Title: Falling Stars
Author: Celyia (ladycelyia@aol.com)
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi still owns all. :-)
Dedication: To all those who enjoy the journey.
Note: Okay, I caved in. :-) Against my better judgement, I'm marking this instead as a PG-13 for now. Hope this makes things less confusing.
This chapter, which is a little longer, branches the story out. Sorry if things are a bit slower but I hope to make it up to you by getting Chapter 3 up sometime this weekend. :-) Let me know what you think! Thanks!
-Cel.
Chapter 2
The hanyou Inuyasha had many intriguing qualities, but psychic insight, unfortunately, wasn't one of them.
Perhaps if the gods were a bit more manageable and a hell of a lot less contrary, he would have received some sort of warning about the events that would soon happen so he could have prevented them. But fickle Fate had apparently decided to play havoc with the young hanyou's life, so instead of hunting down Kagome like he would have at any other time, he ended up perched on a sturdy branch high in the Sacred Tree, his eyes closed as he awaited his shame.
And truly, the night of the new moon was the most damnably embarrassing time of them all.
Ignoring the chill wind that whispered across his face, Inuyasha opened his eyes and gazed out across the quiet forest. The brilliant hues of the dying sun caressed the land, melting the deep greens of the flora into a shroud of subdued reds and oranges. The view, had he been inclined to notice such things, was breathtaking, but the young warrior only had one thing on his mind.
His sense of smell had already been stolen away.
Well, maybe it wasn't completely gone, he amended grouchily as he shifted his weight. But it's pretty damn close to it.
"How do humans fucking put up with this?" Inuyasha growled, his fingers pushing and pulling at his nose, as if the manipulation would return his demon-amplified senses instead of merely making it red and sore.
He hated that part. Several hours before the rising of the new moon, he could feel the changes in his body begin. Ears that normally swiveled flexibly as they searched to pick up any stray sounds were suddenly made immobile. The claws he counted on to be as sharp and strong as ten individual daggers, would weaken and bend. And most of all, the sense of smell that allowed him to identify not only the location of his allies but his myriad of enemies as well, from even a mile away, would dissipate away until nothing was left but the inferior human senses.
Though he would never admit to it, but it was on nights such as these that he was relieved that Kagome had insisted Shippou join their group. The child youkai, with his intense adoration of the teenage girl, would never allow anything to ever happen to her. His senses, unmarred by dulling humanity, would be able to discern threats that Inuyasha couldn't.
And that was the hardest thing to come to terms with. The idea that a mere child, youkai or not, could be more useful in insuring everything was the way it should be than he was pounded his already wounded ego into smithereens.
Growling as he waited for the transformation to finish, Inuyasha glanced back towards the village. In his mind's eye, he could see Kagome, in her strange clothing, playing happily with the kitsune. He could just imagine Shippou's happy giggles as the child would throw his tiny body, again, straight into Kagome's waiting arms.
He could see Kagome's motherly smile, perfect and loving, as she held Shippou tightly, maybe even smothering the child's head with a dozen of sweet kisses. In fact, Inuyasha was willing to bet that the two never even noticed his absence. Growling as a sudden depression started to overtake him, the dog hanyou slouched as he leaned against the scratchy bark. It was all Shippou's fault, anyway. If the dumb youkai hadn't stirred up all that maternal instinct crap that Kagome had been going through lately, the girl would be here, seeing to him right now. But instead, he had been completely forgotten.
With a coarse laugh, Inuyasha looked down at the long straggle of black hair that tumbled over the front of his chest. Fine. Maybe he was a human now, he thought as he pushed the reprehensible thing back over his shoulder, but soon he wouldn't be.
And tomorrow, Inuyasha thought with an evil grin, he'd make sure Shippou knew it too.
* * *
Shippou ran across the meadow, not bothering to hide his grin as he saw Kagome's slender, elegant figure sitting against a particularly tall apple tree.
"Kagome!" he called out, hiding a frown as he looked the girl over. Something was definitely different tonight. Her startling blue eyes, usually so filled with kindness and humour, were strangely darkened by some foreign emotion as she turned her penetrating gaze towards him.
