Taking Over Me
Summary- He couldn't remember, She couldn't forget. He was hers...He just didn't know it yet, and neither did she. KagomeXYoukoXKurama
Disclaimer- I don't own Inuyasha or Yu yu hakusho, The honor belongs to the Authors: Rumiko Takashi and Yoshihiro Togashi.
Chapter Eight: Lost and Found
Inuyasha paced and grumbled.
Grumbling as he paced. Cursing, looking at the rising sun, and grumbling some more.
Kikyou didn't have to look at him to know what he was doing. He was still her Inuyasha.
Ever impatient, tempermental, foul mouthed, lovable hanyou. She thought fondly.
It wouldn't be long now.
"Damn it, Kikyou! What's taking so long?! Kagome is out there somewhere, lost or bleeding! We can't just sit around!"
Ah, there it was.
Kikyou didn't bother to open her eyes or even shift from her lotus position. Her voice remained cool, calm; collected.
"Hush Inuyasha. I need quiet. I must concentrate."
He practically exploded.
"Hush?! Be quiet?! What the hell are you concentrating on? We need to find Kagome!"
Why the hell was she just sitting there? Why was it taking so long?
Kikyou resisted letting out an irritated sigh as her reincarnation was prone to do. No doubt their shared soul was also sharing a bit of eachother's characteristics. Perhaps she could explain to Inuyasha. She mused. "My reincarnation are connected, are we not?" Inuyasha let out a soft 'feh' as if to say 'duh'. "Yeah. By your soul."
"Indeed," Kikyou continued. "Because of this connection, we are able to feel each other. To sense when the other is near, and if concentrated on hard enough; we can feel emotions the other feels." Shocked silence was her response. She was not surprised.
"So, you can feel what Kagome feels?" Kikyou opened her eyes to stare hard into his. "Do not assume that just because I am capable of such a feat, that it means I do so at any time. My reincarnation she may be, but she does have a right to her own privacy, Inuyasha. I will not invade it unnecessarily." Inuyasha looked pensive. Mayhap he thought she would no longer help him having this been said.
"Do not be discouraged. I will still aid you in your time of need," Kikyou tried to soothe. "This time it is necessary. Our bond has been blocked somehow. The girl must either be too far away, blocked by some sort of magical means, or both." Inuyasha looked alarmed. Ah, it seems she was still rusty with soothing away worries.
Kikyou closed her eyes and looked deep within herself. Finding the thin silvery strand that was their shared soul, she looked deeper. There. It stopped at some point, trailing away into darkness before disappearing. Kikyou tried to reach out into the darkness only to be repelled. A barrier. She pulled back.
Very well, if I cannot go in, I will pull her out.
Kikyou took the strand into invisible hands and did what she thought was right.
It will hurt, girl. Perhaps you more than I. For that I must apologize.
She pulled on it with all her might.
O.o.O
Kagome sat up from her peaceful sleep with a scream of pure agony. Startled awake, Youko shot up. Hovering over her as she writhed in pain from something he could not see... Youko didn't know what to do. "Kagome?" He tried to catch her attention. Her eyes snapped open. Youko shuddered. They were so lifeless, so horribly blank. Her mouth moved with a soundless scream. "Kagome!" He took her by the shoulders and shook her.
Suddenly, her scream was loud in his ears. "Kagome, you must wake up! Look at me!" He grabbed her face and forced her to look into his eyes. Still hers were eerily blank. Having no idea what to do, he did what he did best. He lowered his face to hers, his hair pooling around them in a silver halo. "Forgive me, but I don't know what to do." He murmured before swooping down and claiming her lips.
At first she was unresponsive, screaming into his mouth until he pressed harder. Suddenly she was kissing him back. Softly, hesitantly. She pulled away, her eyes confused. "Youko?" She looked around them in awe. Youko looked up, his own eyes widening in surprise. His aura had let loose with his fear for her safety, wrapping around hers and coaxing it into a comforting swirl of purple and silvery green.
Regretfully letting her slip from his embrace, Youko pulled his power back into himself and away from hers. Kagome sighed and looked down into her lap. Youko tipped her chin up with a clawed finger. "What happened?" He looked so concerned, so serious.
Kagome shook her head, her expression as helpless as she felt. "I don't know. I woke up to this feeling... A horrible tugging on my soul."
She placed a hand over her heart.
Youko looked pensive.
"Who is Kikyou?"
Kagome's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "How do you know that name?" She whispered.
"You were screaming it."
O.o.O
"Kikyou!"
Inuyasha leapt over to the fallen miko, gripping her by the shoulders and helping her to sit up. She raised a hand to touch her pounding head. "What happened?" She murmured. "That's what I'd like to know!" He growled. "One minute you were just sittin' there and all of the sudden there was this flash of light that blasted you across the clearing!" Inuyasha pulled her closer, his golden eyes warm in a way that made her uncomfortable. "Kikyou," He whispered softly, "Are you okay?"
She brushed him off and stood, walking a few feet to get her bearings.
