Title: Tides Against Time
Rating: M (Language, Violence, and Adult Content)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the Little Mermaid. All rights should go to Inuyasha Inc. and Disney.
Music: The song I have selected for his chapter is: "8 hours of Relaxing Sounds of Waves – Ocean Sounds with Seagulls – Sleep, Meditation, Yoga." I love to listen to music on YouTube while I read to add to the atmosphere. You are welcome to listen along with my music selection if you want. It is not required. When you see these marks (***) that means to begin to play the selected song. I do not have credit for this recording or channels but I think it adds to the story.
Tides Against Time: Discoveries
(*** 8 hours of Relaxing Sounds of Waves – Ocean Sounds with Seagulls – Sleep, Meditation, Yoga ***)
The sun was high in the afternoon sun and Kikyo, Sota, Kagome and their three cousins Eri, Ayumi, and Yuka were sunbathing on the rocky shore near the southern side of the beach. The tide was slowly going out and the beach was showing more rocks and shells along the sand. Small tide pools decorated the beach holding small collections of fish, sea sails, sea urchins and starfish. The breeze was lightly blowing and seagulls flew overhead calling to each other as they searched the beach for lunch. No one ever came this far down the coast so the gossip had made a habit of relaxing here without fear of being seen. Some members of the gossip were relaxing inside the cave or down the beach playing in the water, hunting or exploring the seafloor bellow. All was at peace and everyone was happy and enjoying the beauty of the early spring's warmth.
Kikyo sat up on the rock and rolled onto her stomach as she looked at her sister. Kagome was relaxing next to her with her hands behind her head, eyes closed and her cheeks dusted with freckles from soaking in the sun. Kikyo had woken up sometime during the night last night and found her sister to be gone… again. She was curious as to where her sister disappears to. She had asked Kagome many times before but she had always avoided giving her an answer.
Pulling herself up closer to her sister she whispers, "I know you snuck out again last night."
Kagome took in a long breath before peeping an eye open at her sister. "So what? I just did a perimeter check," she lied while shrugging her shoulders.
She couldn't tell her sister the truth. If she did she would never be able to go back. She would loose all of her freedom and she knew her father would make her have an escort everywhere she went if he were to find out. She hated lying to her family but she would be devastated if she was never able to see her silver haired demon every again. Kikyo gave her a questioning scowl on her face. She knew her sister was not being honest with her but she didn't understand why. Why wouldn't her sister trust her with her secret? It must be pretty dangerous for her not to be honest with her. She swore next time she woke up and found her gone that she would go after her. She could not forgive herself knowing Kagame could possibly be in danger and not do anything about it.
"I know you are not being honest with me and I don't understand why. Whatever it is you are doing I will find out." Kikyo said before rolling to her side away from Kagome to watch her family swim in the waters bellow.
Kagome laid there indifferently. What could she say? Sitting up she looks over Kikyo's shoulder and sees their little brother and cousins playing and exploring the tide pools bellow. Sota was looking in one tide pool a few feet away from them when something shinny caught his eye. Reaching inside he pulls out a thin metal stick with four fingers on the top. It was covered in small barnacles from being in the water for an extended period of time. Scratching them off he uncovers a scripted letter "T" on its handle.
"Hey everyone, come and look what I found!" Sota shouted as everyone made their way to his side.
"Wow! I wonder what it is?" said Eri as Sota handed it to her so she could get a better look.
"I've never seen anything like it before!" said Ayumi and the object began being passed around the group. Just then a large seagull came down from the sky to rest on a rock near them. He was not the most graceful flyer and landed awkwardly before shaking his feathers back into place.
"Ah! My favorite Merfolk have returned." said the Seagull. His feathers were rumpled and grey in color. His eyes were large and he cocked his head to the side as he took in the group before him.
"Totosai! Perfect timing, look what Sota just found! Do you know what it is?" asked Yuka.
"Land dweller stuff huh? Let me see here." Totosai looked at the object in her hand and inspected it thoroughly.
"Would you look at that? Wow… this is very unique! I haven't seen one of these in a very long time. This here is very special!" He said while shaking his head up and down in approval.
"What is it?" Sota asked almost shaking with excitement. Everyone was inching closer, waiting in anticipation for his answer.
