Chapter Three: In Search Of The One Called "Chichi"
"So you're saying that your mother also fell down the well when she was your age?" Sango, the demon slayer asked of Kagome.
"Hai. And there was a monk, a demon slayer, a kitsune, and a neko with Inukai and Haha.
"Keh. Story seems a little too familiar. I think she's making it up."
"Osuwari."
"Gahh!" Everyone sighed as Inuyasha plummeted through the hut floor for the tenth time that day.
"Don't you ever say my Haha was lying, Inuyasha, she has never lied a day in her life, why would she start now?"
"Kagome-sama, what was the name of the monk? It is true that this story does seem familiar to me, and to the rest of us I assume."
"Hai. His name was…ummm… Kichiro I think." Miroku gasped at the name.
"Otou-san…"
"Nani? What do you mean by Otou-san Miroku-sama?" Kagome questioned.
"Kichiro…that was my Chichi. My chichi was in your haha's and Inuyasha's chichi's group."
"Wow… is that ever weird. We're replaying our parents' lives."
"Kagome-chan, what were the names of the others in the group?"
" Izayoi the demon slayer, Subarashii the Kitsune, Inukai, Inuyasha's chichi, Haha, and Korroro the neko."
"Izayoi…she was my aunt, on my father's side…" Sango whispered in shock.
"Oh no way in HELL! Sango is NOT my cousin!" Everyone turned to face Inuyasha; all had forgotten that he was present.
"Eww…Inuyasha's related to Sango? How could Baka-yasha be related to her? They're so…so…different!" Shippo piped up. "Hey…wait a minute…Subarashii was my chichi's name!"
"This is all too weird…we're all related to my haha's original group…" Kagome was pondering this. If they were replaying the story of their parents, then Inuyasha would end up choosing her, only to be declined and she chose Kouga. That was one thing she did not want to happen. If Inuyasha ever chose her, she would accept whole-heartedly. Little did Kagome know, Inuyasha was thinking along the same lines.
If I am like my chichi, then I will end up choosing Kagome. Demo, Yuri said that I was a lot like chichi, but I was supposed to think of myself as Yuudai… so either way I get Kagome? If I think of myself as chichi, I end up choosing the second love, Kagome. If I picture myself as Yuudai, and he got Yuri, who is Kagome's Haha, which Kagome is supposed to be "playing" so technically, I still get Kagome. Wow, that was a lot of thinking…
"Umm…anyways, can we move on to the next topic of discussion onegai?" Kagome broke Inuyasha's train of thought.
"Well Inuyasha and I have to go find my chichi. My Haha said that only he and myself may go, just because we're both inu-hanyou. We should be back in about a full moon cycle."
"A whole moon cycle Kagome-okaa-chan?" Shippo whined.
"Hai. Gomen Shippo-chan, demo, my chichi has to train me so that way I don't over-exert myself when I do get my full powers."
"O-okay…okaa-chan."
"Shippo…it's for everyone's safety. Trust me, if I was allowed to bring you I would in a heartbeat. It's only a moon cycle, and if I'm not back by then, you can pound Miroku-sama for everyday I am late. Hai?"
That put a smile on the young kit's face. "Hai Kagome-okaa-chan! See you in a moon cycle! And don't forget to stop off at your era to bring back some ninja food!"
Kagome went to pick up the kit and placed a motherly kiss on his cheek. "Alright, I won't forget. Be good for Sango-chan and Miroku-sama."
Shippo kissed her back. "Hai Kagome-okaa-chan!"
"That's my boy! Goodbye minna!"
"Goodbye Kagome! Goodbye Inuyasha! See you both in a moon cycle!" Sango, Shippo and Miroku replied as the two hanyou left in search of Yuudai.
"Keh. About time we got outta there."
"Oh hush. It's not everyday we go out by ourselves without them. Alone. With no one spying on us. Absolutely and tot-"
"Okay I get it wench! We're by ourselves, just like we used to be before the runt came into our lives." Inuyasha's cheeks filled with a light flush, barely noticeable to Kagome. (Hint: BARELY) Kagome smiled to herself. Maybe she did have a shot with the inu-hanyou after all.
That night, Inuyasha and Kagome set up camp in a clearing not to far from the wolf den. Once they got to Kouga's tomorrow, it would be another half-day's trip to Yuudai's inu-clan.
"Hey…Inuyasha?"
"Yeah, what do you want?"
"What did you and Haha talk about after I left?" Inuyasha turned haori red and replied in a whispered voice.
"Nothing that concerns you…now go to sleep." Disappointed, Kagome turned over in her sleeping bag, and went to sleep.
