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.
Okay, I forgot to add a few things.
Learian Words and their translated/loosely translated meanings:
Kreelie- idiot
Tione- sister
Tionto- brother
Eliree- lover
Chapter 8: Memories of Discord Provides Lessons"Very nicely done Inuyasha!" Kurama complimented sincerely and Inuyasha felt a warm glow of pride go through him. Out of the two Kurama was the harder to please and for some reason his compliments meant more to Inuyasha than Shad's did. However once they were earned there was no critism attached to them, just a well-pleased grin.
"Can I practice too?" Shippo asked and ran up to them.
"Why don't you go bother someone else brat?" Inuyasha snarled half-heartedly but there wasn't any real heat in his voice. Ugh. I guess that means that Shad and Kurama are rubbing off even more onto me. He thought moodily. That wasn't bad exactly but things were changing from what they used to be. Not that change was bad, it was just… different. He and Kurama had managed to come to an understanding after Kurama had proved to Inuyasha that he was stronger than he was. Quite an accomplishment for a human, still… There's something about him that doesn't quite measure up…
"Quit being such a jerk just because Kagome's gone! Shippo yelled at him.
Behave pups. Shad admonished them and tapped the young kitsune lightly with his paw. And you youngling, you should know better than to interrupt when they are training. He said sternly.
"But I just wanted something to do!"
Something to do eh? Hang on a moment and I'll get you started on a few training exercises. Shad said and headed to an empty hut to change back to his human form.
"Why does he always go in there before he changes?" Inuyasha asked curiously.
"So that Kaede doesn't kill him." Kurama answered with a grin and then went into more detail when the other two just looked at him blankly. "When Shad changes from his wolf form to human he doesn't have any clothes on and while that doesn't bother him, he and Destiny do try to follow our rules."
"What rules?"
"Well like being embarrassed when you don't have your clothes on, learning the value of money, customs, the list goes on and on Shippo."
"Why bother to learn those things when you're powerful enough that you don't have too?" Inuyasha asked.
Because life, even with all its joys and sorrows, is the greatest gift of all. Shad answered as he walked up to them.
"Hey! Why are you still talking in our heads?!" Inuyasha demanded.
Shad grinned at him and shrugged. I'm used to speaking like this. He answered and then looked at Shippo. Now then! Come with me and let's see if we can't get you started on something suitable for your age…
Kurama smiled slightly as he watched the young kitsune walk off with his future brother-in-law and turned his attention back to the hanyou watching him so raptly. "What?" He asked.
"You actually like that brat?" Inuyasha said in a stunned tone.
Kurama raised an eyebrow and regarded him silently. Looks like he's ready to talk. He thought and put his sword to the side and began to walk towards the river. "Yes." He answered and looked over his shoulder at Inuyasha. "Just as you do."
"What?!" He yelled and leaped in front of Kurama.
"You heard me."
"That doesn't mean I agree!"
"So you'll just keep on denying the truth then."
"Who said it was the truth?" Inuyasha challenged.
"Who said it wasn't?" Kurama replied simply.
Inuyasha growled and yelled, "Why the hell do you always win these arguments!?"
Kurama smirked a little and answered, "Because I've had more time to learn all the subtle ways of debate than you have."
"Feh! It's not like you're so much older." Inuyasha said and crossed his arms.
"You just might be surprised." Kurama murmured.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, Inuyasha, that there are times when you have to look past the surface appearance and down onto the very heart."
He was quite for a moment and then Inuyasha asked, "but what if you were afraid of what you would find?"
Kurama stopped then and looked out over the water that flowed so freely along it's way. "I assume your talking about Kagome." He stated rather than asked.
"What! No I'm not!"
Kurama frowned and looked back over at him, "no lies Inuyasha. This conversation will go no further than you and I, unless you decide otherwise." He reprimanded.
Inuyasha grumbled and sat down but didn't say anything aloud. His thoughts however, were in a whirlwind. How could he understand what I feel for Kagome? And what about my obligation to Kikyo? What do I do about that? She was my first love and I promised her that I would go with her. Inuyasha whines softly in his throat. What am I supposed to so?
"What would you know? You and Destiny are always so lovey dovey with one another that it makes the rest of us sick." He finally muttered.
Kurama chuckled and shook his head. "Do you think it was always like that between us?" He asked in amusement.
"Well that's how you act!" Inuyasha yelled defensively.
"Sit down for a moment and let me tell you the edited version of mine and Destiny's courtship." Kurama said and layed down comfortably on the ground, crossed his hands underneath his head, and began. "Destiny and I had a bit of a rocky start, she was just some crazy girl who didn't take notes in any of our college classes, argued with teachers if she got the chance, but she treated my friends and I with a respect and an open friendliness that I wasn't able to resist. Eventually we got together but Destiny and her brother both worked as dancers at a club with a group of other people." He was quiet for a moment and then continued. "Seeing her dancing so intimately with other men made me very jealous, despite the fact that she had told me many times that she didn't feel anything for any of them, I became jealous and I allowed a few false rumors to turn me against her completely.
"What?!" Inuyasha said softly in shock as his mouth dropped open. For some reason it was just impossible for him to imagine Destiny and Kurama really fighting with one another.
"Don't look so shocked Inuyasha, none of us are perfect." Kurama said with a grin.
"But you two never fight! And you're together now!"
