Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. This Fic was written long long time ago, before the manga finished therefore it does not follow the original events to a T. I'm just uploading it cause it is completed and it seems like a waste to let it sit on my drive forever. I'm slowly cleaning it up spelling and structure wise and using bits of info from the original story now that I know what happens in the end. Hopefully this will tie up the story better. Thanks for reading.
The Space Between You and I,
By Shihori
Chapter One
"Bakuryuuha!" There was a thunder like sound and a new clear spot among the trees right after that yell.
Inuyasha grinned waiting for the dirt cloud to dissipate. He grunted in disappointment and anger as the cloud became less dense, bringing his target into view. "Bastard!" He growled.
He didn't seem quite the same as the last time he had marked him as his prey, the male of the enemy pair thought while carefully watching the dog youkai carefully. The color of his hair and eyes were the same but he seemed older and there were markings on his cheeks and hands, characteristic of a full dog demon.
"I told you Inuyasha, you can't defeat him that easily." The demon lord, Sesshoumaru, said with his usual even tone, holding the Bakusaiga. He looked slightly older than before but then it has been over _ years when he had first decided he would be suitable as well for his plans.
Inuyasha glared at his brother. "If you're not going to tell me how to defeat that bastard then fuck off and stop annoying me." From the corner of his eye he could still see Sesshoumaru's enemy standing. "Besides you're not one to talk. Your prey is still alive."
Sesshoumaru smirked, stepping away. "I have no hurry."
Suddenly, the two enemies flew together at great speed to team up. They sent an energy blast each which combined on its path towards the two inuyoukai. The dog demons thought, being their confident selves, that they could deflect them with their father's fangs. They couldn't have been more mistaken.
The purplish ball of energy caught them, dragging them with it against the thick trunk of a tree. It wasn't a regular tree though. It was the sacred tree where once Inuyashsa had been pinned down to for 50 years. The tree shook with the impact but suffered no harm just like the two youkais.
Sesshoumaru bared his fangs outraged for being hit by what he considered lesser youkais. "I will kill you." He declared getting on his feet. Inuyasha cleared his head as he shook it. Glaring at his enemies he rose to his feet as well.
The two youkai seemed to be twins, one female and the other male. Their hair was long, dark blue, and their eyes were purple, without white. The female wore a red kimono with an oval, big neck which left her shoulder's pale skin on view. On both shoulders she had black, claw-like markings, -two on each side. An iridescent triangular shaped, gem embedded to her cleavage, just above her breasts. The male's robes were blue and yellow with adark green chest armor over it. Unlike his sister, he had black markings on his cheeks. Two slightly curved swords, similar to a sickle, rested at each side of his waist.
"You better give up." The man's voice was smooth and his grin a confidant one. "Two filthy dogs like you can't defeat us."
"Feh! I've only been playing around!" Inuyasha grinned, bearing his fangs. He brought the Tetsusaiga forward once again. "You better be prepared to die."
The effeminate looking youkai spread his lips in a mocking grin. "If I were you, mongrel, I'd say good-bye to this life." He looked at his sister. "Yaune, would you do the honors?"
Yaune nodded, and brought her hand in front of the gem, forming a diamond like shape with them. Her lips began moving as she closed her eyes, -her voice almost inaudible. "Become what you hate most…what you fear the most. I bind your inheritance, your blood."
"What?" Inuyasha shouted and turned to look at Sesshoumaru. "What are those fools doing? Can you hear anything?"
Sesshoumaru didn't reply, staring at the female youkai, his left eyebrow arched. His ears twitching slightly. "It's a curse." He finally informed his younger brother.
Inuyasha gave him an incredulous stare. "A curse?" He smirked. "Nonsense!" He sprinted off the sacred tree's roots towards his target, but a shield created around the tree blocked his path. Once he touched the barrier lighting surrounded him, making him shriek, and then he was sent back again forcefully against the tree.
Sesshoumaru gave a bored sigh staring down at his scorched brother, and shook his head in disapproval. "There was no use on you becoming a full youkai if you're brains are the size of a nut."
Inuyasha sprung to his feet from between the roots where he had landed, and groused at him. "You keep criticizing me but you do nothing but stand there in your stupid lord-like pose!"
The older youkai glowered at the annoying brother he had to deal with. "If you could stop being so rash and analyze your situation before storming to attack your enemy, you would have felt them draining energy from the youkai tree, idiot."
"Huh?" Inuyasha looked up to the huge tree, squinting his eyes at the rays of light coming through its branches. Then he felt it, -a deep, eerie strength emanating from it and forming the barrier around itself, but he could also feel the enemies' youki in it.