Once Inuyasha realized her breathing had slowed, he quietly whispered, "Everything that concerns you, my Kagome." Settling into his newest sleeping tree, he closed his eyes and drifted into a light rest.
Kagome's Dream
A lone kuroi inu-youkai walked as slowly as he could to an ancient well in Inukai Forest. Gazing down at the little bundle with his amethyst eyes, he gave the tiny koinu a single kiss as she opened her eyes, amethyst, like his own. Her ears perked up at the mention of her name, but dropped when she noticed the sad tone in her chichi's voice. Her tiny black tail sank in between her legs as if she too, were sad.
"Kagome, seek me out when you are older, ask questions about your chichi. You have to go to the place your okaa-san calls home for a while." A small whimper came from the kuroi koinu. "Now don't you look at me like that, pup. When you're older and your concealment breaks, I'll come to find you. Just don't forget my sent." With that, the kuroi inu-youkai gently lowered his precious cargo into the well.
"Good bye, my otome…we shall hopefully meet again in the future. Never forget that you will find love wherever you may go. Aishiteru pup. Sayonara for now." With that, the inu left with no more than a single tear falling down his cheek.
End Dream
"Chichi!"
"N-nani? Kagome! Daijobu ka?"
"H-Hai…Inuyasha. I just had a bad dream. Memory. What ever."
"What about?" He already knew it had something to do with her father, considering she yelled his name out in the middle of Sengoku Jidai.
"Well it was when I was still a little koinu, my chichi was talking to me, saying that I had to go, but I would see him when I got older. He-he lowered me into the well so that I would be in the modern era with okaa-san. I think that was the last time I ever saw him. But why would he place me in the well Inuyasha, why?"
"You're a mesuinu, Kagome. By inu-youkai law, which ever gender the koinu is, it must remain with the parent of the same gender. For me, it was a bit different, because my chichi had died, so that only left me with my Haha. Your Haha probably left back to her era for some weird reason and the well wouldn't let her back. The only thing your chichi could have done was send you down the well and hope you made it to your Haha."
"Wow…I never knew you were that smart Inuyasha."
"Keh. I just choose not to show it."
"Yeah…right…"
"What!"
"Never mind Inuyasha. Come on, we might as well start early today."
"Keh. See! Now you're avoiding that I AM smart!"
"Baka-yasha…Osuwari. You should have just kept quiet if you were smart Inuyasha."
"Mesuinu…"
"Arigatou." Kagome started to walk away in the direction of Kouga's den, and, of her chichi. As she walked along the river, she glanced down to look at her reflection. Her eyes had changed so that they were similar to Inuyasha's, but instead of Inuyasha's piercing amber, Kagome's eyes were a soft violet. Her ears had moved from the side of her head to perching on top of a wild mane of blue-black hair. Wait a second… she had koinu ears! And…is that…a TAIL? Yes, sure enough, right behind her was a soft blue-black tail.
Inuyasha just stared at her. Well more like gaped at her. Kagome in hanyou form was drop dead GORGEOUS. But…he would never say that aloud…to her…nope.
It was a good ways into the day when a certain ookami youkai happened to drop by. Inuyasha growled, knowing that Kagome's new appearance would most certainly make Kouga want his Kagome even more.
"Hey Koinuyasha, I see you've moved on with another mesuinu, so, where's my woman? Back at the old woman's hut or what? Usually you don't leave her alone!"
"Ehem, uhh, Kouga-kun?"
"How the hell do you know my name wench!" Wolf-shit doesn't recognize Kagome…this must be my lucky day. He's going to make a complete ass of himself so Kagome won't like him anymore! Whoohoo! My fucking lucky-ass day!
"You don't recognize me, do you Kouga-kun?"
"I know a lot of wenches and believe me, you're not one of them! You're absolutely revolting to look at! How could I possibly know you?"
"Keh. Don't ever talk to my mate like that you wolf-shit!"
"That would explain everything. Only an ugly half-breed wench would mate with you Inutrasha."
"INUYASHA! Kouga! GRRRRRR!" To say that Kagome was pissed would be an understatement. She went up to Kouga and slapped him, claws out. As for Inuyasha… "OSUWARI!" Bam! "How dare you even say that without asking me! Why must you assume everything Inuyasha?"
"G-Gomen…" The hurt look on Inuyasha's face was enough to make Kagome cry. Not being able to see that look on his face, Kagome went to his side, only to help him up and hug him.
"Iie Inuyasha, Gomen nasai. I overreacted."
"K-Kagome?" Kouga's brain having finally kicked in, registered that the kuroi inu-hanyou before him was none other than the girl who stole his heart. Kagome just turned and glared at him.
