Hello poeple who are somehow patient enough to wait for these extremely late chapters. I really am sorry. I honestly hadn't been aware of the time gap from last chapter to this one. For that I apologize. Um here's the seventh chapter. It is the seventh right?
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha Chapter Seven(?): Realization.
Inuyasha was starting to feel a little guilty for making the kid late for that school place, but at the same time he was amused. The human was even more uptight about making it to that stupid building then Kagome was and he couldn't help but feel a little accomplished by making him late.
But, again, he felt guilty. Something in his mind wouldn't let him enjoy his childish victory. Hojo was so dedicated to his learning that Inuyasha couldn't truly enjoy making him miss that loud metallic ringing he heard from all the way across town.
The half demon shrugged and jumped of the roof of the house. He had to get back to his time and see if the others were awake yet. Sango and kaede were most likely the only ones up. Shippo still being so young needed more sleep then they did and was naturally the last one awake. Miroku and Kagome usually got up somewhere in between the early birds and the kit but which one woke up first was random.
It was times like these Inuyasha wished he didn't travel with humans. Even the strongest human became the weakest when they lacked rest. Demons could go days without sleep and fight just fine.
A quick image flashed in his mind. One of Hojo, fighting a demon. An image of him fighting a demon and loosing horribly. The kid just didn't look like he had it in him. He'd probably die from fright if he ever seen a demon from his time.
Inuyasha made it through the well without even realizing it. He was greeting by the old priestess drinking hot tea and chatting with Sango about new places to look for shards. He walked into to the hut and looked over to the side, just like he thought , Kagome Miroku and Shippo were all sleeping.
He took a seat with his back to the sleepers and faced the two women. "At least someone's working on our problem. How long are those guys going to sleep? The suns already up."
"Give them a break Inuyasha. Kagome's was up all night and Miroku's not used to having to get up on schedule. "Sango said, looking behind the silver haired male.
Inuyasha snorted, Sango might have been talking as if she were defending them but that look she was giving the monk was far from nice. "Whatever. Have there been any rumors that could be related to the Jewel shards or Naraku?" he asked Kaede.
The woman shook her head. "No. There hasn't been a word about attacks or abnormal disturbances." She said refilling her cup. "I suggest ye all go to the last place you found a shard and look for any clues about where that devil could be hiding."
"Dammit. This is getting ridiculous! Why can't that bastard stay in one place? Then he disappears in the middle of a fight. He's a coward."
Sango placed a hand on the males shoulder. "Calm down Inuyasha. It's frustrating for us all, but it won't get us any closer if we let the anger get the better of us. "
"Aye, you must stay calm and plan ahead. " The woman said handing the male a cup. "If ye were to lose patience then, Naraku will certainly win."
Inuyasha took the cup but only looked down at the contents. It wasn't that it smelt bad or anything, Kaede was actually a decent cook. He just wasn't hungry, he doubted he could stomach it just to be polite. This stress was starting to take a toll on everything he did.
With Kagome always running back and forth and Naraku being evasive and hiding his mind was everywhere. Then there was Hojo, who kept popping into his head for some reason or another. Either his safety came to mind or whether the kid was doing okay in general. Maybe it was a sign that the kid would be getting in to some kind of trouble soon.
It wasn't like he thought about people like this all the time was it? So something had to be going on.
"Inuyasha when we finally finish off Naraku and obtain the full Jewel, what do you think will happen?" Sango asked giving him a serious look.
The half demon look at the girl with a scowl. "What do you mean what do I think will happen? What kind of question is that?" He snapped at her. Where were these questions coming from all of the sudden?
The young woman sighed and shook her head. "You mentioned before you wanted to become a full demon and that you planned to use the jewel for that purpose. You have transform into something similar to that when you haven't been within tetsaiga's reach and you could barley control your bloodlust. Do you believe any of us would allow you to make such a wish when we've seen the assumed outcome?"
Inuyasha glared at her for a moment then turned away. "whatever. Let's just focus on finding Naraku and destroying him before we figure out what to do with the jewel." He mumbled. It wasn't that he was angry that they would be keeping him from his wish but that she was right. He did have a hard time controling his demon side. If he truly became full demon he could possibly end up trying to kill the people he know calls friends.
