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).  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!

Learian Words and their translated/loosely translated meanings:

Kreelie- idiot

Tione- sister

Tionto- brother

Eliree- lover

Lireeh-tionto- Heart-brother

Lireeh-tione- Heart-sister

Lonii- Son

Lanii- Daughter

Ceriee- Mother

Cireen- Father

Chapter 19:  Dark Meetings and Awakenings of Realization

            Far away, in a plane of existence that was made up of darkness and surrounded in lies, conversed two beings.  Neither liked nor trusted the other and merely met out of necessity, each seeking to use the other as a pawn.  An end to a means…

            "I do not fear these Learians.  What threat are they to me if they are not allowed to interfere?"

            "Don't be a fool.  Just because they are not supposed to interfere does not mean they will stand by and do nothing.  Those two contain more power in their very fingers then what you could hope to steal in a million lifetimes!"  He growled.

            "Ah yes…  Power.  So sweetly addictive, it slides over you like a lover just begging to please you."  Answered the first.

            "I care not for your carnal desires."

            "No.  I don't suppose you would.  Tell me C-"

            Do not speak my name!"  He roared.

            "As you wish.  Tell me, why do you seek the destruction of two such delightfully looking morsels?"

            "I have told you.  They are an abomination to the universe.  Sooner or later they will go mad from the power that they hold.  When that time comes, there will be no one able to withstand such wrath.  No one!  Which is why they must be destroyed now!"

            "So you have no desire for such power yourself?"

            "No."

            Ku ku ku ku ku.  I know you are lying but keep you're illusions if they make you feel better.  Personally, I find them very entertaining.  Ku ku ku ku ku ku…."

            It was nighttime again and Destiny had yet to awaken.  Shippo had stayed beside her and Kurama all day but despite the reassurances from his papa he was still worried about why his mama refused, or couldn't, wake up.  "Shippo."  Kurama called, knowing the boy was still a little uncomfortable around him and so he decided to make the first move.

            "Yes, Papa?"  Shippo replied as he ran over to the silver kitsune.

            Kurama smiled gently at the boy, a smile that no one outside of his family would ever see, and picked him up so that he could hold him in his arms.  Kurama, like Destiny and Shad, had no real past experience with children and was mainly relying on his instincts in how to comfort his son.  "What's wrong little one?"  He asked.

            "Why…  Why did Mama hurt Sesshoumaru like that?"  Shippo asked quietly.

            Kurama sighed softly and settled down comfortably beside his heart-mate before answering his question.  "Your Mama and Uncle Shad have both led very hard lives, little one.  Someone was very cruel to your mother when she was younger and used to beat her very badly with a whip."

            "Why?!"  Shippo cried out angrily, furious that anyone would dare to hurt his mother.

            "Shhh…  No one can ever guess the reasons behind such cruel madness, but it made Destiny hate one thing more than any thing else in this world."

            "What is it?"

            "Whips.  She wasn't seeing Sesshoumaru, all she saw was the whip and that someone was trying to hurt her with it."

            "So Mama just reacted with her instincts.?"

            Kurama nodded and smiled approvingly.  "Right."

            "So why doesn't she wake up?"

            Kurama looked over at Destiny again and gently ran his hand over her pale cheeks.  "She's trying to heal herself and replenish the energies she lost in healing Sesshoumaru."  He answered.

            "So Mama will be okay?"  Shippo asked sleepily.

            "Yes.  She'll be fine."  Kurama answered and helped to send the little kitsune to sleep by purring deep within his chest.  The soothing rumble had the desired effect and soon he was deeply asleep.

            Destiny's hate of those things is more than what even I had realized.  Shad spoke privately to Kurama after he had placed Shippo next to Destiny.

            "It's more than hatred, she was…  afraid."  Kurama answered and looked up at the heavens for a moment before directing his piercing gaze back to Shad.  "Why did she say that she did not know me?"  He asked.

            Because when we were children we did not know you.  I think when Destiny saw the whip it threw her back into our uh 'childhood.'

            "Why would she let the past have so much control over her?"  Kurama asked.

            Maybe because she never finished it completely.  Destiny protected me even though I merely looked like a wolf and went through more than I.  But I don't believe she ever dealt with the pain and hate after we were free.  I think she just buried it.

