Okay, first off, Akkou =evil. I wanted something along the lines of "creepy" for Hojo's dad's name, but I couldn't find it and this was in Starr-chan's From an Alley. You should go read it; it's an awesome little fic!^_~ Anyway, I guess that's where Samurai Jack got it from ne?
Oh, and for the story, he didn't know Kouga very well because Kouga died before he was born; that is why he calls him by his name and not father or something else.^_^ You'll know what I mean when you get there.^_^ It's just a short little blurb really.^_^
SylverAngel- Lol you know, if I had planned this part out ahead of time I probably would've made him Kouga or a relation to him, but I already said that Kouga died.~_~; Man, that would've been an awesome twist though wouldn't it? Should've done that. Oh well.^_^; I guess there may have been enough time between her leaving and them defeating Naraku for Kouga to take a mate, but still... actually, would it be okay if I use that? I'll make it a short little thing, but if you don't want me to I'll take it out okay?^_^ Thanks! *hugs*
Kurisuchie - Awww, you're so sweet!^_^ Yeah, I'm sure it would take a while to read all of this, but I'm glad you're enjoying it!
TalonKarrde- Muahahahahaha!!!! Well, let's see!^_^
Zerianyu -Yeah, we do need little filler chapters sometimes. *shrugs* Aww well.^_^
Sorceress-Sammi- Awww, you're sweet too!^_^ *hugs* Gods I luv you people!^_^
Angelofdiamonds- Yep, he's a demon.^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me.^_^ lol
Oh, and as always,
_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech
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Memories of the Present
Chapter 31: She had seen Him
"Akkou ..." Inu Yasha unconsciously snarled at the name.
I can't believe that asshole would do this to me! He was probably going to spread this to the papers and try for my job again! Lips raised and teeth barred, he tightened his grip around Kagome's waist.
Kagome leaned back and nuzzled Inu Yasha's neck, hoping to calm him some. "Hojo's father? I can't believe he'd do this!"
The police chief sighed; "I'm sorry, but it is true."
"Hey, wait a minute," Kagome stood up, depriving the hanyou of her warmth. Much to Inu's dismay, she bent over the officer's desk and eyed him suspiciously, showing a bit of something that she probably hadn't been aware of. Thankfully, the officer seemed to know better than to incur the hanyou's wrath; hanyou or not, he was Inu Yasha, and the chief did have a self-preservation instinct after all. "Aren't you supposed to be sworn to secrecy?"
The man simply cleared his throat and continued; "Yes, so you're free to go and no hard feelings right?"
Sesshoumaru nodded, glaring at the miko when she tried to open her mouth once more. "Thank you for your assistance; we will be leaving now."
"Ah, right, right Mr. Sesshoumaru sir, let me get the door for you!" With that, the demon lord rose, bringing Rin with him as he walked gracefully out the office door. The nervous officer quickly followed, stumbling and shuffling in his attempt to catch up, and guided them out of the station, trying his best to stay on the youkai's good side.
Isn't ironic father? After all this time I am forced to free the one person you hated most. The officer smiled fondly as a small memory resurfaced in his mind, disrupting his thoughts as a single pebble in his stream of consciousness. He could see his father standing above him, proud and tall, boasting after his mother had told him of one of the Shikon stories. He stood only up to his calf, but he could never forget the way his father's black ponytail swayed with the wind, or how his brilliant blue eyes laughed; he had been so sure of himself, even until his death. Even as the officer watched the great Sesshoumaru leave his station, the glass door swinging to and fro after him, he couldn't help but feel pride, not of this demon lord who had so "graced" him with his presence, but of the father he had barely known. Kouga, I am proud to be of you.
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"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Keh."
It had been about another hour of walking, but they were almost there. It seems that when Sesshoumaru said that they were leaving, he meant it. Of course, he didn't intend his brother or his mate to accompany them home, so that left the two walking... again. Oh well, the scenery wasn't exactly the nicest in the land, but they'd both seen worse. Besides, Inu Yasha couldn't be too upset; he wasn't in jail, Kagome was his mate, and they were almost to their destination. Actually, thinking about it, the inu hanyou was actually feeling pretty good right about then.
"Inu Yasha?" Grinning, he looked down upon his mate, golden eyes so bright that she blushed at their intensity. "Um... where are we going?"
Inwardly he chuckled at her uncertainty, and his hands rose to cup her cheeks. Losing himself in her loving gaze, there was but one word to be uttered; "Home. We're going home Kagome."
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Watching her awestruck face, Inu Yasha couldn't help the newly formed surge of pride that was now flooding his system. They had arrived at his "apartment" only moments before, but neither could quite effectively manage to get Kagome's jaw off of the finely tailored rug. Needles to say, he was incredibly pleased that his mate liked his home, their home, well, soon to be theirs anyway; Kagome had to agree first. She would agree to live with him... wouldn't she?
"This is an APARTMENT?!"
