Disclaimers: I do not own Inuyasha
A/N Man, it's been sooooooooooooooooo long since I updated… Heh enjoy the chapter!
Forest of Purity
Chapter 7. Memories of the past
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Both Kagome and a pouting Inuyasha were soon back on their way home sometime in the late afternoon. The hanyou boy was clad in a red haorie and red hakama outfit, though not woven of the fur of the fire rat they were still clothes. Jinenji had also been kind enough to give the boy his black cloak since it was beyond too small for him. Of course Inuyasha was happy for the gift, but was too stubborn to admit it until Kagome had practically forced it out of him.
"Feh, I still don't think I should go back with you. You're nothin' but a mean old hag.."
Kagome's eye twitched slightly but she held in her anger, "Watch your tongue Inuyasha." 'Why couldn't he stay the same? Why did he have to change? He was so adorable and sweet, and now he's as rude as when I first met him all those years ago..'
.:.:. Flash Back .:.:.
"Look! Isn't that butterfly pretty Inu-kun?" Kagome giggled, pointing at the colourful insect resting on an orange flower.
"Feh, it ain't anything special. I've seen lots of those." Inuyasha huffed.
"Really? It's my first time seeing one like this!" She replied, moving slowly towards it.
"Idiot, if you try to catch it you're gunna kill it. Just leave it alone." He growled, crossing his arms. He leaned further against the tree, enjoying the provided shade, his eyes closed but his ears twitching at every sound.
Kagome carefully placed her fingertip on the flower, scooping up the insect, "Look! It's on my finger Inu-kun! Look! Look!"
One of his eye's opened and he stared at her finger boredly before closing his eye again. "Uh huh, great job Gome-chan."
"Mou, you aren't looking…" She mumbled, the butterfly now deciding to fly away. "Bye bye mister butterfly!" She waved.
"You dummy, it could be a girl ya know."
Kagome blinked, her eyes watering, "D-dummy?"
Inuyasha's eye's shot open at the scent of salt and water. "D-don't cry stupid!" He sat up from his spot in a bit of a panic.
"S-stupid?" She sniffled.
"Baka, baka, baka!" He growled, 'If someone catches her crying like this, they'll really get angry with me!'
"B-baka?" She repeated, catching his full attention now, "I'm no dummy, or stupid, or a baka! Who are you calling a baka you baka!" Kagome suddenly shot back, her anger surprising the hanyou.
He was taken back by this, but grinned weakly before shooting back, "Obviously you, but I guess since I called you a baka, and you called me a baka, then that makes the two of us bakas, baka."
Kagome blinked, cocking her head to the side. She finally let out a giggle, "Both of us are idiots?"
"Yep."
She giggled more, "You're funny Inu-kun!"
"Keh."
She then suddenly stopped giggling, her eyes scanning the area quickly, "I-Inu-kun—!" She stuttered as the wind picked up around them, the element sending cold chills down the girls back. "I—I-I—!"
He leapt over to her quickly and grabbed her, pulling her up into his arms, "I know, I can smell him. There's a demon near by.." 'I have to get her outta here, she just isn't ready to fight yet and I can't juggle protecting and fighting at the same time.'
Dark clouds were slowly coming their way giving the hanyou a very clear sign to leave this field and return to the safety of the village. "Time to go." He announced, leaping away with a semi-terrified girl in his arms.
.:.:. End of Flash Back .:.:.
"Oooooooooooooooooooooooi!" Inuyasha shouted for a second time, finally catching Kagome's full attention, "We've been standing here for quite some time dummy. Are we gunna move anytime soon? 'Cause I could get there faster by myself than with a slow ningen like you." He grumbled out.
Kagome blinked and then growled in an inhuman way, glaring at the small boy and finding herself mentally asking why she went to the trouble of bringing him back. "Inuyasha.." She hissed, sending icy cold chills down the child's back.
The hanyou had been frozen in place, his ears not even moving an inch, 'Shit, oh shit, oh shit…'
'You're in trouble now kid. Way to piss off a fuckin' miko.. Dumbass..'
'Shut up! You weren't any help either! You.. You put these words in my head and made me like this!' The little hanyou mentally fought back, cringing as he heard Kagome turn and step closer to him.