            "What about you, Shad?  Do you have any problems like this?"  Kurama asked.

            No.  When we were younger it was like Destiny was the elder and I, the younger.  After we were free she made me talk about it and face all we had been through and helped me overcome all the pain.  But even then I think she knew that I could not do the same for her.  He answered, his mind-voice incredibly sad and defeated.

            "It's not your fault Shad."

            I know but that doesn't make it hurt any less to know that I cannot help.

            "I know…"  Kurama answered softly and turned his golden eyes back towards the star-studded sky.

            Inuyasha looked out over the camp broodingly.  He wasn't sure of how he was supposed to treat Destiny any longer.  Although she had accepted him unconditionally as her brother she had proved that she could be very, very dangerous to those he was responsible for protecting.  She had very nearly killed Sesshoumaru with looked to be almost no effort on her part.  Inuyasha knew that he should trust her but…  He looked over at Kagome, sleeping safely in her blankets and hardened his heart determinedly.  No, he could not afford to trust Destiny and then have her betray them, mostly because he couldn't lose Kagome…

            But how do I act around her?  He wondered.  He couldn't treat her like an enemy because she wasn't but his instincts wouldn't let him trust her either.  Inuyasha growled and struck his hand against the tree he was perched in.  He did not want to decide this!

            "Inuyasha?"  Kagome's voice called from underneath his tree.

            "Kagome?  I thought you were asleep."  He said and peered down at her.

            "I was but then I just woke up and saw you muttering to yourself and came to see if I could help."  She answered

            Inuyasha sighed and just as Kagome thought he was going to ignore her, he leaped off his branch, snatched her up, and leaped back up.  Kagome let out a soft cry of surprise but other than that she didn't make any noise, just held onto Inuyasha very tightly until they were settled back down in his tree.  "I don't know what to do."  He confessed.

            "About what?"  Kagome asked, surprised by the utter hopelessness she sensed in his voice.

            "Destiny.  She could betray us, Kagome."

            "What?!  How can you doubt her?!"  Kagome whispered furiously.  Inuyasha didn't become angry though.  He just looked at her with sad amber eyes until she calmed down as well. 

            "I doubt her because I know I couldn't stand losing you."  He replied finally and leaned in to softly touch his lips to hers.  "Do you understand?"  He whispered against her lips.

            "Yes."  Kagome sighed.  She really did understand where Inuyasha was coming from.  She knew that he was afraid of losing her but she also knew that they could trust Destiny.  But there was no way to make Inuyasha see that until he was ready.  Which would probably a long time considering how stubborn he was.

            Inuyasha began to nip lovingly at her lips, distracting Kagome from her thoughts.  Deciding to tease him back, she touched the tip of her tongue along his bottom lip and was surprised, and pleased, when she heard a low growl come from his throat.  Inuyasha pulled her closer to him and slipped his tongue into her mouth teasingly.  She responded by biting his tongue gently and then soothed any hurt her teeth might have caused by tangling her tongue with his.

            The mock love-play had heated Inuyasha's blood and increased his ever-present desire for Kagome.  Just a few more seconds, I'll stop kissing her then.  He told himself but the seconds slipped past him.  "Inuyasha."  Kagome breathed softly, unknowingly fanning the embers of desire into a bright flame.

            Cool down you two.  Shad grumbled as he walked by and glared at them for a moment.

            "Go away wolf."  Inuyasha growled without thinking.

            Shad, being the playful and mischievous being that he was, decided to annoy Inuyasha then instead of getting angry.  Had Kurama or even Destiny been there they would have warned the young lovers to be wary but Inuyasha and Kagome weren't so lucky.  Shad leaped onto the tree and noisily climbed past Kagome and Inuyasha to the branch above them and just grinned when Inuyasha glared at him.  After that he threw his head back and began to howl like the world was coming to an end.

            "Will someone shut him up!?"  Miroku yelled after a few minutes.

            "Gladly."  Inuyasha snarled and leaped at Shad.  The Learian sneered mockingly and leapt out of the tree and threw a taunting look to Inuyasha.

            Catch me if you can!  He dared and sped off into the forest, the hanyou close on his heels.

            "Umm…  Can someone get me down from here?"  Kagome called out.

