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 -

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 5:  Deceptive Appearances

            Shad nodded in satisfaction when Miroku came back and told him that everyone had been set up the way Destiny requested.  The men that had come with the three of them were under orders to do as Destiny commanded, since they still didn't know who she was, and the villagers had been discreetly moved a safe distance away.  Just in case something happened…  "Destiny, you're too honorable with these mortals."  He muttered at her unhappily and glared.  Destiny rolled her eyes and turned back to Kagome and Sango and continued to explain to them what she wanted to do.

            "Why do you want her to carry a weapon so bad?"  Inuyasha asked finally to get him to stop pacing and muttering.  It was really beginning to annoy him.

            "Think you that those two demons are trustworthy?"  Shad asked pointedly.  "Damn and double damn.  I hate having morals sometimes."  He complained.

            "Calm down Shadow."  Kurama said mildly and smiled faintly when the younger man muttered a few more words and before finally shutting up.

            What is it with these three?  Inuyasha wondered.  It's like they're all one family that actually gets along and takes turns leading.  Even the males…  It was an unheard of concept to Inuyasha.  There could only be one male and one female leader, those three however, obviously did not know that.  They were a…family.  And if he were honest with himself, Inuyasha would have realized that he was envious of that and somewhere deep within he longed for it himself.

            "You look good in black."  Kagome said when Destiny finished telling her and Sango what she wanted the two of them to do.  Inuyasha looked up at her in surprise and then back down at the black clothes that Destiny and Shadow had made him, Miroku, and Kurama change into.

            "Yeah, whatever."  He said dismissively.

            "You are supposed to say thank you and then return the compliment, pup."  Shad rebuked him mildly and Inuyasha's surprised eyes jerked to the human.

            "What!?"

            "You heard me."

            "Feh!"  Inuyasha snorted and jerked his head away from all of them only to turn back when he heard Miroku's all too familiar voice speak to Destiny.  The sight that greeted him was so funny that he almost burst into laughter then and there but by some great measure of control he manages to hold his laughter in.  Miroku had one of Destiny's hands gripped tightly within his own as he was on his knees in front of her and looking up at her face with an earnest expression plastered to his features.

            "Lovely lady, ever since I saw you turn into your true form I have been enamored of your beauty.  Then when I saw you dance I knew that I must have you as my own.  Lovely lady I ask you this, will you marry me and bear my child?  Or if marrying is out, bear my child?"  

            Destiny look at the kneeling priest for a second, looked up at Kurama for a moment, then back to Miroku and grinned.  "Yes."  She said in a serious tone but while her face was calm her eyes were sparkling with mischief as he leapt to his feet and looked at her in shock.

            "Y-y- you will?"  He stuttered.

            Destiny nodded and replied, "but on one condition."

            "Anything!  Name it!"  Miroku cried.

            "You would have to carry the child for the whole nine months of pregnancy."  She answered and grinned when his mouth fell open in shock and he just tumbled backwards, causing everyone in the hut to burst into laughter.

            "Looks like someone finally beat you at your own game."  Inuyasha managed to say between his breaths of laughter and he pulled Kagome a little closer to his chest to keep her from falling down  in mirth at the priest's dilemma.

            "I don't see what's so funny."  Miroku sniffed but a small grin tugged at the corners of his mouth as he turned to Kurama.  "I would hate to be in your shoes."  He said and caused the laughter to start all over again.

            "Make them stop."  Kagome pleaded as she turned to Inuyasha and buried her head in his chest to muffle her laughter.

            "Can't."  He answered helplessly and looked down at her with a grin on his face just as she looked up.  Their eyes met and held.  Dark amber drowning in eyes that were the bluish gray color of the sea during a storm.  They were drowning… in each other.

            "Come.  It's time."  Destiny said quietly and the two nearly jumped apart.

            Kurama frowned as he studied the two young ones.  Why do they fight their feelings so much?  He asked Destiny as she pulled on a shimmery blue cloak but left the hood down.

