Author's Note: Thank you for the wonderful reviews! I'll send you all a box of kleenx before this fic is completed.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, his friends, or even his enemies!
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Chapter Four: The Watcher
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Kagome stood back watching as the men from the village put the hut together. She never realized how quick it would take, and how much help she would receive. Once she proposed her request to Kaede, the old miko took her to the village headman to ask for assistance. Since she had been a constant figure in the village, and for all the help she had given, there were plenty of volunteers.
Shippou danced happily in the field. As the days passed, the hut was almost complete, and then he would have a home. His home with Kagome. He didn't realize how much he had missed knowing he had a place to call his own until he watched his being built.
"Oi! Kagome, when will we move in? When will Sango and Miroku come back? Can we have a party? Will you teach me how to cook? Can I help decorate?" So full of excitement, he kept chattering away, unmindful of the looks he was given.
Kagome laughed at her little friend. "Shippou-chan, one question at a time please! I think the hut will be finished within the next couple of days. The walls are up, and they're working on the roof now. See they're putting the thatching together. And that group is working on the floor. It shouldn't be long now. As for as Sango and Miroku, Kouga-kun said they were only going out for a few days this time, and allow the other wolf tribes to help in the search. So they should be back any time as well. When they get back, and once the hut is done, we will have a party!" She smiled as he began to run in excited circles, doing acrobatics across the grass.
Leaving him to his antics, she went to help with the thatching. One of the young villagers showed her how to gather the grasses with the river rushes, and weave the rough cording around in a clump to where the grasses fanned out in a slight flare. The man shyly corrected her attempts, and complimented her when she finally did one correctly. She smiled at him for his help. He looked away from her blushing furiously.
"Iouri-kun, thank you for helping. I don't know how I could have done all this on my own." She thanked the man quietly.
Without looking at her, the man answered, "Lady, the village is privileged to have someone like you with us. You bring us honor." He stole a glance at her, smiling shyly, never stopping his work.
Kagome thought about what he had said. 'How do I bring these people honor? I haven't done anything. At least not yet. I do hope I can live up to what they see in me.' Giving a little laugh, she said, "I will try to return the help all of you have given me." Looking over at the hut, she sighed with happy contentment.
"Lady, you have already done so much for us. You and your friends have saved the village from being destroyed. You saved Gogua-chan from that bird youkai without a thought for yourself." He looked at her with earnest eyes. "We know your powers are growing, and will only be able to help protect the village even more."
Overwhelmed with his speech, she clasped his hand in her own while saying, "Iouri-kun, thank you so much. Your words make me happy, and fill me with the need to do my best for all of you."
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" A loud growling shout sounded from the other side of the clearing.
Kagome looked up to see her friends, with Kouga in the front striding towards her. She was rising to her feet when the wolf prince was suddenly there. He pulled her away from Iouri, and growled menacingly at the man. Kagome looked at him in surprise. "Kouga-kun! What are you doing?" She pulled on his arm to get his attention.
"What are you doing with that stinking human Kagome? You're my woman and I won't have you associating with them!" His face was flushed with anger.
Shocked and outraged, Kagome pulled her hand from his. "You go too far, Kouga. Have you forgotten I'm a STINKING HUMAN! And I AM NOT your woman!" She was yelling at him now.
Miroku and Sango arrived at a run, ranging to either side of Kagome. The monk took a step forward and touched her shoulder. "Let me handle this Kagome. He's upset. I'll talk to him." At her nod, he turned to the wolf youkai. "Kouga-sama, let's go for a little walk, shall we?"
Kouga's eyes narrowed, darting from Miroku to Kagome and back to the human male who had cringed back away from him when he first arrived. Not seeing an immediate threat, he agreed to walk with Miroku. They turned and walked away from the group building the hut.
"Iouri-kun, I'm so sorry that happened. Are you alright?" Kagome went to the young man.
He shook his head, not looking up. "Forgive me, lady. I ... I was too scared to save you."
Her expression softened. She touched his shoulder gently. "I do not need to be saved from Kouga-kun. He wouldn't hurt me, but I'm afraid he would hurt someone he thought was threatening me. Please forgive me for putting you in that position." He looked up at her and smiled shyly.
Miroku had begun to like the wolf leader. He wasn't Inuyasha, but he felt a certain kinship to the youkai. The wolf's energy seemed boundless; his hatred of Naraku unfathomable. He cleared his throat, unsure of how to begin. "Kouga-sama, our search isn't going well ..."
The wolf youkai growled. "That fucking dog-turd. I'm going to kick his fucking ass."
"Have you heard from the other wolf tribes?" The monk asked forestalling another tirade.