His heart swelled as she swung around, almost knocking him over as she crashed into him. She was too dazed to do much of anything at that point. I mean, WOW! This place was HUGE! Okay, now when someone says apartment you think three rooms maybe, possibly with a bathroom right? Well, apparently that's not what he thought.
She had been stunned when they first entered the building, or should I say hotel? At first she wondered if he was living in one of the hotel rooms, much smaller than her idea of an apartment. Of course, it didn't matter where he lived, but she had to admit that it was a little startling. As the elevator rose, she noticed how high the numbers were going, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. Wait, thirty-five? That couldn't be right; she thought that only the huge, large house sized suites were... oh my God.
The elevators had opened into a small room. The walls were a pasty yellow hue, and there hung a random picture of a vase of flowers. The only other thing in the room had been a door on the opposite side so, what else could she do; she went in. The door lead into another elevator, this one however, being a bit different. Instead of the usual fake wooden interior with a holding bar, list of buttons, and possibly a mirror in the back, this one was large, incredibly spacious actually. It had actual royal blue padded sides, thick with a patterned décor, and had a backing which was not a mirror, but a window so that you could look out over the entire city and then some. Where the numbers usually were there was nothing but a keyhole. Running a hand beneath his shirt, Inu Yasha pulled out three keys. One unlocked the keyhole, which opened up a door with floor numbers beneath it. Only the bottom and the top floors were awarded their own keyholes; the others had to be accessed from inside. Using the another key, he pushed it into the hole for the upper floor and the elevator began to rise.
As it did so, Kagome rushed over to the window, gushing about the sight below. She couldn't believe how much she could see from there! A warm breath against her neck sent shivers down her spine and she turned her head, leaning to nuzzle against the hanyou's cheek happily.
"Oh Inu Yasha," she whispered breathlessly, "the view is so beautiful." He only smiled and cuddled closer, pulling her further into his warm embrace.
"Is it? I wasn't playing attention." This was how life should be. He had thought so anyway. He had his mate, a beautiful view, and a private seat to enjoy them on. The peace and serenity here were what he often longed for. How much would he give to be able to go back through the well, to go and run in the forests, even with the scent of death everywhere? The clean air, green trees, beautiful clean lakes and rivers, and people who believed, it was pure bliss, and he had never known how good he had had it. Then again, that's the way it always goes right?
Inu Yasha began to softly nip at the top curve of her ear, enjoying the knowledge that he was causing the shivers that he felt rushing up her spine. Turning her slowly, he took the miko into his arms, pushing back thick locks of ebony hair, and watching them drape and fall down behind her, shimmering as they swayed with her every movement. He was mesmerized, that much was obvious. Gods how he loved her. That was the only thing on his mind as he pulled her closer and kissed her softly, relishing in the feel of her hands slowly slipping around his neck and through his hair.
All too soon the elevator stopped, doors opening into yet another small room with nothing but a door. Inu Yasha released her reluctantly and pulled the last key forth, putting it into the lock and opening the door. So, this was his apartment huh?
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The main room looked just like anyone else's with but one exception; everything looked ten times bigger and twenty times more expensive. In the middle of the room was slightly lowered, the square large enough to fit at least one and a half of her rooms. On each side of the square was a rim, the height of a regular step creating one continual single-stepped staircase around the entire perimeter. This was the only section of the room that seemed to have a wooden floor. On the wooden floor was a black and white rug, guarding against scratches which the furniture would surely cause.
The couch itself was all leather, but it had a white blanket draped over the back. Its legs were mahogany and it seemed to easily tower over the small, leather automan before it. In front of both was a small glass coffee table. Etched within the glass were white images of various demons and wildlife, but only bordering the edges, and creating a triangle of pattern at each corner of the streak-free glass. Everything listed above faced towards the door in which they were then standing. The square also held a leather love seat, but that was to the right of their view, and therefore, to the right of the couch.
Around that section was a set of long, thin rugs. Each had the same design as the black and white one in the square, and lined up around the outside of it, leading delicately towards the black and white tile floor that stretched out in every direction. As she looked on from the doorway, Kagome could also see the kitchen, or part of it at least. Behind everything here was a partial wall, one that had a small viewing window, closed off by a set of delicate, retractable shutters. The entire wall next to that one was made of glass, a glass door making the room easily accessible to the real world, except for the fact that they were high above it. Beautiful embroidered curtains had been pushed aside and tied up on each end of the wall. Wait, so then... if they were that high up, the city couldn't be his backyard. So... what was outside?
"Want the tour?" Blinking suddenly as surprise slowly registered on her face, Kagome was left with no other response other than the classic blank nod. The hanyou smiled, chuckling slightly as he watched her face heat up, at first with embarrassment, and then with anger to coincide with his chuckling. Before she could yell at him, he quickly slid his arm around her, pulling the dazed girl after him as he made his way to that giant wall of glass.
"So Inu Yasha, where do you work that you can afford a place like this?" Oops, well, maybe it was a little blunt, but curiosity killed the cat right, and she really didn't want to die. (Ep. 38 Shippou makes drawings of her, Kouga, and Inu. She was a cat.^_^)
"Keh, what does it matter?" Kagome's cheerful smile fell a little. That hadn't exactly been the answer she had been looking for had it?