            She smiled up at him and linked her hand through his.  Why did we?  She countered.

            That was different though.

            Not really.  Love's course may not always be smooth but if you have enough faith and trust in the one you love then nothing can stop them from being together.  She answered.

            Is there a hidden message in there for me?  He asked jokingly.

            Destiny grinned and shook her head.  Only that I love you.  She answered and he squeezed her hand softly before walking out of the hut.

            The men that Destiny, Kurama, and Shad had brought with them were all grouped together in one section of the village.  The villagers were a bit farther back as they were more wary of the two youkai.  Shad and Miroku went to go stand with the men while Kurama and Inuyasha stayed near the hut so that they could observe everyone and after Destiny cast an illusion on both Kagome and Sango they walked to the side opposite of the men and stood there.  They looked to be wearing very revealing dark red skirts and blouses to the youkai and the other people in the village when they were actually wearing their regular clothes.

            "Good luck."  Kurama called softly as she headed towards the middle of the village.  Destiny nodded and then stopped abruptly as she softly sang with no music:

Some people are glad to die for love…

            And then she tossed of her cloak as fast moving swing music began to play and all of the men gaped at her and her apparel.  Although she wasn't as showcasing as Elena had been, Destiny for some reason seemed to be a hundred times more sensual and tempting than what the youkai had been.  Destiny grinned at all of them as she walked up to Shad and sang:

A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend.

A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat!  Or help you feed your aunt!

            At the last she kicked up her leg a bit and turned to Miroku and rubbed her hand over his chest suggestively and sang:

Men grow cold as girls grow old!

And we all lose our charms in the end…

            Then she all but shoved him away from her as she backed up and danced.  Using her whole body to add to the song's racy music.

But square cut or pear shape!  These rocks don't lose, their shape.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

            Shad sort of glided into the middle then with Destiny and spun her about a few times and then lifted her up high twice as she called out,  "Tiffany!"  and almost right after it, "Cartier!"  Then he set her down in front of Kagome and Sango and using her magic she made them look like she was singing right along with her as she looked sorta poutingly at the men.

Cause we are living in a material world, and I am a material,

Girl!

            She blew a kiss at the men then a made a soft hissing sound as she walk toward then and beckoned them seductively and called, "Come and get me boys."  The men had no troubling running after her at all and she easily danced among them and made them chase her as she always slipped just out of there reach before Shad lifted her into an empty wagon and then leapt in nimbly himself.  "Talk to me Shadow!  Tell me all about it!"  She yelled and grinned at him as she started singing again as she danced.

There may come a time when a, lass needs a lawyer!

            Shad grinned at the men her as he said in a deep voice.  "But diamonds are a girl's best friend."

There may come a time when a, heart-broke employer thinks you're !

            "You're double notch."  He said again in his deep leering voice.

            "But get that ice or else no dice!"  She said to Shad and pushed him out of the wagon before stepping down gracefully and began dancing playfully again as she, Kagome, and Sango sang:

He is your guy when, stocks are high!

But beware when they start descend!

Diamonds are a girl's best,

Diamonds are a girl's best,

Diamonds are a girl's best friend!

            By this time she'd made her way to Kurama and was rubbing against him slowly when she whispered loudly so that everyone could hear, "Let's make love."  He looked like he was about to take her up on it as well but she slipped out his arms and then walked from him back to the center of the village and the men parted to give her room.  And Destiny tossed her hair back and looked over her shoulder at Kurama mischievously as she sang:

Cause that's when those louses go back to their spouses!

Diamonds!  Are a…

Girl's!  Best!