            Destiny woke hearing Shad's faintly.  "Ugh.  What is he doing now?"  She asked and wearily rubbed her hand over her face.

            "Mama!"  She heard Shippo cry as he tackled her happily.  Destiny smiled at her adopted son and rubbed his ears affectionately before lifting her eyes to her heart-mate.

            "Hello little one."  She answered Shippo and greeted Kurama through mind-speech.  And to you as well my love.

            "I am not pleased with you.  Do you know how foolish of you it was to completely heal Sesshoumaru?  Do you not realize that you could have killed yourself?"  Kurama scolded.

            "I love you too."  Destiny answered and tried to sit up but wasn't too surprised when she found that she wasn't able to.  Frustrated but not overly surprised; even now her body wanted to make her sleep again but she needed to move and bathe.  Bathe especially.

            "Are you feeling better?"  Shippo asked her worriedly and buried his small face in her neck.

            "I am now."  She answered and nuzzled his face soothingly.  "Help me up please."  She asked Kurama.

            "Why?" 

            Destiny glared at him for a moment, but after seeing the stubborn look in his eyes she decided not to argue.  "I would really like to get a bath and such, Kurama."  She answered finally.

            "All that is nearby is a river."

            "Cold water's better than nothing."  She answered with a soft smile. 

Kurama smiled then and shook his head ruefully.  "Only you."  He teased as he pulled the blankets off of her, slung a pack onto his shoulder, and then gathered her into his arms.

"Can I come?"  Shippo asked and leaped onto Kurama's shoulder.

"Next time you can."  Kurama promised and leaned his head against the kitsune's affectionately.

"Because you want to scold Mama?"  Shippo asked mischievously.

"Exactly."  He answered with a grin.  "Go tell Sesshoumaru where we're going and ask him to get Kagome down from that tree."  He told the little kitsune.

"Okay!"  Shippo agreed and sped off to do as Kurama requested as the two headed towards the river.  Neither one of them said anything but for different reasons.  Destiny was too tired to speak and now that she'd woken up Kurama was finding it very hard not to start a fight he'd been itching to have ever sense he felt her pour her own life-energy into Sesshoumaru to heal him.  Had she merely healed Sesshoumaru of the wounds that she had inflicted upon him Kurama would have understood but Destiny had gone beyond that.  Perhaps to make amends for attacking one she had adopted as a brother, he didn't know, what he did know was that he was going to have to make her get past her childhood fear and hatred of whips, and those who wielded them.

When he reached the river, Kurama stripped off both his and Destiny's clothes, took out a bottle of cleansing solution, and then carried her into a calmer part of the river.  He helped her bathe and was her hair and despite his anger he took pleasure in being so close with his heart-mate.  After Destiny was finished he carried her back to the bank and placed her on a towel that was in her bag.  Then he went back into the river and to bathe himself.

"Kurama, what's wrong?"  Destiny asked.

Kurama stopped scrubbing his body for a moment and looked over at her.  "Do you want to fight?"  He asked.

"Not really."

"Then don't ask."  He answered coolly.

Destiny's eyes narrowed in anger but she didn't reply.  Instead. She pulled her clothes out of the pack and put on a pair of dark blue jeans, a long-sleeved white t-shirt, and then over that went a blue jean vest that matched her jeans.  Since just dressing had taken most of her strength she laid down on her back and decided that now was as good a time as any to confront him.  "Why not?"  She taunted softly.

Kurama ducked underneath the water briefly to rinse the soap off his body and then walked out of the river and stalked slowly to where she was lying.  Despite the fact that he towered over her, Destiny continued to look at him challengingly.  "You're pushing me too far Destiny."  He growled.

"Well maybe that's a good thing since it's the only way to get you to talk to me!"  She growled right back.

"Do not-"

"Don't tell me what to do Kurama.  You're my heart-mate not my parent."  She interrupted.

For a long moment she and Kurama glared at one another, neither willing to back down.  "You're right."  Kurama said after a moment.  "You are my mate."  And with that he knelt over her and raked his teeth lightly against her throat.

"Get off!"  She muttered and tried to push him away but he merely captured her hands in one of his and pinned them down over her head.