Without a word, she opened her arms, her lips curving into a gentle smile as he flung himself at her. Her hands, icy from the night air, cupped his head gently as she pulled him deep within a tight embrace.
His momentary apprehension forgotten, Shippou lost himself in the softness of her touch and the strong, steady pounding of her heart. No one hugged better than Kagome, he decided suddenly, his eyes closed as he silently compared Kagome's touch to that of Sango's and Kaede's. There was just something incredibly comforting about the girl.
As he inhaled her scent deeply, Shippou didn't bother fighting the smile that instantly usurped his lips. His real mother, who had been gone for such a long time that she was nothing more than a shadow of a memory, must have smelled like Kagome. It was the scent of warm hugs and impromptu kisses on the cheek and that incredible, overwhelming feeling of being loved.
In his best dreams, the ones that came so rarely but were worth risking the nightmares that normally plagued him at night, he had a family again. His father, tall and proud, would be standing by him, his callused hand resting lovingly upon the young kitsune's shoulder as they waited for Mother to meet them.
And then, Mother would enter- with her beautiful face so animated with a loving sort of laughter and her eyes bright with intelligence. Her hand, small and white, would reach gracefully towards her husband until their fingers brushing against one another, entwined by a shared love. Then, with a gentle smile, she would turn the full-strength of her blue eyes upon her child as her arms would welcome him into her heart. And he would nuzzle his face into her striking black hair, thinking he couldn't possibly ever be happier. That is, until he would feel his father's strong arms pull both mother and child into his arms, shielding them from the horrors of the world.
Sighing contentedly, Shippou looked up into the girl's face. Wonder what she's looking at, he thought as he followed her view.
"It's such a beautiful night, ne?" the girl asked, her voice softer than what he was used to.
The kitsune nodded automatically as he looked up, his head tilting slightly as he examined the twinkling stars as they rested so innocuously upon the black velvet night. He guessed it was okay, if you liked that sort of thing, but he didn't have the heart to risk hurting her by admitting that caveat aloud.
"Yeah," he mumbled as he snuggled deeply into her arms. A sudden wave of comfort flooded over him as he felt her arms tighten affectionately around his small body. Content to stay in her arms as long as she would allow him, Shippou returned his attention back to the sky.
And there they sat, each taking comfort from the other's presence even as their eyes feasted upon the dark glory of the heavens.
Response to reviews:
Steph-: You are so cute! :-) I'm glad you so far like the way Kagome's been. Let's just hope you like what happens to her in the future, too. :-)
Brooke-: Yes, ma'am! *grin* Coming right up!
Bakabaka-: *attempts to say the name fast and only sounds like Fozzie the Bear with Donald Duck's speech impediment* Thanks! Hopefully this won't disappoint!
Rama Inverse-: Ranma, m'dear! It's been too long! Sorry about just disappearing on you before but I was acting like a spoiled brat. *claims temporary sanity* Though, I'm proud to say the insanity has returned. Oh, world, beware. :-) Thanks for always being so supportive, hon. I can't tell you how much your review means to me. :-) And dammit, you *never* talk too much!
The Angry Generalization: Names like yours make me regret going with something as blase as Celyia. :-) *grin* Took your advice. With any luck, we'll corrupt some poor souls and turn them to the dark side! Muahaha.
Stormlight: Don't think there could *ever* be enough Sess/Kagome fics. :-) But it's been cool to notice that in the last month, the number on FF.net has grown big time. Thanks! *bounce* Gotta admit, you just totally pumped up my ego. Better watch out or else I'll be completely intolerable. Thanks again!
Lexly: Thanks! Hang in there. Gotta go through the motions of having IY and Shippou in there, at least. (God knows what I'll do with Sango and Miroku when the time comes) But there is a big Sesshoumaru chapter coming up. Hope you enjoy that!
Sammy-chan: *grin* Don't think anyone has ever told me I wrote something funny. That's cool. :-) Hope you find the new rating less intimidating! Thanks!
Voldersnort: Your wish is my command. *grin* Maybe. *innocent look* And I'm deliiiighted to know you like this! *bounce* Thanks!
Fushigi-heart: Thank you! :-) That I will!