"Bid good-bye to the life you once knew, scoundrels." The male youkai snickered, and extended his right arm, gathering some of his energy into a ball, and sent it off towards them.
The energy blast collided and mixed with the barrier, and the ground within the barrier began to shake. Inuyasha leaned on the trunk looking around, not knowing what was happening, while Sesshoumaru kept his balance standing over a risen root and stared at the trunk. 'This can't be good.' Both thought in unison.
"Step away from the tree Inuyasha!" Sesshoumaru ordered as he leaped back, but it was too late for both of them.
A void formed in front of the tree trunk glowing with a blue, semi-transparent light, sucking all that was inside the barrier. Sesshoumaru unsheathed the Bakusaiga and plunged it into the ground to hold on, while Inuyasha did the same with the Tetsusaiga but on one of the tree's roots. As a reaction to the pain inflicted on it, the tree's sucking force became stronger. Not being able to hold on for longer, both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were wrapped in the powerful winds coming from the void as it sucked them in. Once its preys were absorbed, the void closed.
The male youkai turned to his sister, looking into the gem. "You got them?" Yaune didn't answer but she waved her right hand over the gem which turned the color of blood and it seemed as if it flowed inside it. He just grinned maliciously watching it turn back to green. "Well done." He ran his fingers through her hair and she just stared at him blankly. "Well done."
The skies were tinted in soft blue, purple, and orange shades as nightfall became closer. Kagome climbed the stone stairs that leaded to the Higurashi-jija where her home rested. She had trimmed her hair which bounced on her shoulders with each step, and her face and body had developed, giving her a more mature appearance. She dressed the same white and green school uniform, but today had been the last day. In her hand she carried a decorated paper bag with small presents and a rolled paper, -her diploma. It had been two years since her quest for the Shikon no kakera had finished. Naraku had been defeated and Inuyasha had taken his decision, which she didn't totally agree with but accepted it nevertheless. Then she had returned to her time, to recover her life, and had never been able to go back through the Bone eater's well again.
She noticed her family, -Mama, Souta, and Grandpa, were gathered around something in front of the Goshinboku, the sacred tree where once Inuyasha was sealed. Walking towards them, she smiled brightly knowing she'd be congratulated the moment they saw her. "I'm back everyone!" She announced with great joy in her voice.
They all turned to her and her mother was the first one to congratulate her. "My baby! She has finally graduated from high school!" She hugged her tightly and kissed her head. "I'm so proud of you Kagome!"
"Than you mama!" Kagome's smile couldn't be brighter at that moment, but the minute her eyes set on what they had been staring at, her smile grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared. "Inuyasha…"
"Told you it was Inuyasha no oniichan!" Souta exclaimed looking at his grandfather.
"But he didn't use to have those markings on his face." Grandpa muttered, keeping his hands behind his back.
Kagome dropped her bag, and rushed to his side. "Inuyasha…" She muttered softly, patting his cheek. "Inuyasha!"
"There is another one too." Souta informed her as he pointed farther from where they were standing at.
Kagome couldn't see his face, but she'd recognize those robes anywhere. "Sesshoumaru." She looked down at Inuyasha. "Souta, hurry, bring some water."
Souta obeyed and ran to get what he was asked for. Soon he was back with a bucket. Kagome stepped away and Souta poured the water on Inuyasha's face from a safe distance.
"Argh!" Inuyasha shrieked, jerking up and immediately into battle stance. "What the hell!" He then saw her, his face muscles relaxing but his eyes wide open in surprise. "Ka-Kagome?"
Kagome didn't know if to cry or laugh, -to feel happy or sad for seeing him again. It had taken her long to live with the idea that she wouldn't see him again, much less be with him. And now he was here, standing in front of her , a full youkai but possessing the same immature aura about him. "Inuyasha!" She exclaimed, tears gathering in her eyes as she ran to him and hugged him. "This must be a dream!" She whispered at his ear.
Inuyasha seemed as bewildered as her, but still returned the warm hug. "It has been too long Kagome." He muttered, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
"Ahem!" Mama feigned to clear her throat, startling them. They let go of each other with a light shade of red on their cheeks.
"How did you get here Inuyasha?" Kagome asked looking very excited but confused at the same time. "Akiko sealed the well after I returned. How did you break through it?"
"I didn't. I was-" He began, but then he was cut off by his sibling.
"So this is your woman's time." Sesshoumaru muttered, some interest hinted on his tone. He then glared at Inuyasha. "Couldn't you have been more stupid?"
"What the heck are you talking about?" Inuyasha growled, glaring at the cool looking inuyoukai. "You're the one who didn't finish off that bitch!"
Sesshoumaru stared directly into Inuyasha's eyes, not looking angry at all anymore. "What do you do when someone hurts you? Like plunging a sword into your ribs?"