Suddenly both their heads had shot towards the side, the wind picking up quite a bit. This feeling that swept over the two, was far too familiar, even for the small hanyou. Kagome on the other hand, knew exactly what it was, or rather, who it was.
'It's… But why?'
.:.:. Flash .:.:.
She then suddenly stopped giggling, her eyes scanning the area quickly, "I-Inu-kun—!" She stuttered as the wind picked up around them, the element sending cold chills down the girls back. "I—I-I—!"
He leapt over to her quickly and grabbed her, pulling her up into his arms, "I know. I can smell him. There's a demon near by.." 'I have to get her outta here, she just isn't ready to fight yet and I can't juggle protecting and fighting at the same time.'
Dark clouds were slowly coming their way giving the hanyou a very clear sign to leave this field and return to the safety of the village. "Time to go." He announced, leaping away with a semi-terrified girl in his arms.
.:.:. Flash .:.:.
"Inuyasha, you know the way back, hurry and go." Kagome swiftly ordered, beginning to walk towards the direction of the dark aura.
Inuyasha bit his lip, then began to follow, "No."
"Inuyasha this is no time for your silly attitude. Go back now, you need to stay away." Kagome nearly shouted.
"What are you going to do? You don't have a bow or arrows—"
"And who's fault might that be I wonder?"
"—So you need my help!"
"You're too young and he's too powerful! If he knows what happened to you then we might be in serious danger and I don't need you to be spotted by him. You must hide Inuyasha." Kagome replied fiercely, stopping dead in her tracks.
The boy stopped as well, "B-but—"
She slightly turned her head to him, giving him a lop sided smile "Go, Inuyasha. I'll be fine."
The golden-eyed boy hesitantly nodded his head, and then bowed it, shading his eyes. "Just.. Just don't get hurt!!" He shouted, leaping away.
Kagome nodded to herself before breaking into a run for the outskirts of the barrier. Her powers are stronger now than what they were several years ago, but the question is, are they strong enough to withstand the almighty Lord of the West? The barrier surrounding this forest has never once failed her. Especially since she has a trump card on her side that carries extreme powers that also already boost her own by a small portion.
'Is he here for the same reasons as he was then? Or does he truly believe that hanyou's are still as worthless as dirt..' She thought to herself. 'I suppose I'll find out soon enough.'
.:.:. Outside the Barrier .:.:.
'The scent of blood and magic end here.' He concluded, then narrowed his golden eyes to further inspect the area, 'A barrier? It seems to be fairly large at that..' He thought as demonic winds ruffled his clothing and fur tail behind him. 'Is it possible that this is the hidden location of the lost treasure?'
"Hmph, ridiculous. Such a power does not exist unless it is made purely of demon hide such as the Legendary Fang of Destruction." He muttered carelessly, 'Surely the fool didn't leave its power in such a trivial place, did he?' He mentally questioned himself knowing full and well that the foolish hanyou would do such a stupid thing. 'Pathetic.'
His fur had then sprung on end as he felt a surging purifying power coming from within the barrier and approaching him at a great pace. "A miko perhaps?"
"No dark youkai may approach this forest without losing its life." Came a warning from within the barrier.
'A woman dares to warn me of danger?' He mentally growled, "Surely you can see I am no ordinary youkai, miko. Your warning means nothing to me." He began to walk towards the forest, his face void of all emotions.
A burst of purifying power had been released from the barrier, the youkai dodging it with ease, "Back away Sesshoumaru-sama, unless you wish to lose your life." She announced. The miko despised speaking so formally, but she had no other choice. To be seen as someone of great power, one needs to know the proper language. She would much rather prefer being with Shippou, Kouga, and especially Inuyasha, speaking in normal friendly tones as opposed to this.
He stopped and glared at the forest and the semi shadowed figure hidden within it, "You know who I am and yet you still try to strike fear into me? You are as foolish as my half breed brother, and yet I recall such foolishness from another time." His claws began to glow, "Yes, I remember it now… The Legendary Priestess of The Forest of Purity, Higurashi Kagome. It seems my brother led me to its secret location. Interesting.. Nonetheless, you are hereby ordered to surrender my brother and the Tetsusaiga or I will be obliged to use force."
"Your request has been denied. I cannot entrust his care to a youkai that wishes his death." Kagome replied back, revealing herself fully to Sesshoumaru, yet still remaining behind the barrier.
