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 20:  Was it You and Girl Talk

            It hadn't taken them long to reach the village after that.  They didn't plan on staying very long though, just long enough to pick up Rin and to gather what supplies they would need to reach Sesshoumaru's castle.  At least, that had been the plan…

            "We're staying here for the night."  Inuyasha growled yet again.

            Why?  Shad asked for the tenth time, for some weird reason he took a sadistic kind of pleasure in tormenting both brothers.

            "Because I said so!"

            Why?

            "You're pushing it wolf."  Inuyasha snarled.

            Pushing what?  Shad asked innocently.

            "Shadow!"  Destiny called from where she was sitting with Kurama and Shippo.  "Leave him alone."

            But whhyyy?

            Destiny didn't answer just merely 'looked' at him.  But like a picture, a look can speak a thousand words.

            Hmph.  Spoilsport.  He complained but laid off Inuyasha and looked around for Sesshoumaru instead.

            "The new moon is tonight?"  Kagome asked softly when Shad left.

            "Yeah."  He answered moodily.

            "Then of course we'll stay!"  She answered cheerily.  "After all, I need a break from all this umm.. umm.. traveling we've been doing."  Inuyasha looked at her strangely for a moment but then realized what she was doing.  She was acting like she was tired to give the others a valid reason to stay here for the night that way he wouldn't have to worry about the safety of his group while he was in his blasted human form.

            "Thank you, Kagome."  He said softly.

            Kagome smiled and gently placed her hand on his face.  "You're welcome Inuyasha."  She answered in the same soft tone.

            "Ahh!  Shad, I'm going to knock you silly!"  Destiny yelped as the wolf leaped at her, Kurama, and Shippo.

            Now why would you want to do that Destiny?  Is it because I am so very handsome that your heart-mate is jealous?  He teased and gently grasped her pant leg is his teeth and pulled before dashing away to pick Shippo up with his teeth and carefully tossed him to Kurama.

            "Why would I be jealous of you Shad?  Especially since you so very rarely bathe."  Kurama replied blandly.  Causing Shippo and Destiny to laugh.

            I'm very sorry Dest.  I'm must kill your heart-mate now.  Shad said in a mock serious voice and the tackled Kurama.

            "What are they doing?"  Sesshoumaru asked as he and the others looked on curiously.

            "They're… playing!"  Sango exclaimed.  Somehow she just hadn't been able to imagine a youkai as…serious as Kurama being playful.  Yet the undeniable proof was there in front of all of their eyes.  And the game wasn't restricted to just Kurama and Shad either.  Destiny and Shippo were right there in the thick of it and they were all laughing.

            "How undignified."  Sesshoumaru stated, disgust apparent in his voice.

             "Rin thinks it looks like fun."  Rin said excitedly as Destiny and Shippo tackled Shad.

            "Fun?  Behaving as if one has no manners?"

            Oh lighten up Sess!  You're such a- Ack!  Shad was cut off as Shippo jumped atop his head.

            "Now that's funny."  Miroku stated calmly.

            That's what you think.  Shad said and then leaped at the priest and Rin.  He knocked Miroku down but carefully picked Rin up by her kimono, tossed her up on his back, and went after Destiny.

            "I'll get you for that wolf."  Miroku said with a scowl and followed Shad into the fray.

            Eventually, Sango also joined in to try and help Miroku get Shad and Shippo off him but then Rin started to tickle her and Kurama had his hands full with Destiny; then Kagome decided to wade into the mess and help Destiny and Sango out when Destiny tripped her and she landed on top of Shad.  It was a basic free for all in which the only winners were Shippo and Rin since all of the 'adults' were careful not to be too rough with the children and allowed themselves to be tackled to the ground.

            Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were the only ones who held themselves apart but it wasn't because they wanted to.  Neither of them had ever played with one another, or any other person for that matter, and to see Kurama, whom they had both come to respect very much for his counsel and fighting skills, was more than a little shocking to say the least.

            Was this how father was?  Inuyasha wondered to himself and felt a sharp longing deep in his heart for the father he had never known and would never know.  He turned away then and headed back into the village.  Sesshoumaru watched as his younger half-brother walked away and then looked back at the playing group that he had agreed to travel with.  They all seemed so carefree…  So happy.  Even Destiny and Shadow who had suffered more than any other mortals he'd ever known, almost never seemed to be anything but content.

