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Safety Not Guaranteed

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"I mean, I totally can't believe I'm gunna get to see those attacks on Monday," Raiden chirped happily as they walked across the expansive campus towards the training arena, "And I'm getting to fight with you tonight? This is the best day ever!"

"Calm down, kid," Inuyasha snorted as he rolled his eyes, "You can probably hold your own. You've never seen me fight."

"No but if you bested my dad, then you've gotta be badass," Raiden retorted with a happy sigh, "I've seen him fight."

"How old are you?" Inuyasha asked suddenly as he glanced at the boy. Given what he'd learned about Japanese history, there wouldn't be a reason for hand to hand combat in over a century.

"Four hundred give or take a few decades," Raiden replied casually before adding quickly as though he wanted to impress his new friend, "I've done a bunch of stuff. We moved to America like around the start of the eighteen hundreds so I went to California during the Gold Rush. I've done some ranching work - ya know, leading cattle trains and stuff like a good ole cowboy. Man, but let me tell you this bullshit, so Americans really hated Chinese people for a long ass time and we just kinda got looped into that nonsense. Had a hard time finding work for a while. And then the World Wars happened and I signed up for that. Half of the tribe went to the wilderness of Canada for a hot minute 'cause of the Japanese internment camps. Couldn't really get looked into - ya know- with how hard the government was looking at everyone and demons especially needed to stay off the radar. The rest just changed their documents to say they were Native American."

He paused momentarily and shuddered before giving Inuyasha a guilty grimace, "I fought for the Americans during the Second World War just so ya know. Just...I didn't agree with the Japanese even though it's my mother country. There isn't one master race. That's such bullshit. Even between humans and demons man. One isn't better than the other. They each have a lot to offer."

Sensing Inuyasha's unease, Raiden began adding quickly with a nervous chuckle, "So, anyway, demons had their own regiments. They sent us into the front lines a bunch. Wasn't pretty. But after that, I just kinda went to school. I've got degrees in biochemical engineering, physics, secondary education, agriculture, biology - obviously, civil engineering, and, uh, mechanical engineering. But I wanted to do something more physical. Sitting in a lab wasn't really doing it for me. I wanted to get out there and so I applied here."

'Damn, I don't even know what half that shit is and here I am barely able to read. No wonder all those assholes look down on me,' Inuyasha thought morosely as his face fell and he slowed down his pace, 'So what if I can fight. If Raiden has all that education, I can't even imagine...'

"Hey! Don't look so down all of a sudden," Raiden sighed as he slowed down and nudged Inuyasha, "I didn't say that to make you feel bad. I mean, you've gotta have a bunch of degrees too, huh?"

Shaking his head, Inuyasha felt like crawling under a rock and dying a slow painful death, "Nah kid. I just...I don't have any formal education."

"Oh," Raiden said - his face falling incrementally as he cocked his head to the side and reached out to stop him, "Something happened. People think you died. You show up here in the middle of training. You don't have the education they require to even apply. How did you get here? It wasn't a favor, right?"

Opening his mouth before shutting it, Inuyasha struggled with himself for a moment - trying not to notice how crushed the boy looked upon realizing that everyone was probably right about him. No matter how annoying Raiden could be, he didn't want the one person who talked to him to suddenly abandon him. Sighing heavily, Inuyasha scratched the back of his head before glancing around to make sure no one was listening, "You can't tell anyone. Got that?"

Nodding enthusiastically, Raiden listened with baited breath as he gave Inuyasha a once over. Sighing heavily, Inuyasha explained about the well, about Naraku, about why he suddenly appeared and Raiden's grin kept growing and growing and growing until he finally clapped him on the back.

