Kagome woke slowly, her eyes soft from nearly forgotten memories. Had it really been 10 years since then. She lifted her hand and looked down at the faint scar that marred it. She heard someone across the small hut shift and sat slowly. Her friend and confidant was awakening.
The other girl looked towards her with a sleepy expression. "You're awake early."
Kagome smiled. "Hm." She agreed. "So, did you hear anything while you were out yesterday?"
Sango groaned, pulling the blanket up over her head. "Yes, I heard that it was unhealthy to wake prior to mid-day. And I ran into that stupid Houshi again."
A soft lilting laugh escaped Kagome. "You know he only grabs you so much because he likes you..." She glanced towards the small window and lightly rested a finger against her lips. Nine years ago, when it became evident that the hanyou had been warned of the encroaching danger and fled, her shrine had forced her to leave, and her town had driven her away as well.
That was when she'd wandered upon a village of demon hunters and had been taken in. The chief had a daughter nearly the same age as her, only a year or two older, and they had hit it off quite well.
Every week, the pair would go down to the village nearby and check out the rumors of dangerous demons that were rampaging, and they would immediately use their collective powers to send them back to whence they came. But this morning, Kagome didn't feel like chasing after the pesky little rat demon.
She felt like chasing a dream that she'd thought she'd forgotten.
She had never told anyone why she'd left the shrine. She didn't tell anyone of her banishment. She never spoke of the boy that she'd saved. The boy she had never seen again. Deep down, she suspected that he'd been slaughtered when he had approached another village, but something about the scar made her wonder if perhaps he was still alive.
She noticed Sango staring at her and realized the demon hunter had spoken. "Sorry, what?"
"You seem rather melancholy today. Are you okay?"
Kagome merely smiled. "Just memories." She said softly, standing and straightening her kimono. She glanced towards her friend and smiled a bit. "Let's go find that rat, now shall we?"
Sango grinned, standing and picking up Hiraikotsu, her huge boomerang. "Yeah, before Miroku-sama makes off with our profit."
Recently, every village they visited, the priest had shown up, and until recently, Kagome had suspected that it was just coincidence. Now Kagome knew better. She'd seen the priest constantly hounding after Sango, so he was either suicidal, or he was desperately in love with her friend and going about it all wrong.
They headed out that morning and Kagome waved at several of the villagers, whom she'd befriended, seeing Hojou-kun, a boy who'd been mooning after her along with his twin brother, Akitoki. She'd been gently turning down their requests to dine with their family, inspite of the fact that she didn't really have any other prospects.
Sango caught her eye and grinned. "So are you EVER going to take those poor boys up on their offers?"
Kagome smiled slightly. "I can't." She glanced away and then her eyes widened. Her dreams must be messing with her mind, but she could have sworn she saw a flash of red and silver.
Sango saw the shocked look on her friends face and shrugged, pointing to the forest. "It's supposed to be holed up there somewhere. Let's go hunting."
Kagome smiled, her hand tightening on her bow and arrows. "Yeah, lets..."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Miroku looked up as his friend approached and smiled amiably. "Ah, Inuyasha. How are you today?"
"My fucking hand itches, my head hurts, and I couldn't sleep."
"Ah, so not good? I can dispatch this rat demon myself, if I need to..."
Inuyasha glared at the purple-eyed priest. "You're just wanting an excuse to feel up that taijiya again, you perv."
"Well, I must say, she and her friend are quite lovely." Miroku saw the arched eyebrow and shrugged, thumbing the forest. "The villagers said that it's somewhere in there. Shall we?"
"Yeah, whatever, bouzu." Inuyasha complained, walking into the trees.
Miroku followed shortly afterwards.
Inuyasha didn't mention why he couldn't sleep, but he was lost in memories that he had surpressed for years. Almost eight years ago, he'd gone back to that village, older, wiser, and stronger.
The elder priestess had told him that Kikyou, the head-priestess had sent the girl packing almost a year ago and he had felt guilt overwhelm him yet again. It was then that he realized that he would never see the young priestess again. So he'd left, meanwhile, leaving a destructive path in his wake.
Less than a year later, he'd wandered upon a shrine and a boy several years older than him. His name was Miroku.
They didn't get along great all the time and Miroku had a knack for pissing the hanyou off, but they were also very good friends. Miroku was the third human who'd treated him like he wasn't the shit on the bottom of their shoe. The first was his mother, and the second, he would never see again.
He heard a scuffle ahead and drew his sword, watching as it became a majestic fang and ran towards the clearing. He heard Miroku's staff jingle as he followed after him.
