Times of Change
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all of its characters don't belong to me. Neither does Kurama (he's from the cast of Yu Yu Hakusho). This isn't a crossover as he's the only character from that series in this. Why? You'll find out later. *grins* I do claim all original characters though, even the bad ones. Well that about wraps it up, let me know what you think at the end!
Author's Note/Warning – Thanks for all the reviews guys! But I'm afraid I have very bad news for one reviewer concerning Kurama. Sesshoumaru, I'm terribly sorry about this but uhhh… Kurama's, sorta, kinda already taken. *grins sheepishly* But not by me!
Umm… usually to show that they're using mind speech I bold and italize the words but since I couldn't get it to do that on this chapter. blah will stand for that.
Chapter 3: Revealing the Truth"Well Shad. How are we going to find a girl who can do this?" Kagome asked.
"Thee surely has a lot of explaining to do." Kaede added.
Shad grinned at all of them and shrugged. "Have a little faith."
I am going to kill this guy. Inuyasha thought angrily and would have started forward to do exactly that when Destin caught his attention. The sort man was removing his cloak and the dark cloths that had hidden everything but his eyes. When he shook his hair out it was a mixture of gently curling silver hair that was lightened by the near white strands in his hair, and stopped a couple of inches from his waist. His face was plain though with the exception of his eyes, they were now glittering with amusement as he shook his head at Kurama and removed his long black leather gloves.
"What are you doing?" Inuyasha asked him finally.
Destin looked up and grinned at him just as a soft blue light covered his entire body. When it was gone a hauntingly beautiful woman stood where the plain man had once stood. Her hair was the same color as it had been a minute ago except that the silver color was more pronounced but her eyes were still the same sapphire blue orbs with silver flecks. A silver star on her brow was nearly hidden by her bangs but Inuyasha was still able to see it. Her body was well toned and had a woman's lovely enticing curves. In all, she looked very delicate, sensual, and beautiful.
Miroku looked as though he was ready to faint as he gaped at the girl.
"What magic is this?" Kaede asked worriedly.
Destin, or whoever he or she was smiled gently and shook her head. "Be at ease Elder. You're simply seeing me as I truly am." She said, and even her voice was beautiful. Like shad's she had a lilting musical accent that helped enhance the musical tone of her voice.
"Who are you?!" Inuyasha demanded.
"Destiny Lockhart." She answered.
"You're pretty!" Shippo said excitedly and ran over and jumped on the girl and sniffed her curiously. "Are you really a girl though?" He asked in confusion.
"Yes, I'm really a girl. I was just pretending to be a man before." She answered.
"Why?" Kagome asked.
"Because of the idiot mortals out there. To them, women are inferior." Shad answered.
"Thank you heart-brother." Destiny teased.
"Anytime." He joked.
"So you basically tricked us into believing you were something that you aren't." Inuyasha growled.
Destiny sighed and shrugged delicately. "If you want to look at it that way pup then you can. It still will not change the past." She answered.
"A lie's a lie."
"And virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful." She countered and probably would have said more but Shad covered her mouth with his hand.
"Blah, blah, blah. You two can argue later, right now we have to get ready. Dest, do you have any ideas?" He asked.
"Not really…"
"Good, then I want to use two songs from that movie Kurama showed us."
Destiny groaned and looked over at the red headed man and smiled at him. "See what you've done?" She teased and he wrapped his arms around her loosely from behind.
"Innocent till proven guilty." He murmured.
Shad rolled his eyes in disgust and snorted. "Hey. Watch it Kurama. She may be your betrothed but she was my heart-sister first." He warned him.
Destiny grinned at her brother mischievously and said, "I'll remember that for when you go hunting for your mate."
"Ha! I have but one requirement." He announced.
"What's that?"
"She has to cook better than you." He answered smugly.
Destiny rolled her eyes and probably would have hit him then and there but Kurama tightened his hold on her slightly and cleared his throat. "What songs are you wanting Shad."
