Chapter 2-Remembrance and Retribution
I do not own Inuyasha and company! Ichiro, Akiyoshi, Rinao and Sanae are mine.
Back in Tokyo, a younger hanyou stared. This odd wagon smelled...like him. It wasn't like the other one he'd been in, Kagome's mother's. It had more pedals and only two could ride in this one. The Station wagon he knew was an automatic, this was a stick. He'd sat quietly while she'd adjusted the mirrors and the driver's seat, but winced away at the music that came out when it started.
"You-don't like it?" Kagome asked, and he shook his head. Funny, really. He loved that stuff now, this was his car and his presets. But then...wait...her train of thought vanished as she now remembered Ichiro.
He'd tutored her, that sweet boy! They'd saved him, blown up the arms cache, and taken him home. That girl who'd hit on Ichiro, and his yelling at Inuyasha, after-after dancing with Ayame in the moonlight. How envious she'd felt in a way, they were so in love...and Inuyasha had tried to kiss her. Yes. She remembered it all as that girl, the fortune teller with the Shard too. Her. She remembered from both sides. Kagome paused as she realized she now remembered what happened in the Inn, up till-until she came back here!
Very freaky. But the rest was hazy now, when she could always remember it before.
Because it was still mutable, maybe?
Kagome shook it off. Something to consider later. They had taken off, and traveled out of the city. Inuyasha looked around avidly, he'd never seen the end of the place. No walls, it just sort of...tapered off. No gates, no guards, no watchtowers to keep an eye out for enemies. Not at all like the larger towns he'd known. She'd stopped for groceries, and he'd been told to stay inside while she fetched food. Hearing Inuyasha's request for ramen-she just smiled.
"We need something more substantial," she told him fondly, and he hunched into the seat, grumbling about her refusal and the general unfairness of it all.
But they soon arrived at a street lined by large, tidy homes with walls and fences around them. He wasn't sure about this place, trying to work things out from his perspective as she pulled into the driveway of a house. One with wards on it, he could smell the power invested there. The house had two stories, it looked alright. Another of the metal wagons like this one was parked already-did they each have their own? Kagome's family shared one such wagon. He...must provide well for her if they had their own eh-'cars' and a good house. This wasn't surprising, Inuyasha had just recently been thinking he'd have to do so.
A garden too, with...hm. Most of the flowers he didn't know, but they had very little scent. To him it smelled very nice, sweet and pleasant, not overpowering as strong flowers could be. Inuyasha smelled herbs being grown in the back as well by the Priestess. Kagome got out with the groceries and asked him to get the packs when she opened the trunk. He did, and she unlocked the front door to let them inside.
"Wipe your feet. You can take off the charm too, no one will see you. Just push the red button on it," she ordered, and he did, sniffing madly as he saw...men's shoes in the cupboard with ones that had to be hers. Ones that also-smelled like him. Inuyasha made a face, he hated shoes.
He'd never been here! Yet, his scent was all over the place inside. Inuyasha followed as she headed into the kitchen and began bustling, putting on an apron and getting to work making supper as she tied her sleeves up. He took a seat at the kitchen table and watched, admitting privately to himself that he was hungry. But his stomach rumbled and the hanyou looked embarrassed.
"Tea?" A nod-and the kettle was started.
"Hm...you know, you probably haven't eaten a lot lately except fish. Maybe-a snack before we eat?" Kagome had cooked for hanyou for centuries after all, they ate a lot and she knew it. Plus, it was a sure fire way to keep him occupied. She grinned and opened a cupboard that made his eyes widen at the treasures within. Shelves of cups and bags and boxes...ninja food!! Piles of it!
"Which kind of ramen? You know how to use the kettle, right? You can have as much of this stuff as you like while you're here, Inuyasha. Whenever you're hungry, feel free," she offered. He rose and eagerly looked through them all, and selected a kind he hadn't tried yet. Plus a bag of the potatos he liked too...there was so much of it! But he paused, not wanting to be greedy as he gripped the cup and bag.
"Uh-this one and these. Any I want? As much as I want?" Inuyasha asked carefully, and she nodded.
"It's the snack cupboard, so yes. As much as you like, just tidy up afterwards. Trash is over there and you know how sinks work. Chopsticks are here." A set in the drawer. At that go ahead...she just watched and felt slightly ill as she readied and cooked supper.