Friend…

            And then the music cut off shortly and Kagome and Sango led the cheers that followed.  It was easy to tell who was the winner of the Shards and who was not.  "I will not permit this!"  Screamed Elena as she drew out both of her swords and launched herself at Destiny.  Time almost seemed to slow as Destiny turned too late face the threat and then speeded back up when a blur of green and gold light blinded the female youkai for a moment and before turning into a huge black wolf that was even larger than Sesshomaru in his demon dog form.  The wolf stood over Destiny protectively and when he lowered his head to face the female youkai eye to eye, he completely hid her from view.

            "Liar!"  He snarled at the female and his jade green eyes blazed his rage.  "For attempting to harm my heart-sister and failing, I will give you a two choices.  One, you can give us the shards that you have and I will give you five minutes to run before I come after you.  Two, you can not give us the shards and I will rip you limb from limb right now."  He said coolly and showed his fangs in a silent snarl.  Completely ignoring the panicking villagers around him.

            "Shadow."  Destiny said quietly.

            "Be silent!  I warned you not to trust these mortals!"  He snarled at her.

            "What the hell is going on?!"  Inuyasha demanded of Kurama, and folded his arms across his chest as he waited for the older man to explain.

            "The youkai made a fatal mistake in breaking her word and attacking Destiny.  Both are unacceptable."  Kurama answered, and for the first time in his life, Inuyasha heard someone whose voice was much colder than Sesshomaru's had ever been.  Who are these people?  He wondered.  And more importantly why are they here and what do they want?  But as Inuyasha was soon to learn, there were no easy answers concerning their visitors.

            As it turned out the two youkai gave them the shards and ran out of the village as fast as they could.  True to his word, however, Shad took off after them when five minutes passed and returned in less that fifteen.  He was still in his wolf form and while he did have a faint smell of blood on him there was no smell of death.

            "What did you do?"  Kurama asked.

            "Let's just say that her face won't look as pretty anymore."  Shad answered and refused to go into any details.

            "I believe thee three owes us an explanation."  Kaede said a bit timidly as she gazed up at the huge wolf.

            Shad looked down at the old woman and let his gaze slide to the young hanyou, the baby kitsune, and the humans with her before finally meeting the gaze of his heart-sister.  She looked back at him understandingly and nodded in silent agreement with the Elder even as she reached out to him with her emotions and helped sooth his still blood hungry anger.  "You're right, Elder."  He said finally and bowed his head briefly in respect for her age.  "But not here."  He said and looked over at Inuyasha.  "Lead us to someplace where we may all talk in private."  He asked softly.  Inuyasha nodded briefly and headed towards the woods. 

            Destiny.   He called.

            Yes Shad?

            Will you bring your harp please and play?  He asked her.

            Destiny smiled and nodded.  Shad liked to have her play when he needed to be calmed.  Of course.  Go on ahead and I'll meet the rest of you there.  She answered

            Thank you heart-sister.  He said and then followed the others.

            "Come on then.  Let's get your instrument."  Kurama said and he and Destiny quickly ran back to the hut where their packs where stored.  After she located the pack she carefully unwrapped the beautifully designed harp from it's protective covering and they hurriedly made their way to where the others where waiting.

~ Finally!  This should have been up days ago but nooo…  My teachers just had to give a whole bunch of homework!  Grrrr….  Anyway how do you all like this new development?  Makes you wonder what Shad and Destiny really are.  Are they humans with weird powers or are they really demons?  Or…  Maybe they're something else entirely?  You tell me what you think and I'll tell you if you're right or wrong.  *grins*  I want to thank all of you lovely, wonderful people who have reviewed my story.  Thanks so much!  Especially those who've reviewed more than once.  Oh yeah, if anyone wants to e-mail me my e-mail is slayer_destiny@yahoo.com or if you just want to talk you can AOL IM me at silvdstny.  Except Mac who lives near me and is constantly asking how this is going to an end.  *smiles evilly*  For some odd reason he actually believes I'm gonna tell him.  Please review!  Pretty please?  All you have to go is click that itty bitty button and write something.  *makes a sad face*  That's not asking too much is it?  Adios till next chapter! ~