Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. I don't own any of his fans. And I DON'T OWN SHIORI THE REGULAR INUYASHA CHARACTER *sighs* I just found out that Shiori IS an Inu character. I cant believe this. I never knew about it… Oh well. Two peeps can have the same name, savvy? It must have been a popular name. I do own Shiori Yonemura, who I have a habit of putting in diff. Animes. Oh the well, dude. Cripes. It happens. Grrr.
InuYasha– The Destroyer of Faith *part 2 of the Shiori trilogy
It was all Inuyasha could do to keep from growling.
"How do you know of my brother?" he asked, making a quick glance at the Tetsusaiga leaning across the wall from him. If only he could get to it…
"Huh. The girl that travels with him...Erk. I cannot remember her name. Rin! Yep, that's it. Anyway, she and my younger sister, Kari met one day. Kari ran into Fluffy-"
"Fluffy?" Inuyasha asked, not being able to imagine who she was talking about.
"Your brother. Or half brother, should I say? I have a nasty habit of picking out nicknames. That cloth on his shoulder… Don't ask. A personal joke. Anyway, instead of killing Kari, like he threatened, he brought her back to me. So I talked with him." Shiori said, looking down, playing with the strings to her sleeves.
"So...how is it that you know me?" Inuyasha said, not understanding at all. He could feel a headache coming on. But he pushed to thought to the back of his mind.
"Oh, when I mentioned what a beautiful sword he had, Fluffy told me how he was trying to steal something...a Tetsusaiga, I think. He told me his worthless carcass of a mutt brother had it. And it could...kill a hundred demons in one swing. So, it had me thinking, you know? Like, whats a demon want with a sword that kills other demons…?" Shiori said, lost in thought. Now, she was staring at the Tesusaiga that stood up against the wooden hut's wall.
"Well, you guessed right. That's the sword my filthy demon brother wants." Inuyasha said, looking at the sword. The light from the dark, small fire shone upon it, casting an eerie glow...as if the sword was swaying back and forth. The sheath looked majestic, the hilt worn and experienced.
"...Wow. I never thought… Shoot. Get out. I don't need this. Gather your crap, and get out." Shiori said, surprising Inuyasha. He hadn't expected this type of response.
"I'll leave you till sun break, this morning. If your still here when I get back… My claws need some sharpening." Shiori breathed out madly, and turned, walking out of the hut, leaving Inuyasha to his own defenses.
Inuyasha smiled to himself. He'd leave, and find his friends. And it would all be a half nightmare. Everything came in halves for him, it seemed.
He had been walking for three hours now. It seemed like forever. But, Inuyasha was going slow. Almost afraid to meet up with his friends. He could smell them far away. He had followed his tracks back to the stream, then picked up the scent of… Kagome. Hers was strongest.
Questions kept running through his mind. Like, why didn't Sesshomaru kill Shiori, or her sister, Kari? It seemed almost… too nice of him to let them go. Perhaps the child he kept with him had softened his heart. Maybe. But he seriously doubted it.
The smell of Kagome strengthened greatly, but he chose to ignore it. Her scent stood out, sweet, yet bitter. The sweetness came from herself. It was...pafume? No...perfume. He couldn't seem to keep up with these new products and words she used.
"SIT BOY!" Wham! Inuyasha crashed to the hard, dirt-packed ground. He looked up, but could not get his head more than a few inches above the ground.
"Grrrr," Inuyasha growled… but he stayed still, waiting for them to come up to him. His mind filled with a sudden idea. He would show that evil girl, know-it-all demon exterminator, perverted priest, and cute-enough-to-get-away-with-murder kitsune.
Shifting his position, and pinning his leg in an almost impossible, hurting way underneath him, he faked a groan. Let them worry about him, instead of their own petty selves.
"Inuyasha! How dare you not come back! We looked everywhere for you-" Kagome shouted, running towards him, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara running behind her, trying to keep up, with Myoga bumming a ride atop Kirara's shoulders.
