Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or its characters, that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Naruto or its characters, that right belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Author's Note: Kikyo/Kagome 7, Itachi 6, Shisui 8, Bankotsu 15, Kakashi 15, Asuma Sarutobi 15, Rookie 9 born, Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee 3. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you toturn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.
Author's Note 2: I did some serious searching, double checking with the Narutopedia, the Manga, and the little booklet that has all information in from the creator himself in the databooks, for the ages along the timeline. Shishui is 2.5 years older than Itachi. Because he was Genin before and during the Third Shinobi War and then made Chunin during. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you toturn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.
The Bad
Kikyo stood there by Kagome looking up at the man before her. She didn't know what to make of him. He had stopped and talked to them in passing, yet something told Kikyo that there was more.
"Oh, did I mix your names up?"
Slowly Kikyo shook her head no. He had been accurate in calling them by their right name. Though she had found out, a lot of people knew who the Higurashi Clan twins were.
"That's good. I am getting rather old." The man said as he continued to stare down with his one eye. "May I ask why you two are roaming around without an adult?"
Kikyo felt the tension drain from her shoulders at his question. Putting a polite smile on her face as she gave her reply. "We were told we could go to the Academy and see Itachi. He started there a month ago."
The slow nod the man gave as he smiled down at her, and her sister had Kikyo feeling the tension start to build in her neck and shoulders again. More so when the man knelt, so he was on their level.
"Well, the Academy will be in session for an hour or two. What are you two going to do there?" the man asked.
"We will do what we always do, play on the equipment as we wait," Kikyo said.
"Ah! At least there are adults there. You are the heiress to your Clan, so you must always be protected," the man said. "But it is concerning that no one is watching you. Your Clan's compound is nearly on the other side of the Village from the Academy. If you'd like, I can walk you to be safe. Or back to you home, where your mother, the former Hokage, and his vessel of a child is."
Kikyo thought about the offer and stepped forward to accept it when she felt the hand her sister had been holding start to hurt. Looking at Kagome from the corner of her eye, Kikyo froze. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Kagome's face was a cold, blank mask. There was no friendly smile or acceptance to be seen. Immediately Kikyo opened her senses and felt something she couldn't name coursing through her sister, and it bothered her.
"Kikyo? Kagome?" The man asked. "What is wrong?"
Kikyo turned her gaze back as she fought from cringing at the pain in her hand. She needed to ask Kagome when she had gotten so strong? Then a chill ran down her spine, and she didn't have to look to know who had caused it.
"They are not unguarded, so your help is not needed," A deep voice stated. "I do not like you near my ward, leave."
She was swallowing as she craned her neck up and saw cold, golden eyes glaring in contempt at the man before them. Kikyo was glad that her summons was Inuyasha. He was friendly and easy to get along with.
"Oh, I didn't mean to cause offense," The man said as he stood up. "But isn't it peculiar? You showing up when your mistress isn't distressed at all, but her sister."
Kikyo swallowed at the man's words. He was not listening to Sesshomaru. Nope, he was asking questions that sounded like he was picking a fight. Before she could react to try and correct the man for his mistake, Kikyo found herself scooped up into Sesshomaru's arms, along with Kagome.
"It is of no concern of yours, human. Stay away from them unless they are with a member of the Clan," Sesshomaru said. "Otherwise, I will take it as you are up to something of a dubious nature and will kill you."
"That is a bold statement to make," The man said, drawing his words. "Do you know who I am?"
There was a long pause of silence before Kikyo hear Sesshomaru state he did. And that one word held his dislike. Before the man could reply, leaving Kikyo curious as to whom the man was, Sesshomaru spun, giving her a view of the villagers milling about, pretending not to be listening to them and walking away.
The Good
Kun-loon stared at Sesshomaru, eyes narrowed as she contemplated what she was told. It bothered her that Danzo had approached her daughters, and in a public place of all things. Turning her gaze to Kikyo, she looked at her eldest daughter and tried to gauge her based on her aura. She could see the confusion that was threaded through it as well as worry.
"Kikyo, did that man ask you any questions? Say anything suspicious?" she asked her daughter, trying to keep her voice gentle.
She waited as Kikyo processed what she had asked of her. It had been only a few months since Christmas, and she was kept to the compound because of Souta being colicky. But she had faith in most of the villagers not to harm her daughters.
