Fate
Warning: This Inuyasha fan fiction happens in an alternate universe. I do not own Inuyasha. If I ever did, they would be in a much bizarre situation.
Summary: It has been a year since Kagome and Ino-kun met. They thought everything is going to be all right, since the Shikon is useless to them and Naraku is now out of their lives. They never thought that life would only become much crazier than it was the year before. Will Fate separate what Destiny had set together? The second part the two part fan fiction: Amai Yume, This is Fate...
This one is for all those who are waiting the fulfillment of promises.
Prologue: Anniversary
Fate.
It must have been Fate that brought them together.
He never thought he would be happier with this sudden U-turn of his Life.
He knows that now, he can start anew...
Being the human he really wished he were...
Being Inori Yamamoto...
Ino-kun sighed.
It was then that he noticed that he was already before Kagome's room. Knowing that she was studying for the next day's math exam, he tried to keep as quiet as possible while walking to his room. (Ino-kun had earned the Higurashi's trust and his own room as well. It was a room after Shouta's and he was so glad he finally would not be bothered by her grandfather's snores.)
He saw her door was ajar.
He came forward to close it when he noticed her fragile body slumped before her study table and on the math formulas she kept on trying to figure out. Without a sound, he widened the gap and went in. He towered over her only to find her fast asleep. He gave a small smile inside while he carefully lifted her from her chair and gently lowered her on the bed. She grumbled inaudible words as her body made contact with the white mattress. Covering her with a warm blanket and making sure that she was comfortable, he stood up to leave.
He suddenly changed his mind when he caught glimpse of the old abandoned house nearby. He went up to the window and stared at the old house.
It remained as dark and dreary as it had been when he once lived there.
Just like the way his life had been.
His face became serious as he recalled incidents that had happened a year ago.
The Shikon no Tama.
The reason why he was and still here.
He looked at the sleeping creature on the bed. By tomorrow, it would be a year since they first met.
He still did not know what Kagome did with the Shikon. He knows that since they had both used up their one-time wishes, the stone is of no used to them but a mere souvenir of a bizarre event in the past.
Just like the old house.
His attention returned to the aged structure.
The one year that has passed proved that there will be no more of that things to happen.
Now that the Shikon is gone...
And that he had destroyed the only connection he had with his dark past.
(That's why there were broken shards of glass on his room that day that Kagome came over.)
He smiled.
A feeling was growing inside him.
A feeling of satisfaction.
There was no hint of any regret in his heart.
And to think, a girl he once wanted to kill, would be the only thing that took him to change.
Just like what Kikyo did to him back when she was still alive.
He once thought that Kagome was Kikyo that's why he called her so whenever she visits her in her dreams.
Whatever had lead him here would be nothing but his mere Fate.
Tomorrow...
A brand new day...
Their Anniversary...
Nothing like that would ever happen...
And he will make sure that Kagome would be happy forever...
He closed the door and went to sleep...
Somewhere out there, a small speck of light shone.
And that speck would mark of a much bizarre adventure than what they had experienced the year before...
They slept soundly and confident that nothing will ever disturb the calmness they feel now.
They did not know that the door they once opened...
Was never closed...
And Inuyasha's past is coming to catch up after him...
It was already two thirty in the afternoon at Danketsu. At class 4-3, they were having English under their adviser Mr. Calvert.
Kagome looked outside, the anticipation to get home occupied her mind. Inori noticed it and took note in his mind of asking what bothers her after class.
But it wasn't only Inori who noticed her silence.
"Miss Higurashi..." Mr. Calvert called out.
She did not move.
"Miss Higurashi!" he repeated, sternly this time.
Inori detected that she did not hear this and nudged Kagome. In her surprise, she quickly stood and blurted out a formula by accident.
"SIR! I = Prt!"
"That's very good Ms. Higurashi. Unfortunately, Math was thirty minutes ago."
The whole class, save Inori, Mr. Calvert and Kagome, laughed. She became red in embarrassment.
"Class... Be quiet..." Mr. Calvert said firmly to the whole class. They all obeyed in fear of his anger and not a sound was heard.
He then turned back to Kagome. "Are you alright, Ms. Higurashi? It seems that you are not with us today. Do you have any problem you want to share?"
"No, sir." She shook her head. "I'm fine! Really!"
"Then why is it that you don't seem to be with us today? Are you aware that this is already English, Ms. Higurashi."
"Hai."
"Very well then, Ms. Higurashi. You remember that yesterday, I assigned all of you to write a summary of a story which you have written yourself... Don't tell me that that's what's bothering you Ms. Higurashi."
"No, sir."
"So it means you have done your assignment for this class. Then what is it that you were thinking the whole time?"
"... I-I... I don't know how the story ends, Sir..."
"Is that all?"
She nodded.