"It's a dinnnngllllehoooopper!" He said excitedly as he held it out in his wings for them to look at it.
"A dinnnglehooopper…" the Merfolk all said together experimenting with the foreign word on their tongues.
"Yes, yes! They use these dinglehoppers to brush their hair out. See watch!" said Totosai as he began twisting and brushing the fork through his feathers.
"Demons and humans go crazy for beautiful hair and with this they won't be able to keep their eyes from starin at chah. Here, try it out!" He said passing the fork back to Yuka.
They all then began to brush their hair and they laughed as Sota got it stuck on the top of his head. When they removed it his thick brown hair was standing up in weird angles on his head. Kikyo loved the dinglehopper as it quickly worked through her long hair. Once she was finished she passed it to Kagome, however before she could run the fork through her hair voices began being heard coming their way from up the beach. The Merfolk quickly began dashing into the water and Totosai took flight. As Kikyo turned to leave the sand around the base of the tide pool washed away and her tail fin got pitched under one of the large rocks. Kikyo and Kagome were pulling and pushing desperately to get her tail out but it wouldn't budge and the rock was starting to dig into her tail making it bleed.
"Go! Get out of here before they see you!" said Kikyo as she tried pushing Kagome to hide behind one of the larger rocks.
"No! I won't leave you!" she cried not wanting to leave her sister's side.
Just then a demon with silver hair and strange ears on the top of his head came around the rock and Kikyo shoved Kagome behind it, hiding her from his view just in time. He stopped where he stood when he saw Kikyo. His amber eyes grew large and his jaw dropped in surprise at the stunning mermaid before him. He had never seen anything so beautiful. Her freshly brushed hair was cascaded about her and her red tail glowed against the white sand. Her skin was like porcelain and her rich brown eyes sparkled with innocence, curiosity and fear. Her breasts were full and covered tastefully with dark red seashells. On top of her head looked to be some type of coral bed crown and she had pearls and seashells for jewelry. It was then he saw that her tail was trapped under a large rock making him shake out of his hypnosis. Cautiously he started to approach her while extending his hand out to show her he meant no harm. Kikyo hisses at him in warning, revealing two small fangs in her dainty mouth
"Wow now… easy! I'm just here to help yah!" Inuyasha said calmly not wanting to frighten her more.
He continues to say calming word to Kikyo as he slowly made his way towards her. Kikyo didn't know what to think. She knew he was a demon and was frightened that he kept coming towards her. He kept saying calming words she didn't understand and his face seemed to express concern and care. She had never seen anyone like him before. He had long silver hair laying loosely about his shoulders and it came all the way down to his waist. He wore only black coverings over his legs and they were rolled up to his knees. His strong chest, arms, and lower legs were exposed from bathing in the ocean and afternoon. What caught her attention the most however were his amber eyes and strange ears on his head. His ears swiveled around catching the sounds all around him and were very fluffy. She wanted to touch them against her better judgment. His eyes were a mix of gold, amber and honey in color. He had a strong chin and a heavy masculine browline. He was very handsome for a demon and she didn't want to look away.
Inuyasha finally reached the rock and was inches away from her face. They stared into each other's eyes until Inuyasha looked down at his task. He began to lift the rock as Kikyo pulled her tail. After a few minuets Inuyasha lifted the rock up just enough for Kikyo's fin to slip out. It had a small cut on it and Inuyasha lightly ran his finger over it. Her tail was smooth and soft as velvet. Taking the palm of his hand he runs some fresh saltwater over the cut rinsing it out of sand and dirt. Kikyo lays her hand on his making him stop. Looking back up at Kikyo they get lost momentarily in each other's eyes. Just then a deep voice was heard calling from the other side of the rock and they snap out of their gaze. Kikyo turns away from Inuyasha as he stands up. Just before she dives into the water Kikyo takes one last glance at her savior's amber eyes. She then disappears into the water just as another tall silver haired demon came around the rock. Seeing her sister free from the rock Kagome was about to swim after her but then she heard his voice and froze in her hiding place.
"There you are little brother. I've been calling you. Why did you not answer?" Sesshomaru asked as he approached.
Getting no response he then asks, "Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha continues to ignore Sesshomaru and bends down to pick up something red on the sand. Getting annoyed at his lack of response Sesshomaru approaches him.
