Nocturne - Chapter Thirty-Three: Atonement
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
o - o - o - o - o
Her resolve was clear, and she knew what she had to do. 'Find them' was the obvious answer, but that led to its own set of obstacles. She'd no idea where to look, except to the west. Even young Rin did not know, stating that there was never one place they'd settled. Kagome chewed on her lip in thought. It would take resourcefulness on her part to locate them, and it was her stubbornness that had landed her in this position in the first place. Had she only allowed herself to be wanted and happy, but now was not the time to lament. Not when she had plans to make and a journey to be had.
Still, as Kagome sat with her friends, she allowed herself to relax a bit. They spoke for moments on topics that focused on happiness rather than the growing tension of the situation that would soon require discussion. The men were still banished outside, probably kicking rocks close to the house, waiting to be allowed back in.
"So, Sango, do you know what's going on with Inuyasha and his new...um... friend?" Kagome asked, emphasizing the word. She had no clue what the new arrival was to him and how he could become so close to someone who had just recently been an enemy. Kagome had difficulty wrapping her mind around it. Then again, it would be hypocritical of her to deny him this.
Sango shrugged, not thinking much of it. "It's hard to say. At first, when Inuyasha brought her here, he seemed more prone to ripping her heart out than anything. He was furious at her involvement in your capture, but once he realized that she was lost, frightened, and used, he eased up, even going so far as to protect her from Sesshomaru."
"He did, did he?" Kagome replied rhetorically. She looked away from her friends, thinking about this development. "Sesshomaru must not have been convinced that she was completely to blame. I can't fathom him, allowing even Inuyasha to get in his way if he felt crossed." Maybe this 'Shizuka' was a victim, too.
"That is likely so," Rin said. She held her hands in her lap and laced her fingers, looking elegant and wise beyond her years. "But, it does not seem that Inuyasha views Shizuka romantically. At least, not yet. He is enthralled with her, a creature just the same as him. Her existence, though, seems to have been much more turbulent than even Inuyasha's."
Kagome had not thought of it that way. "Hmm, I suppose you are right. He seems awfully protective of her." He'd been protective of her once, too. "It is good that he has someone that actually needs it."
Sango laughed, recognizing Kagome's dismissive attitude. "You are not indestructible, Kagome. And if I am not mistaken, you need help from time to time. Also, did Sesshomaru not protect you from the evils across the sea?"
"It is different," Kagome responded in a playful but defensive manner. "Inuyasha would suffocate me with his view of protection. Ever since I'd come back, he seemed afraid I would break, and it was stifling. That is how many of our disagreements started..."
"Then it is well that he now has a companion he can protect and will accept it without question," Sango repeated with a gentle smile.
"There is also the added benefit that he does not have to worry that she will disappear, nor does he need to worry that she will break. I can only imagine that she is resilient, being hanyou like him," Kagome rationed aloud. This relationship would be just what he needed to heal from their break. Hopefully, Shizuka could give him what he needed and deserved. She only wished him happiness, and it was likely he wanted the same for her.
A thunderous roar sounded overhead, the heralding of the downpour that was immediately unleashed on the earth. The heavy spill of droplets ricocheted off the ground and pelted the house in a deafening symphony. The suddenness of the downpour and thunder caused the women to jump.
"Was it supposed to rain?" Rin asked, smoothing her skirts.
Sango stood up and walked to peer out from the doorway. The rain pelting caused the door curtain to become damp as the water splashed up after hitting the hard ground. In a matter of seconds, soaked people came running inside — Miroku with the children and Inuyasha with Shizuka.
Miroku flung his hands to air dry and ran a hand through his damp hair. The children all groaned to be brought in so suddenly from a trip playing with their father. "Awe, can't we stay out and play in the rain, Papa?" one of the girls whined.
Miroku passed his youngest child over to his mother. A strike of lightning was the answer causing the children to give varying shrieks of surprise. "That'll be a no," their father told them, throwing his thumb over his shoulder. "Unless you were looking for a new hairstyle, girls?" He ruffled the tops of the twins' heads and laughed.
They giggled and grabbed one another's hands to skip into the adjoining room away from the adults. Sango bounced her child on her hip, who thought the motion was hilarious. His elder brother pouted near his father. "This is so boring, mama. You grown-ups will just talk, and there's nothing to do!"