The teacher's face lightened. "There's nothing to worry about, Ms. Higurashi. This is an English class. All I want you to do now is relate to the class your story. And then, afterwards, we'll all think of a good way to end it. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Mr. Calvert!" the class said in chorus.
"Now let's begin. Ms. Higurashi, What is the title of your story?"
"It's called 'A Promise', sir."
"The setting?"
"Feudal Japan."
The words struck Inori's attention. He then looked at Kagome, wishing well that it wouldn't be about his and Kikyo's story.
"Wow... that time's so far off! I can't believe that you were able to make one in that kind of setting. This is interesting... Continue, Ms. Higurashi... the summary..."
Kagome took a deep breath and tried to relate every last detail of the story to the class...
It happened many years ago in Feudal Japan. Once, there was a little girl, who went with her father on their quest. They were out to find a miraculous fruit that was said to heal any illness. Her mother then was bedridden, and was also pregnant with her little brother. Without the fruit and the delivery was conducted, one of them is bound to die.
After many days of wandering with a few close friends, they came upon a village where the fruit grows abundant. The villagers were friendly, and would be willing to part them at least one fruit. But to their regret, there weren't any of the fruit in their hands. A youkai had come to their village and claimed to destroy their whole village if they do not part to him all of the precious fruit. With no other option at hand, the villagers toiled night and day for the trees to bear good fruits that would satisfy the youkai and save their village from destruction.
Angry at what the youkai had done, her father made a pact with the villagers. He will kill the monster, only if the villagers would agree that he could get a miracle fruit of his choice as payment. Both parties agreed and the pact was settled.
Her father only wanted her safety, so he asked the village monk to take care of her while he was gone. But she would not leave her father's side. That's why they had to slip in an herbal medicine, which causes sleep, in her green tea. The moment that she fell asleep, he bid the village goodbye.
Upon waking up, she quickly noticed her father's presence was gone. Angry at what he had done to her, she rushed out of her room through the balcony door and went running into the dark forest nearby.
With the tears in her eyes, she did not know that she had reached deep into the dense woods. When she got tired from all that running, she stopped, only to realize that she was far from the safety of the temple.
She wandered around slowly, trying to be brave against the shouts of her own heartbeat. She then heard a shrill sound. Though fearful, her curiosity got the most of her. She then ran to the direction of the sound to find out what it was.
In a small clearing, she found a little ball of yellow fur with fierce red eyes and a black diamond shaped tuft on its head. It was the one who was making the shrill sound she heard earlier. It was badly wounded that it can hardly lift its head. The two-tailed fox like creature screeched at something before it, and the little girl moved in a bit closer to see what it was the creature was afraid of...
To her surprise, the biggest wolf she had ever seen in her whole life stood barely a couple of feet away from the small creature. By it's feet lay about five corpses of creatures, that to her, seems to be the wounded animal's family. Anger flared in the young girl's heart and with all her courage, she went into the line of fire.
The wolf was surprised at her sudden appearance and backed off a few steps. She threw at the monster the sticks and stones that were nearby but the wolf only ignored the little pain it gave! He continued to inch closer. Her eyes came wide when she saw the devilish eyes that pored out every inch of courage in her.
The wolf positioned himself into a pounce. The girl screamed as she turned to embrace the wounded creature. She could already imagine his white fangs digging deep into her skin when suddenly, something happened.
A dark shadow loomed over her and protected her from the monster. As if by magic, the stranger only put out his right hand to stop the monster and it disappeared into his hand!
Amazed, she looked up and saw who her hero was.
A little boy, of her same age and height, turned and smiled at her as he gave her his hand. She took it, and he helped her stand. Still staring at his face in disbelief, she did not know whether to ask for his name or to thank him, whichever comes first.
"Are you alright, young lady?" he asked her.
She nodded.
"I don't recognize you. You must be a foreigner. Where do you live? Where is your family?"
At that, all the tears that she had tried to keep back start to burst out, and she cried all over the little boy's dress. Surprised at what had happened, he hugged her tight and let her cry with all her might.
"I'll take you to the nearest temple. Maybe there, they can help you find your family." He assured her while wiping away the tears that had trickled down her cheek. She let out a sob, and finally smiled.
"Arigato, Hoshi-sama!" she told him.
He gave a slight blush. He is not yet in the right age to be called Hoshi, but she called him that, and he felt flattered.
The creature in her arms stirred, and their attention was turned to its wounds. The boy tore off his sleeve and used it to bandage to animal's wound while assuring it to get the best medication as soon as they get back to the temple.
The girl stared at him and felt very happy after the bandaging that she wished that she could do something for him.
Then she remembered the wolf.
"Hoshi..."
"Hmn?"
"Where did the wolf go? He was here a while ago but when you pointed your right hand, he disappeared."
"Not actually. He went into my palm."
"What? Let me see..." she said while trying to grab his right hand.