"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru says shortly. That caught his attention. Inuyasha turns around with a look of confusion on his face.
"I'm sorry... I'm still in a state of shock." said Inuyasha with a confused scowl on his face as he returned to look at shell in his hand before looking back at the water.
Concerned Sesshomaru asks, "Explain."
Walking over to his brother Inuyasha lays a large red fish scale into his brother's hand. Looking back at Inuyasha's face and seeing his serious expression. He then looks at Inuyasha's hands and sees that they are ruffed up and had small cuts on them. What his brother said next catches Sesshomaru off guard completely.
"I... I just saved a mermaid?" Inuyasha said with a disbelieving tone.
Sesshomaru just stares at him with a raised eyebrow and confusion written in his eyes. Before giving Sesshomaru the chance to question him, he moves over to a large rock and points at it and says, "Her tail was stuck under here and I had to lift it up to get her out."
It is there next to the rocks Sesshomaru sees groves in the sand from where something slid into the water and handprints smaller than his brother's dug into the sand. Approaching the rock and kneeling down to get a closer look he also sees a small trail of blood coming out from under the rock leading to the water. He could smell something that smelled fish-like but also something else. Looking back at the scale in his hand he sees how truly unique it is. It's the largest fish scale he had ever seen and it was red with undertones of maroon. Standing back up he hands the scale to his brother and then looks to the water.
"Could it really be possible?" he thought in his head. He would have to think about this some more but not wanting to argue he turned his concern to his brother's scratched up hands.
"Did you get hurt anywhere else?" he asked looking over Inuyasha from head to toe with his eyes.
"No, just my hands. That damn rock was heavier than it looked and those stupid barnacles really dug in. I'll be sure to clean them good when we get back." Inuyasha said while picking at his hands and pulling out a small broken piece of shell.
"Come, let us return. We will discuss this again later." Sesshomaru said while heading back up the beach towards his pet dragon Ah-Uh who was grazing nearby.
Inuyasha looked one last time at the water, hoping to see her one last time. But all he saw was the setting sun and the waves coming in with the tide. Holding the scale close to his heart he makes his way towards his awaiting brother. Unbeknownst to him Kikyo was hiding behind a cluster of rocks nearby watching him the entire time. Seeing her chance Kagome swims over to her sister and they watch the silver haired brothers make their way up the road and out of sight.
"Now you understand." said Kagome.
"Understand what sister?" Kikyo asked not wanting to take her eyes away from them.
"Now you understand what it's like to hold the hand of a demon." said Kagome before turning her gaze towards her sister's confused one.
"I still don't understand what you are saying Kagome." Kikyo said loosing her patience.
"50 years ago I saved the bigger white haired demon from drowning. Their ship wrecked upon the rocks south of our home and I pulled him to the shore. Before I swam away he looked into my eyes and held my hand. I cannot get his amber stare out of my mind Kikyo." Kagome said as she stared at her seriously.
She then continued, "Since then I have been sneaking out at night when we are here and have watched him grow over the years. I hide in the shadows near his home and leave him gifts. Which he gladly accepts."
"I can show you their home if you wish to see that younger demon again?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know Kagome…" Kikyo said with uncertainty. She truly did wish to look upon his face one more time but was afraid. "What if father catches us or what if something happens?"
"Aw… come on Kikyo, now I'm no longer alone in this! Please come with me?" Kagome begged as she pulled on her sister's arms. Kikyo stared at her sister deep in thought before looking back up the beach towards the road one more time.
After a few minuets she said, "Just one time, no more. We must be sure Father does not find out." Kikyo said as Kagome squealed in delight.
They then made their way back down the beach towards the cove. Once inside they explained their tardiness with a fishtail about Kagome working Kikyo's fin out from under the rock just in time before the demons came. They didn't want to worry their father and have to explain everything but they both felt guilty for lying. After dinner was finished and everyone was settled the sister's laid close to the water's edge. so that after everyone was asleep they could sneak out together for their journey to go see their silver haired demons and watch them under the cover of night and the light of the moon.
(End of Chapter 2)
(Will Kikyo and Kagome make it safely to the castle? Will they be able to stay hidden in the lagoon? What gift will Kagome bring this time? Only time will tell! Make sure to follow along to find out! Thank you for reading! I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Please leave a review on what you think!)