Both of the two heart-siblings glared at him for stopping their bickering but quickly turned serious. "It depends on what those two do. But either a song or two from the Moulin Rouge or the Phantom of the Opera."
"Why those two?" Kagome asked, since she was the only other one who knew what they were talking about.
"Cause we're dancers and singers." He answered with a grin that quickly transformed into a smirk. "Or should I say that we are the best of the best."
Destiny raised one delicate eyebrow and looked over at the others. "Ignore him. He has a superiority complex that is completely delusional."
Shad gave a long-suffering sigh and shook his head. "Why am I so abused and un-appreciated?" He asked.
Kurama snorted and rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Come on, we have to get the two of you ready." He said and motioned for all of the guys to leave the hut. However, just before they left he stopped and pulled Destiny close to him and kissed her softly on the lips and murmured something quietly to her that even Inuyasha couldn't pick up. Five seconds later the hut was completely empty of all male life forms.
"Wow. This is a lot to absorb." Kagome said quietly and leaned back against the wall.
"I know, I'm sorry that all of you had to find out like this." Destiny apologized and gazed pensively into the fire.
"Thee should not be blaming thyself. It is often safer to travel as a man than as a woman." Kaede advised.
"So where do all of you come from originally?" Sango asked. "Are you also from Kagome's time?"
"Well… yes. And no…" She answered and pulled off her shirt and started unwinding the bindings around her chest.
Kagome looked at her curiously. Now, what does that mean? She wondered.
Shad walked back in then with a large suitcase in his hand and placed it on the floor. "That should be most of your things heart-sister." He said and looked up to see that he was at the receiving end of three hostile glares. "What?" He asked Kagome, Sango, and Kaede.
"Thee should not be in here while a lady is changing." Kaede said reproachfully.
Shad rolled his eyes and snorted. "You mortals and your obsession with clothing." He sighed and headed back outside.
"What did he mean by that?" Kagome asked.
Destiny grinned and opened up the suitcase. "Exactly what he said. Shad and I were trained in an environment where modesty was a foreign concept." She answered and pulled out a long dark blue dress and shook it out.
"Here." Kagome said and held out her hands for the dress. Destiny smiled gratefully and gave it to her so that she could step out of her boots and pants. After that she finished Kagome handed her the dress and she slipped it on. "Turn around and I'll zip it up for you." She said to the pale-headed girl.
"Thank you Kagome." She said gratefully and obediently turned around and pulled her hair up out of the way.
"Oh my God." Kagome exclaimed when she saw her back. Although they were faint, she could see hundreds of scars all over Destiny's back. What on earth happened to her? She thought and felt hr anger come to a boiling point at the sight of such cruelty. What monster could do something like this? She wanted to snarl but just barely managed to restrain herself.
Peace, Kagome. It happened long ago, it's just the past. Destiny said soothing to the enraged girl through mind-speech, causing Kagome to gape at her in surprise.
"Who did this to you?!" Sango demanded, sounding just as angry as Kagome's thoughts had.
"Leave her be, Sango." Kaede admonished quietly as she too moved closer to study Destiny's back. "These are old wounds child, and made from many weapons."
"Yes, Elder." Destiny agreed.
"How old are thee?"
"Eighteen, in two weeks."
"So thee was merely a child then."
"No." Destiny disagreed softly. "Neither Shad or I have ever been children after we were four." There was a moment of stunned silence and then Kagome zipped up the back of Destiny's dress. Almost as soon as her hands dropped back to her sides all of the scars disappeared as if they had never been and Destiny let her hair drop back down.
"Thee has cast a spell to hide thy scars?" Kaede asked.
"Exactly." She answered and smiled at them. "It makes Kurama angry to see them and it draws a lot of attention so I usually cast a small illusion to hide them." She explained.
"Why would it make him angry?" Kagome asked curiously.
"Because the people who are to blame are already dead." She answered simply.
"He must love you very much." Kagome said but her thoughts were on Inuyasha. Would he be angry if anyone ever hurt me? Or does he only see me as his 'shard detector?' she wondered. Sometimes he was so closed off to her that she wanted to scream at him but then he'd ruin it by saying something sweet. Destiny's hair reminds me a little of Inuyasha's, except her's isn't straight or the pure white that his is… Ack! Girl, you've got it bad. She told herself.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Destiny asked her.