"You will listen Destiny, and you will listen very well.  You will never, ever, do anything as stupid as what you did when you healed Sesshoumaru."

"But he was dying!"

"And you could have if you had poured any more of your life energy into him!"

"But-"

"Listen to me!"  He growled.  "I am a demon, Destiny.  I know how badly Sesshoumaru was hurt and I know how much you went overboard because you were scared that you killed him, your brother, if it had been a stranger you would have reacted calmly but because they're family you can't!"

"That's not true!"

Kurama bent his head down and kissed her hard and pressed his body down on hers.  He'd tried to avoid fighting but she'd called him out and now he was literally getting into her space and leaving her no room to hide behind a shield of any kind.  "You know it is."  He growled.  Destiny growled right back at him.

"You can't control me, Kurama."  She stated calmly.

"The hell I can't.  You're mine.  Now, Always, Forever, Beyond Death, you will always belong to me, with me; just as I always belong to you.  And I will be damned if I let you leave me just because you panicked!"  He replied and stared intently into her eyes, willing her to acknowledge that fact.

"I know."  Destiny whispered and looked away from him.  Kurama sighed and nuzzled her neck softly for a moment and rubbed his lips over hers.  He forced himself up then before he did something that he really wouldn't regret, but promised to wait a few years before doing.  Swiftly he pulled on a pair of clothes that were just like his white ones except they were black and knelt down beside Destiny.

"We have to talk Destiny, about you're past.  We have to get you past this…"

            Shad was having the time of his life.  Right now he was currently hiding behind Sesshoumaru and growling ferociously at Inuyasha.  Not that he was serious or anything but who said he had to tell Inuyasha that?  "Stop this right now, both of you."  Sesshoumaru said in a bored tone.

            Hah!  Never!  Shad cried out dramatically and moved to the other side of Sesshoumaru as Inuyasha lunged around his half-brother.  Too slow!

            "Quit moving you stupid wolf!"  Inuyasha yelled.

            Now why would I want to do that?

            "So I can hit you!"

            And that benefits me how…?

            "You little-!"  Inuyasha began but was cut off as Shad actually leapt at him, snapped his teeth mockingly in the air next to Inuyasha's face and sped away yet again.

Too slow pup!  Shad called as he ran by the tree Kagome was still in.

"Shad!"  She yelled, causing the Learian to stop abruptly.

Yes, fair maiden?  What is thy heart's desire?  He asked teasingly.

"To be let down out of this tree."  She answered.

Aww… but thee makes such a lovely tree nymph.  He continued to joke even as he quickly climbed up the tree to where she was.  Climb aboard matey!  Ol' Shad twill see ye safely down!

"Shad, you are quite possibly the silliest person I know."  Kagome stated as she climbed onto his back.

Probably.  Shad agreed and leaped off the limb and landed nimbly on the ground.  Off with you now.  I'm still trying to drive your boyfriend crazy.  He said and sped off as soon as she slid off his back.  Shadow was just about to dodge another attack from Inuyasha when Kurama's mind-voice broke into his concentration.

Shadow.

Shad stopped immediately and Inuyasha ran right into him and they both tumbled onto the ground.  "I've got you now wolf!"  Inuyasha shouted.  Shad grinned good-naturedly and shook his head.

A moment Inuyasha.  He pleaded and then spoke privately to Kurama.  Yes?

Get Sesshoumaru and come to the river.  We've got to make Destiny realize that she has to face her past.

That's easier said than done, Kurama.  There are so many things that you simply can't comprehend…

Shadow, do you want a repeat of what happened to Sesshoumaru?  What if it's some innocent child next time?  Kurama countered.

I…  I…  I understand.  Shad said sadly.  We'll be there shortly.  He added.

"Are you ready to have your ass kicked?"  Inuyasha asked.

Perhaps another time pup.  Right now…  Sesshoumaru and I have to go speak with Kurama.  He answered, causing both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru to look at him intently.

"Why?"  Inuyasha asked.

Kurama requested that we come so… we go.  Shad answered.

"But-"

"Fine.  Where are they?"  Sesshoumaru interrupted.