They arrived just in time to see the taijiya dispatch the rat with frightening ease. The hanyou paused. His hand was burning now. He glanced down at it and saw a faint pink line forming. He frowned and glanced towards the priest, who was heading towards Sango, his hands springing eagerly.
Inuyasha watched his friend approach the demon slayer and his hand moved forward, effortlessly cupping her rear. The hanyou put his head in his hand.
Sango let out an animal shriek, and began pummeling him into the ground. Inuyasha stepped forward, dragging the girl off him and he was startled when she drew her sword slashing him across the chest.
"Hey!" He objected, staring at her in shock.
"Keep your filthy hands off me, Hanyou!"
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. "Then keep your hands off my friend, Taijiya..." He snarled, circling her like a predator. He watched as she lunged towards him and moved smoothly out of the way, knocking the sword from her grasp. He grasped her wrist and was about to knock her unconscious when his hand began to burn worse and an arrow just missed his ear.
He lifted his gaze, seeing a girl there, wearing a red and white priestess garb, her hair falling loose around her shoulders, her blue eyes shining with anger. Shock grabbed him. No. It wasn't possible.
Kagome felt her anger dissipate as she locked gazes with the demon that held her friend. It wasn't possible. It just wasn't possible. It couldn't possibly be him.
Sango jerked free of his grasp and realized that time seemed to have stopped. Even the monk seemed to have realized it. Without a word, she locked gazes with the hanyou and glared at him. "This kill is ours..." She said evenly, then walked towards Kagome, catching her friend by the wrist and dragging the startled girl back towards the village.
Inuyasha didn't move to follow. It was her. The scent wasn't lying. That woman that had stood across the clearing was her. He felt Miroku dragging him towards the village in a different direction and didn't understand why when he'd lost sight of her, his hand began burning once again.
Once they were back in the safety of the village shrine, he was cornered by Miroku, who gave him an interesting look. It was the look that said the priest was about to start asking questions.
"Who is she?"
Inuyasha looked away, his heart beating hard in his chest. Without a word, he shrugged. He wasn't sure he was capable of speech at the moment.
Miroku sighed, staring at his friend. He could see his friend was visibly shaken from seeing the girl. He was willing to sacrifice the kill as long as he found out why Inuyasha looked so startled to see that girl. He sat, leaning against the wall. "Someone from your past? Someone who's hunted you?"
Inuyasha shook his head, sliding to the ground from shock. "No...nothing like that..." He rubbed his hand, realizing he was touching the spot he'd used his claw to slice his hand open. It was itching like crazy again, and it seemed to burn from beneath the skin. "I met her once a long time ago, that's it."
Miroku frowned. It wasn't someone who'd hunted him, but it was someone he met a long time ago. The girl was a priestess, or had priestess power, that much was obvious. Priestesses were supposed to kill demons. Priests had a bit more flexibility in the matter. Miroku dispatched demons that were causing harm to other humans. Priestesses were trained from birth that all demon's were evil. "Was she the apprentice of someone who hunted you?"
Inuyahsa wordlessly shook his head. "It's a long story, bouzu. I don't want to talk about it. It was 10 years ago, and she's probably forgotten all about it..." He snarled. "Hell, I had forgotten all about it." He stood abruptly and began to walk to his room.
Once he was hidden away inside, he leaned back against the wall and rested his head back against it. Oh, he'd tried to forget. Yet those blue eyes were something that had always hung at the back of his mind. He would find himself checking the eyes, the scent of every woman they came across, checking to see if it were her. If she was still alive.
He had assumed she'd died out there on her own.
Now he knew the truth. If she was with Sango, she was a taijiya as well. Now she was a danger to him. He would have to stay far away from her now.
He closed his eyes and buried his face into his arms.
Right now, however, staying away was the last thing he wanted to do.
He sat there for several minutes, when his hand nagged him again. He glanced down at it and saw that the pink line was now darker and seemed to be bubbled up. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back to the wall once again. "Kagome..." He said softly.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Meanwhile, Kagome was laying on a straw palette in the hut, staring at the wall, ignoring Sango's insistent questions. She took a steadying breath and traced her finger lightly over the small scar. It felt exceptionally tender. It looked rather pink and swollen as well. She closed her eyes, feeling as if her blood were reacting to the nearness of the hanyou she'd saved ten years ago. It had been so long.
She could still remember the shock on his face in the forest. His golden eyes hadn't changed a bit, and he still wore that dark red color, which created great contrast against his silver hair. He wasn't a pale, gangly teen anymore, however. He was a man now, looking about twenty, and lean and tall. Yet, he was still as beautiful as she remembered.