"Huh? Oh. I'm fine." She answered absently.
Destiny smiled and didn't answer and continued to get ready. Well Shad, I guess you were right. She thought in amusement and wondered what he and Kurama were doing now.
"Hey Shad?" Miroku called.
"Yes?"
"Do you have any other sisters?" He asked.
Shad raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "No, why?"
"Just wondering." He answered in a broken voice.
"Are we missing something?" Kurama asked Inuyasha.
Well duh, you moron! Inuyasha thought but didn't reply aloud.
"Don't be rude, pup. Kurama might just decide to clean his shoes with you." Shad advised.
Inuyasha looked over at Shad and then at Kurama. The latter didn't look at all concerned that he hadn't answered him. I could take this guy out easy. Humans are nothing compared to youkai. He decided with a smirk. Oh really? Countered some other part of his brain. Then how did that human girl take out Elena? Inuyasha barely stopped himself from shaking his head. I am not talking to myself. I am not crazy. I am- wait a minute! How did she take out the youkai? Is Kagome safe with her?
"So you and Destiny are betrothed eh? When will the wedding be?" Miroku asked.
Shad burst into laughter and Kurama let out a long suffering sigh before grinning in wry amusement. "In five to six years." He answered, causing both Inuyasha and Miroku's mouths to drop open in shock.
"What?! Why so long when you could have that beautiful creature in your bed every night and wake up to her every morning?" Miroku exclaimed.
"So that's why he wanted to know if I had another sister." Shad murmured to himself.
"Some things are worth waiting for forever to have. Five or six years is nothing compared to what I'd be willing to wait." He answered simply.
I kinda know how you feel Kurama. But unlike you I have a promise to Kikyo that I have to keep. Inuyasha thought. Oh really? And what about Kagome? Will you just toss her aside for something that isn't human, youkai, or even hanyou! Inuyasha snarled in his mind and yelled, shut up!
"How do you know she's worth waiting for?" He asked Kurama with a smirk.
"Because that's who I see in my tomorrows."
Shad grinned a that as he surveyed himself. He wore a pair of comfortable fitting black pants and a plain white long-sleeved shirt. "Ask him how long it took him to realize that Destiny was the one for him." He suggested and grinned when Kurama shot him a death glare.
"You talk too much."
"I know. It's a gift." Shad countered.
That little tidbit of information had caught Inuyasha and Miroku's attention however, and the both wanted to know the story behind it, for entirely different reasons though.
"How long did it take you?" Inuyasha asked.
Shad took pity on his future brother-in-law when he saw how uncomfortable he was and decided to cut him a break and answered for him. "Long enough so that he almost lost." He said seriously and looked out the window.
"I'm surprised she didn't just throw me out." Kurama murmured. Shad smiled and looked over at him.
"You know us. We can't turn the ones we love away, nor those who claim our protection. Ever." He said and his eyes darkened moodily. There were shadows of memories and pain in hi eyes that disappeared swiftly. The past was the past, always to be remembered but not to be lived in. The pup needs to learn that as well. He mused. But all of the key pieces aren't here yet. But what's missing…?
"Come on, it's almost time." Inuyasha stated and walked out of the hut.
So what do you think Kurama? Shad asked as they followed the impatient hanyou.
I think getting that pup and the girl together is going to be a lot of work. Came the reply.
Hey, it could be worse. I could make you dance.
Shad. Quit while you're ahead. Kurama advised him.
Awww…….! Shad whined.
~ Hmmm… You'd think Shad would take this little dance confrontation seriously, but like his heart-sister said 'he's got a superiority complex that is completely delusional'. However, he really doesn't think that, he just likes to annoy people. I know this is a little slow but I'm having to set up certain elements. *grins* This is actually a good thing, it means more chapters. Well let me know how I'm doing so far, just click that little box down at the bottom. ~
