Depth of Trust

Chapter 2

Kaede grumbled "Sango is missing, Kagome returned to her own realm, Miroku has lost use of his right hand, and ye brood all day Inuyasha. It nearly seems you wish to hand the Sacred Jewel to that black-heart Naraku."

"Go away old hag" Inuyasha retorted from the upper branches of the tree where he was lounging.

"Nay I shall not! Always ye do this after a fight with the girl but now is not the time! I know not what is different this time but quitting is unlike you. Mayhap you deserve it, mayhap not but in either case ye may wish to find Sango. Now is an ill time to part your best strengths."

"What do you know, you aged wench? She's best left alone. Things like that don't just go away in the morning. Even a few months aren't enough..." The half-demon trailed off, revealing more than he intended. Kaede did not miss the slip "So ye are speaking of my sister then. That does explain much."

Inuyasha dropped from the branches of the tree and landed nimbly a foot in front of Kaede "You are an irritating hag."

"Nonetheless I am the irritating hag that is trying to help. Without Kagome ye cannot find the sacred jewel, and without both Sango and Miroku you alone can't protect her. I see that ye cannot sort your feelings and choose..." Kaede began.

"You're blind then! Don't act like you understand! If it will get you to shut up I'll go fetch Sango then!" Inuyasha shouted, leaping off before Kaede could utter another word. He did not leave immediately to seek her out though, instead perching in the great tree outside the village near the Bone-Eater's Well. He knew where she was going from the direction her scent went, but if he left immediately he would overtake her and Kirara before she arrived. He wanted to give her at least a day to herself once she arrived. After all he wasn't the only one going to a place of memories, both good and bad.

Miroku grimaced as he removed the bandages around his wrist, the cut was expert and clean. His tendons had been severed; he would never have full use of the hand again. He sighed aloud, cursing his own stupidity. Though he was not the one who initiated his encounter with the young village woman, he certainly had not refused either. Worse than the pain flowing up his arm in waves was the knowledge of what it had cost him, that was trust he would never get back. Sango was not the kind to give second chances, he was lucky to still draw breath.

He forced himself to get up off his cot and walk outside. The bright mid-day sun temporarily blinded him and exacerbated his lingering headache, an after effect of the sake that had led to his tryst. He was sure lady Kaede already knew of his injury but felt he should inform her of its severity. When he pushed the mat over the door to her hut aside he saw she was not home, instead Shippo was tending a pot of soup. "Well one of the two idiots is here at least. Grab a bowl."

Perplexed Miroku asked "What do you mean?"

"After we all fell asleep he went and did the exact thing he punched you for doing. Jerk. Apparently he went to see Kikyo last night." Shippo explained as he passed a steaming bowl of soup to Miroku.

"What?! Did he...? With Kikyo?!" Miroku stuttered with surprise. Shippo blushed a bright crimson "No! He's not you, he didn't do that! He just talked to her, but whatever was said upset Kagome a lot. She left and now Kaede won't say when she is coming back."

Miroku silently nodded, saying nothing and keeping a level expression. Shippo was not old enough to understand the difference and Kagome was too childish to ever stop and think about the strain Kikyo's appearance put on Inuyasha. She likely was already upset by what he had done and Inuyasha gave her an outlet. He also doubted that Naraku would let such an opportunity pass.

The afternoon wore on, the sun shrunk to a small drop of ruby on the horizon before finally vanishing completely. Inuyasha remained in the tree as if rooted. He had replayed the memory of the day that he was pinned to that tree at least a dozen times. There was no doubt Kikyo had meant to kill him. She had turned on him so readily though that he was forced to question whether some small part of her never trusted him at all. Had she also never managed to look beyond his bloodline? Still for every time he had gone through that memory he recalled Kagome's goodbye twice. She trusted him not to betray her as a demon, but she had never trusted him as a person. He had jumped in front of more deadly strikes than he could remember to protect her and she had still simply tossed him aside for being human.