"Not yet. We'll stay in this area for awhile. I should hear something in the next couple of days." He looked to the human male standing near him. "Be ready to leave then." He glanced back to the clearing. "I don't want to leave Kagome for long. I have a feeling ..." The wolf prince didn't continue.
Miroku nodded. He had felt it too. A sense of foreboding he couldn't pinpoint, but seemed to surround the young miko. "I would suggest leaving Sango here, but I do not believe either of them would agree to that arrangement." He grinned. "I'd offer to stay ..."
The wolf growled. "Not a fucking chance, monk. I've seen you around women, and YOU are not going to be alone with Kagome!"
Sighing, he said, "I'm so misunderstood." He hid his grin, thinking of how much alike the two youkai leaders were, and likely neither would admit it.
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It was dark when he climbed out of the well, and went to the tree, just outside her window. In the two days it had taken him to reach the well, he had thought of little else than seeing her again.
Pain stabbed at his heart upon entering her room. He looked around swiftly again and did not see her. His heart racing, his mind scrambled to come up with a reason, any reason as to why the girl was missing. Quietly, he searched the house. Her scent was faint, weeks old. He hesitated just inside Souta's room. He didn't want to involve her family if he didn't have to, but he had to know.
Kneeling beside the boy's bed, he placed a hand over his mouth, and spoke softly. "Boy, wake up." He watched as the boy jerked from sleep, eyes going wide, and then shining when he recognized the half-demon. Removing his hand, Inuyasha asked, "Where's Kagome? She's not in her room."
Souta frowned. He knew his sister's problems in the past months, were caused by this half demon. "Why did you hurt her?" He demanded angrily. He had to know first, before he said anything.
Inuyasha scowled, and looked away from the boy. "I don't have time for that. Leave it be for now."
The boy's frown deepen. But Inuyasha was his hero, and he'd always come through for Kagome. Maybe things had changed. He didn't think it would hurt to answer his question. "She's in your time. She's been there for months."
The hanyou was shocked. He hadn't expected that. He turned without saying anything and headed out the door. 'What are you doing Kagome? Why did you go back?' Trying to not think of the implications of her being in his time brought, he walked without thinking to the well house, and back to his time.
It was still dark, and he wanted to find Kagome before dawn. He wanted to see her before speaking with anyone else. He wasn't sure what he would say to her if he did speak. He didn't know how he would be received. He scouted Kaede's hut, and found the gril's scent fresher, but he didn't feel her presence. He went to the hut's door, and looked in carefully. Only one sleeping figure was seen, and the scent he recognized as Kaede's.
'Where are you Kagome? Did you join with Kouga as well?' He didn't want to think of that. It still hurt to think of his friends joining with that wolf; if Kagome had as well …
He made his way back to the clearing, not sure where to look next. The sky began to pink on the horizon. He'd have to find a place to stay soon, or go back to Kikyou. He needed to sleep, and he needed to think. He began to scout the trees for a likely spot, and finding a branch hidden from plain sight, but giving him access to watch the surrounding area, he jumped up.
Watching the sunrise, he thought of little else but the woman child who called to him in his heart. Lost in his thoughts, he nearly missed the figures walking across the clearing towards the village. He moved closer, his ears twitching to catch what they said; he tested the air for scent. His heart beat faster as he recognized Kagome's.
"So tell me again what did he want?" Sango asked as they made their way through the dewy grass.
Kagome became thoughtful, not sure how to reply. "He asked me to bring him back." She shook her head. "Even if I knew where he was, I don't think I could."
Sango frowned. "Sesshoumaru? Asked you, a human, to find his brother and bring him back with you?" She had stopped walking, not sure how to take the information she'd just received. "What exactly did he say?"
"I had been practicing and he was just there. I'm not sure how long he had been standing there watching me." Kagome made a face. "He told me Inuyasha belonged with me, and I should go find him. When I told him no one could, he just gave me a look like it should be obvious where he was." The young miko frowned, several emotions crossing her face as she pondered the strange visit.
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Sesshoumaru watched the girl with barely held contempt. She had power, but struggled to use it, struggled to control it. When the girl finally realized he was there, he almost laughed at her surprised expression. He raised an eyebrow as she appeared to be torn between flight and fright. He held a hand up, stalling whatever her actions would have been.
"I need to speak with you." He stated. He could see the thoughts run through her mind as she hesitated. He allowed a faint smile before he began, "Go find my half-brother."
If he had handed her a bouquet of flowers, Kagome couldn't have been more shocked. She stammered out, "N... no one knows where he is."
