It was a warm fall morning. The wind blew fast from the south, whipping Inuyasha's hair wildly, as he stood overlooking the rocky shore. His course led him east to this ocean where he knew the girl lived, but it was this ocean that served as the spider's grave. He hated the reminder.
And yet he'd run all day and night to get to the place. Now in the dim, gray light of predawn, he waited.
He could see the dark, hollow opening in the face of the cliffs below, and an hour ago an orange glow had illuminated the space, sticking out like a sore thumb. Asagi was an early riser.
He'd been waiting patiently for the one who lit the fire to emerge, hoping it was Shippo first, and not Asagi. For as good as his nose was, against the salt and brine of the ocean he couldn't catch a scent. The roaring and hissing of the waves that crashed below made hearing inside impossible, and he decided to wait them out.
His caution was wise, but unnecessary. As soon as the sun peeked its crown over the horizon she emerged. He took in the sight of her and frowned. She looked scrawny. Fish food probably wasn't enough. That she was currently eating raw oysters for breakfast, was telling of her diet. He made a face, disgusted at the thought of eating only raw seafood daily.
He shouted his greeting down at the girl when she finally seemed to notice him, landing from his position above her with a sloshy thud. Wet sand jumped up in clumps around his legs before they fell messily.
She turned narrowed eyes his way and waved him over, so he took a few steps back and made a running leap to cover the distance between them. He landed with a splash in the shallow water of the high tide. She smiled and held out a freshly opened oyster.
"Breakfast?" She offered.
"Oh." He held back a cringe. "Not hungry."
"Suit yourself." She shrugged and slurped it down herself.
"What brings you back here, Inuyasha?"
He watched her slurp loudly again and made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. "You could cook it, at least."
She rolled her eyes and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"What do you want?"
"Shippo been by?" He got right to it. He already wanted to leave.
"Actually, he left two weeks ago. Just missed him I'd say."
His eyebrows raised marginally.
"What?"
"Yeah, funny how things work out. He's been here for months, then right when you show up for him, he's gone."
His shoulders drooped.
So he'd made it here, left, and never sent word to Sango and Miroku. Shippo wouldn't just forget to do so. He hadn't sent them notice on purpose. But why wouldn't he?
"What was he doing here kid?" He demanded coarsely, irritated at the notion of Shippo hiding something.
She laughed. "He didn't do a damn thing. I did all the work."
She quickly summarized her time with the fox and he was shocked speechless for several moments that they found the jewel.
"Anyway, I hope he finishes it. He guessed there were only a few left to find. Said he knew where some were."
"I have one." He pulled the tiny purple thing from his haori and she gaped at it.
"This one looks different. The other glowed pink."
He quickly pocketed it.
"It's my demonic energy. I can't keep it pure."
"Shippo's never changed it, and he's a full demon."
She was giving him a look like she disapproved of something, and he ground his teeth together.
"Yeah, well obviously I ain't no fuckin' angel."
She sighed, disappointed. "You're not a bad guy, Inuyasha."
He held her pitied gaze as long as he could and looked away.
"Come on. I'll cook you some fish." She tried again.
"No thanks." He declined. Be wanted more than ever to find the kid now.
Walking around with an almost complete jewel was the most dangerous thing he could do and he was alone out there.
"I gotta find Shippo. He say where he was going?"
She shook her head in a negative fashion. "No. But he sent this. I got it three days ago."
She pulled an acorn from a pouch on her belt and popped the top to hand him the tiny scroll. He unrolled the paper carefully to read it but frowned at the written words.
-Headed south to speak with the wolf tribe. I'll write again when I have what I need.
S.-
"That mangy wolf is never gonna give him the shards!" He shouted, throwing the thin paper, forcefully, to the sand.
Asagi caught it before it touched the ground. He heard her snicker and glanced in her direction.
"He mentioned that-some sort of rivalry you had with the alpha. You sure you still wanna go after him?"
He paced a few times, growling to himself. He couldn't stand the thought of seeing that wolf. He had done well to stay far from his territory since Kagome-
He stopped dead in his tracks-physically and mentally-as her name crossed his mind. He wasn't sure which one of them he'd like to see less. But hatred for the woman from the future or wolf princes was all the same to him now, and regardless of it, he had to go after the kid now.
He should have checked in with the others like he had Asagi.
"He ain't sent word yet?" He asked, scowling because he knew what she'd say.
"You're being rude now, Inuyasha." She scolded, annoyed. "And no. I'd have said so if he had."
He could scream. Instead, he ground his teeth.
"Whatever then. I have no choice."
He glared at the ocean like he wished it dead. He'd be seeing Kouga, undoubtedly.
"That dumb fuckin' wolf never did exactly cooperate. Shippo is probably in trouble. "
"Or he's perfectly fine." She countered, annoyed by his negativity. "Look he told me stories about your run-ins with the wolf tribe. Shippo wasn't fond of the guy either, but he wasn't afraid of him. I don't believe he's in danger."
"Maybe not. He should have said something about this to the others, though. So I'm going after him. Besides, I don't trust that wolf. Never fuckin did. He was cocky, and way too wild."
She laughed in his face. "Speak for yourself."
He faced the cliffs and leered over his shoulder at her.
"Thanks for the info kid. But you're still a pain in the ass."
Somehow her laughter grew louder as he leapt away.
Her attitude reminded him so much of Sango and threatened to give him a headache. The slayer had been the one to tell him where to find the kid, and he was grateful she'd spoken to him at all. He was worried he'd receive an ass beating or banishment for what he did to the fox, but when he'd arrived it seemed Shippo hadn't told the others.
It was the reason he waited so long to go back to see them again, and he held off for nothing.
For as bad as he felt, pride in the kid took over. That he hadn't told them was more than he deserved, and he'd taken his beating like a man. If he could ever admit it, he still would never, but he hoped Shippo forgave him. He missed him, and hoped he'd come back.
Inuyasha was fine on his own, yes, but some nights his thoughts wandered. Thoughts of someone in particular cursed him awake and kept him from sleep. When no one was around to distract him, he was left to them. Left wondering, and eventually hoping.
It let him hope for a future that was unattainable, even with the power of a cursed jewel shard.
He rode out a pang of misery that filled his chest every time his thoughts wandered there, and pushed to keep his pace. He grimaced and rubbed his hand over his heart, feeling the familiar shame for handling his pain so poorly.
He'd even taken it out on a child.
He sighed at the thought of the fox boy.
It had not been fair for him to ask him not to speak of her. And even after he respected the request for so long, he'd still punished the boy severely for it.
Inuyasha was still surprised he'd not told the others of his beating, but he hadn't. The slayer had said he'd sent them a message to let them know he'd been staying with the half demon brat by the seaside. It read nothing of how they had split up, or why.
Inuyasha had wondered what Shippo could want with Asagi, but his curiosity was satisfied now. And soon he was cooking up words for an apology, fit to give the fox.
He picked up his pace knowing he was off to find the wolf. It set him on edge. He couldn't apologize to an eaten fox.