Inuyasha watched, hurt.
She couldn't stand it when he looked at her like that. Just like... When I was alive. Kikyou mused with a sad frown.
Kikyou shook her head, pushing such wistful thoughts away. Now was not the time, if ever.
"The girl is protected against my interference." She finally spoke.
Inuyasha scowled. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
O.o.O
"What do you mean, reincarnation? How could that be possible? Does reincarnation not take hundreds of years?" Youko's eyes were shining with curiosity. Kagome wanted to groan. He sure knew how to ask questions. Straight to the point, this one.
Kagome stared at him hard. Should she tell him? Share her secret, risk her family? What if he couldn't be trusted? Youko felt the sudden urge to shrink away from her weighted stare. What could she be looking for? Did he measure up or would she find him lacking?
Youko shivered with dread. He hadn't felt this way in a long time. So desperate for approval. Not since... Father. His eyes darkened. That is the past. He pushed those dark memories away.
At last she sighed.
"It's possible because I'm not from this time."
O.o.O
"We don't have time for this!" Inuyasha growled. Kikyou glanced behind at him with an annoyed frown. "Be that it may, Inuyasha, we cannot go much faster. I must focus on her signature with everything I have just to lead us in the correct direction. If you continue to complain in such a childish manner I will not help you at all!" Her eyes flashed with her anger as she spoke, making Inuyasha flinch back out of habit.
She wore the same look Kagome did just before she sat him. "Keh," he muttered sullenly.
He hated when he got that look. It made his back ache thinking about it.
Kikyou gave in an let out a frustrated sigh.
"She is no longer that young girl that needed your protection so dearly."
Inuyasha's ears drooped, his eyes taking on such a pained expression that Kikyou realized he had already come to this conclusion himself. It just didn't hurt any less when someone else said it to your face. The very thing you had been dreading from the start.
"With Keade's training and yes; even a little help from myself, she has grown exponentially stronger. Though I am reluctant to say such, she may now possess greater power than my own." Kikyou smiled a bitter smile.
Indeed. Kagome was now much stronger than Kikyou had been when she was alive. Had she been properly trained most of her life, perhaps she would be along the lines of Midoriko in strength. Kikyou shook her head. Now was not the time to get lost in her thoughts.
"Come, Inuyasha, we must continue. Being that the girl is from a different time, it would be disastrous should she fall into demon hands. Who knows what secrets she holds."
Inuyasha cursed, bounding after her and swinging her into his arms without a thought.
"Inuyasha!" Kikyou exclaimed, startled.
"Keh!"
O.o.O
Youko stared blankly. "...The future?" He leaned close and stared at her so intently Kagome wondered if he could see the blood as it rushed to her face. "That is so..."
Kagome shifted uncomfortably. Did I just make a mistake? She worried.
He grabbed her by her shoulders. "Fantastic!" Kagome squeaked as he lifted her up and spun her around. He set her back on her feet and gripped her hands. "What is the future like? You must tell me! How far into the future are you?" Kagome gave a bashful smile at all this awestruck attention. Whenever she talked about the future to Inuyasha...
Well, let's just say he was more interested in the ramen she brought him.
"You really want to know?" She asked, peeking through her lashes at him.
Youko paused. She seemed surprised. Did no one else find the vast amount of knowledge she may possess of any importance?
He took the chance to examine her scent and facial expressions as she fiddled with a thin piece of silk from his bedding.
He sniffed discretely in her direction. No need to make her feel selfconcious.
Surprise, that was a given. Also, sadness. A sadness that spoke of old wounds. Perhaps this Inuyasha she mentioned when she first awoke was the cause of this. Then there was the pleasure at his response to her secret.
Youko leaned back with a grin and took in her facial expression.
...Response. Oh!
He could see her face dropping with disappointment the longer he went without responding to her question.
Her shoulders already drooping with dejection.
"I do." He said simply. Keep it simple. Don't overwhelm her. There were so many things he wanted to know!
So much he wanted to ask her. Deep breath! Patience.
Keep calm, Youko. Don't scare her.
"If it isn't too intrusive, would you tell me about the future?" He asked politely when all he really wanted to do was scoop her up in his arms, plop her in his lap and moan tell me everything.
He was awarded with a breathtaking smile. Seriously, she needed to stop smiling like that right now or their injuries be damned.
"Where should I start?" She said with a bashful laugh, staring at her hands twisting the silk in her lap.
Youko flashed his third most charming grin. "Tell me about your family?" He almost purred as he leaned in jumped at how close his voice sounded, surprised to see him pressed hip to hip against her when just a second ago he was sitting across from her. "..How did you?" She didn't even hear him move.
He smiled, all fangs and teeth. "I'm a fox, my dear. It's what I do."
Kagome laughed. "I guess I should be used to it." She mused, thinking of Shippou.
Youko narrowed his eyes. Ah yes, that other fox she mentioned.
The competition.