            Kagome, sensing that the little ones were quickly tiring looked up towards Inuyasha and was surprised to see him missing.  Sesshoumaru was still there, but then he almost never left Rin by herself unless he or Jaken were there.  He went to the village.  Destiny's mind-voice whispered into her mind.  Kagome sent her a grateful smile, slid out of the tangle of bodies, and went to go find Inuyasha.

            Inuyasha looked around at the huts and watched as the village children played and remembered his own childhood.  One that was full of lonely days and nights and filled with dark sorrows and self- disgust.  Hanyou…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Start Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            "He's nothing but a hanyou!"  Yelled a cruel male voice.

            "What could the Lord of the Western Lands have been thinking?!  Humans are for bedding, not marriage!  And certainly not for birthing heirs!"  Screeched a female.

            "Half-breed!"

            No, I'm Inuyasha…

            "Mongrel!  He'll never be anything!"

            Yes, I will.  Please, why won't you believe in me…?

            "Filthy, disgustingly hideous hanyou!"

            "His father doesn't really want him.  He just can't kill the mongrel because he is so honorable."

            "Maybe we should do the Lord a favor?"

            Honorable?  What's that?  Father doesn't care…?  But he said he did…

            "Let's get rid of the hanyou!"

            "Why don't all of you shut your vulgar mouths!"  Snapped a new voice that was oddly familiar and comforting.

            "Kitsune!  What are you doing here?!"  Purred the once screeching female.

            "Listening to a bunch of twits planning to murder an innocent child."  Came the scathing retort.

            "Child!  He's a hanyou!"  She screeched.

            "And you," he growled in disgust, "are a treacherous whore."  He answered and stepped into a terrified Inuyasha's line of vision.  The youkai was tall, taller even than his father, but Inuyasha couldn't sense any great power within him.  The most amazing thing about the youkai was that he was a silver kitsune.  "Come to me, young prince."  He said and lifted Inuyasha into his strong arms.

            Why?  Why are you helping me?  Aren't you afraid of them…?

            "You'll regret this kitsune!"  Growled one of the males.

            "I doubt that."  His protector snorted.

            "You will regret this!  I'll see to it personally!  I'll destroy everything you love, turn your friends against you and take away everything that's close to you!  Do you hear me?!  I swear that you will regret this!"  Yelled the female's swiftly fading voice.

            "Listen well, young prince.  Listen to the cries of those who would be the judge and executioner and remember what it feels like to be the victim."  The silver kitsune said when they were far away from the other youkai. 

            "Why must I learn this?"  Asked Inuyasha.

            "Because all peoples have a voice, my young lord, be they youkai, hanyou, human, or animal.  And sometimes, if you listen closely enough, you can even hear the ancient voices from the people of the past, whispering on the wind."

            "Do you ever hear them?"  He asked.

            "Sometimes."  Answered the silver kitsune.  "My heart has grown cold over the centuries."

            "Then why did you save me?"

            "Because once I was like you, alone and helpless; but never again."

            "You're not alone anymore?"  Inuyasha asked.

            "I am always alone."  Corrected the silver kitsune gently.  "But never helpless."

            "I don't like being alone."  Confessed Inuyasha.

            "I know…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~ End Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            "Inuyasha!"  Kagome called out, finally catching up to him.

            "What?!"  He snapped in irritation as he was pulled from his long buried memories.

            She stopped immediately and turned her head away from his so that she could hide the hurt in her eyes until she got it back under control.  "I just wanted to ask if you were alright."  She said softly.

            "Feh!"  He snorted and turned away.  "Like I need some human to look out for me!"  He raised an eyebrow and added scathingly.  "Especially one who attracts as much trouble as you and can't even defend yourself." 

            Kagome stiffened slightly and opened her mouth to say the s-word but stopped.  Inuyasha wasn't a dog and… she loved the big jerk.  It wasn't right for her to treat him as if he were some dog.  After all, that's how he treated her whenever he was mad or upset and she didn't like it at all.  It's strange how opinions can change.  She thought to herself.  But words still wound very deeply and she blinked back her tears before replying.  "You're right.  I-I…  I'm sorry for bothering you."  She managed to say without her voice breaking and hurried away before he realized how much he'd hurt her.

            "Kagome…"  Inuyasha said softly, too soft for her to hear him.

            "Well that was brilliant."  Kurama commented as he watched Kagome hurry back towards Destiny.

            "What's it to you?!"  Inuyasha snarled as he attacked Kurama verbally.  "You think you're so smart and so much better than all of us anyway!"