The youkai lord waved his hand impatiently, "Find him. It isn't that hard. He belongs with you. He needs you."
Though the girl attempted to keep the pain from her expression, it radiated off her. Her body stilled, and she lifted her eyes to meet his. "He doesn't want me. He chose ... her."
"He's a fool. Without you he is in danger of loosing his soul." His own eyes went flat and sparked of danger.
Her chin rose a little higher. "Why do you care? You never did before. In fact, you've wanted to kill him more than once."
Sesshoumaru held his anger, but there was an edge to his voice as he said, "I do no need to explain my actions to you." She stepped back, and he held up his hand again. "I do not want to hurt you." As she shook her head, he added in an exasperated voice, "Let's say I'm doing this for our father's sake." She looked into his face attempting to read his expression. "I want you to go find Inuyasha."
Her voice was sad, but firm as she replied to him, "Then you'll need to go get him yourself. If I were to go get him now, he'd just leave again when Kikyou put in another appearance." She had looked away from him, and he could see the internal struggle she seemed to be having. "I couldn't bear it if he left me again." She had added in the faintest whisper.
His mouth tightened. He watched the girl for several minutes as she regained control of herself, and then turned to face him. She stood watching him, watch her. Her face now expressionless; her scent giving off the unhappiness she was going through. He nodded and turned. "I'll come to you again. In the meantime, allow your aura to identify mine. Next time you should know I'm here long before you see me." He walked away, leaving her surprised at his words.
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Sango asked, "He said Inuyasha belonged with you?" At the younger girl's nod, her brow puckered in thought. "Why would he have come to you? Why does he care?"
Kagome sat on the grass, already drained. "Do you think Inuyasha is really in trouble? Do you think I should go look for him?" She asked in a low voice.
Sitting next to her friend, the youkai exterminator picked up her hand, and gave it a squeeze. "Unless we know why Sesshoumaru is showing an interest in Inuyasha, I don't think we'll know for sure why he wants him with you." She watched as Kagome's face saddened. "I'm sure he'll be alright." As the girl continued to stare sightless at the ground in front of her, she asked hestiatant, "Unless you want to go look for him?"
Startled, Kagome raised her head and began shaking it. "No, I can't. He doesn't want me." She looked away fighting the tears which threatened to come. "I do not want to go through that again. I do not want him here." She gave Sango a quick smile. "Let's go to the village. I need to talk to Kaede."
Inuyasha froze as he heard her words. Kagome didn't want him. He fell back against the tree trunk, lost in thought, not wanting to feel the pain lancing his heart. 'Why? She had said she would always love me. Was that a lie?' He shook his head. She didn't lie, he knew. 'Why was Sesshoumaru here? Why did he ask Kagome to find me?' His thoughts swirled in his head. He needed to get back to Kikyou, but he found himself reluctant to leave.
Making his way slowly amongst the trees, he rounded the clearing and came upon a hut he hadn't seen before. No one had lived out this far from the village in Inuyasha Forest. Curious, he crept closer, and stopped as he heard voices. He started as he recognized the two speaking.
" ... and I helped put the thatching up too!" the excited little kitsune was saying.
The monk nodded, listening as he chopped kindling for the fire. "Did you do a good job? It's feels like rain soon, and I don't want to get wet."
Indignantly, Shippou jumped on his shoulder to bop him on the head. "Of course I did!" He hopped down and kicked the ground. "That man from the village, Iouri, had to help me lay them right though." He played absently with a pebble he'd picked up, watching Miroku chop wood.
Without pausing, Miroku asked, "What is it, Shippou? You are acting happy, but are not." The monk had an idea what could be bothering the fox youkai, and thought best to get him to talk about it.
Dropping the pebble, he asked, "Do you think Kagome will ever find a mate?"
In the trees, Inuyasha nearly growled. His eyes narrowed at the little kit, wanting him to forget that line of thinking.
Hiding his smile, Miroku said, "Eventually. At this time she's too busy to worry about such things." He did pause to look at the kitsune. "Why? What brought that on?"
"N..nothing." Shippou lied, bending to pick the pebble up again.
Nodding, he continued to chop. "I see. Is it Kouga, or this village lad, Iouri, that has you worried?"
Inuyasha leaned forward with interest to hear the response.
In a voice so quiet, Miroku stopped working to hear, Shippou answered, "No one really. Kouga is .. well, Kouga, and I don't think Kagome will ever fall for him. She never has. And Iouri, he's nice, but she doesn't act the same around him as ... " his stopped, not wanting to say what was really on his mind.
"Shippou?" Came the equally quiet query.
Coming closer, he clutched the monks robe, and looked up at him pleadingly. "Will Inuyasha ever come back?"