"Well," Youko shook competitive thoughts away as she started to speak. "I guess I should start with my mama. I don't know what I would do without her. If I get a chance to go home, she always greets me with a smile, a hot bath and a warm meal."
Youko could almost feel the shift in her emotions as she started to talk about her family. Her eyes had this warmth to them they didn't have before. The fondness of family. Youko gave a sympathetic smile. He missed his mother too.
"Sometimes, if I'm lucky she'll be making my favorite. I think we're almost connected. It's as if she just knows when I'm coming home. I asked her once how she did it. You know what she said?" Youko shook his head, drawn in as she talked.
Kagome gave a wistful smile."She said she could just feel it. That it felt right. I would be coming home that day, so of course she had to make preparations for my arrival."
Kagome sighed, looking up at him with misty eyes. "Then there's my brother Souta. He's younger than me but every time I go back I feel as if I've missed important parts of his life. He's growing up so fast. The last time I went home, he was going out on a date with his girlfriend. A date!" Youko stared down at her, a little confused as to what a date was but considering the way she acted about it and the mention of another female he took it as the human version of courting.
"He doesn't have much time for his big sister anymore, I think. With school and friends, not to mention his girlfriend, I rarely see him when I'm there. He misses me, though." Kagome frowned. "I can tell. Sometimes, when he thinks I'm asleep he'll crawl in to bed with me and cry. I know whenever Inuyasha shows up he begs him to tell him stories of our adventures. I just wish Inuyasha would leave out the bad parts." As if an old habit, her hand strayed to her hip, rubbing at it like an old bruise that still ached.
"He hugged me last time I was there. This long, desperate hug. Like he would never see me again." Kagome blinked as tears dripped from her lashes. "He told me to be safe. Please be safe and come back soon. I could feel him crying."
Kagome looked up as Youko slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. She sniffled, trying to hold back her tears.
Instantly she was enveloped in his scent.
God, he smelled really good. Like...
"Roses," Kagome murmured, hiding her face in his chest. "Hm?" Youko rumbled, combing careful claws through her hair.
Kagome blushed. "You smell like roses."
Youko smiled. "You were telling me about your family?" He'd show her later.
Kagome blinked, "Oh. W-where was I?" She stammered as Youko buried his nose in her hair.
"Your brother, Souta." Youko supplied, taking in slow pulls of her scent.
"Right, Souta." Kagome murmured, more relaxed as she felt the gentle graze of his claws on her scalp. "He was so annoying when he was younger, such a scaredy cat. I guess you could say he's the reason I'm here. I mean, if it weren't for him being too scared to go into the well house to look for our cat, I wouldn't be here." Kagome peeked up at him through her lashes, flustered to see those intense gold eyes staring back at her. "I wouldn't have met my friends," she paused. "Or you."
Youko preened. "Then, If I ever meet him in the future I shall give him my thanks."
At that Kagome frowned. "But what if you don't make it to my time?"
Youko tensed. "What do you mean?" Kagome sighed, wishing she didn't have to tell him this part. "I've never sensed youkai in my time, Youko. What.. What if demonkind doesn't survive?" Youko bristled, almost snapping that of course demonkind would survive, how dare she insult him when he noticed the look on her face.
She was genuinely heart broken about it. Of course, she must have demon friends.
That Inuyasha, the other fox she mentioned, perhaps more.
Youko sighed and rested his chin on her head. "Don't worry," He soothed, continuing his slow comb through her hair."Demonkind won't give up that easily. Besides," He tipped her chin up to look at him, "With me on their side how could we possibly lose?" He boasted, turning his nose up in the air to seem haughty. Kagome gave a soft giggle.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Youko could almost sigh in relief. He'd do anything to keep her from crying. To keep her scent warm and happy. Unburdened by the bitter tang of sadness, the metallic taste of fear. Even if it meant making a fool of himself. He, the one who valued his reputation so much, would do whatever it took.
Kami, what was she doing to him?
"Now," Youko drawled. "Continue. Tell me about the rest of your family." Kagome leaned against him, brushing her fingers against silver strands as they spilled over his shoulder and into her lap.
"Last, but not the least, there's my grandpa. Now here's a crazy old gramps,"
Youko leaned his chin on her head as she told him tales of her family.
He blinked and looked down as he felt gentle tugging on his hair. Kagome was twirling small locks of his hair around her fingers as she talked, seemingly unaware she was even doing it,
Youko smiled.
He'd let her figure it out.
Amarioko: Um, hi. Yes, I know I'm a terrible person. It keeps me awake at night. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Mighta been a little misty eyed when she talked about Souta. I try to put my own emotions into what I'm writing. Anyway, I'm so sorry it's been so long but I've been working so hard lately that all I do when I get home is eat dinner and crash into my bed. Also, I just recently finished season 2 of Teen wolf and I am addicted to Sterek. Ugh, the feelz guys! I know that's no excuse but I am sorry! On a brighter note, I will be updating this story more. I'm gonna finish this one, if nothing else! I promise. OTL