She closed her eyes, pulling her pillow to her chest. She closed her eyes and feigned sleep.
Several hours later, the fire was put out and she heard Sango move towards her bed as well. She waited, and then heard the hunters breaths slow to a steady pace. Taking a deep breath, she scooted off her palette and walked towards the forest. She reached a small stream that had a stone bridge and stood on it, staring up at the full moon. She rested her hand over her heart, her face saddening.
"At least he's alive..." She said softly and smiled. She felt the scar burning and blinked, looking down at her hand. "Ite..." Just then, she sensed youki and turned, finding herself staring into beautiful golden eyes. She sucked in a sharp breath and took a step backwards.
He approached her slowly, till he stood on the bridge beside her. He rested his forearms on the stones and stared down into the water. Slowly, Kagome relaxed, taking the same pose as him, her back to him.
"I thought you were dead."
The sound of his voice startled her. She blinked, but didn't look back. A small smile turned up the corners of her lips. "Why would you think that?" She laughed softly. She shook her head. "You probably thought I was still at the shrine I was raised at..."
"No." He said softly, his eyes hardening. "I went back there...you were gone. I came to fulfill my promise of protection." He turned towards her, his face hard. "I thought I had failed you!"
She lowered her head to the stone railing. She didn't speak. She didn't know what to say. After a moment, she turned towards him, finding him staring at the stone walkway. "Inuyasha-"
"And yet, here you are...working with the demon hunters to kill demons...I thought you were one of the good guys back then...I guess I was just a special case because I was a child as-"
Kagome lightly laid a finger against his lips. "I was taken in by them after I was cast out of the shrine. Sango and I do not kill youkai senselessly. We only destroy those which are destructive."
Inuyasha swatted her hand away. "You are a danger to me." He snarled softly.
Kagome felt hurt fill her. She closed her eyes and turned away from him. "If that's the way you feel, then go, Inuyasha. If you truly think that the Taijiya rule me and the way I live my life, then leave. If you think that just because they took me in, I am suddenly a monster, then-"
He grabbed her wrist, spinning her towards him. "Look, bitch, I thank you for saving me when we were both brats, but it's over, now. Just let the whole fucking bullshit promise go."
"I wasn't the one who brought up the promise." She said softly, her face saddening. "You needn't worry. I have no intention of holding you to it...We were just children when it was made...I shouldn't be surprised that our age and time...have changed us." She walked past him, back the way she'd come.
Inuyasha let her go. He closed his eyes, taking a steadying breath. It was better this way. Now, she couldn't hurt him. He headed back towards the village as well.
After a moment, he frowned. Something was bugging him. He could smell Kagome, and rats as well. Moments later, that little annoying mark began to burn like someone had just doused it with sake and lit it aflame. He clutched his hand and he dropped into a protective ball around it. 'What the hell!'
Then, it hit him. While it was easy to burn the bridge between them, it wasn't so easy to forget the promise he'd sealed with blood and with a kiss. A growl erupted from him and he ran in the direction Kagome had gone. Moments later, he caught the scent of her blood and then burst into the clearing, finding a large rat demon perched over her. Kagome had a long claw mark along her chest and she was laying unconscious on the ground.
He snarled softly, dropping low and sprinting towards the demon. He flexed his claws, tearing the beasts head clean off it's shoulders. The demon fell away from the girl and he wiped his hands off on his pants before gently lifting her into his arms. To his shock, the scar stopped burning altogether. He closed his eyes, taking a steadying breath and buried his nose into the girl's hair.
"Damn you, woman..." He murmured softly, pressing his lips against her hair.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sango sat abruptly when someone staggered into the hut. She grabbed her sword and would have attacked, but the sword was easily knocked from her grasp. Her eyes adjusted and she realized that Inuyasha was standing there, holding a red and white bundle in his arms.
"KAGOME!" She cried, running towards the girl, pulling her from the hanyou's grasp. She glared at him. "What did you do to her!"
He shook his head. "I didn't do anything. The rat demon you flayed today? It's mate wanted revenge and attacked her..." He turned towards the door, and was almost out, when the girl addressed him.
"Inuyasha..."
He paused, his hands fisted so tight, he could feel his own blood trickling down his claws. "What?"
"Thank you for saving her..."
He snorted, then pushed the entrance to the hut out of his way, heading back to the shrine where Miroku was no doubt waiting for him. He took a steadying breath and closed his eyes as he walked up the stairs. Upon reaching the top, he found several villagers with sickles in their hands, others with large machete, and a few guards with swords. He slipped amongst the bushes, finding Miroku standing there, listening to them speak.