"Because I really want to know."
"I'm a manager." Okay, a little better.
"Really? Where?"
"Why do you care?" Okay, maybe not better.
Kagome sighed and rubbed the back of her neck nervously. Why didn't he want to tell her? It wasn't like she would've been ashamed of what he did. Besides, with this much money, how could she have been? She wasn't trying to pry; things were just so... different...
"Just…'cause I..." Inu Yasha turned, watching her chest rise and fall as she let out another sigh. Why was this so important to her? Obviously it was or she wouldn't have her head bowed in such a way, but why? Unconsciously, he walked a little closer to her, silently waiting for her to continue.
"... I want to know what your life is like now." and maybe be a part of it.
He sighed, but it was to be expected. Oh well, there was only one thing left to do; "What do you want for lunch?" Straying from their path, the two headed towards the partial wall, and past it into the kitchen. Looking half-heartedly through the cupboards, there seemed to only be one food source there... well, two, but she doubted that watching Inu Yasha eat peanutbutter would be as funny to him as is would be to her, and the only other choice, ramen. Why was she not surprised?
Looking a little crestfallen, the miko replied, "I dunno. I guess ramen." Inu Yasha poured them both a glass of water and she took a small sip of hers, her lips barely grazing the glass.
"You just answered your own question."
"What?" She looked curiously up at him, the cup of water coming to her lips a little more confidently this time. Well, at least he was making conversation, but what did he mean?
"Keh, do I have to spell it out? I am the sole owner of the company that makes ramen."
"What?!" Water went flying as Kagome practically doubled over coughing; Inu Yasha pat her back, and she sputtered. "How'd you manage that?"
The hanyou looked a little hurt at this, as he placed some water on the stove to boil, "Why, you don't think I'm capable of it?"
"No, no, no, I didn't mean it like that!," Kagome waved her hands in front of her face as if it could prove her innocence; "You just basically have your dream job." She looked towards the floor, and then back up again; " I mean, you get your favorite food... it IS still your favorite right?" He nodded. "Then you get your favorite food, basically for free, you get lots of money, and an awesome apartment! It just seems that you must've been pretty lucky to get such a good deal."
He shrugged, "Not really. I just waited around for it to be invented and then supplied the money for the original creator to develop it, thus creating a partnership. It wasn't really that hard actually."
"Oh..." Yeah, not that hard... why was it that he could make everything sound so easy?!
The next few minutes passed by slowly, each of the two wallowing in their questions for one another until the whistle blew, signaling that the water was done. Most of the water going to ramen, the rest went to making them both cups of tea, and they went back into the living room to eat.
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The tense silence lasted throughout lunch, only lessening when Inu Yasha tried to take the dishes. As a guest, Kagome offered to as well, and lets just say that without the sit command, their squabbles were quite entertaining. After two minutes of fighting came fifteen minutes of wrestling and tickling, followed by another three minutes of downtime before Inu decided to continue the tour.
Completely forgetting the glass doors, he instead led her to a room, one of the two to the left (when looking from the doorway), and stopped before entering.
"I just need to grab something. Hold on a second." He disappeared inside soon after, but who was she to stay put when asked? She followed him as quietly as she could, tip toeing across the carpet and into the room.
Well, this one seemed to be...Kagome blushed... his bedroom. Inside, Kagome could see Inu Yasha rummaging through his dresser drawers, practically throwing every article of clothes on the floor in a hasty search for... well, whatever he was looking for. Only when a pair of boxers flew at her head did she look away, and right to something she never expected.
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Arg, damnmit, where the hell is it?! Ah HA! Hehe, found you sucka! Thought you could hide from me!
Sure, Inu Yasha knew he was talking to an inanimate object, a remote control actually, but the important thing was that this inanimate object didn't outsmart him. Yep, and for that he was truly proud. How it got in his underwear drawer he'd never know but...oh, wait, yeah; Shippou was SO dead!
The hanyou turned, not quite as happy, nor proud as before, but still pleased at what he would go show Kagome. It was the one part of wealth that really mattered... well, entertained you anyway, and he had gone all out. Unfortunately, though he was quite excited, it didn't seem that Kagome was. Wait, didn't he tell her to wait in the other room?
Without a word the miko stepped further into the dimly lit room, until she eventually passed the hanyou all together, without even a single glance back. His heart sank, but not that she moved past him, no, that wasn't the problem. Damnit, why did that girl never listen when he told her something?! Well, nothing he could do about it now.
"Miroku... Sango... your... my...You... you kept these?"
Yep, she'd found them. Hanging on each wall of his room was a weapon. On one was Miroku's staff, another Sango's Hiraikotsu, Shippo's toys on another, and finally, Tetsussaiga joined her old quiver and arrows, preserved and placed delicately above the bed, looking down on the hanyou, protecting him as he slept at night.
This was his sanctuary, his privacy, and the keeper of the most precious of memories, and now she had seen it; she had seen him.