The river.  Shad answered.  Sesshoumaru nodded and began to head that way, Shad trailing slowly behind him…

            Sesshoumaru, although he could faintly understand why Destiny attacked him, was still terribly angry over the fact that she had.  Although he was grateful to her for healing him and for renewing his arm, that anger was still there.  But what caused her to act so violent.  Her eyes…  They were so full of hatred and contempt, but there had been fear there as well.  A desperate type of fear that I've only seen on a battlefield when we were fighting for our lives… 

            "What was the cause?"  Sesshoumaru murmured softly.

            You'll be finding out soon enough.  Shad answered even though Sesshoumaru had merely been thinking aloud.

            "What do you mean.

            You'll see.  He answered sadly.

            And indeed he would.  The closer they got, the more clearly they were able to hear Destiny and Kurama arguing.

            "You don't understand!"  Destiny growled.

            "That's because you won't let me!"  Kurama answered.  "You won't let anyone in and it's eating at you."

            "I've been fine for the past couple of years!"  She shot back.

            "Then why do you cry out in your sleep?"  He countered.

            "Why do you?"

            "Why did you attack Sesshoumaru?"

            "I didn't mean to!  I mean, I meant to but I didn't mean to harm him!"

            "Until you saw the whip."  He stated.

            "Yes, I mean no, I mean…  Oh I don't know!"  Destiny groaned and Sesshoumaru was finally able to see them.  Kurama looked as though he were getting ready to go into battle and Destiny, she looked like some angel that had just gotten out of one; beautiful but clearly she was very weary.  The two must have sensed him and Shad because Destiny turned a bit and looked straight at him.  "Sess?"  She called out softly and smiled gently.

            That's not fair fighting.  Sesshoumaru thought a bit moodily, his emotions conflicting between anger, sympathy, and sibling protectiveness.  "You asked us to come?"  He asked Kurama instead, ignoring her completely.  That didn't mean he missed the hurt look that came into her eyes nor the anger at Kurama that swiftly followed.

            "You set me up?!"  She snarled.

            "Yes."  Kurama answered calmly and Destiny's eyes began to glow, and even the silver star on her forehead emitted a faint light.

            "You son of a –"

            Kurama growled lightly and bit her softly on her jawbone.  "Don't."  He added the extra warning and watched her intently for a moment.  After a few seconds the glow from her eyes faded and the crisis was over.

            Kurama, why are we here?  Shad asked.

            "Hold on a moment Shadow."  Kurama asked and focused on Destiny again.  "Why did you attack Sesshoumaru?"  He asked.

            "It wasn't him I saw."  She answered softly.

            "Then who was it?"  Kurama asked.  For a long moment Destiny was quiet and Shad was growling softly as well.

            "Yin."  She answered finally, so softly that Sesshoumaru almost didn't hear her.

            Needless to say, Sesshoumaru was shocked, he remembered very clearly what Shad had told him about the man who'd nearly turned the two Learians before him into heartless killers.  She was in her past; in her memories…He realized suddenly.

            "Destiny, you have to face this.  You must face your past and come to peace with it."

            "I have."  She answered sharply.

            "No you haven't!  If that was true then you never would have lost it!"  He replied angrily.

            "It won't happen again!"  She cried out.

            "How do you?"  Kurama demanded to know.  "How do you know it won't happen again, Destiny?  What if it isn't Sesshoumaru next time?  What if it's me?  You know the whip is my choice of weapon.  What if it's Shippo?"  He continued to slash at her verbally and even shook her shoulders a bit to make his point.

            "I…  I'd…-"

            "What if you couldn't heal them Destiny?  What if you killed one of us?  What if you killed Shippo, our son?  What would you do when you knew that you could have prevented all that pain by just facing a past that sooner or later you'll have to face?  It's either face it now or let it control you.  Which will you choose, Destiny?  How many will have to be hurt before you decide?"

            Kurama was relentless and used every weakness to score hit after hit on her.  Sesshoumaru thought Kurama was being far too harsh on her and was about to say so when he caught the scent of something faintly familiar…saltwater.  Destiny was crying, not loudly or anything but silent tears trailed down her face as she nodded.

            "Alright."  She agreed shakily and had unknowingly taken the first step by admitting the problem and realizing she had to face it.  It was also then that all of Sesshoumaru's anger faded away.  He could not hold any hard feelings against Destiny even if he had wanted to.