He never had any friends growing up. In all honesty, he had stopped wishing for friends at a young age. He was accustomed to being labeled a freak. It wasn't like there were a whole lot of half-breeds out there he could have talked to. Half demons were rare. Or maybe they weren't but they were in hiding, afraid to come out and face the people who hated them.
Then the whole mess with Kikyo happened and then he was sure he was done with trying to be nice to humans. Even when he first met Kagome he had planned on killing her. If it weren't for the beads she would have been dead a long time ago before he ever started considering her important. He never would have met Miroku, Sango or the brat.
Was it worth becoming a demon if he would blindly slaughter his friends?
He put his cup down and stood up. "I'll be down by the river, Let me know when the others get up so we can start searching." He said and left without any further explanation.
Hojo was no longer surprised when he didn't see Kagome in class. However he was still worried, knowing she was in another era fighting demons. It must be scary to be fighting things that could be as strong as Inuyasha was.
The boy sighed when the thought of the half demon came to mind. How did the guy end up upsetting him constantly everytime he saw him lately. He still hadn't gotten a good opportunity to get him to talk about that Naraku guy. There was no way he was going to argue with that guy while he was half asleep.
Somehow inuyahsa had ingrained himself into the back of Hojo's mind. He was determined to get answers out of the man the next time they met but at the same time, he wanted to stay as far away from the half demon as possible.
He hadn't known at first. Well that was a lie, he had suspicions the whole time since the first time he had met the other. The reason why he worried about him. The reason he over reacted when Inuyasha hadn't told him everything.
why he always thought about him. At first it was easily brushed off as considering the other a friend. But the tightening in his chest he was starting to get when ever the man was around, the fact that when he saw him he wanted to engage the guy in a converstation and flee at the same time. And when Kagome showed up at school that meant if he went to her house Inuyasha would most likely show up at some point.
"Hojo!"
Hojo flinched, startled, and looked across the library for the one who had disturbed his thoughts. Seeing one of Kagome's friends waving to him. "Good afternoon, Ayumi. Did you need something?" He asked putting on a smile.
Ayumi smiled back and spoke, this time her voice was considerably lower. "Not really. I was just wondering If you knew why Kagome was absent today. She's been getting sick a lot lately so it's worrisome when she suddenly skips. Since you had been hanging out with her so much lately I thought maybe. . ."
"She's fine. She's just been studying to hard for the tests, she should be back after much deserved rest." He stated and stood up from the table and nodded his head politely. "If you'll excuse me I need to get going. I'll tell Kagome you asked about her when I drop off the notes and work she missed. Inuyasha's probably agitating her to death anyway."
"You've met Inuyasha?"
Hojo had mumbled the last bit to himself but it seemed to reach the girls ears anyway and he paused somewhat confused? "Of course I have."
"But doesn't that hurt, to see her and him together, when she knows you've been in love with her for so long?"
The male gave an awkward laugh. "Ayumi I'm not sure what you're talking about but, there's nothing like that going on. With any of us. We're all friends, nothing more.'
"But Inuyasha's been Kagome's boyfriend for years now!" Hojo shook his head and walked past her hearing her whisper to her self about secret love affairs and romance novels.
But know that he stopped and thought about, there was a rumor about kagome having a mystery boyfriend back when he was trying to date her. Could Inuyasha be the same guy they were talking about. Ayumi had said his name clearly so there wasn't really any question about it.
Honestly what was it with woman and gossip? Was it just to amuse themselves during the boring school hours or did they really think things like this were important?
Well it could be important if Kagome was actually with Inuyasha and lying to him about it, but she wasn't and information like that could have really upset him, if Kagome was actually dating inuyasha and he still liked her. The girls should be more careful about what they say to people.
Hojo left the building and turned the opposite way from his normal route home and down the one that lead to the Higurashi household. It didn't take long to get there, it was no where near the long walk it took to get to his own house. It was a twenty minute walk at the most.