"Nothing to do?" Sango parroted. "I find that hard to believe. If you are so bored, I can think of a list of things for you to…" she began.
"N-nevermind, I will go play with the girls, I guess." He made a look of disgust when talking about the older girls and sighed before heading after them.
Sango chuckled after him, but then her face turned grim. She looked down at her youngest and set her jaw. He looked up at her expectantly. "Mama, more!" he said, calling for her to continue bouncing him up.
"No, now you will go with your siblings into the other room while mama and papa talk."
"Awe," he cried out. Sango put him down and walked him to the other room where the sounds of giggles and protesting could be heard. He gave her a pleading look, "Mama, I miss you."
"Nice try. Get," Sango said with a smile and ushered the small child inside. Once she was satisfied he was out of earshot, Sango came and sat down near her friends. "We should speak of this matter that hangs in the air," she said.
Miroku nodded and went to sit next to his wife. "Yes, I agree."
Sango gave a level look to all present in the room. "I don't think any of us have truly grasped the gravity of what's been happening and the danger we are in."
Inuyasha scoffed. "Keh. That's fucking ridiculous. What danger could that be?"
Kagome looked over at him and shook her head. "It would seem the mess I've become involved in is much more tumultuous than we could have bargained for."
Miroku tried to ration aloud. He crossed his arms and pondered. "How so? It could not be any worse than what we've already endured." He referred to Naraku, Kagome knew, their enemy of old and the one that initially brought them all together.
"It will be," Kagome whispered. The realization dawned on her of what she had unintentionally unleashed. Like Pandora's Box, all manner of hell would be unleashed upon them. The question was no longer if but when.
Kagome explained what had happened and all that she knew, their faces growing concerned once she relayed what Sesshomaru had just concluded to her hours before. Taking their child likely had an ulterior meaning than to draw her to him, she found.
Sango's fists clenched into balls on her lap. "That would explain why he advised me to invite my brother and his new kinsmen here." She slammed her fist upon the ground, startling Kagome and Rin. "Now my children are in danger?" she asked desperately.
Miroku leaned over and grabbed Sango's shoulders. "Calm down, please, my love. The world is an ever-dangerous place, full of encroaching malevolent forces whether they be human or yokai," Miroku consoled. "We will deal with this matter as we do with any other." He paused before adding, "Tactfully."
Kagome felt immensely guilty, and this had been her fault somehow. "We will do what we must to ensure their safety. I will not let anything happen to any of you because of me."
"Fuck. We don't know a damn thing about any of this shit," Inuyasha growled. "I say we go over there, and I cut the fucker down with Tessaiga! I ain't afraid of him."
"Maybe you should be," Sango warned, gesturing to the woman beside him. "Do you think she is the only one of her kind, you fool?"
"Whadya mean?" He asked. He turned to look at Shizuka, who had her eyes glued to the ground. She looked mortified to have the attention on her.
Kagome moved to go closer to Shizuka. Perhaps asking her questions would help shed light on some things. As Kagome walked by the door, the flap parted, and the pelting rain sprayed inside for a brief moment. Kagome made a noise in protest and shielded her face.
A small, sopping wet creature burst in and scaled the closest person like a tree. That person happened to be Kagome, and she shrieked aloud. Tiny claws stuck through her clothes as it worked its way up her body, and Kagome stiffened with fear.
Inuyasha bolted up and plucked the pitiful creature off from Kagome's back, where it clung in fear. He held it by the scruff of its neck and raised it aloft in the air. "What the?"
Kagome turned to see what had bolted into the house so suddenly and was surprised to see Inuyasha holding what looked to be the most adorable kitten ever. "Is that? Kirara?" Kagome asked in confusion. The small creature looked like Sango's yokai companion but somewhat different. It did not have the same markings as Kirara, looking to be a completely solid cream color with only a black blaze that started at its nose, ran up its forehead, and tapered off behind the ears.
Sango and Miroku had bolted up as well to investigate the intrusion. Sango eyed the small thing. "No, it's not. It's only got one tail, and the markings are much different."
"It does look like Kirara, though, doesn't it?" Rin asked. "It must be a nekomata. What's it doing here?"
As if answering her question, Kohaku burst inside. He panted, and once he saw the nekomata contained, he put his hands on his knees and took deep breaths. Rainwater dripped from his hair and clothes to puddle on the floor. "Sorry, sister. I couldn't catch the little bugger."