"I knew you were putting on a façade. You just pretended to like me to get Inuyasha jealous! If you really did care you would have recognized me immediately just like Inuyasha did. Go to hell Kouga, and don't come back!" Inuyasha and Kouga were both shocked. KAGOME, good, sweet, caring Kagome, just told Kouga to go to hell. The only thought that Inuyasha had in his one-track mind was:
That's one hell of a mesuinu hanyou! And she's all mine! Now to just convince her of it…Kouga just bowed his head and left, not saying a word to the two hanyou. Kagome, having enough of that place for now, started to sprint, hoping Inuyasha would get the hint. They needed to have a chat once they got to her chichi's den.
Inuyasha caught the hint all right. Too bad for Kagome he was still faster than her. "Wench…how many times have you tried to run from me, only to be caught five seconds after I realize?"
"Let's see, usually by the time you realize I've already made to the well, so I'd say four times. Including this one." Kagome giggled as Inuyasha carried her bridal style for the rest of the way. Now matter how fast she could run know, or how long she could run for, Kagome always loved being carried by Inuyasha. They reached the outskirts of a small village by nightfall, stopping far away and downwind of the village, just in case this was indeed kuroi inu territory.
"Smells like we found the inu-clan."
"How can you tell?"
"Use your nose wench." Said wench breathed in deeply, the aroma of pine needles and lilacs reaching her nose.
"Pine needles? Lilacs? There aren't any of those near here are there Inuyasha?"
"Iie. What you smell is the kuroi-clan. We'll go in the morning and search for your chichi. Hai?"
Kagome gave a small nod. "Hai."
"Keh. Good. Now go get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." A few minutes of silence passed as the young hanyou pondered on what Inuyasha had said earlier to Kouga.
"Inuyasha? Are you still awake?"
"What do you think?"
"About what you said earlier, is that what you think of me?"
"…"
"Inuyasha?"
"Keh." Kagome sniffed the air and smiled. Inuyasha's scent had changed from its normal musky forest smell to an even muskier smell. That must mean he was embarrassed.
"I'm just asking Inuyasha, if that is what you think of me as, all you have to do is ask if you could introduce me as such. I don't mind really, I was just a little surprised. You've never openly proclaimed anything like that."
"…" Still embarrassed. That only made the smirk on her face grow wider.
"Fine. Don't talk to me about it. Good night Inu…chan."
D-did she just call me Inu-chan? And she doesn't mind being called my mate? Has Kami finally smiled upon me, the miserable half-breed?
That night, Inuyasha had the best sleep of his entire life. He dreamt of Kagome being his mate and bearing him many pups. Sadly though, he was torn out of his happy dreams by Kagome's shrieks.
"Inuyasha! Wake up! Inuyasha! Let go of me you bastard!"
"OO a feisty one! Maybe the alpha would want this one, seeing as he hasn't taken a mate in 66 years."
"Wake up half-breed. You're in kuroi inu territory!"
"K-Kagome? Kagome!" When Inuyasha finally did awake, he was bound and in the inu village. Kagome was nowhere to be found.
"What have you done with my Kagome?"
"Your Kagome? Oh that mesuinu we brought to the alpha. Oh he'll be done with her shortly, though, you may be too late to mate her half-shit."
"Look the only reason we trespassed in kuroi inu territory is because her Haha sent me and her to find her chichi. He was a kuroi inu-youkai."
"And who is this Kagome's Haha? A ningen?"
"Hai. Her name is Yuri. Her chichi's name is Yuudai." The two guards holding Inuyasha captive looked at him with wide eyes.
With Kagome>
"Here's another mesuinu we found outside the village, Dai-sama."
"I am in no need of another mesuinu. I have lost the one I loved. Be gone with this one."
"W-wait! I'm looking for someone. He was very precious to both my Haha and me. I was wondering if you could help me find him?"
"And who, prêt ell are you looking for that would be a precious to a halfling?" Not turning around to even look at young Kagome, he could only guess as to who she could be looking for.
"Yuudai of the kuroi inu-youkai clan."
"And why, would this Yuudai be so precious to you and your Haha?"
"He's my chichi." The youkai's eyes widened as he turned around to face the miko-hanyou before him. The tail, ears and eyes were enough to prove she was one of them but that hoshi, that only belonged to him and one other.
"Kagome…"
End Chapter 3
A/N
Well there's another chapter! Wow, intense chap, Inuyasha and Kagome get separated, Kagome gets called mate and the alpha knows her. Could he be Kagome's long lost chichi? R+R to find out!
Adina