He grunted and made a break for the barrier, a poison whip forming from his claws out. Of course this youkai ability had no true effect on the barrier and he was obliged to use his actual claws to try and pierce through the wall of power. A few burn marks later, Sesshoumaru stood on the outside of the forest, his face still void of emotions as he stared down at his hands, 'I don't recall her forming such a strong barrier in the past…' He glared up at her, her figure not showing any form of strain from the barrier.
.:.:. Flash Back .:.:.
"Concentrate Kagome-sama, you have the power to protect us all!" Kikyo insisted, trying to teach Kagome of her purifying ability. Kikyo was oddly mature for her age and far too serious, but that was only due to her own master and parents.
"I'm trying Kikyo-chan!" Kagome whimpered as she kept doing her best to keep the barrier up around the village.
Low growls formed in the hanyou's throat as he watched Kikyo push Kagome into using her abilities. To do something like that at a time like this was not a good idea, especially not with such a dark aura heading their way. It should be the head priestess forming a barrier, not a small child. He snorted in disgust but then his nose finally caught the scent of the one approaching. "Oh no.." He mumbled, his body quivering slightly. Before he could shout at them to run away, a long poisonous whip had shot out from the depth of the forest, shattering the barrier instantly.
Kagome screamed and fell to her knees, tears pouring out from her eyes, "M-my—"
As the whip was heading to hit the girl, the hanyou had appointed himself her official protector. He had been at her side in a heartbeat and had hauled her away in seconds, the whip striking the ground rather than her face.
"I-Inu-kun!" She stuttered in awe.
"I gotta get you to safety before Sesshoumaru hurts you." Inuyasha told her, knowing full and well that golden eyes were following his every move.
"Pathetic ingrid.."
.:.:. End of Flash Back .:.:.
'Of course the girl was much younger.. However for her powers to have increased this much in a short amount of time is rather unbelievable.' He glared up at the girl, his icy eyes having no affect on her. "If you do no surrender my half breed brother, then I will have no choice but to use my Tokijin."
She flinched, 'I've heard of the sword.. A blade so dark that not even the purest man or woman can bare to touch it.' She held out her hand to reinforce the barrier, 'But I'm different.'
Sesshoumaru snorted and began to withdraw his blade. Dark purple sparks instantly began to spike out of the blade as he withdrew the Tokijin. Clouds of dark aura above the youkai encircled him as the winds blew his robes fiercely, his tail leaving a trail behind him.
"No! You won't stand a chance Gome-chan! Run!"
Kagome gasped, hearing the child's voice, the one she had strictly told to hide away and never come out. 'No, Inuyasha you idiot!' She yearned to yell, but she could not find her voice.
Sesshoumaru ceased his movements, his eyes narrowing on a small form a few feet away from Kagome. 'Strange.. That boy..'
The miko remained frozen in place, knowing that there were no secrets hidden away from the youkai lord any longer. 'Either he's going to be very angry and want to kill us, or he's going to be thrilled at how easy it will be to kill us..' She thought, 'Either way, the situation is not good.'
'But he also can't pass through the barrier,' A tiny voice mentally pointed out.
"What is the meaning of this? The boy carries the scent of the half breed and yet I know Inuyasha is much older than this," Sesshoumaru announced coolly, his hand never leaving the handle of his Tokijin.
"Feh, and you call yourself a full demon! You're nothin' but a—"
'What do you think you're doing kid? Do you want him to kill you?'
"F-feh! Inuyasha is my father dumbass, so go away already."
Kagome flinched, beads of sweat rolling down her face, 'Inuyasha is being very reckless..'
"Whatever the case boy, hand over the Tetsusaiga or the woman will be killed."
Kagome bit her lip to keep from shouting a remark, "What makes you think we have it? Inuyasha might have hidden it elsewhere."
"Impossible, the scent of the blade and my brother leads to these woods. Now return the blade to this Sesshoumaru." The youkai's patience was beginning to grow thin. His eyes were filling with annoyance and anger and his blade continued to spark with power.
'There's no way in hell you're takin' my sword jackass!'