Inuyasha flung the tiny nekomata to Kohaku. "I take it this thing belongs to you."
Kohaku grabbed it, but the nekomata began to squirm out of his grasp. "No, not really. I've just been taking care of him."
The nekomata gave Kohaku a good swipe and clawed his way free. It jumped to the ground and looked desperately around for a way to escape.
Kagome reached down and scooped it up, pulling it close to her body.
"You idiot, now it's gonna scratch you up, too!" Inuyasha warned.
Kagome gently stroked the creature in a soothing motion, making sure to hold it close. "Of course, you know nothing about cats. He's petrified, the poor thing. Where did he come from?"
Kohaku glared at the nekomata. "He's from Kirara's litter. He's the runt, and I've been trying to take care of him while the other littermates have already moved on. This one, though…."
Sango smiled a bit, "Kirara had a litter? I'm so sad I wasn't around to meet them. I haven't even seen her much since you'd come. Why didn't you tell me about this one?"
"Honestly, after we moved to the village, I thought that this little guy had finally decided to go out on his own. He disappeared right before we'd arrived. It wasn't until the storm hit just a bit ago that I found him scavenging through my things looking for food."
"That is so unusual for a nekomata," Sango commented. She took a closer look at the quivering thing that Kagome still held to her chest. "It looks so much smaller than Kirara ever did. Is it supposed to be fully grown?"
Kohaku scratched his head and shrugged. "As I said, he was the runt. Yokai mature faster than typical animals. Kirara had the litter and weaned them before I'd even known she was gone. This little guy followed her around, and that's how I found him."
"Wow. Is it that quick? Does she not have a mate then?" Rin asked. "How romantic!"
Kohaku gave a nervous chuckle. "Actually, that is not how it works for...umm...the nekomata." He seemed hesitant to tell her. "They kill the males after mating," he cleared his throat as if trying to dislodge the discomfort of the situation.
Rin put a hand to her mouth in disbelief and giggled uncharacteristically. "Oh, my!"
Kagome looked down at the little Neko, which had finally begun to quit shaking. "How bizarre," she mentioned.
"Most yokai are," Kohaku replied while staring at Rin.
"What's going to happen with him now?" Kagome asked. "Should we return him to Kirara?"
"No, she won't take him now. At best, she would ignore him, and at worst, she would eat him," he advised. "She hasn't been thrilled that I've been caring for him. She much prefers the attention for herself."
"Well, if that's the case, I'll look after him," Kagome volunteered.
"But Kagome, aren't you planning on leaving?" Rin asked innocently.
"Leaving?" Inuyasha barked. "You just got here!"
"How very astute of you," Miroku said with a roll of his eyes. "But, you may also understand that Kagome would want to be reunited with her child."
Inuyasha looked a little sullen but closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Yeah. Makes sense, I guess."
"But that does bring a question to mind, what are you expecting to do with the creature if you are, in fact, leaving?" Miroku asked.
"I could use a traveling companion," she said. The last time she had set out on her own, she'd not had the best outcome. "Plus, he may keep me out of trouble."
"Kagome, I could go with you?" Rin suggested. She smiled at her friend. "I feel like a burden to Miroku and Sango anyway."
Sango gave a soft scoff, "You have never been a burden Rin. You have been a welcome addition, and your way with the children is irreplaceable."
Kagome looked at Rin, moving to sit back down next to her young friend. The young woman had grown so much. It was surreal to think that she had first met her as a child. In this day and age, it would be expected for Rin to marry and settle down. The idea was unnatural for Kagome, but she accepted that it was the norm for the period. Plus, Miroku and Sango would never force Rin into anything she did not want.
She passed the small nekomata over to Rin, who laughed at the kitten-like yokai as it settled in her lap, happy to be warm and petted. Kagome had caught the glance passed between Rin and Kohaku. Maybe everyone else was ignorant of the growing attraction between the two, or they had chosen not to embarrass the pair by calling it out. Either way, Kagome had no plans to pull Rin from the place she'd called home for the past few years, even if she'd selflessly volunteered.
"Thank you, Rin, but no, that won't be necessary. I will be okay on my own this time," she assured.