He hesitated before knocking on the door. He never used to get nervous about coming to Kagome's until he knew of Inuyasha. He swallowed a lump in his throat hoping that Inuyasha wouldn't be their but praying almost desperately that he was. Why did crushes have to be confusing?
Kagome's mother answered the door her ever present smile. "Hello Hojo, How are you doing?"
"I'm fine ma'am. Is Kagome home?" He asked and made a guess by the troubled expression that appeared on the woman's face that she wasn't. "She's back in the Fuedal Era then? Well, here is her school work anyway. Tell her that history report is due nex-"
"you know Hojo, she is supposed to be back tonight, if you want to come in and wait.?"
Hojo took in the woman's worried face and nodded. His mother was the same way. If she was worried about something she wanted a distraction. Having a guest was a good distraction if you liked to play mothering host.
Just like he thought, the moment he came inside she ushered him into the dining room and offered him a seat and asked what he wanted to drink. He smiled as he sat down. "Anything you have ready is fine. "
The woman made him a cup of the tea that had been made not to long before he came and paused as she sat the cup in front of him. "Have you eaten dear? I'll make you something small. You have an early lunch period right? The same as Kagome's?"
"Yes and Thank you Ms. Higurashi, food would be appreciated." He said politely. He wasn't really hungry but the she seemed like she needed something to occupy herself with. He sat and waited patiently.
Kagome shot off another arrow at the enemy, nearly hitting Inuyasha in the process. They had been hunting down this one since Kagome woke up from sensing the shards it held. According to her it had three lodged somewhere in it's chest. And by the way the one paw of beasts caused tremors beneath their feet Inuyasha didn't doubt it.
Sango and Kirara where airborn. Kirara trying to keep as steady as possible while Sango tried to pinpoint a weak spot to strike at. Miroku had stuck close to Kagome, making sure to keep her out of harms way. Though Inuyasha thought that it was took catch a glimpse of her butt when her skirt flew when she made certain movements.
Inuyasha was in mid stike his sword coming down hitting the demon dead center of the forehead. The Tetusaiga did infact penetrate the skin and he even felt the bone give way under the power of the sword but the demon swatted him away like a fly, as if it hadn't even noticed the blow.
Somehow the half-demon managed to land on his feet. And growled to himself. They were going to have to remove the jewel shards before finishing the thing off. He looked over at Kagome who was about to fire another arrow. "Kagome! Aim for the jewel shards in it's chest!" he shouted, and heard her groan with frustration.
'what do you think I've been doing!" she yelled back letting the go and watching it embed itself into the demons arm.
'Damn her bad aim.' Inuyasha thought. He looked over at Sango who was landing by Kagome and Miroku and got an Idea. "Sango! You know how to use a bow?"
Sango looked at the silver-haired male before nodding. "Got it." She said and immediately started helping Kagome aim. With Sango helping it didn't take anymore then a few seconds of anticipation before the arrow struck the demon right in the chest. The pure energy interacted with the energy from the tainted jewel shards, bring the giant creature to it knees. Inuyasha taking the moment of weakness and slashed at it again before the effect from Kagome's arrow wore off.
The demon disintegrated with an awful roar. The small shards fell into the pile and Kagome picked them up with a sigh. "These demons keep getting stronger. This battle was twice as long as the last one. . ."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he sheathed his sword. "It would help if you'd start practicing your aim. Unlike Sango and Miroku your physically weak. That arrow is the only thing you have to protect yourself with in battle. It would help if you could use it correctly."
"what do you mean it's the only thing that's protecting me?" She asked crossing her arms. "Are you saying you would let me get hurt or killed!"
"No, I'm saying that with everything going on there are going to be times when we won't be with you. If Naraku found a way to split us up, how are you going to defend yourself?"
Kagome gave him an offended look and glared. "I'm not some defenseless child, Inuyasha! I'd figure something out. It's not like it hasn't happened before."
Inuyasha matched her glare and stayed quiet as he walked past her. There was no point in arguing with her. She would either scream until she turned red or turn it around so it was his fault. "Whatever, you still need to go 'study' right?"
Inuyasha helped Kagome up through the well. He hated when she brought her books, not only did it add more weight then need, not that he really noticed the extra wieght, but it made it difficult for the girl to move around and she struggled and lagged behind when they where shard hunting. It was a nuisance.