"What do you mean Inuyasha is a danger? He's protected your village for many moons now and you would have me force him out!" Miroku's face was dark with anger.
"He's a demon!"
"Evil!"
"He has no soul!"
Miroku caught the hanyou's gaze for a moment and he frowned slightly. "If Inuyasha leaves, I too shall go."
Inuyasha's eyes widened in shock.
"You hear that, Inuyasha?" Miroku looked directly at him. "We set out tomorrow. We'll find some place else that needs our protection-"
Inuyasha stepped from the bushes and watched as the group of humans miraculously parted, allowing for him to enter. "Whatever, bouzu. But make it after mid day. I have something I need to attend to in the morning..." He paused, turning towards the villagers. "You all make me sick." He said evenly. "I shouldn't have killed the rat demon's mate, but since it was trying to kill someone, I figured I should probably take care of it before it slaughtered every last thing with human blood in this crappy little human dwelling..." With that, he turned on the ball of his foot and disappeared into the shrine.
Miroku followed. "Who was it attacking?"
Inuyasha glanced away. "It nearly killed your Taijiya's friend." He said evenly. He heard Miroku's steps falter, then the monk was racing to catch him. He sighed softly. He'd hoped Miroku wouldn't press this issue tonight.
"Where is she now!"
"I took her back to their hut." He neglected to mention he carried her unconscious ass the whole way there.
"Is she okay?"
Inuyasha turned towards him, his temper obviously shortening rapidly. "She'll live. She's gonna have some nasty scars, though."
Miroku took a deep breath. "How did you know it had a mate? There were no rumors about it-"
"I didn't."
"Then how did you know-"
"I didn't."
Miroku stared at his friend. "Inuyasha..."
"I went out for a walk and smelled blood. That's all." The hanyou turned away from his friend and headed towards his room. "You should go rest. We don't know when we'll find a village willing to allow a renegade priest and a worthless hanyou into it."
Miroku bowed politely and went off to his room. If Inuyasha thought this was over, he had another thing coming. Tomorrow, he would get down to the bottom of this whole situation. Even if he had to go grill Sango and her friend to do so.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Inuyasha woke early the next morning, but lay still on his futon for a long time. Finally, he searched himself for the will to move and remembered that Kagome was still probably lying on that crappy straw mat in that lousy excuse for a hut. He sighed, and got up, preparing to go check and make sure she was alright a final time before disappearing out of her life forever.
When he opened the door to his room, he was startled to find Miroku already there waiting for him.
"Ready?" The priest said amiably. In fact, he sounded so cheerful, Inuyasha knew he was plotting something.
"For what?" Inuyasha asked.
"To go visit the taijiya and her friend. I assumed that was your plan since you didn't want to leave until this afternoon..." Miroku smiled seeing the startled look on his friends face. "Come on, let's go."
Inuyasha opened his mouth to object, but nothing came out, so he simply aloud the priest to drag him from the shrine and down the many stairs. "Miroku, I think I'll wait outside..." He said softly, glancing away. The scar was burning again.
"Don't be ridiculous! I mean, Sango should be greatful you saved her young friends life. How old was her friend did you say?"
"Eighteen." It slipped from his lips before he realized he'd landed face first into one of Miroku's special 'traps'. "Hey!" He growled at his friend, who simply chuckled. "Don't use those fucking things on me, Bouzu, you know I hate that shit!"
He was startled when the hut in front of them opened and he saw a tired looking Sango there, face pale and exhausted. His mouth shut quickly and he took a slow breath.
Fortunately, Miroku spoke for him. "We have to leave the village today, but we wished to come see how your friend was prior to leaving, Taijiya-sama." Inuyasha looked towards the normally rather crass, crude priest, shocked at his formal speech. He was even more shocked when Sango held the cover aside for them to enter.
Once they were inside, Sango sat down. "The bleeding stopped, but she got a fever early this morning, and it hasn't gone away. I'm afraid this is outside the limits of my expertise." She sighed, shaking her head. "If I can't get her to a doctor, she's going to die."
Inuyasha froze, his eyes widening. "Die...?" He echoed softly. Was this how he repaid her? She had protected him when he was a boy, and now that he was stronger, older, 'wiser', he had told her to forget the promise and as a result, she could die.
Miroku watched his friend beat himself up about it, then stepped in. "Well, it seems that the village has tired of Inuyasha and I's prescence. If you wish, we could take her to a doctor in another village."
The hanyou glanced from his friend to the girl on the straw mat.
Sango snorted. "Like I trust a lech and a hanyou with her!"
Inuyasha finally spoke up. "Then you come as well, as an escort." He said evenly. "You can make sure that neither of us do anything that would be considered inappropriate to her, and she would be in a big enough group to be well protected, and since I am a Hanyou, I can piggy back her about 10 ri, probably."