He'd eat that too, she knew it. Kagome had to smile as she realized she'd forgotten how young he really was back then. Sort of a treat now to be able to feed him up properly. Poor guy was fighting hard every day now to find the Jewel...so, she'd let him see some of the rewards that came afterwards. A good home, wonderful children, a wife who loved him and would cook for him.
Couldn't hurt. Besides...it was something that Naraku making-faithless-moron-incompetent-pathetic excuse for a Jewelguardian never did for him, alive or undead. For a moment she considered that he was alone in that Era with her...and the knife in her hand moved faster. The defenseless veggies were sliced far finer than the recipe called for.
Kikyo.
"Well. This is fun," Inuyasha noted unhappily. He'd hugged-yes-hugged! Miroku and Sango. Even Kaede and Kirara were warmly greeted. The monk had rubbed his ribs afterwards but had to smile. But they'd pooled their collective knowledge over supper and come up with squat. Now, he and his sons and niece sat on one side of the firepit as the young hunters took the other. Kaede discovered she was in the middle as she sat on the side opposite the door. Shippo, though.
Inuyasha had barely acknowledged his existence. No hug, no greeting-and the kit could swear that this frightening adult had growled softly when he'd climbed into Kagome's lap. No matter what anyone said, this wasn't Inuyasha. Not to him. These other two worried him as well. Ichiro had become a known quantity, but these others weren't. It scared him.
He could also swear the nasty old hanyou knew he was afraid of him-and enjoyed this fact. Kirara noted it and mewed once, curling up beside Sango.
"Well, now. We've got no idea what to do...so-what now?" Kagome asked, breaking a small spell of silence.
She was off kilter, the way this Inuyasha had spoken to the woman...the woman herself. He'd looked at her so differently too-warmer, almost possessively. Of course, being near her two grown sons wasn't helping matters. Or hearing he was called 'studmuffin'. That nearly killed her. 'Sweetheart,' and that he loved her, no less! His wedding ring kept catching her eyes. A plain and antiqued gold band. The hanyou didn't seem to take any notice as he finished his tea. In fact, he had...and was rather unsure how to deal with her at the moment.
"Eh-I've got cards," Akiyoshi offered. Not much else to do until they heard back from Mom. Ichiro sighed as his brother pulled them out.
"Might as well. Who's in?" he asked. But their father rose and quietly stepped outside, followed by a curious Kaede.
In Tokyo, however, his younger self was quite surprised.
Supper was really delicious. All of it. The house was cozy, and the hanyou sitting at the head of the table sighed as he got the last of the rice out of his bowl. That had surprised him, but-this would be his home and his table. Made sense, Inuyasha supposed. He hadn't eaten till he was completely stuffed in some time too.
Sanae and Ayame had arrived not long after Kagome had started supper, and watched him covertly as they all ate. Feral as before, he'd eaten everything put in front of him. Wow. Sanae had to admit she hadn't seen that much food put away at once since her brothers had been in their teens. But her mother just smiled and refilled his plate and bowl without a word said about it.
"Not bad, not bad at all," he told her finally, coming up for air at last. High praise, and she knew it.
"Thank you. Still hungry?" Kagome asked.
"No. Couldn't eat another bite. This wasn't half bad at all with the noodles before."
"You...ate before dinner?" Sanae managed. He'd had four helpings! Big ones!
"Huh? Yeah. She said I could eat all I wanted. We don't get a lot of decent food on the road and we've been traveling a lot," Inuyasha informed her defensively with a nod to the Priestess. Still hadn't used her name, Kagome noted. Probably wouldn't. That was alright, though. She understood.
"Sure," Sanae answered carefully.
"And so you can, Inuyasha," Kagome added. But he paused and stared over her shoulder. She followed his gaze.
A framed group photo. Her, him, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara...He knew the frame too-Kagome had thrown a fit because she said Souta lost it looking at her stuff awhile back.
"I thought the kid lost that," Inuyasha said suspiciously.
"No. We-brought it over here," Kagome admitted. A gift from her baka, he'd swiped it for her. For both of them. That girl in her school uniform was waiting in the past. The girl she used to be. But she rose when she felt a the house wards tingle as someone approached.
"Sesshomaru."