He stepped out of the shrine and paused. He picked up Hojo's scent. It was an odd scent of some type of sweet smelling flower and the medicine that Kagome brought with her. It was like a spicy perfume that was mild enough to not burn his nose. He glanced at Kagome, who's smell he had long ago noticed consisted of a floral perfume in general.
Things people were around a lot seemed to stick to their skin like a tatoo, mingling with there natural scent. It could be troubling for animals and demon who's sense of smell was flawed or injured. Against a enemy with a weak sense of smell all you would have to do was calm down enough for your adrenaline to go down. The less you sweated the less likely a weak nose could pick up your natural scent. Staying down-wind helped to.
Either way that wasn't the point, the point was Hojo must have spent a lot of time around medicine and flowers. Did that mean he used the medicines a lot too? But for what it wasn't like that human fought at all. Inuyasha doubted he could.
"Inuyasha what wrong?" Kagome asked noticing that the half demon had paused in the shrines doorway.
Inuyasha shook his head. "Nothing I was just wondering why that Hojo kid is here." He said truthfully. Didn't the guy only come here to help Kagome with that school stuff?
"Hojo's Here!" She exclaimed and started running towards the house, Inuyasha followed behind at a more normal pace, glad Kagome left the door open at least. Last time he tried to open it, the knob wouldn't turn and he had yanked to hard. Kagome's mother wasn't happy to see her door had be completely tore off.
He gently pushed the door forward, when he looked in the room his eye's caught Hojo's. The boy smiled happily and Inuyasha was a little confused by the tightening it caused in his chest. "Hey." he mumbled. He wasn't sure where his voice had gone, but it definitely wasn't where it normally existed and the look on the other males face made him feel even more guilty then he was already feeling from making the kid late earlier.
"Are you okay Inuyasha?" Kagome's mother had made her way over to him and started checking him for a fever.
He smacked her hand away, careful not to hurt her. "If I was sick I wouldn't be here. Demon's don't get sick like humans." He stated arrogantly. And walked further into the kitchen standing Behind Kagomes chair, facing Hojo. He looked at the boy again, apparently the guy had been staring and was trying to be sneaky about it, because as soon as he looked up, Hojo looked down to his cup.
"Well if you're being jerk you must be feeling okay." Kagome grumbled shooting the half demon a pointed glare.
"Kagome leave Inuaysha alone. You know just as well as anyone that he's not used to socializing." The older woman said in a cheerier mood then she had been in before the two had walked in the door.
Inuyasha wasn't positive but he could swear that the woman was teasing him. Why did everyone pick on him when he came here. 'at least that old man isn't here throwing useless pieces of paper at me and mumbling gibberish.' He thought wondering where the old man had gone. And the kid for that matter. Usually when he visited Sota would hound him for stories and talk about certain events then the old man would either insult him or put him to work.
Hojo was never here though. Inuyasha looked at the teen again finding him looking at him again. This time though Hojo didn't look away but gave another smile.
The half demon glared at him, suspiciously. "What are you doing here?" He asked earning an angry remark from Kagome and a nervous look from the one he was actually talking to.
"Well I-I dropped off Kagome's homework and Mrs. Higurashi invited me in for tea and made me lunch. Which I appreciated very much." He said looking at the older woman, still smiling.
The woman laughed and patted the boys shoulders. "Any time dear. Feel free to drop by as much as you like, especially when your mother is working. You should be around people outside of school more. " The woman stated in a mothering tone refilling his cup. She tilted her head in thought. "Have you called your mother today?"
Hojo shook his head. "No she has two surgeries today and then she's taking a night shift. I'm not supposed to call unless there is an emergency. She'll call when she has a free moment."
"Maybe you should stay here for the night. I don't feel right letting you go home to an empty house for the rest of the night. I'll go make up the guest room. Meanwhile you could help Kagome study, she's falling behind again."
"Mom!"
The boy nodded ignoring kagomes protest of needing Hojo's help. He knew perfectly well that she was failing a few of the classes. "I'm very grateful. I'll make sure she works hard."