"I kill the bastard." Inuyasha grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. "But that hasn't happened in long time."
Sesshoumaru smirked, "Your ego is bigger than your stupidity." That earned him another glare and grunt. "Didn't you hear when I said that the tree was a youkai?"
Inuyasha thought about it for a while and then nodded. "Yeah. So what?"
Sesshoumaru would have killed the dog and put him out of his misery if he hadn't grown used to density of Inuyasha's mind. "So you hurt a powerful tree youkai provoking its anger, which helped out those bastards plans!" He growled the last three words, and then recovered his cool stance. "In other words, you got us here with the help of your lack of common sense."
"That's enough!" Inuyasha snarled at him, bringing the Tetsusaiga out of its sheath but it remained in its rusted form.
Kagome had run in between them, hoping to stop them from fighting there, but she was totally taken by surprise when the Tetsusaiga didn't transform. "What happened?"
"I don't know." Inuyasha frowned, looking closer at the Tetsusaiga. "This hadn't happened before."
"Become what you hate most…what you fear the most. I bind your inheritance, your blood." Sesshoumaru looked down at his hand frowning. 'That bitch…'
Dante reached the top of the stone stairs and made faces at the baby in her arms who giggled amused at the little flying trip. "Want do it again?" She asked grinning at the baby, boy who clapped with his little hands and laughed. "Down we go then!" She floated back down and met Akiko who carried the baby's bag. "Look at mommy!"
Akiko smiled at them and watched them reach the end of the stairs, then come back "Dante, take Kenmaru inside. He'll catch a cold, and you'll kill anyone of a heart attack if you're seen."
"Yes ma'am!" Dante chirped as she floated away from the stairs. "Your mommy doesn't know what real fun is!" She chuckled at the baby's wide and bright eyes. "You're so cute!" She hugged him tighter and nuzzled his cheek making him giggle even more.
Akiko took her time climbing the stairs. She was taking extra care of the dress she was wearing. There were moments where she wished to switch places with the youkai spirit and float merrily around. Tonight she had been very careful with her appearance. After many months of dieting and exercising to lose the weight she had put during pregnancy, she had recovered her slim figure.
Tonight she had donned a dress designed by her, a two piece dress composed by a long, shiny black skirt with a slit all the way up which ended only 10 fingers before her hip and a dark forest-green colored silk, bodice with a light stripe – dark stripe pattern. A black pearl choker circled her thin neck, and on her ears were matching, three pearl earrings. Over her outfit she wore a coat due to the cold weather. It wasn't her most creative design, but she had a special sentiment over it since it was one of her first designs. Her long tresses were styled in a crown of loops, with several locks curled up and dangling down. Her make up was natural except for her lips which were a dark shade of red, allowing her eyes and lips to stand out on her creamy, porcelain like face. She felt like a queen and tonight she had dressed to kill and wished to attract everyone's eyes on her. She was a very spoiled young woman, conscious of her beauty and always wanting to exploit it one way or another. If she didn't like designing so much, she would have tried modeling.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the night air, feeling that tonight would be her lucky night. Tonight she was going to the banquet held for the closing of the Asia-Pacific Fashion week, and she was part of the honor guests, together with Zan. At the age of 24 she was at her career's peak in Asia and there was still a long path to walk. The next territory to conquer: Paris.
Akiko had so many things in her mind as she walked, and all of them were making her smile brightly. She had a son, a family that supported her, Dante who was like a friend and a sort of mother to her, and Zan, her friend and business partner. The young designer, - a miko as occasional profession, couldn't ask for more of life, at the moment.
She came to a halt, suddenly feeling her senses overwhelmed with negative waves. Her eyes searched for the source as well as her spirit, and they set over the Goshinboku. A frown settled over her features as she couldn't understand the disturbance on the sacred tree's aura. She shook it out of her mind and continued walking not having time to deal with that now. Tonight was her night and nothing would keep her from being a queen for a night.
Stepping out of green stilettos, she slipped into her white house slippers and slipped out of the coat which she hung on the rack close to the entrance. She frowned, caressing the small of her back. –Why is it itching? Never has. "Why is everything so silent in here?" She asked as she walked towards the living room's entrance.
"Akiko!" Kagome stepped out of the living room, smiling nervously, sliding the door closed behind her. "You-you look like a movie star!"
Akiko smiled at her and turned around showing out her dress to her sister. "You like it? It's the first design I did and threw away, with a few changes of course."
Kagome nodded, sweat on her brow. "It is lovely."