In the past, Kaede followed him to exactly where she thought he'd go, at least once she saw which direction he went. Kikyo's grave. To her shock-he offered a prayer and placed a single blossom he'd plucked on the way there on it. He knew she was there, but he ignored her.
"You...are much changed from the boy I knew," she said finally. Mannerly, he'd spoken little at supper, only added observations and listened. A grown man-not a boy.
"Really? No shit," Inuyasha answered, looking up from where he knelt.
"You chose not to follow my sister, I see."
"No. That-was never meant to be, I suppose. Kagome and I never come here, or my kids. I...guess I wanted to see it again. Better if my sons don't know I did this. I'm not sure they'd understand," he told her. Or their mother...no. Bad. Idea. She'd believe the worst, that he was carrying a torch or something. Jealous wench.
A nod.
"Young Kagome as well, then. Much will come of your changing time by traveling here. Have you considered this, Inuyasha?"
"I have. We only came to save Ichiro." Kaede nodded and looked at the small shrine as she seemed to gather her nerve and consider. This Inuyasha was not the one she knew, perhaps he could, would answer questions that had bothered her for a lifetime.
"When she bound you...what was between you? Truly."
"Kikyo? I...planned to make her my wife once, Kaede." There was a gasp.
"She never said anything! Not one word!" She'd think her own sister would confide such a thing! Kaede knew they had feelings for each other-but marriage!? It had never even occurred to her.
"Of course not. No one needed to know. Because I'm a hanyou and she couldn't look past it even if she did love me. But she planned to get out from under the Jewel and have me at the same time, by having me become mortal and wed her and we'd live happily ever after. Like that would've worked," Inuyasha snorted.
"So. As I...wondered. That is why she did not kill you, only bound you. Much makes sense. Surely, though, that use would have cleansed the Jewel completely." He shook his head.
"No use of the Jewel is ever good. It would've made us it's victims too one way or another. It never would've worked out," he said. The firmness with which he said it startled her a bit.
'If that is how you made your peace with her and the Jewel, Inuyasha...then I will not speak to it,' Kaede thought sadly. Perhaps it was so, perhaps not. But still, it brought to mind things better addressed now.
"My sister, should she see you now-see those young men...she would not understand," she warned. But he turned to glare at her, and she went silent.
"Get this straight. That thing is not Kikyo. Since you've decided to bring this up...why didn't you do what had to be done?" Purified her. Kaede knew that was what he meant.
"I-cannot. She is my elder sister," the old woman's eyes lowered as she spoke.
"She isn't. That walking form is a shell that feeds on the innocent and uses our feelings to get away with it. It used up my wife's patience long ago, and she will disassemble it slowly if she gets half a chance. She'd enjoy it. Fair warning."
"Kagome? But why? I can understand wanting her to rest, perhaps...but that?" Kaede asked. She was shocked.
"My wife isn't that sweet young girl down there, and when she finds a way back, remember it. Kagome has no mercy for anyone screwing with her anymore, human or youkai. Kikyo and that thing wearing her face especially. So if you don't want it to happen...keep her away if you can," he warned her, rising.
"What happened to change her so?"
"A lot. Just...leave it at a lot." That was all he'd say. They went back-but Kaede had more questions than answers as they went.
The only one who might tell her the answers was busy at the moment.
Kagome told them to stay there and went to the door.
"My Lord Sesshomaru. Welcome to my home, please, be comfortable. We just were finishing our supper, have you eaten?" she asked, bowing, and the Lord removing his shoes and charm. Even disguised, he was imposing. Tall, in a three piece tailored grey silk suit and red tie, with an overcoat she took and hung up for him and shut the door. Stylishly cut black hair turned snow white and his stripes became visible as he hit his pocketwatch and took off his suit jacket, standing in vest and shirtsleeves.
"I have no interest in niceties. Where is my daughter? You will explain," he ordered coldly, sniffing absently as he frowned at her. Her, Sanae, Ayame, and...and...
"So. You are alive now. She ain't got to answer to you or anyone else!" At that, Sesshomaru's eyes went wide. He turned and the young hanyou stood in the living room gripping his sword hilt.
Young Inuyasha!
"The well sealed itself, Sesshomaru. Your daughter and my sons and Lord are trapped there...we are trying to discover how to fix it," Kagome answered...and watched as she was ignored by both of them.