Inuyasha looked at her from the corner of his eyes. Something in him softened. "I don't think it's a good idea. We all remember what happened the last time you took off, and if they don't, then I surely do."
"I'm not going looking for any more witches, Inuyasha, but thanks for your concern," Kagome answered with grit. She hadn't been looking for trouble than either, but it had found her nonetheless. Careless is what she had been, and this time things would be different.
"Brother, come sit by the hearth and dry yourself unless you must leave right away?" Sango asked.
Kohaku looked around, "Are the children near?" worry evident in his voice.
Miroku donned a look of mild annoyance. "This is their house. Where else would they be?"
"I-uh just thought…" he prattled, running a hand through his hair.
"Do not give him a hard time, Miroku. You know he is uncomfortable in their presence."
"It's been years," he mumbled, clearly not convinced of his brother-in-law's dislike of their children.
Sango waved her husband off, "We were discussing the circumstances behind your move to the village, brother."
"Ah, yes," he replied. With his attention now focused elsewhere, he looked determined.
His sister filled him in on what he had been absent for, and Kohaku nodded grimly, his lips set into a hard line. Once Sango had finished, Kagome asked, "Have either of you ever heard of the DaiOzuko? That is the clan of yokai that I seem to have set off."
Both siblings shook their heads in response. "While there have always been tales of the Yaoguai, and we are versed in the tales, neither of us had ever seen one until recently," Sango said, referring to the Zhen bird that had taken Kagome.
"It would seem that Yaoguai and Yokai alike share similar ancestry. It would not even surprise me to learn that Inuyasha's father hailed from across the sea," Miroku observed.
Inuyasha scoffed, "Pfft. Yeah right. I would know."
Kagome looked over at him, and he seemed smugly sure of himself. Now was not the time to argue with him, and there was no way to know the truth. She sighed and reached over to pluck the small nekomata from Rin's lap. The tiny creature began to shake again; this time, she thought it was purring.
"I will make sure to bring back news," Kagome told them. "I'll be leaving tomorrow after the storm passes."
Rin grabbed her arm, "So soon?"
"Yes, waiting is only misery."
"Keh. Well, I'm sorry that we are making things so miserable for you," Inuyasha said.
Kagome wished she'd had something to throw at him. Even if she had, it would be highly inappropriate, so she settled with a glare. His insensitive remarks were just one of the things that had led them to where they were now. Maybe in another 30 years, Inuyasha would be the mature man that Kagome had needed. Of course, that would have been 30 years too late.
It was a pity that Kagome had not recognized the immaturity sooner, but how could she when she had been immature herself. She had grown in her time here, but Inuyasha had not. Kagome recalled from a book read back in the future that said men's brains did not fully mature until they were 25. During the years she'd spent with Inuyasha, he'd never seemed to have gotten past the teenage years. Yokai, even half-yokai, seemed to have very odd aging mechanisms.
"I think I am going to call it a night," Kagome announced.
"But Kagome, it's still pouring," Rin said with concern. The others voiced concern as well, but Kagome waved them off.
"We haven't even discussed what to do," Inuyasha complained.
"The storm is passing, and now it is just a little rain," she told them, dismissing their concerns. "I'll be fine. I won't melt." Kagome rose and moved to the door, moving the little nekomata under her hakui to protect it from the rain. She nodded to her friends. "Nothing is going to happen right away. We have time to prepare, and that is what I am going to do. I have to go to them first."
She didn't need to tell anyone who 'them' was. Everyone knew, and it was unlikely they would stop her from leaving. After all, her friends had advocated for her to find her happiness. She just hoped like hell that this would be it.
Kagome sucked in a breath when the rain began to pelt down on her. It would soak through her clothes soon, even though the rain had dissipated somewhat after the storm moved further and further away. The little nekomata squirmed inside her hakui, mewing his distaste at being taken outside where the wetness was. At least he was dry for the moment. He was a subtle reminder of what she was missing...
A/N: I'm excited that Kagome is finally allowing herself to be happy and on her way to Sesshomaru. Obviously, it may take her a hot minute to get there. Nobody gets the easy way out here! You gotta work for it Kagome! It will happen, though, and I am going to have fun writing that reunion. Maybe some fluff n stuff?
Stay tuned for next time! But, before you leave, please let me know your thoughts in the form of a review. They are always fun to read.