"Not really. He seemed like he was concerned with us walking around without an adult, mama," Kikyo responded before pausing and narrowing her eyes. "But he did seem to keep looking at Kagome now that I think about it. And when he offered to walk us either to the Academy or back home, he commented Minato and Naruto. Mom, what's a vessel?"
Kun-loon went still at what her daughter just said. There had been long conversations with Sarutobi and the two elders (idiots as far as she was concerned) about who had leaked to the Village that Naruto was the Kyubi container. Like Sarutobi, she believed it was Danzo that had done it. The man was bitter at being passed over for being Hokage, three times now, and was as power-hungry as they came, more-so than Fugaku. Hell, Kun-loon did not doubt that they'd be at war continuously with him as Hokage.
"Was there anything else?" she asked Kikyo, not wanting to press her daughter. "You know that was odd about meeting that man?"
Again Kikyo seemed to stop and think; her lips pulled down at the fact her question about vessel's not being answered.
"Yes," Kikyo said. "Kagome had squeezed my hand so hard it hurt before Sesshomaru showed up. When I looked at her, Kagome looked different. Like it wasn't Kagome I was seeing."
Kun-loon didn't quite understand what Kikyo meant. "Tell me what made you think you weren't seeing Kagome. What was different?"
Her eyes were darting up to Sesshomaru, who stared stoically at Kikyo. She could tell there was something on his mind but would wait to ask any questions after Kiky had gone.
"Her face was cold, mom, no smile. It was like I was staring at a Noh mask that is used at the festivals. Her eyes were so cold," Kikyo explained. "It was like she didn't like that man either. It kind of scared me, mom."
She was feeling a bit disturbed by this knowledge since Kagome was always so open and honest with her emotions and seeing the best in everyone. Always trying to befriend and help every person she came across. To hear that she had closed herself off had Kun-loon worried even more about her younger daughter. Since the Kyuubi attack six months ago in October, she had noted subtle differences in her daughter. And had done her best to keep this information from the Clan Elders.
Deciding she should ask Kagome what had made her act like that, Kun-look looked to where Kagome had been standing when Sesshomaru arrived back with them. The space next to him was empty, and it had her closing her eyes and keeping a groan from escaping. It was always like this; Kagome never stayed put for too long.
"Hey, Kun-loon, have you seen Naruto?"
Opening her eyes, she saw Minato standing in the doorway, looking at her with worry. Since he had finally gotten himself pulled together for his son, she was happy to see the leaps and strides he made. Though she knew he was still depressed over the loss of Kushina and no longer being able to be a ninja. He had made his son the center of his life and was a bit overprotective like a good parent.
"He was in the nursery taking a nap with Souta, why?" she asked.
"Oh, well, I was curious is all," Minato said, pointedly not meeting her eyes. "What's going on here. It sounds like something serious happened."
"Indeed," Sesshomaru spoke before she could. "Danzo approached the twins while they were on their way to the Academy. And apparently, he commented about you and your son being a vessel."
There was a brief pause as she felt killing intent rolling off Minato as he turned and ran. She shot a dark look at Sesshomaru, knowing she'd have to talk to Kagome later, as she followed Minato.
000
When they reached the corridor where the nursery was, Kun-loon had to do a double-take at the sight of her son standing outside it, looking in. It was the pain and sadness etched into his face that had her slow down and approached quietly. Minato, as well as Bankotsu, shot them a glance and held his finger to lips before pointing into the room.
Once she stopped, she slides the shoji door open wider, so Minato could see inside as well and went still. There was Kagome in the double crib, in her arms was Naruto, as she rubbed her cheek against the top of his blond head as she rocked him, tears streaming down her face. Beside her, Souta lay sleeping peacefully, one tiny hand curled around one of Kagomes fingers on her free hand.
The scene was touching, yet to see Kagome crying as she held the Naruto who was looking up at her with wide eyes that showed he was confused. When Minato made to step into the room, Kun-loon put her arm up to stop him.
"Naruto, I promise you that I will always protect you. Like I would do for Kikyo and Souta. Even if you are not of my blood, you are my family. And I won't let the mean people of the Village talk bad about you," Kagome said, her voice choked with her tears. "Nor let bad people try to harm you. I will always try my best to make sure you are safe and happy because I believe that you will do great things one day, just like your mom and daddy. I love you, Naruto. This, I promise you."
The seriousness of what Kagome said was not missed. Kun-loon was shocked as she watched Kagome shift Naruto and herself, so they were laying, and she could wrap her arms around both babies. A second later, Kagome began to hum (very off-key) a sad and haunting melody she had heard as a child. Her late mother, Sachiko, had sung that lullaby to her.