Instead the tall youkai walked to look over Inuyasha, who frowned at his left arm. It smelled funny, like metal, and that stuff called 'plastic'. A strange claw like thing where his hand would be. A replacement arm like he'd used before-but not from a dead youkai or human!
"Got another hand I see. Work like the rest, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha sniped. Sanae gasped. No one made mention of it! Ever! Daddy had taken that arm when he claimed Tetsusaiga as his own, yes. But it was one of those things that wasn't discussed.
"You brought him here, Kagome? Unwise. It invites unwelcome knowledge," Sesshomaru commented without moving his gaze from the hanyou.
"I didn't see any other way to keep the Shrinekeepers from knowing and I have sworn him to secrecy. I didn't want to tell you...until I had more to give, Sesshomaru. I will find a way to reopen the well and bring Rinao and the others home. I swear it."
"Hmp. I expect my Clan Priestess to be faster with such matters." Oh, no. He'd said that just so Inuyasha would hear it! Great. Marvelous.
"Excuse me? Clan Priestess? What youkai Clan has it's own Priestess?" Inuyasha sputtered.
"Since my brother chose to wed one, I saw value in the decision when you both became Clan members in truth. We are not in conflict, little brother. The Lady Kagome serves my Clan, as does her Lord these days," Sesshomaru noted, and sniffed delicately. Ah, yes. This was the young hanyou. Not...the one he'd met once, long before this city came to be. The one who'd made a fool of him in the woods one night long ago-or yesterday, the little bastard! Lord Sesshomaru remembered, alright, and he would get his vengeance in full now.
"So you say," Inuyasha answered warily.
"You have much to do, Kagome. Leave us. We require no refreshments." She bowed and left, all but dragging Sanae in her wake. Ayame came along, not wanting to be anywhere near this. What the hell was he going to do?
But he waited until they went upstairs to the library...and smiled. He leaned forward and the hanyou froze. He sniffed his brother's ears, face, and neck as Inuyasha's eyes widened and he gulped, too shocked to return the favor as good manners said to. What the hell?
"A fine thing, to see you so again," Sesshomaru said. He was-was-an arm went around him and he felt fabric under his cheek. He was being hugged. Inuyasha sniffed reflexively. No sake smell. No smell of any funny herbs or those mushrooms that made you see things. Possession? Magic? Possibly. But it smelled like a sane, sober Sesshomaru was-hugging him. Alright...
"My dear little brother." A perplexed hanyou peered up at him through his bangs as his ears went completely flat and he tried to wiggle free. Not working, his elder brother was still strong. He was holding him with very little effort.
"Let me go...?" he managed. Sesshomaru ignored the muffled request.
"But-I do...love you as well, Yasha." YASHA?? That was-was-ack!! A kiss on his forehead!! He was released, and the young inu shivered all over as he staggered back and wiped his head in horror.
"Uh-eh-you..." a clawed finger waved ineffectually. "What are you up to??" he yelled.
"You said it first, little brother," Sesshomaru explained with a smile. The hanyou looked completely poleaxed.
"KAGOME!!" A scream that brought all three females running. To see a panicked Inuyasha, a smug Sesshomaru-and to see his elder brother gathering his things?
"Call me tomorrow with news. I have...no further business here. Rinao must be returned."
"She will be. But-what did you do?"
"Nothing more than say hello," Sesshomaru promised, and she saw him out. Ah yes. Vengeance was indeed sweet. Sniffing, a hug-and a kiss from his elder brother. Who said he loved him and left his scent all over him.
Inuyasha should have screaming nightmares for years.
"Where...can I bathe?" he pleaded. Kagome showed him, and wondered what the hell was going on. Not least when his clothes were to be washed. Twice. She fetched him some of her husband's things and he took them without complaint. Odd enough, but he refused to come out until he was raw with scrubbing. Especially his forehead.
"I could've married a Hojou," she muttered as she ran firerat through the washer.
Author's notes-Ah. Good chapter, it went very smoothly writing it, so I hope it's enjoyable. Yes, Kagome's got some Kikyo issues, and there might be some trouble there. And yes-Sesshomaru's gotten his own back. I hope you enjoyed, and thanks for reading as always!-Namiyo