            Kurama gathered Destiny into his arms and tucked her head under his chin and purred deeply in his throat, soothing her just as he had done Shippo earlier.  "Why did you want me here?"  Sesshoumaru asked.

            Because Destiny is going to need your help very badly by the time all this is over.  I just hope you're wiling to give it.  Kurama answered in mind-speech

            "Yes."  Sesshoumaru said and looked at Destiny, his sister, and nodded.  "I'm willing."

S.D. – I know I haven't updated in awhile and I'm so sorry!  I've been studying for exams and getting ready for concerts and such.  Because of all that I made this chapter especially long, and I didn't want to break it up into chapters either.  Okay this will be the last chapter that focuses on Shad, Destiny, and Kurama (at least for awhile) it's time to get back to Inuyasha and Kagome!  Again, I apologize for taking so long with this but it really couldn't be helped.  I did my best!  For the record, Ch. 20 will not take as long because I've already started on it and exams are nearly over!  Yay!!  Now then, on to the reviewers!

Shad - About time.

S.D. – Yeah I know.  So, who's up first?

Shad - First up is RaspK FOG !  Thanks for reviewing!  By the way, who is Moro?

S.D. – Next is Twin Star of Suzaku!   Thanks so much for keeping up with this story!  I'm glad you like it well enough to keep up with this "mean" authoress.  *grins*

Shad - I saw that.

S.D. – So?

Shad - Umm…  Next is Ladyspice!  Our previously unknown reviewer.  *grins*  S.D. is planning on making this a long story, mainly because we, the characters, all want out stories told the right way and refused to be rushed!  Ha Ha!

S.D. – Oookay… The fuzz ball is starting to worry me…  But anyway, our next person is Sisters of Chaos.  Ch. 18 was one that I was really unsure of what to rate it.  I thought about making it R but one of my friends told me that I shouldn't and just remind people that the rating is PG-13 and needed to be read by mature readers.  In any case I'm so glad that you liked it!  Unfortunately, I'm not an artist so I don't have any artwork of Destiny or Shad.  Sorry!

Shad - Now there's an idea…  Uh next is niasdreams!  Wait a minute, I'm stuck up?  *looks hurt* 

S.D. – *laughing*   Ah poor baby!  Anyway, thanks for reviewing.  Ch.18 was one of my harder chapters to write mainly because I wanted the readers to feel everything that was going on.  You can't believe how proud it makes me to know that I was actually able to accomplish that even a little bit.

Shad – Tori is our next reviewer.  First things first.  S.D, isn't Destiny and I refuse to let her be put into this story because then we'd fight all the time and not just while we're doing reviews.  As for Destiny and S.D.'s names being similar, well uh…  I dunno that one.  Thanks for reviewing and keep with this story!  Please?

S.D. – Daystar, thanks for reviewing! 

Shad - Ryu, can we pleeeeeease see what you drew?  Pretty please?  I'll let you have one of my steaks even!  Thanks for reviewing, I think you'll like this chapter a lot!

S.D. - liinatu koori Youkai is our next reviewer.  Sorry about Sess getting hurt but he was healed too!  And I even gave him his arm back…  Thanks for reviewing!

Shad - ArtemisMoon, all I can say is wow.  Thanks for all your reviews and notes, like the chapters being messed up we didn't know about that.  I hope you'll continue to read this story and I'm glad that you like Destiny and me even if we are original characters.  *grins*  I think you'll like this chapter but I'm looking forward to the next one too!

S.D. - nekochan614  Thanks for reviewing!

Shad - Admiral Biatch  while everyone may love updates, I love not having to go to school. *smiles evilly*  Poor S.D….?

S.D. – Keep it up fuzz ball.  Felix The Phoenix, thanks for the wonderful review and I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the other two!

Shad - Dragon Queen, thanks for reviewing!

S.D. – And last but not least is Keaira, I'll tell Kurama hello.  Thanks for reviewing!

S.D. – Okay, last little note.  If anyone out there would be interested in drawing pictures of Destiny and/or Shadow would you please let me know?  I can't draw myself but I would really love it if someone (or someone's) would be willing to.  If you are please e-mail me at slayer_destiny@yahoo.com.  Thanks and please review!