            Kurama's eyes narrowed and he slanted a look at the hanyou.  "When have you ever heard me say that?"  He asked icily.

            "Feh!"  Inuyasha snarled.  "You don't need to say it!  It's the way you act!  Your even colder than Sesshoumaru!"  He yelled.

            Kurama continued to look at Inuyasha for a few moments and then looked up at the sky.  "Yes, I am cold."  He agreed but then looked Inuyasha straight in the eye.  "But not to those I love, and if I ever were it would either be to protect or help them."  He added.

            "Oh really?"  Inuyasha sneered.  "And what would you know about being alone?"

            "More than you ever will."  Kurama answered softly, dangerously.  "You have slept for fifty years of your life Inuyasha, before that you have only lived about forty and only a few years have passed since you've awoken.  You're too young to understand what true loneliness is."

            "You didn't answer my question."

            "I am old Inuyasha, not by youkai terms but in my heart.  I've lived for over five hundred years, probably more than seven hundred but that is besides the point.  During my early years I was tormented for being different, in all my travels I have never met another silver kitsune.  Back then youkai were vicious to any who were different from the normal."  He snorted here and waved one hand indifferently.  "Our kind, like men, fears what is different and what they do not know.  But I survived."  He said that last softly and Inuyasha had to strain to hear him.

            "But you have to have had companions along the way."  Inuyasha pointed out.

            Kurama laughed darkly and nodded.  "Oh yes.  I had companions."  He said.  "I learned the lessons that life taught me very quickly and I soon became known as the 'King of Thieves.'  And there was nothing that I could not have if I wanted it.  Companions?  I had many.  Friends?  I trusted no one.  Women?  I've had thousands.  Was I alone?  Always…  Especially in the largest crowds where I knew that many of my enemies watched me, waiting to see any weakness that I might show."

            "What changed you?"  Inuyasha asked.

            "Even riches cannot buy happiness, Inuyasha.  So I left, using a treasure that I'd acquired to help me disappear at whim.  I traveled and learned about the world I lived in.  By doing so I discovered one very important thing."  He said and began to walk away.

            "And what was that?!"  Inuyasha called after him and the wind carried Kurama's answer back to the hanyou.

            "That all peoples, whether they be youkai, hanyou, or human have a voice…"

            Inuyasha's mouth dropped open as he remembered what a silver kitsune had told him so long ago.  "Because all peoples have a voice, my young lord, be they youkai, hanyou, human, or animal.  And sometimes, if you listen closely enough, you can even hear the ancient voices from the people of the past, whispering on the wind."  Inuyasha stared after Kurama, a question burning to be shouted on the tip of his tongue.  Was it you?

            "Men are all jerks!"  Kagome growled as she plopped down beside Sango and Destiny.

            "I'll agree to that."  Sango said as she watched Miroku talk to one of the village girls, without groping her.

            Destiny looked down at Shippo who was lying in her arms and softly asked him to go play with his father for a while.  When he was out of earshot she winked at them and said, "now that I can't get in trouble for saying this I will.  You're absolutely right Kagome, men can be jerks."

            Kagome and Sango laughed at the fact that she'd sent Shippo away before she'd say anything and then when he was gone to say it with such conviction, it just struck the girls as funny.  "Oh sure, everybody laugh at me."  Destiny pouted teasingly, causing the other two to laugh even more and she joined their laughter.

            "I can't ever picture you having any troubles with men."  Sango said after they've calmed down.

            Destiny stuck out her tongue at her and Kagome covered her giggles with her hand.  "I though that we're supposed to have a pajama party or something with plenty of coke before we started talking about guy problems."  She managed to say.

            "That's what I was thinking."  Destiny said with a grin.

            "But seriously Destiny, I can see where Sango is coming from.  I mean, when have you and Kurama ever fought?  And Kurama treats you like you were the most special thing in the world to him."  Kagome said wistfully.

            Destiny smiled gently at Kagome and covered her hand with hers.  "Even Kurama and I got off to a rough start Kagome."  She smiled a bit then and shook her head.  "Let me change that to a very rough start."  She corrected.

            "Why?  What happened?"  Both girls wanted to know.

            "Shad and I were both dancers slash singers at this club, it was our cover that Silvon had gotten for us in case anyone asked where we worked.  And so you have a little background information most dancers who are professionals are also very good actors.  They might not like the partner that they have to dance intimately with but while they're on stage the audience will never know that.  But back to the point, Kurama was able to handle me being a dancer until a few people decided to spread a few rumors that I was sleeping around with other guys and just stringing him along."