"There's no way in hell you're takin' my sword jackass!" Yelled both hanyous, the older Inuyasha's voice just barely mixing with the younger boys. It sounded almost like an echo, and yet if Kagome weren't standing next to him, she would have probably not caught onto the two voices.
'What was that just now? I know I heard… Inuyasha..' She thought, her eyes shifting from the small figure to the dark one standing a few yards away.
There was nothing but silence between them. The demonic winds were the only sounds heard as they rustled the long grass in the field before the forest. Sesshoumaru merely narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the small child before sheathing his sword. "Hmph, ridiculous." He muttered, turning around to leave.
'Where is he going? Isn't he going to fight?' Kagome wanted to question, her eyebrows creasing in confusion.
"Do not mistaken this as a truce, miko. I can see he is in good hands and will shortly return to himself. However know this, as soon as he does transform back into the mongrel he is, I will return to claim the Tetsusaiga." He announced, beginning to stride away.
"Why aren't you going to try to take it now?" Kagome blurted, instantly regretting opening her mouth.
"There is no honour in taking The Great Dog Demons fang from a mere child." Sesshoumaru answered so quietly, that the miko had almost missed it.
Then he was gone, his demonic clouds dispersing to reveal a wonderful blue afternoon sky. Kagome's tensed up shoulders soon relaxed and she let out a breath of relief just as Inuyasha had. They had both exchanged glances before cracking smiles. 'Thank kami..' Kagome thought as she held out her hand to the nine year old. He had surprisingly taken her hand and they had both walked back to her hut in silence, enjoying each others company and both deathly glad they were still alive and in one piece.
As soon as they arrived back home, a little fox kit had instantly jumped into Kagome's arms. His emerald eyes were big and held unshed tears of worry, "Kagome! Are you okay?! I-I could feel a r-real bad aura!!" He cried, strangely feeling his body get pulled away from the girl to face dark golden pools of anger. "In-Inuyasha!"
He grunted, curling his fist and punching the poor kit so hard he went flying to the back of the hut. "That's for tricking me ya damn brat!"
"Inuyasha." Kagome scolded.
"Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie! Kagome! Inuyasha hit meeee!" Shippou sniffled.
"There's more where that came from fox!" Shouted the hanyou, leaping at the kit, snatching him by the collar of his shirt and dragging him out of the hut. Kagome blinked dumbly before quickly following to scold him to stop. However, she arrived too late. Inuyasha had already twirled the fox kit and launched him into the depth of the forest.
The dog demon grinned, twitching one of his ears back as he heard the miko approach. He knew she was angry, but he was even angrier at the fox kit and would gladly argue with the girl if she thought his tactics were far too mean.
"He did deserve that." Kagome mused, "But you do know we're going to have to find him later."
"Feh, not for awhile we don't."
"Inuyasha." She said in a warning tone.
He stiffened, "F-fine. We'll go now." He grunted, not finding enough will to fight back with her. Though its not like she was angry at him for throwing the kit. She actually did seem okay with it. The thought made him secretly smile as they searched for the kit, soon finding him stuck in a tree, his eyes filled with dizziness.
'The wench has grown up. Heh, I was right to come here.. And I'm glad I am here. She's the only one I ever trusted.. And I.. I still… Kagome..'
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A/N I'm back and fully loaded! It took me awhile to get back into my groove, but I'm here now. After I post this chapter I'm going to go straight to working on my other fic of Zombie-Loan. I missed writing and so I look forward to continuing this fic and for receiving your reviews! Toodles!
Inu: So lets review the plan.
Mir: Right. First we dump this bucket of honey on the dude right when he walks out of the ice cream place with Sango.
Inu: Then we let the feathers go.
Mir: He looks like a chicken.
Inu: Goes to his car and finds his tires slashed.
Mir: And I, being the gentleman that I am, will come out of nowhere in my car, seeing Sango in distress and in need of a ride home.
Inu: So you'll take her home, kiss the girl, and end the date on a high note.
Kag: There's one problem with that, boys.
-Inu and Miroku turn around in bushes- : Busted..
Kag: Sango called earlier saying she spotted you two spying on her. So I'm here to take you morons home.
Inu: Shit.
Mir: And here I thought we were so stealth..
Kag: -growls- Start marching boys.
Moi: Too bad they were caught, I would have liked to see what happened to the poor guy. Well, R&R!