There was no way to tell which was worse, so he jumped down from his perch and started walking. He could make it to the ruins of the Demon Hunter's Village by daybreak if he hurried but he had already determined to give Sango a day. All he wanted was a way to clear his head, so he set out at a slower pace. It was still much faster than a human could travel but he would not arrive until later in the day; hopefully he would get into a fight or two along the way.

The tiny sliver of moonlight gave him more than enough light to see, but a human would have been running blind. The steady pounding of his feet as he ran helped him drown out his thoughts. It was so much easier to simply move and react instead of thinking. As the night wore on his breath came in puffs of steam that drifted up through the cool air into the leaves overhead. Inuyasha came to an abrupt stop in a small clearing; an uncomfortably familiar scent hung in the air here.

An intentional rustling of leaves revealed the source. His brother was standing next to a small brook, the little human girl he cared for was splashing around chasing a fish. Jaken was futilely trying to keep up with her, oblivious to Inuyasha's arrival. Shesshomaru and Inuyasha stared intently at each other from across the clearing. Shesshomaru called Rin and Jaken to him and started walking across the clearing. As he passed Inuyasha he spoke "You really have become weak brother. I suppose that is to be expected with a human mother though"

"Fuck you Shesshomaru. I'm not in the mood today." Inuyasha snapped. His brother laughed "Obviously not, if you were to look any more depressed I'd kill you simply as a mercy. What did you do? Get your human killed? Or maybe she finally rej-"

A blow faster than even Shesshomaru could block crashed into his jaw. Inuyasha felt a satisfying pop as the joint was dislocated under his fist. A quick leap backward moved him just inches outside the reach of his brother's poison lash. The surprise on the Shesshomaru's face was replaced with a cold anger as he pushed his jaw back into place, the audible snap of ligaments making Rin look nauseous.

"I'm not so callous as to engage in a death fight in sight of my charge. Watch yourself brother, I'll pay you back in kind when I next see you." Shesshomaru spat, then turned and walked off. Inuyasha was like a wounded animal right now; Shesshomaru knew he could defeat him but certainly would not escape unscathed. The thought caused a ghost ache where his left arm used to be. As obstinate and reckless as his brother could be cornering him was an exceptionally bad idea.

Inuyasha returned to his running, hoping to outpace the thoughts that tormented him. He was still veering between a crushing sadness that caught in his throat so solidly it seemed he could barely breath and a fiery anger that left him with a desire to throw himself into battle so he could at least lash out. Throughout the day he ran on, still cutting his pace down. By the time the palisade walls of the mountain village he was headed to came into view the valley it was nestled in was awash with the rich gold of the late evening sun. His anger had burned down to ashes, and he was now running simply by rote. Sango was definitely here, her scent was carried on the wind along with the smell of cooking fish. A growl in his stomach reminded Inuyasha that he had not eaten in two days, but he had no appetite. He was focused on an unfamiliar aspect mixed in with Sango's scent, something he had smelled once before but could not place. He cautiously approached the palisade, unsure of whether he was walking into a fight or not.

When he entered he was greeted by a low, menacing growl. Kirara stood just inside the wall, refusing to let him pass. Irritated, Inuyasha sat in front of the demon cat and waited until he was granted permission. Overpowering the cat would be easy but it would not help him bring Sango back. While he waited the sun went down. As it sank over the horizon Inuyasha began to feel weak. He forced down the rising tide of panic as the uncomfortable shifting started, the small structures of his inner ear popping and snapping as his dog-like ears moved and changed into normal human ears. The dull pressure as his fangs and claws receded. His hair turned black and the world darkened as his acute vision became average and he lost the ability to see with minimal light. It was the new moon and he was far from safe territory and looking at facing down an angry, unpredictable Sango. As he was silently cursing his own stupidity a wave of hunger hit him. He became light headed and lost his balance, falling to his knees. Just before he collapsed entirely from the wave of exhaustion from lack of food and sleep combined with stress Kirara caught him and lifted him onto her back. As the world dimmed and went black he felt the comforting sensation of moving gently while pressed against warm fur.