"No!" he said sternly. "Don't! I don't want you to get sucked in too..."
"Why? What's wrong with your palm?"
He sighed. "It's a curse. My great grandfather has fought one of the fiercest youkais in his time. But the youkai was way too strong. He... put this curse on my family... Every male offspring gets this... an air void we call Kazaana... It will suck anything... It took my great grandfather, my grand father, their families, my family, my own otosan, and soon... it will also take me..."
"But where does it all go?"
"We don't know... so I don't want you to look at my palm, you hear me? ... Let's go... It will be dark soon..."
He then stood and walked away. The girl picked the fuzzy little creature and cradled it in her arms.
"Hoshi! Wait! Stop!"
The boy stopped in his tracks and turned to her.
"Hold her, will you?"
"What are you doing?! ..."
The girl took the long white strip of ribbon she used to tie her hair from the ebony cloak on her head. Taking the right hand, which was crumpled into a fist, she used the ribbon to carefully wrap his whole hand in it. And with the use of the long necklace on her neck, she secured the bandage in place.
"Now you wouldn't have to worry about that Kazaana of yours. A powerful shaman blessed that necklace and it had been with me ever since I was born. It was my mother's charm for good luck. If you believe in it, it will protect you from that curse and keep you from being sucked in. Promise me that you'll remove that only if you need to, okay? ..."
"I promise."
"Good. Now let's go home."
Taking his right hand into her left, she smiled at the little boy. He blushed a little bit once more, then smiled at his newfound friend.
"Arigato, young lady."
They arrived at the temple only to find out that her father has returned. The young Hoshi quickly disappeared out of her sight as soon as the father and daughter met. Yet he watched at her from a distance, wishing that the time of her leaving would never come.
But it did come.
By dawn, the whole village gathered to watch them leave. The little girl searched the crowds for the little boy who saved her life, but he was not found. Saddened at his disappearance, the little girl boarded the cart that the villagers gave them and looked back with lonely eyes to the village where she met a precious friend.
The horse slowly moved and the cart was soon making distance. But as the cart start to pick up speed, a little boy managed to squeeze through the crowd and ran after the cart. The girl's eyes widened and the frown was quickly replaced with a big smile.
"Hoshi!!!!!"
"Young Lady!!!! Catch!!!!!!!!"
Something yellow and furry flew up the sky and landed softly on her lap. It chirped a happy sound as it stared at her with big red eyes. It was the little creature she had rescued yesterday!
"Take care of Kirara for me!!!" the little boy called out. "Ja ne!!!!!!!"
"Arigato Hoshi-sama!!!!!!!!! Ja ne!!!!!!!!!!"
Suddenly in the middle of the story, the school bell rang. Kagome looked up and saw that her classmates were entranced with her story! Even Mr. Calvert seemed to have forgotten his anger earlier!
"Nice story, Ms. Higurashi. I hope it doesn't end there yet. Class Dismissed!!!"
Kagome and Inori walked side by side as they started for home. She was silent, and Inori was determined to break the ice.
"I did not know you are a good writer. That story was nice. I got worried that you would... you know... tell about MY story..."
She smiled. "You really think it was good?"
He nodded. "I was already wondering where you read it... But I guess... you really wrote it after all. Cause if you didn't, you wouldn't be able to relate every minutest detail."
"I didn't."
"What do you mean you didn't?"
"I did not write it. I did not do my homework for English cause I was too busy in studying for Math."
"Then... how?! ..."
She stopped walking and faced Inori. There was worry evident in her eyes.
"...Don't you dare tell me that..."
"Hai... It was my dream last night..."
Inori suddenly shared the same worry that she felt, but the desire to cheer her up surfaced more. "So that's what you were worrying about earlier! ... Feh! ... Your worried about such small things..."
"You were a character of my dreams before you came here, remember?"
He smiled. "And today, it's exactly a year since that day I dropped into your life... You were so worried that you forgot about that! ..."
"Oh yeah! Its already a year since that day! ... I can't believe I forgot about that!"
Silence.
"Come with me." He said, taking her hand.
"Wha-- ... where are we going?"
"I owed you an ice cream last year. Come on... before they take away all the chocolate ice cream you love so much!"
"...Hey! Ino-kun!!!!..."
"Last one to the ice cream parlor doesn't get the cherry!!!"
"...You are so dead Ino-kun!!!!..."
TBC...
Author's note:
I had received an erratum on Destiny from one of my reviewers about Kagome's surname. I later found out that he was right and I took the liberty of changing the surname from Kigurashi to Higurashi.
I'm very sorry about the mistake. I got her full name from and English subtitled VCD of their first movie, Toki o Koeru Omi (the love that transcends time) and it was spelled there as Kigurashi.
Again, sorry for the error. And a lot of my thanks goes to the reviewer, Inu-luver, for his kindness in pointing it out.
Please review.