Author: Celyia (ladycelyia@aol.com)
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi still owns all. :-)
Dedication: To all those who enjoy the journey.
Note: Okay, I caved in. :-) Against my better judgement, I'm marking this instead as a PG-13 for now. Hope this makes things less confusing.
This chapter, which is a little longer, branches the story out. Sorry if things are a bit slower but I hope to make it up to you by getting Chapter 3 up sometime this weekend. :-) Let me know what you think! Thanks!
-Cel.
Chapter 2
The hanyou Inuyasha had many intriguing qualities, but psychic insight, unfortunately, wasn't one of them.
Perhaps if the gods were a bit more manageable and a hell of a lot less contrary, he would have received some sort of warning about the events that would soon happen so he could have prevented them. But fickle Fate had apparently decided to play havoc with the young hanyou's life, so instead of hunting down Kagome like he would have at any other time, he ended up perched on a sturdy branch high in the Sacred Tree, his eyes closed as he awaited his shame.
And truly, the night of the new moon was the most damnably embarrassing time of them all.
Ignoring the chill wind that whispered across his face, Inuyasha opened his eyes and gazed out across the quiet forest. The brilliant hues of the dying sun caressed the land, melting the deep greens of the flora into a shroud of subdued reds and oranges. The view, had he been inclined to notice such things, was breathtaking, but the young warrior only had one thing on his mind.
His sense of smell had already been stolen away.
Well, maybe it wasn't completely gone, he amended grouchily as he shifted his weight. But it's pretty damn close to it.
"How do humans fucking put up with this?" Inuyasha growled, his fingers pushing and pulling at his nose, as if the manipulation would return his demon-amplified senses instead of merely making it red and sore.
He hated that part. Several hours before the rising of the new moon, he could feel the changes in his body begin. Ears that normally swiveled flexibly as they searched to pick up any stray sounds were suddenly made immobile. The claws he counted on to be as sharp and strong as ten individual daggers, would weaken and bend. And most of all, the sense of smell that allowed him to identify not only the location of his allies but his myriad of enemies as well, from even a mile away, would dissipate away until nothing was left but the inferior human senses.
Though he would never admit to it, but it was on nights such as these that he was relieved that Kagome had insisted Shippou join their group. The child youkai, with his intense adoration of the teenage girl, would never allow anything to ever happen to her. His senses, unmarred by dulling humanity, would be able to discern threats that Inuyasha couldn't.
And that was the hardest thing to come to terms with. The idea that a mere child, youkai or not, could be more useful in insuring everything was the way it should be than he was pounded his already wounded ego into smithereens.
Growling as he waited for the transformation to finish, Inuyasha glanced back towards the village. In his mind's eye, he could see Kagome, in her strange clothing, playing happily with the kitsune. He could just imagine Shippou's happy giggles as the child would throw his tiny body, again, straight into Kagome's waiting arms.
He could see Kagome's motherly smile, perfect and loving, as she held Shippou tightly, maybe even smothering the child's head with a dozen of sweet kisses. In fact, Inuyasha was willing to bet that the two never even noticed his absence. Growling as a sudden depression started to overtake him, the dog hanyou slouched as he leaned against the scratchy bark. It was all Shippou's fault, anyway. If the dumb youkai hadn't stirred up all that maternal instinct crap that Kagome had been going through lately, the girl would be here, seeing to him right now. But instead, he had been completely forgotten.
With a coarse laugh, Inuyasha looked down at the long straggle of black hair that tumbled over the front of his chest. Fine. Maybe he was a human now, he thought as he pushed the reprehensible thing back over his shoulder, but soon he wouldn't be.
And tomorrow, Inuyasha thought with an evil grin, he'd make sure Shippou knew it too.
Shippou ran across the meadow, not bothering to hide his grin as he saw Kagome's slender, elegant figure sitting against a particularly tall apple tree.
"Kagome!" he called out, hiding a frown as he looked the girl over. Something was definitely different tonight. Her startling blue eyes, usually so filled with kindness and humour, were strangely darkened by some foreign emotion as she turned her penetrating gaze towards him.
