moon?" Shippo seemed determined to work himself into paranoia. "You won't stand a chance!"
Inuyasha shot him a cold look, scaring the kitsune into quieting down. Kagome had to admit, he was starting to get a little annoying.
"Everything's always worked out before, Shippo," she said. "There's no reason to think that'll change now."
Shippo gulped again.
"As long as you guys think so," his voice shook slightly. He picked up his fish, finishing his meal in silence. Kagome felt bad for lying to him, but there was no point in getting more worried than he already was. She glanced at Inuyasha, who nodded subtly toward the back of the cave. She followed him, keeping his robe tight around her.
"I wish he could go through the well sometimes," he kicked a small rock in frustration. "Kid's been through enough."
"I'm sure he'd get along well with Sota," she smiled, though it quickly faded. "That can't be all you wanted to tell me back here, though."
"It's this whole Naraku thing," he scratched his head, letting his claws slip through his hair. He sighed heavily. "He wouldn't even exist if it weren't for Kikyo."
"I know," the thought had been in the back of her mind lately, too. She smiled sheepishly. "But the jewel was my fault. Remember how mad you were?"
He grinned slightly.
"Yeah, but I'm kind of glad it broke," he took her hand, holding it to his chest. A light blush dusted his cheeks. "I got to stay with you."
She was sure he could hear her heart, pounding through her chest as it was. Her mouth had gone dry as she swallowed.
"Uh, Sango, Miroku and I talked," she started quickly. "We, uh, think it'd be best if you stayed my world during the new moons…a-at least until Naraku's dead."
So much for making it through without stuttering. She looked shyly up at him, seeing his grin widen. He chuckled, running a claw along her cheek. He'd been more affectionate toward her since Kaguya, yet did his best to hide it from their friends. Especially Miroku. He brushed her damp bangs aside, kissing her forehead.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Miroku returned just as they were leaving, with little less than an hour until sunset.
"You sure you'll make it there in time?" Sango asked worriedly. Kilala sat on her shoulder again, Shippo perched on the other side. Already on Inuyasha's back, Kagome nodded.
"We should," she said. "We're not that far from the village."
"But we don't have much time to lose," Inuyasha shifted impatiently. "I told you we should've started earlier, Kagome!"
"Give it a rest," she swatted his shoulder. He'd gotten more and more jumpy as evening approached. "I've got my arrows, we'll be fine!"
He groaned in frustration, barely glancing at Miroku before taking off.
"Bye, you guys!" Kagome called after them. "We'll be back tomorrow!"
Inuyasha leapt into the trees, the pair soon vanishing from sight.
"And like that, they're gone," Miroku stopped beside Sango. She glanced sidelong at him, Shippo hopping down to the grass, still damp from the rain. It had carried on all night and most of the day, the clouds overhead still heavy and dark.
"You really think he'll be safer in Kagome's world?" he asked, looking up at them. Sango nodded.
"She says there aren't any demons there, and Naraku can't travel through the well."
"But Inuyasha says it's still dangerous there," the little fox went on. Despite having been through the most moonless nights out of the four of them, he was still the most nervous when they came up. "W-What if they're attacked? Inuyasha or Kagome might-!"
"Calm down, Shippo," Miroku knelt in front of him, offering a small smile. "Kagome's world is a lot different than ours, I doubt there's anything the two of them can't handle."
Shippo was still a moment before nodding. Seeing he was still near tears, Sango bent down, Kilala jumping to Miroku's shoulder as she picked up the little demon.
"It's okay, Shippo," she murmured soothingly, holding him close. While she couldn't understand his worse-than-usual fear, she couldn't help but feel the slightest bit nervous. It would be Inuyasha's first new moon in that world, after all. "They'll be fine when they come back, you'll see."
Shippo sniffled, rubbing his dry eyes.
"O-Okay…"
Sango laughed softly as, apparently worn by his worrying, he drifted off to sleep against her chest. Miroku couldn't help but smile at the sight, imagining when she'd hold their own child, praying silently it would indeed be part of their future.
"We should get some rest ourselves," he turned back toward the cave, chuckling as Kilala purred against his neck. "We might have a long day ahead of us."
"Right," she followed, still cradling Shippo. His tiny hands had fisted in her kimono, his nose wrinkling cutely. She couldn't believe how natural it felt to hold him like this, to feel the warmth of his small body so close to her heart. Maybe she was more motherly than she gave herself credit for. Blushing lightly as her gaze strayed to the monk, who'd started playing with Kilala by waving a stick for her to swat at, she wondered if she'd ever get the chance to hold her own children.
"Please," she whispered softly. "Please let it happen…"