Inuyasha (manga and anime) belong to Takahashi-san


The Journey Home – Chapter Twenty Eight

A large crowd stood around a young woman in strange clothing and a boy in a youkai exterminator's outfit. Each person held a small fan, rapidly fanning the foul smelling smoke into a medium sized hut. While a middle aged couple waited in anticipation, praying that their home would be safe soon and that their son would no longer be cursed.

It had been about two or three days ago when he suddenly collapsed after he had heard news of his engagement to a local village girl.

They never knew that their wonderful news would be that shocking.

But after several hours of nervous amusement, it was natural that they began to panic and panic they did. And of course the parents of the girl to be married were naturally offended that the man would find it so amusing to collapse in a horrid way after he had been told the news. Their daughter was not that ugly.

It was fortunate though that the young miko and youkai exterminator had passed by through the village that prevented an all out war between the families. The distraction caused by the miko's strange kimono had caused the anger to die away replaced by curiosity. And next to strange woman stood an equally strange man who said that someone in the village had been cursed and threw a pouch of something into the hut. A few moments later a foul smelling smoke oozed out of the cracks of the hut, causing the man to quickly cover his nose.

And now most of the villagers stood outside the hut waiting in excitement and increasing anxiety.

"Is it nearly ready yet Kohaku-kun?" Kagome asked behind her mask.

The boy nodded, readied his kusari-gama, and ran quickly in towards the hut with Kagome following close behind. They entered the house cautiously, scanning the room for any suspicious activity.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Except for the smell and the young miko felt giddy as the smoke tried to reach her nostrils.

Kagome felt the power of the Shikon fragment grow stronger as they continued to walk towards the sliding door. Kohaku slid the door gently to peer into the room.

There lay a young man under the futon covers. His complexion was very pale, his face relaxed and oblivious to his surroundings. He appeared to be dead and the colour of his face was not a good sign. Creeping closer towards the unconscious man, Kagome sighed in relief when she saw the slight up and down movement of his chest from under the covers.

Scanning the body of the man, Kagome sensed the soft dark glow from the jewel coming from under the covers.

"There I see it!" She said as she crept towards the man.

The futon covers began to move and Kagome could hear a sinister hissing noise coming from the same spot. The miko narrowed her eyes in determination, threw back the covers and immediately she could feel a surge of jyaki emanating from the man.

"Come out if you don't want to be hurt!"

The hissing only grew louder, added with a cruel laugh.

"As if you can hurt me human, I have the power of the Shikon no Tama!" It sneered, as the spirit raised itself from the body. It was a weasel-like youkai, although its fur was darkened by the energies flowing from the jewel, and its fangs dripped with a tainted purple liquid.

It wasn't a very pleasant sight. Kagome was thankful that Inuyasha had used that powder to immobilise the youkai, which was trying to escape from the exterminators. It lashed out, narrowly missing the people as they jumped out of its way.

Kohaku raised his kusari-gama and struck it at the weasel, it screamed in agony as its flesh was sliced by cold steel, and the youkai disintegrated into dust.

In the pile of ashes lay a single shard of the jewel, still glowing darkly. Kagome picked it up and examined it for a while. She could feel the purifying energy being transferred to the tiny jewel, and it began to glow a beautiful rose colour.

Kagome smiled, it had never had such radiance before, even when she held the whole jewel for the first time. It felt warm, like it was alive.

Maybe Inuyasha had something to do with it.

She could hear groaning; she looked down and saw that the man was starting to wake up.

"Wha…what happened?"

At that moment the parents came rushing in, tears of joy running down their cheeks, and nearly suffocating the boy with their hugs.


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The next night was celebrated by the whole village as the young man and the village woman were married. It promised to be a celebration that would last for days, not that anyone was complaining.

Kagome, Kohaku and Rin sat around a huge fire built for the occasion, with dancers skilfully twisting and turning in a joyful dance in time with an energetic beating of drums and woodwind instruments.

The now married woman walked up to the group and bowed to them, "Thankyou so much for bringing back my husband."

"It's no trouble at all." Kagome replied, standing up and bowing also.

"I hope your friend is alright."