            "But Kurama wouldn't have believed them!"  Kagome stated with a laugh.  "So how bad did he beat them up?"  She asked curiously.

            "Well after three months of hearing all this he did believe."  Destiny corrected her softly.

            "What?!"  Sango exclaimed.

            Destiny tilted her head to the side and studied the two girls thoughtfully.  "We're not perfect you know.  Kurama might have lived a long time but he still makes mistakes.  Shad and I might have memories older than this earth but we still make mistakes."  Her eyes glinted mischievously as she added, "Although Shad claims to be perfect I happen to know for a fact that he's not."

            "So what happened?"  Kagome asked.

            "Uhh…  To put it lightly we broke up, and not very nicely.  Then I was given a type of mind drug that made me forget who and what I was; Shad, Kurama, and a certain group of Kurama's friends came to save me and Shad, and they did.  Afterwards though…  I was still planning on leaving without Kurama."

            "Why?!"  Kagome exclaimed.  "He had just finished saving you!"

            "It's our way Kagome.  I knew that Kurama was my heart-mate but since he wasn't Learian I couldn't expect him to feel that bond between us; so on the night that we broke up I didn't say anything when he accused me of doing… well, lots of things because I was sure that if he couldn't trust me then there was no way that I could expect him to stay with me, always doubting if I loved him or if he loved me."

            "But you're together now…"  Sango said slowly.

            Destiny smiled and nodded.  "Yes, you see I hadn't considered the way Kurama might feel about all this, I was only thinking to leave before I couldn't when he showed up and informed me that there was no way in hell I was going anywhere without him."

            Kagome and Sango both grinned at that, happy that things had turned out all right for her without any further heartache.  "Do you think that Inuyasha and I will be together in the end?"  Kagome asked softly.

            Destiny was silent for a few moments, thinking about Inuyasha and Kagome and their up and down relationship.  "Yes," she said finally.  "I believe that the two of you will be able to overcome anything that stands in your way and between you."  She answered honestly.  "Well almost anything."  She corrected herself.  "I know that Shad and Kurama have worked with both the guys and I will admit that Inuyasha's eating habits have improved but-"  She was cut off then as Kagome playfully pushed her over and all three of the girls laughed.

            "Destiny, has any of your ancestors ever left their heart-mates?"  Sango asked.

            "Yes…"  She answered.

            "Why?"

            "Because their enemies were threatening to kill their heart-mates if they stayed with them."  Destiny answered and looked at Sango.  "You have to remember Sango, we destroyed an entire world, our kingdom so that the other peoples that make us this universe could live free.  Learians will do anything to protect those they love and what they love.  Some Learians loved power but our ancestors loved life and they killed to protect it."

            "That's so sad."  Kagome said softly.  "You've all gone through so much pain and can't ever escape or forget it."

            "There have been many joys as well Kagome.  And we've never truly been alone.  Throughout the ages heart-brother and sisters have supported each other and have been back and looked after by the Dragon Clan."  Destiny winked then and smiled at them both.  "Not to mention all the people we've adopted as our family over time."

            That's right and since I'm always right all of you must believe me.  Shad said as he loped towards them.

            "What do you want O' Wise One?"  Kagome teased.

            At last!  Someone who truly understands me!  He exclaimed and rose up on his hind legs a bit and then became serious.  I think you need to go back and talk to Inuyasha.  Kurama finished talking to him a few minutes ago and he's just been standing there thinking.  He answered and probably would have added a smart aleck remark but Destiny clamped her hand down on his back in a silent warning.

            "All… all right."  Kagome agreed and stood up.

            Hey Kagome!  Shad called and she looked over her shoulder at him.  Shake him up a bit!  He said encouragingly.  Kagome smiled and headed back towards where she'd  last seen Inuyasha.  Shad growled and flopped down on the ground.  That pup and his brother are sooo stubborn!  He whined.  Destiny and Sango shared a look over his head but managed to stifle their laughter and didn't answer.

~ That's it for this chapter.  Shad and I are taking a break from arguing for now so that I can write chapters as quick as possible.  Don't worry though we'll be back to normal soon.  Oh and please don't be offended that I'm not replying to any reviews yet but I do want to say thank you to all the wonderful people out there who have been so understanding about my family and praying for me.  Thank you so much!  I'm also up-dating as I transfer these chapters from my notebook to computer so don't forget to leave a few reviews okay?  Thanks!  Silver Destiny ~