The woman nodded back and gave another soft laugh before leaving the room Kagome going after her. Hojo immediately turned his attention to Inuyasha and smirked. "So Inuyasha. . .Who's Naraku?"
Inuyasha crossed his arms. "It's not important who he his. Not to you anyway. How did you find out about him anyway?"
"I'm not going to say. But you have been hiding things from me and I don't like it."
"What are you? My wife?"
Hojo fought to keep his blush down, failing miserably. "No, but I don't think friends are supposed to lie to each other either. "
Inuyasha stopped glaring for a second and looked away. Did he consider the kid a friend? It would probably explain the reason why he was constantly worried about him. Maybe even why he was wondering about what the human was doing every now and then. But that did make that kid right. If they were friends then Inuyasha shouldn't be keeping Naraku a secret. He didn't want Hojo worrying about Kagome and him.
But, it wasn't right.
Inuyasha growled to himself agitated about it, but took a deep breath before he spoke. "Naraku, is a powerful demon who's trying to get a hold of the jewel. We've been hunting him down for a few years now trying to destroy him. "
Hojo went silent for a minute tapping the cup he was holding with his index finger. "how powerful is he. That is to say, How difficult will it be for you to kill him?"
"If we're not careful, we could be killed in a heart beat. "
"Are you Crazy!" Hojo shouted, shooting up from his seat accidently knocking his tea over. He didn't even hear it when it hit the ground. "Is a jewel really worth your life! Even if it can grant you a wish!"
"it's not about the jewel anymore. It's about bringing down demon who causes nothing but misery and suffering to anyone he comes across." he stated. Finally getting what his own subconscious was trying to bring to the surface.
It wasn't about the Shikon jewel anymore, Not even about the revenge. It was about wiping Naraku from existence before he ruined anymore lives. To protect those who had yet to learn of Naraku.
"But what if you do get killed?" Hojo forced his shouting to go down and was practically hissing at the other. "or kagome? How do you thinkg her mother will feel?"
Looking at the younger male inuyasha shrugged. There wasn't much more he could do. "Kagome's mother is aware of the danger she is in. And I might get on Kagome's case about finding the shards but I'm not going to force her to fight a demon like Naraku. That was her own choice. " He stated watching Hojo get a distant look before looking defeated.
"Nevermind. I understand and you're right. If this other demon is as cruel as you say he is and you feel like you have to stop him, I haven't any right to stop you from doing so." Hojo mumbled. He was truly afraid that something might happen to them. He couldn't be selfish about something like this. If Inuyasha thought he had the power to stop someone and didn't, then Inuyasha would probably blame himself for not giving it a shot in the first place.
"It'll be okay Hojo." Kagome said as she walk into the Kitchen. "Inuyasha is very strong and he's come along way from the careless jerk he used to be. And Sango and Miroku will be there too, and there really all the help we'll need. I'm not going to say the battle will be easy but, I believe we'll pull through. "
Hojo shook his head. "I can't be there physically but, I'll help with whatever I can." He said with a sigh. Right now he felt like he had never pried for answers. But at least know he knew what going on and that there weren't any secrets being covered up. "Come on, Kagome we'll start with your history first and since I'll be here over night, after breakfast we can work on your English assignment."
Hojo ushered Kagome upstairs, listening to Inuyasha snicker at Kagome's misfortune as he trailed behind them. He probably would never get rid of the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach until the whole Naraku thing was over, but he could at least try to be happy. If not for himself, then for the people he cared for. Right?
Like i said sorry about the LONG wait. But If it makes any of you less irritated, I have been thinking up new Ideas for other stories. . .Not going to say anything more about that since most of my Ideas are in that phase were most of the story is floating around in your mind and only small little bits of the plot have made it on paper trying to work out the larger details to see if it would actually work or not. . .Yeah. At one point while I was working on this chapter I was thinking about making a Face Book just for the soul purpose of allowing people who were reading this story to yell at me to hurry up. But then after a nights sleep I didn't think it was such a great idea. lol.
Either way, Imma go make me a burger and find a movie to watch until I pass out from sleepiness.