Without a word, she opened her arms, her lips curving into a gentle smile as he flung himself at her. Her hands, icy from the night air, cupped his head gently as she pulled him deep within a tight embrace.
His momentary apprehension forgotten, Shippou lost himself in the softness of her touch and the strong, steady pounding of her heart. No one hugged better than Kagome, he decided suddenly, his eyes closed as he silently compared Kagome's touch to that of Sango's and Kaede's. There was just something incredibly comforting about the girl.
As he inhaled her scent deeply, Shippou didn't bother fighting the smile that instantly usurped his lips. His real mother, who had been gone for such a long time that she was nothing more than a shadow of a memory, must have smelled like Kagome. It was the scent of warm hugs and impromptu kisses on the cheek and that incredible, overwhelming feeling of being loved.
In his best dreams, the ones that came so rarely but were worth risking the nightmares that normally plagued him at night, he had a family again. His father, tall and proud, would be standing by him, his callused hand resting lovingly upon the young kitsune's shoulder as they waited for Mother to meet them.
And then, Mother would enter- with her beautiful face so animated with a loving sort of laughter and her eyes bright with intelligence. Her hand, small and white, would reach gracefully towards her husband until their fingers brushing against one another, entwined by a shared love. Then, with a gentle smile, she would turn the full-strength of her blue eyes upon her child as her arms would welcome him into her heart. And he would nuzzle his face into her striking black hair, thinking he couldn't possibly ever be happier. That is, until he would feel his father's strong arms pull both mother and child into his arms, shielding them from the horrors of the world.
Sighing contentedly, Shippou looked up into the girl's face. Wonder what she's looking at, he thought as he followed her view.
"It's such a beautiful night, ne?" the girl asked, her voice softer than what he was used to.
The kitsune nodded automatically as he looked up, his head tilting slightly as he examined the twinkling stars as they rested so innocuously upon the black velvet night. He guessed it was okay, if you liked that sort of thing, but he didn't have the heart to risk hurting her by admitting that caveat aloud.
"Yeah," he mumbled as he snuggled deeply into her arms. A sudden wave of comfort flooded over him as he felt her arms tighten affectionately around his small body. Content to stay in her arms as long as she would allow him, Shippou returned his attention back to the sky.
And there they sat, each taking comfort from the other's presence even as their eyes feasted upon the dark glory of the heavens.
Response to reviews:
Steph-: You are so cute! :-) I'm glad you so far like the way Kagome's been. Let's just hope you like what happens to her in the future, too. :-)
Brooke-: Yes, ma'am! *grin* Coming right up!
Bakabaka-: *attempts to say the name fast and only sounds like Fozzie the Bear with Donald Duck's speech impediment* Thanks! Hopefully this won't disappoint!
Rama Inverse-: Ranma, m'dear! It's been too long! Sorry about just disappearing on you before but I was acting like a spoiled brat. *claims temporary sanity* Though, I'm proud to say the insanity has returned. Oh, world, beware. :-) Thanks for always being so supportive, hon. I can't tell you how much your review means to me. :-) And dammit, you *never* talk too much!
The Angry Generalization: Names like yours make me regret going with something as blase as Celyia. :-) *grin* Took your advice. With any luck, we'll corrupt some poor souls and turn them to the dark side! Muahaha.
Stormlight: Don't think there could *ever* be enough Sess/Kagome fics. :-) But it's been cool to notice that in the last month, the number on FF.net has grown big time. Thanks! *bounce* Gotta admit, you just totally pumped up my ego. Better watch out or else I'll be completely intolerable. Thanks again!
Lexly: Thanks! Hang in there. Gotta go through the motions of having IY and Shippou in there, at least. (God knows what I'll do with Sango and Miroku when the time comes) But there is a big Sesshoumaru chapter coming up. Hope you enjoy that!
Sammy-chan: *grin* Don't think anyone has ever told me I wrote something funny. That's cool. :-) Hope you find the new rating less intimidating! Thanks!
Voldersnort: Your wish is my command. *grin* Maybe. *innocent look* And I'm deliiiighted to know you like this! *bounce* Thanks!
Fushigi-heart: Thank you! :-) That I will!