"That is the most amazing thing I've ever heard," Raiden enthused - barely containing his excitement, "You fucking time traveled. That's awesome! OH! It all makes perfect sense. Of course, Sesshomaru would give you a way to support yourself you time traveler you. He's your brother and damn, I'd give you a job after what you just told me. You've got all sorts of skills none of us here could even imagine. You've got them survival skills. I can tell you feel bad after all I said - sorry for giving you my resume man, just a nervous talker - but shit, you've got no reason to feel bad and well, I'd be happy to help you with any homework or whatever if you want and one day I'm sure you'll have just as many degrees as me. I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to but damn, that's a way better back story than mine. Now let's go beat the crap out of each other. This'll be good."

Inuyasha gave Raiden a once over and sighed - wanting to believe that the boy was telling the truth. While still feeling inadequate, Inuyasha decided he'd just let it go. Raiden was right. One day - if Sesshomaru got his way - he'd be just as educated as everyone else here. He'd prove himself. It was just a matter of time.

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As Kagome snuggled closer to Inuyasha's body, she let out a content sigh and smiled softly. It amused her how easily he fell asleep when he had always bragged about half-demons not needing as much sleep as humans. Yet here he was dead to the world - the only sign he was still alive was the gentle rise and fall of his chest against her cheek. He had come home with a smile - something that hadn't happened in the whole time he'd been going to training. Apparently Monday he was to give an exhibition of his sword wielding skills - something she was surprised hadn't happened yet but something for which she was grateful- and he'd made a friend. He hadn't told her so much directly but she knew recognition meant a lot to him. It bothered him - she imagined - that people were still giving him a hard time because of who he was. His sensitive ears hearing all the harsh words she imagined were being thrown around as he performed the same mundane task over and over. But at least he wasn't alone any longer and, as she looked into his peacefully sleeping face, she couldn't help but feel her heart swell with happiness. He was here. After so long, after so much heartbreak, he was here. Those five years just seemed like a nightmare now. It couldn't have been easy for him either - although he refused to talk about it very often. He didn't want to have to think about it and she couldn't blame him. All that mattered was the present.

Stirring slightly - as though he felt her eyes on him, InuYasha grumbled incoherently as he wrapped his arms a little tighter around her before settling back down. She remembered a time when he'd fallen asleep on her bed so long ago. Maybe it was that he felt safe that made him relax enough. It must've been difficult to live so long on his own. Always having to be vigilant in a world where everyone wanted to kill him. Here he didn't have that fear. And that apparently made all the difference. Reaching up, she gently traced the edges of one of his ears which twitched under her touch and earned a mild growl from her husband.

"Either rub it or leave it alone," came a tired mumble as golden eyes blinked sluggishly down at her, "Woman, I was tryin' to sleep."

Smiling sheepishly up at him, Kagome merely took the soft flesh between her thumb and forefinger earning a happy sigh as InuYasha scooted down to give her easier access - a low rumble growing in his chest as he nuzzled hers. It never ceased to amaze him that this was his life now. A life where he was loved. Where he felt safe. Where the woman of his dreams would massage those ears and send him into a state of pure bliss. Touching his ears in such a way had one of two reactions. One, he'd feel incredibly drowsy and relaxed or two, incredibly aroused. Given the circumstances, the former was winning the day although the second was trying to make itself known as well. Struggling to stay awake, he snuggled deeper into her embrace and let out a happy sigh. Life was never more perfect than in that moment. He could lie here forever.

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"Have you noticed anyone guarding her?" the elderly man sighed as he adjusted himself in his favorite armchair, "I assure you they will be just as skilled at hiding their aura. There can be no mistakes."

The blonde haired man shook his head before sighing, "Haven't noticed anyone but the girl doesn't suspect me. She's a pretty thing. Wouldn't mind playing with her."

"In time," the elderly man chortled, "Find a way to isolate her. To make her trust you. If what you're saying is true, you're probably bringing too much attention to yourself. Making yourself a suspect should she disappear."

"He's very possessive of her from reports," the blonde haired man acknowledged sagely, "I doubt she'd told him of me or else he'd be banging down my door."

"Don't give her a reason to tell him," the elderly man chided, "Just stick with our plan."