The Twisted Misadventures of Higurashi Kagome

An Inu Yasha story

By Nami

All IY characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi

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Chapter 2

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Kagome walked through the village with Kaho amidst stares and whispers. Sesshou Maru had been gone for nearly a week and Kagome's injuries were healing very rapidly. It's so strange that I miss him... Kagome thought absently. She let her gaze roam over the villagers.

"Why are they all staring?" she whispered to her tall companion.

"You're the last priestess, Kikyou-sama, reborn." Kaho said with a slightly proud smile. "They're trying to decide whether to love you or fear you." Kagome didn't say anything to that. She remembered that they had done that before, too. As long as there's no praying this time. She thought desperately.

"Why is everyone standing around gawking? You look like fish out of water." Touji's voice cut across the fields sharply. "Get back to work, all of you. There's no need to stare at a woman." Kagome frowned a little at the contempt in Touji's voice and looked toward him, cocking her head slightly and stopping in her tracks. Kaho stopped beside her and watched the farmers as they went back to their tasks. The taller girl's face softened fondly as she watched the working villagers.

"What's wrong with you?" Touji demanded as he strode toward the duo on the raised road.

"Excuse me?" Kagome said defensively.

"Why are you walking through here causing a scene?" Touji demanded, glaring.

"Oh, so now you decide where I walk and when? Nuh-uh, pal. I don't think so. I go where I want when I want to go." Kagome planted her fists on her hips and drew herself up to her full height. That proved to be not very tall, though, when Touji took a step toward her, glaring.

"Kagome-sama," Kaho tugged on her arm, "let's go."

"Kaho, stay out of this." Touji said to his younger sister.

"Touji." Kaho snapped. "Kagome-sama is not only a respected priestess here, she is also our guest. I will not sit still for this rude behavior of yours any longer." Touji opened his mouth to respond, but Kagome cut him off.

"You may hate Inu Yasha," she said thoughtfully, "but you are so much like him." Her smile was almost sad and almost tender. "I think he's proud of your family." With that, she took Kaho's arm and they walked away, leaving a stunned Touji on the street alone.

"I have never seen my idiot brother speechless!" Kaho laughed as she and Kagome carried baskets of vegetables from Kaede's garden back to Kagome's hut. "He's always had such a big mouth."

"He really is like Inu Yasha, then." Kagome said, smiling.

"Kagome-sama," Kaho said, sobering slightly as they entered Kagome's house, "I've been meaning to ask you how you know Inu Yasha."

"That's a very long story." Kagome sat down wearily. She was on the mend and would soon be back to 100%, but she was still weak and tired easily.

"Tell me?" Kaho implored.

"Alright. I'll make you a deal. You fix dinner and I'll tell you all about it." Kaho smiled and nodded eagerly.

Well, Kagome began her story as dinner was served, like I said, it's a long story. This is actually the second time that I've been born as Higurashi Kagome. Last time, though, things were different.

Inu Yasha and Kikyou didn't get a happy ending by any stretch of the imagination...

"...and I guess that I caught the fever and died. I don't remember much about that time."

It was nearly midnight as Kaho and Kagome's conversation ended. The tall girl sat silently for a long while.

"So, if Inu Yasha and Kikyou didn't marry or have children... Then... Touji and I didn't exist?" Kagome shook her head.

"Not to my knowledge. At least, not as Kikyou and Inu Yasha's heirs." Kagome yawned and attempted to stretch.

"Oh, don't do that!" Kaho reprimanded. "You'll open your wounds again. Let me put more herbs on it, then I'll go home and let you sleep."

"Isn't it a little late for you to go out?" Kagome asked as she removed the bandages.

"No, it's fine. I don't want Touji to worry." Kaho finished rubbing the herbal paste on Kagome's sealed wound and wrapped fresh bandages around the girl's ribs. "There. Hopefully you won't need to bandage that left side for too much longer. We'll check it in the morning."

"Thank you, Kaho-san. For everything you've done for me."

"It's no problem, really." Kaho smiled and was starting to leave when they heard someone enter the hut.

"Really, Touji," Kaho said lightly, "I was coming straight home..." Her voice petered off as she turned around.

"Not Touji..." The voice was slightly hoarse, but Kagome recognized it instantly.

"Inu Yasha."

Kaho's scream drowned out Kagome's whisper.

"Shut up!" Inu Yasha shouted, flashing forward and clapping a hand over the girl's mouth. Kaho was near hysterical, though, and bit his hand before she thought.

"Kaho-san!" Kagome cried, jumping to her feet. "Kaho-san, please be calm!" she rushed forward and tugged the girl away from Inu Yasha. Kaho focused on Kagome's face before passing out. Kagome stifled a giggle and lowered the tall archer onto her own bed.

"Kikyou..." About that time, the villagers who had been drawn by Kaho's scream converged on the small house. Touji, of course, led the way.

"Kaho!" he looked from his sister to Kagome to Inu Yasha. "What did you do to her, wench?" he growled, taking a step toward Kagome. The short girl didn't say anything but glared as she poured a little of her drinking water onto a bandage and proceeded to bathe the unconscious girl's face.

"Kagome!" Sesshou Maru's overpowering voice and presence cleared the path in front of him and he walked swiftly to the front of the crowd, fixing Touji with a look of disdain.

"Sesshou Maru, you're back!" Kagome said, slightly surprised by the tall demon's appearance.

"Answer my question, wench!" Touji exploded.

"Oh for the love of--! I didn't do anything to Kaho-san!" Kagome shouted, finally fed up. Touji moved toward the small girl.

"Hold." Sesshou Maru said warningly, fixing the headmaster with a level glare and laying his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Calm down, everyone!" the gathered villagers parted again as Kaede moved forward. Her eyes widened when she saw Inu Yasha, but she didn't say anything. "Touji, clear this place out and we'll talk in the morning."

"Kaede--!"

"Do as I tell you, Touji. It's the middle of the night. There are jobs that must be done at dawn and Kagome-sama is still injured." Touji looked at his sister one last time before clearing the small house.

"Please excuse the disturbance, Kagome." Kaede said in apology.

"That's alright, Kaede-sama." Kagome said with a smile. "I understand his concern." Her eyes saddened slightly as she thought of Souta.

"Well, even so, Touji's actions were rash and uncalled for. Please rest now. We will return in the morning." With that, Kaede took her leave.

"Well, brother, I see you finally dragged yourself out of exile." Sesshou Maru began snidely. Inu Yasha growled and took one step toward his older brother.

"Stop!" Kagome said, stepping between the brothers. "Inu Yasha, Sesshou Maru, stop it. If you two are going to insist upon a fight, it can wait for morning. I'm tired and Kaho-san is asleep. Don't disturb us, okay?" Sesshou Maru blinked down at Kagome, then nodded and took a step back. Inu Yasha looked like he had been run over by a truck.

"Kikyou." He said softly.

"Tomorrow, Inu Yasha." Kagome said gently. "I'll explain it all tomorrow." Inu Yasha looked apprehensive, but nodded. "Alright." Kagome took a step back and smiled at the brothers. "Good night."

Next Chapter:

As Kagome's explanation to Inu Yasha and Sesshou Maru continues, forces that they are not prepared to deal with are gathering.

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Notes

Well, Kaede's still alive. And she will be alive for a while. I guess everyone's a bit OOC in this fic, aren't they? Hm. I wonder why...

Well! I hope you enjoyed this installment! Stay tuned for the next chapter!!

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