Sango opened her mouth about to object, but the boy made a valid point. There was safety in numbers, and as long as she was there, she could make sure they didn't try to hurt her friend. "Allow me to discuss this with Kagome when she wakes."
Both nodded, then Inuyasha slowly sat down, his legs and arms crossed. He glanced towards the priest, who was wearing a slight smile. "What the hell's so fucking funny, bouzu?"
Miroku sat, shrugging. "I was just thinking...normally you don't want excess company...yet you suggested carrying the lady Kagome yourself, and offered her friend the opportunity to tag along..."
He scoffed, glancing away. "Look, it's partially my fault she's hurt, so shut up..." He glanced away. "Besides, I made a promise a long time ago, and I should fucking keep it, even if she is a bitch..."
That one confused Miroku. "What?"
Inuyasha glared at her. "It was 10 years ago, bouzu, don't push it."
Sango turned towards him confused. "You know Kagome-chan?"
Inuyasha flinched. He'd forgotten she was in the room. "She helped me out of a spot of trouble ten years ago. In return, I offered to protect her, should she need it. End of story." He looked away, taking a deep breath. He growled, and stood. "I'm fucking going to take a walk-"
He was interrupted by a soft moan from the straw palette. The hanyou's words stuck in his throat and he looked towards it, finding the girl stirring. Then, a moment later, blue eyes opened to the world.
"Where?" Kagome asked softly, then, her eyes landed on Sango. "Sango-chan..." She smiled. "Then I made it back alright? I thought I was a gonner when that rat youkai attacked me..." Her smile slowly faded as she realized they weren't alone in the hut. In fact, a set of violet and a set of gold eyes were staring at her. The gold ones were the ones that held her gaze, however. They seemed conflicted, nervous.
"These two have offered us passage to another village, to find a doctor." Sango said evenly. "They're supposed to be out of town by this afternoon."
"Sango, I'm fine..." She said softly.
"Bullshit." The hanyou said evenly.
She glared at him, then looked at the blanket covering herself. "I don't need a doctor, I'm feeling fine-"
"You fucking have a temperature, bitch. Don't fucking argue. Just come with us to the next town."
She glared at him. "What do you care!" She snapped. "I'm not a child, Inuyasha."
The corner of his mouth twitched and he caught the rather sukebe comment before it ever left his mouth. A moment later, he sighed, shrugging. "We'll be going, then. I'd rather not have to fight a crap load of villagers just because they don't like my ears."
"Wait!" Sango squeezed Kagome's arm gently. "Kagome-chan, you're my best friend. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Let's just take them up on their offer...it's just as far as the next town...then we can go back to the taijiya village..."
Kagome scowled slightly, then nodded. "Fine."
Inuyasha breathed a mild sigh of relief and crouched with his back to Kagome. "Get on, wench." He grumbled, glancing away from the others. He felt her arms go around his neck and almost instantly, the burning along his scar ceased. He stood, and glanced at the others. "Let's get the hell out of here." He muttered, walking towards the door. He stopped, feeling the other two bounce lightly off his back. He kept a neutral expression. The villagers were there, their faces threatening, all of them holding weapons.
Kagome lifted her gaze and saw the villagers were waiting outside. She frowned, seeing their focus on Inuyasha.
"I thought we told you to get the hell out of our town, Hanyou!" One man snarled.
Inuyasha's face twitched a bit.
"Put me down, Inuyasha." Kagome said softly.
He glanced back at her, his face expressionless. He sighed, setting her down on the ground and let her step in front of him.
There was a grim chuckle from her. "You three might want to cover your eyes too." She said softly. So softly, that only Inuyasha heard her. He barely had time to relay the message and shield his eyes, when pink light suddenly exploded in the area, blinding everyone that was staring at her.
When Inuyasha lowered his hand, Kagome was wobbling slightly and she fell slowly backwards, into his arms. He scooped her up and pointed towards the edge of town, implying that he was heading that way, then made a mad dash, hearing the other's following slightly behind him.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
AN: Well, that's all for this chapter...Some people are probably upset that Inuyasha acted like such a jerk, and of course, for no real reason. But if Inuyasha wasn't an immature jerk, it just wouldn't be Inuyasha. Anyways, thanks for the support! Remember, Reviews are what keep a story going...and my muse active.
Oh, by the way...
Chibi Super Pan: Thanks, I'm glad
Silver-WindScar: Thanks!
Frozen Miko: Yes, at the beginning, they're five years apart. Thank you for the compliment and support.