Kagome knew that the woman was referring to the hanyou who had decided to stay away from the village for a while. It wasn't because he wasn't allowed. It was because the smell of the powder was too strong for him, that he almost fainted when the powder was released and had to run out to escape the stench. She hoped that he wasn't feeling too sick to enjoy the festivities.

Kagome walked out and went to search for Inuyasha.

She found him just outside of the village lying on the grass and appeared to be staring at the stars. Kagome sat next to him and looked up as well.

"You should go back and enjoy the celebration Kagome."

Kagome saw that he had his eyes closed.

"Does your head still hurt Inuyasha?"

"Kami…I can smell it from here." He groaned and turned to his side. "I feel like I drunk too much sake."

"Inuyasha, you don't drink sake." Kagome giggled and lay down next to him. "That was some stink bomb."

"Keh," he replied weakly, "leave me alone…" Feeling slightly warmer by her presence, he sighed happily and closed his eyes again. Why did she have to be so distracting?

They lay there in quiet contentment both enjoying each others company.

Not having a sensitive nose, the miko could smell the fresh grass and a hint of wild flowers. The breeze was cool as it caressed across her face. The sky was painted in darkness, dotted by glistening stars. For a moment she closed her eyes and then opened them again. It was so peaceful, so beautiful. She turned her head to see the back of the hanyou as he lay on his side. His white hair seemed to glow until it was almost silver, almost shimmering against the moonlight.

Yes, right now, things were very beautiful.

To them, the world didn't matter. No jewel, no homework, no fighting. It had been a long time since the couple had experience such inner peace in their lives, they wished it could last forever.

Forever would have to wait.

The breeze picked up suddenly, sending a whirl of scents towards the hanyou's nose, which it began to twitch uncontrollably. He tried in vain to ignore it, but the scent refused to let him go. Inuyasha groaned again and turned over in another attempt to ignore it. He dug his nose into the grass, it smells like an ookami.

He felt Kagome begin to stir, the grass crunched with the weight as she got up to investigate. The hanyou felt reluctant to get up, preferring to have his face in the ground, please, not now…

Kagome poked him in the shoulder.

"Should we find out what it is? There's a lot of jyaki in the area."

Inuyasha was about to answer, when they heard screaming coming from the village. The couple got into attention and raced towards the village.


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They found the villagers huddled into a corner, while a pack of wolves were snarling at them, while their leader stood in the front. He looked like a teenager, with bluish-white hair and eyes blue as the sky that appeared more intense with the blazes of the fire. At that moment he was glaring at the villagers, hoping to gain some kind of response from them.

"Where is the hanyou?" He shouted with ferocity.

The villagers gasped, backing further towards the corner.

Rin and Kohaku were in the middle of the group as they were nearly squashed by the frightened people. Rin looked desperately around, trying to find Inuyasha. She saw him, standing next to Kagome, and without fear she called out to him.

Everyone paused to look at the girl, then at the hanyou, calmly standing there, waiting. The leader looked at the hanyou, he squinted his eyes to make sure it was Inuyasha and not an illusion.

It was Inuyasha.

"Kai-kun, what are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked.

Kai smiled and ran towards the hanyou. Everyone else stayed frozen in their spot, afraid to move.

"Inuyasha, I'm so glad I found you. I've been looking for you everywhere. Jeez you never stay in the same spot."

"I am sorry. You know how it is these days."

"I suppose so. But anyway I have bad news for you."


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"So those houshi want to meet me again do they?"

"I'm sorry for bringing you trouble, but if they find out that you still have the Shikon no Tama, they'll kill you."

They both heard a gasp and turned to find Kagome, holding a hand over her mouth, her grey eyes stunned with surprise.

"They can't do that can they?" She asked with fear in her voice.

Inuyasha only smiled at the news, a chilling smile.

"Not only that, I think Kouga's thinking about finding, you know the 'houshi' you. He kept going on about how he was going to get Kagome to help him kill you."

There was a pause and then…

"What?" She said slowly and instead of fear, Kagome's voice had turned dark and menacing, which caused the hanyou and ookami to step back from the fuming girl. Kagome could be so terrifying sometimes, that sometimes Inuyasha would rather face the wrath of Sesshoumaru.

"How dare him!" She clenched her fists in determination and looked towards Inuyasha with intense grey eyes, which startled the hanyou.

"I'll protect you, I promise."