Turning slowly so as not to disturb the trio, Kun-loon gave a pointed look to those gathered. A bit surprised to see that two of the three Clan Elders had shown up. The look on their faces was of horror, meaning they had heard Kagome's promise to Naruto. A quick motion of her hands had the group stepping back as she slid the Shoji door shut behind her.
"Not a damn word out of any of you," She hissed in a commanding voice. "I will talk with my daughter later to find out the reason behind her making a lifetime vow to protect Naruto."
The slow nods she got from the two Elders as they shot her a withering glare spoke volumes. A part of her wondered why they hated her daughter so much. Kagome maybe the second born and have blue eyes and tested as a null. But that didn't mean that they had to hate her.
The Ugly
He was upset that Kagome, nor her sister, had been outside waiting for him. Itachi sat there at the table doing his written homework as he waited for his father to get home. Across from him, Sasuke was slapping his hands on the tray of his high chair and giggling as his toys bounced. Some part of him had been on edge since after lunch.
"Itachi, is something on your mind?" his mother asked.
Turning to look at his mother, Itachi debated on how to answer. He knew that as she watched him, she was studying him carefully. His mother was scary at times, and from what some of the other Clan members said, was one of the strongest and most promising Kunoichi of her time. Itachi decided, like always, it was best, to be honest.
"Kagome wasn't at the Academy waiting for me. Neither was her sister," he stated.
The look of surprise on his mother's face was a shock. But anything she could have said to try and assuage him was interrupted by the front door opening and closing as his father returned home. And the fact his father's footsteps sounded a bit heavier than usual informed Itachi that his dad was in a bad mood.
"Dear?" his mother called out as his father appeared in the entrance to the kitchen.
That single word said so much with the tone his mother used. He knew that tone very well and was aware that even his dad obeyed when she used it.
"I heard on the way home some less than pleasant news," his father stated as he sat in his seat at the head of the table. "And I had to stop and ask them to clarify everything."
Itachi began to pack his school stuff back into his bag. He focused on what his parents were talking about without making it obvious. Glad that his mother had taught him this skill at a young age.
"What was it? You're upset," His mother said, her voice soothing as she started to put the dishes on the table.
"Danzo approached the twins in a public setting today," His father spat.
Itachi had heard of Danzo Shimura and knew that the man wasn't of the good sort. In fact, from what he gleaned listening in on the conversations of the adults both in his Clan and the civilians of the Village, that the man had a keen interest in the Uchiha Clan Kekkei Genkai. And that he hated his father, who opposed him at almost every council meeting.
"What happened?" His mother asked, giving a small hum as she began to serve the food directly to their plates.
"I can't say for sure, but from those of the Clan that had been shopping in the central district, heard him call the girls by their name and make comments about them being without a guardian," His father hissed. "Those two girls always have at least two Jounin from their Clan watching them at all times. On top of their summons, that would appear if one either called or was distressed or in danger."
Itachi was well aware of the two that watched over the girls. He had a strong dislike of Inuyasha, whom he met the day he met Kagome. Loud, brash, unthinking, and exceptionally rude, in his opinion. Sesshomaru was an enigma he was trying to figure out. The white-haired summons was cold, distant, but watchful. There was no doubt that anyone who hurt Kagome, not Kikyo, would be killed if she willed it.
"Let me guess, Sesshomaru showed up?" his mother stated.
"Yes. And from the description that I got of the girl's reactions, it seems they switched roles. Kikyo was the polite, friendly one, talking to the bastard. Kagome wore a mask that was blank and cold," his father said. "Apparently, the girl was able to tell that Danzo is a man not to be trusted. And Sesshomaru threatened to kill him because he disliked Danzo. Can't wait to see how that goes over when the Elders are told, and a meeting is called to bring all this up."
Itachi felt a coldness settle in his chest as he ate his food. He was staying silent while his parents changed the topic to their day. He felt torn between finding this Danzo person and telling him to stay the hell away from Kagome and going to see Kagome make sure she was okay. And he now knew why he had been on edge.
Anyone who upset Kagome was a person he'd watch and threaten if he had to. Kagome was special to him. Besides, while Shishui was gone, it was up to him to protect her, because even he knew that the Jounin from her Clan was considered sub-par amongst the other ninja, their Clan was all about peace. Of course, a few exclusions could be made, namely her brother and Kagome's deceased father, Ryouga.
TBC!