Miroku gave the kitsune a brief hug. This was not a question he was expecting. He had thought that question had be answered months before. "I don't know, Shippou. I think he believes he still has a job to do, and will not be back before then."
Inuyasha grabbed the branch in front of him to balance himself, suddenly unsteady. He moved back farther in the tree as the limb shook, and the leaves rustled, giving away his position.
Something caught Miroku's attention, and he rose, looking off into the forest, eyes darting over the trees. "Shippou, could you go to the village and make sure Kouga is still planning to leave tomorrow. I want to make sure some things are done around here for you and Kagome-sama before we go."
The kit nodded his head, a little bewildered at the sudden change. He scampered off quickly, leaving Miroku staring off into the trees.
After looking around the small clearing by the hut, Miroku walked to the tree line. "Inuyasha, I suggest you come out of hiding. I know you are there."
Rather annoyed, the hanyou jumped to the ground before the monk. He looked at the man without speaking, and then looked away, arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face.
Watching him quietly for a moment, Miroku asked, "Why are you here this time?"
Inuyasha shook his head, not wanting to look at him.
"Do you find contentment stealing moments of watching her life? Wouldn't it be better for all if you would just admit what you really want, and give up this foolishness?" Miroku asked in that calm manner of his.
Looking at him from the corner of his eyes, the half demon snorted. He had forgotten how the monk seemed to see right through him. Staring at the tree in front of him, he gave a little sigh, "She doesn't want me."
Calmly the monk nodded. "Not as you are now, maybe, not until you break whatever hold Kikyou-sama has on you."
Shaking his head, Inuyasha said softly, "Then I will remain a watcher until the time my task is done. I can do no less."
Miroku stayed silent, waiting for him to continue. When nothing more came, he said, "I have thought about Kikyou-sama a lot these past few months." He peered intently at the hanyou. "Have you asked her how she survived the chasm and the misma? She should have perished, and yet she lives again."
Inuyasha looked at him now. "What are you saying? You dare comment on something you know nothing about?" His anger began to rise.
Holding his hands out in a placating manner, the monk shook his head. "All I am saying is, be careful in placing your trust so easily. Naraku had been the cause of her death, and from what Sesshoumaru said, she should have died. Why is she still living?"
At the mention of his brother, he switched topics. "Sesshoumaru came to see Kagome. Why is he interested in me? And why Kagome?"
Miroku shrugged. "Kagome-sama said something of this last night. None of us have any ideas. Sesshoumaru ..." He looked thoughtful, absently rubbing his forehead. Shooting him a look, he asked suddenly, "What are you going to do?"
Looking away again, Inuyasha stated, "I have to go back. If ..if things were different ..." With a shake of his head, he said, "Enough. Damned that bitch for coming back. Why? Why'd she come?"
"Do I need to state the obvious?"
Glaring at the now serene looking monk, the hanyou growled, "I wanted her to be safe, in her time. I cannot protect her and Kikyou. Fuck! I thought she understood!"
"She is safe, and she is being protected. Sesshoumaru aside, I do not believe she's in danger." Miroku quietly stated.
"Have you forgotten Naraku that easily? She could be his new target." His anger rose hot again.
Miroku took a step forward and placed a hand on Inuyasha's arm. "Do you not feel it? The aura surrounding the place?"
Eyes widening, he looked at the monk questioning, "Wha ... what is this?"
Smiling softly, he replied, "Kagome-sama." Nodding his head seeing the disbelief in the hanyou's eyes, he continued. "Her powers matured these past few months. They appear to still be growing. She has blanketed this small clearing with her aura, and is learning to identify others by it. Naraku will not get close to her."
Pushing his senses out, Inuyasha could now feel how the air seemed to sing in whispers; the barest sensation just on the edges. He couldn't help the proud smile he gave. "She's doing this?" At the monk's nod, his mood felt lighter than it had in many days. After several moments of enjoying her aura washing over him, Inuyasha sighed. "I need to go. I cannot be here when she comes back." He glanced at the man, still holding onto his arm. "Don't tell her I was here."
Miroku frowned, but nodded. "It would distress her to know she missed you." He clasped the half demon on the shoulder. "Remember Sango and I will be there if you need us. Take care of yourself, my friend."
Pulling back slightly, Inuyasha nodded and then gave his customary scowl. "Feh." Rolling his eyes back at the monk, he half growled, "Just what I wanted, a lecherous monk as a friend." He hopped back up the tree and looked down again. "Take care of her for me." And then he was gone.
Shaking his head at such obstinacy, Miroku went to find something to cover the hanyou's scent.
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