"Ka- Kagome…" He barely whispered. "How e-exactly would you do that?" He asked quietly finding it difficult to look at her.

"I don't know," Kagome shouted, unaware that she was making everyone nervous, "but—I won't let them or him touch you, I'll fry them with my miko powers if I have to."

Kai looked on, from the hanyou to the miko. It was a tense moment and he felt afraid to disturb it.

Kagome's face held determination beyond belief while the hanyou's face held astonishment at hearing her words. Kai began to sweat as he felt that if they continued like this, then Kouga would probably catch up to them.

So he coughed loudly.

Inuyasha and Kagome almost jumped in surprise, they quickly turned their heads, to find that Kai had a rather guilty look on his face.

"S-sorry, but-but you can't stay here."

"Well, we just have to move again." The hanyou sighed then added, "I think they would be disappointed if they found out I was still alive, right Kai-kun?"

Kai smirked and laughed a little, "Well you know how persistent humans can be," then he scrunched his nose in obvious disgust. "And if I stay here any longer, the human stink will get to me, not to mention that Kouga would find out I was here."

It was then Kaede approached them with worry etched on her aged face.

"The watchman spotted a freakish whirlwind travelling to this direction."

"Kouga-kun," Kagome exclaimed. "It's his jewel shards, he's coming very quickly. Do you think we should hide?"

"Hide?" The hanyou asked uncertainly, "I thought you were going to fry him or something."

Kagome blinked and then narrowed her eyes, and Inuyasha could see the almost evil smirk on her face.

"No, I think I should plan something a little more creative for him." Kagome laughed inwardly, yes, that would be funny.

A little confused by the miko's expression, the hanyou decided to ignore it; the woman's mind was too perplexing for him.

Inuyasha had to think quickly, they had to get out safely, but he did not want the villagers involved. It had been obvious that Kouga had followed Kai, but why would the ookami become suspicious now? His eyes narrowed and glanced towards Kagome. It was possible that the ookami had already met with the miko and his possessive streak had come back. The hanyou could not let the ookami know that Kagome was with him or the fact that he was carrying the Shikon no Tama.

It was a dangerous mix.

Besides, he did not want to deal with Kouga right now. It was not the right time.

In an instant he had an idea, "Kohaku-kun, get the horses ready."

Inuyasha hoped his plan would work.


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Kouga came at whirlwind speed towards the village. His followers hurriedly tried to keep up with their leader, but without the jewel's power, it was going to be almost impossible.

Not that Kouga would pay any attention to them. His thoughts were somewhere else. Damn you Kai, what are you up to? The foolish young ookami had run off, thinking that he could sneak off without being notice. But their leader wasn't that stupid.

Kouga looked back behind his shoulder; Ginta and Hakkaku were trailing behind him. Those bastards, they were hiding something and they were doing a good job in keeping it that way. He would get them soon he thought.

He and his pack had nearly reached the village, when suddenly, a putrid smell whiffed straight up into his nostrils.

Kouga nearly collapsed from the polluted stench, nearly. Instead he quickly backed away to a safe distance while attempting to cover his nose. What was that stench? It smelt like foul incense, but a lot worse.

In the distance, he could make out a familiar shape coming out of the forest. It was Kai, and he looked like he was coughing a great deal.

"Kai, where have you been?" Kouga demanded.

Kai took some deep breaths before beginning to speak.

"I…was looking for a…mate Kouga. And then I smelt something terrible and I couldn't go any…further." Kai hoped that what he said would work. "I thought I might find a nice girl in the village."

Kouga's face brightened completely.

"Kai, you idiot, you shouldn't concern yourself with humans, human women no less. I'll show you how to do it." And with that he dragged a reluctant Kai away towards his pack, completely forgetting the smell.

Until the two wolves were out of sight, Kagome and the others prepared to leave with their horses and supplies. They rode in the darkness of the night, only a sliver of the moon gave them enough light to see, but enough darkness to pass unseen.

Inuyasha lay on his stomach behind Kagome. He was out cold from the smell.

As they rode along, Kagome peered over her shoulder.

Poor Inuyasha, she hoped the smell hadn't been too strong for him.


Author's notes -

jyaki - miasma

kusari-gama - Kohaku's chain and sickle

ookami - wolf


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