"Are you going to let me finish?"
Inuyasha was quiet a moment and then nodded. "Yes."
"Needless to say, I finally lost it and chewed her up verbally as bad as I could and tossed her away from me." Kurama rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. "I can still see the expression on her face. So much sorrow and betrayal, Destiny just stood there and let me take out my anger on her until I just turned and walked away."
"You mean she didn't do anything?"
"Not physically. The next time I saw her though I was kissing another girl to let Destiny know how much I 'didn't' need her and she just looked at me so sadly for a moment and then her guard came up and I couldn't read her anymore. It was like she had just inserted a huge wall between us that could not be broken, climbed over, or tunneled over. But anyway, to make a long story short, I finally realized exactly how much she meant to me and the day that I came so close to losing her for forever." Kurama grinned than and sat up. "So if it seems like we're all 'lovey dovey' as you put it, all I can say is I damn well hope so.
"But she took you back. Why?"
"Because I wasn't going to let her go. Come heaven or hell I was going to make her understand that I loved her and wouldn't let her leave me." Kurama answered with a bit of a growl in his voice.
Inuyasha was as he very carefully thought over what Kurama had told him. He almost couldn't believe that the two people who he thought had a perfect relationship from the get-go would have been through so much. Maybe. Just maybe, Kurama would understand his situation about Kagome and Kikyo. "Can I tell you something?" He asked.
"Of course."
"Over fifty years ago I was…"
"We're finally back!" Kagome said cheerfully and the two other girls grinned happily at her.
"It's good to be home." Sango agreed completely.
"What? You mean you didn't like my time?" Kagome teased.
Sango smiled wryly and shook her head. "Oh, it was interesting. Like seeing you and Destiny argue your teacher down and all. And then there were all the places to eat and such, but it's always good to come home."
"I couldn't agree more." Destiny put in with a smile.
"Hey where are the guys?" Kagome asked aloud.
"They'll know that we're back soon enough." Sango said with a slight frown.
"Thinking about Miroku already?" Destiny asked playfully and got a glare in return.
"Someone needs to tie his hands together and chain them to the ground." She muttered. Kagome and Destiny looked at each other briefly and grinned before returning their attention on Sango.
"Yes we know. Come on, let's hurry to the village." Destiny said and picked up Kagome's pack and slung it onto her back.
"Why are you so eager to return?" Sango asked curiously.
Destiny stopped and looked over at the girl. "We've been gone a week and two days right?"
"Right."
"Well during that whole time I didn't talk to or see my betrothed or my brother. I miss them."
"Family is very important to you isn't it?" Kagome asked.
"Of course. Just as it is important to you." She answered readily.
She's really good at reading people but still, not everything is so simple. I know that she said that I'm not Kikyo's reincarnation but what if Destiny is wrong? What is Inuyasha only likes to be around me because I remind him of Kikyo? She wondered a little panicky. Then you will deal with it and be stronger. Some stronger part of herself said sternly.
Quit worrying so much. Destiny scolded her privately in mind-speech.
"Can you read thoughts?" Kagome asked softly so Sango wouldn't hear.
If I choose to, yes. Most of the time I have mental barriers in place to keep other being's thoughts out. She answered and Kagome giggled at the scowl she heard in Destiny's telepathic voice.
Can you hear me now?!
Ack! Stop that! I don't want to reinforce these mental shields.
Stop what?!
You're yelling out your thoughts. Calm down and 'speak' normally. Destiny pleaded.
Is this better?
Very. Well-done miko. Destiny said in approval. Ah, and here comes the cavalry. She added.
Kagome turned and smiled at the sight that greeted them. Inuyasha, Kurama, Miroku, Shad, Kirara, and Shippo were all coming to greet them from the village. But there was something different about the group heading towards them. Kagome wasn't sure of what it was yet but she had a feeling that she would learn very soon. But as for now, she just wanted to be reunited with all of all of her friends, especially Inuyasha.
It was a happy reunion, especially for a certain pair of lovers. I wish we could keep them. Destiny said privately to Kurama.
You wouldn't if you were the one who stayed here with the two males for over a week. He said dryly and wrapped his arms around her waist.
I know you like them. If you hadn't then you wouldn't have gotten so angry at Inuyasha when we left.
Maybe I just like the girls.
You're a horrible liar Kurama. Don't ever play poker unless you're planning on losing.
Poker eh? Now would that be regular or strip poker?
"Idiot." She muttered and whopped him playfully on the arm. Kurama sighed and rested his chin on top of her head and looked at the young group of people that they'd come to adopt as an extension of their family.
Okay. Maybe I like them. He conceded grudgingly.
Destiny hid a smile and raised her head a bit and brushed her lips over Kurama's teasingly. "Maybe they like you too, eliree."
A short distance away they were being watched by both Kagome and Inuyasha, the two turned to look at each other discreetly and then blushed and looked away from one another when their eyes met. But it was a beginning…
~ Okay, time to clear up a little bit of stuff. When Kurama says that Destiny and Shad worked as dancers they weren't stripers or exotic dancers, they were performers at a night club who were part of the entertainment. No big deal, unless you're a possessive kind of guy… Anyways… I did horrible on my exam! I hate chem. I hate chem. I hate chem. *grins* There's a quote for you. Anyway, it's time to get the ball moving again so don't worry. Next chapter is going to be a good one! Please review! ~