Akiko smiled brightly, straightening the skirt a little with her hands. "So where are Dante and my son?" She stepped towards the living room but Kagome raised her hands in front of her and blocked her way. "What is it Kagome?" Akiko looked at her curiously, sensing some disturbance on her aura. "You're nervous. Did Dante do something?"
"Sit down damn it!" Dante yelled from inside. "Can't you be considerate for once in your life?"
"Dante, what is going on?" Akiko asked, raising her voice a little and tried to go in again but Kagome pushed her back gently. The older woman looked hard at her. "Let me go in Kagome."
Kagome stammered nervously looking back and forth between the door and Akiko. "I'm sorry Akiko. I-"
Before Kagome could say any more the door slid open. Akiko's eyes grew wide and instinctively stepped back. A wide mix of emotions surged and nestled in her chest. She wished that in cases like this there was a rewind button attached to her. This had to be a bad dream.
"Floating through the door!" Dante announced as she went through the closed, living room door. The baby shrieked with excitement, never getting tired of that. Her eyes were set on the baby's happy face still as she said. "Say good evening family! Your little prince is here!"
"Give him to me!" Souta hurried to her extending his arms to grab the baby. Dante didn't hesitate and handed him over. "Come play with uncle Souta!" He exclaimed as he carried the baby out of the living room.
Dante looked after them as they walked up the stairs. "Isn't he the cutest thing ever!" She exclaimed as she turned around, but her smile vanished the minute she saw a certain youkai who she happened to loath, standing at the door that lead to the patio with wide eyes staring the way Souta had left with the child. "Sesshoumaru…" She whispered, thinking that if she had a heart she would have had a heart attack by now. "What-why-how?"
"Answer me Umade..." Sesshoumaru's eyes set on her with a serious stare. "That is my-"
"Of course!" Dante roared at him with a angry look. "Do you forget Akiko is human? Tonight is new moon, so he is in human form."
"He's grown quite a bit. Last I saw him he looked like a prune." Inuyasha commented, sitting at a corner of the room behind Grandpa, playing with the fat cat.
"You too?" Dante blinked, looking confused. "The well was sealed. There is no way anyone from there could come here."
"We didn't come through the well." Inuyasha's brows knitted together. "Some bastards sent us through the Goshinboku."
Dante didn't understand what he was saying since she had no idea that was possible. "Whatever." She turned to face Sesshoumaru but the youkai was already heading for the door so she blocked his path. "Where do you think you're going?"
"That is none of your business." Sesshoumaru gave her a hard stare. He wanted to go after the boy who had taken his son away. The son he had never got to meet but hadn't stopped thinking of at all.
"It is my business cause-" Dante shut her mouth the moment she heard the front door open, and slid the living room's closed. Then she whispered. "She'll be furious if you ruin this important night for her and even more if you touch her son!" She saw Kagome run behind her and leave the room. –This can't be happening! What are we going to do when Zan arrives?
Akiko's eyes widened even more, realizing that Dante had reached the house first with her son. "Dante where is he?" She called out looking at the door.
Dante peered out, looking exactly as she did except for the eyes. "Upstairs with Souta."
Sesshoumaru turned around, ignoring them and headed towards the stairs. Akiko hurried past him and stood in front of him blocking the stairs to him. "You're not going anywhere near him." She felt as if her stomach had just transformed into a void, hurting like hell.
"He's my son!" He roared looking straight into her green pools. "Stand aside."
Akiko frowned, not feeling any pain like the last time they had seen each other. –He isn't upset because of the looks of Kenmaru? She had never worried about her son being rejected by his father because she thought they'd never meet. Kenmaru was a hanyou although he didn't have dog ears on his head like Inuyasha but normal ears. "You're going to explain to me first why and how you got here." She gave him a stern look. "You may have done your half of the job on making him, but that doesn't entitle you as his father. I gave birth to him so I say who touches my child or not." She practically snarled at him, but in her mind she couldn't understand why she was acting so protectively of Kenmaru. Deep down in her heart a fear had been borne. –Will he kill him now? Will he kill us now to make up for his mistake from last time?
Sesshoumaru's eyes turned into small, thin slits as he glared at her, truly angry now. She was spoiling this moment for him. Until a few minutes ago he had felt like a fish out of water among Inuyasha's woman and her family, but he had tolerated it knowing that soon he'd see her and their son. That thought was all that kept him from leaving that house and chattering, annoying humans and his idiot brother.
Akiko felt pain creep all over her body like when someone becomes electrocuted for a moment when putting a finger in a outlet, but she held strongly to the stair's arms, keeping her firm stance. –He's pissed off now, but there's not a chance in hell I'm letting him near my baby. Not until I'm sure he won't harm him. She inhaled deeply, bracing herself for the rest of this nightmare.
Author's Note: Chapter 2 coming up soon. :)