Inuyasha groaned again, this time from more from real pain than make–believe pain. His leg smarted sharply, and cramped. He had it underneath his other leg, at an ugly angle.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shrieked, realizing what she was seeing. "What happened? Was it because of me? I'm so sorry!!"
Inuyasha felt her bend down near his face, her hot breath showing as mist in the cold air. He saw her knees, and let out a grimace. His leg was really hurting now. But making her worry would be all worth it.
"Oh. It doesn't look too badly broken…" Sango's voice came into ear-shot. Inuyasha smiled on the inside. Heh…. Heh. Ouch!
Kagome got on al fours, and, placing her arms on top of Inuyasha's, tried to pull him up. Now! His brain told him. But, he liked her being close to him. Now! No, he wanted her to stay, and try and pull him up– NOW!
Inuyasha twisted his arms around Kagome's, and jumped up, dragging her with him. She looked into his eyes for a startled moment, her eyes wide and unbelieving.
Inuyasha grinned wickedly. Ha Ha. He fooled them. Especially Kagome.
"You jerk!" She shouted, trying to pull away. Inuyasha wouldn't let her. He held a firm grip on her
arms, still smiling.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome said, sweetly. Too sweetly.
"Hm?" Inuyasha replied, just as annoyingly good tempered as she.
"Let go of me." She said, and was quickly released. She looked down at her arms, which now had deep cuts from his claws. She grimaced at the pain, but knew a way to make it all go away.
"Sit, boy," Kagome whispered, in a still-good tempered tone. Wham. He feel to the floor, and the ground shook.
Everyone fell to the ground laughing. Inuyasha's face right when she had said it was enough to make anyone smile and laugh. So unsuspecting… his smile had gone from upside, to very downside.
"You WENCH! EVEN WHEN I MAKE A JOKE OF MY OWN, YOU GO AND RUIN IT! I HATE YOU!" Inuyasha screamed, but his voice was muffled by the dirt. The only person who heard the last 'I hate you' was a hanyou that hung in the forest, watching the clearing of people. She smiled, and two white fangs protruded from her mouth.
"Okay, Inuyasha, but it still wasn't nice." Sango pointed out, before wiping away the tears at her eyes. That's when she heard it. A rustle in the bushes. Nearby. Clutching the huge boomerang to her back, she glanced behind her. Nothing… then, a set of red eyes flashed from the cover of the foliage.
"Quick! Demon!" she shouted, and turned around. A gasp came from her mouth, as a sullen looking demon slowly walked out of the trees.
Inuyasha hopped to his feet, and turned around.
"Shiori?" he asked, unable to believe it. He hadn't even sensed her before, but now that she was out in the open, he only smelt… demon. She seemed all wolf demon, down to her gleaming red eyes.
"Why, hello, Inuyasha. How's it... er, going?" Shiori asked, and even her voice was different. More different than the human she had been playing out to be. This voice was low...and dangerous.
Shiori flicked her brown hair behind her shoulder, and a pointed ear peeked out.
"You know her, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, looking at Inuyasha. Her face was hurt. Was she...jealous??
"Yeah...she, uh, helped me last night." Inuyasha lied. Shiori didn't plan to help him on that one.
"Saved you, you mean? Yep, I did that. And...who are you?" Shiori asked Kagome, getting close enough to Kagome to allow Kagome to see that she wore the exact same kind of cloak as Inuyasha… only more lighter.
"I'm Kagome. That's Miroku, Shippo, Sango, and Kirara." Kagome said, pointing out all her friends.
"Oh…" Shiori said, walking towards Kirara. The fire cat demon changed into her bigger form, and Shiori placed a hand to the cat's mouth and muzzle. She gently nuzzled the cat, and cooed to it, before looking down.
"Okay. Thanks. I just saw a commotion, and figured I should see what it was. I'm nosey like that, you know?" Shiori explained.
She turned to leave. But she picked up a voice. Miroku's voice.
"What the heck. It doesn't usually work, why would it now? Oh, um, Shiori?" The monk called out, walking towards her.
"Oh no. Come Miroku, she's demon!" Sango cried not believing he'd be this stupid.
"You seem...human almost." he explained to Shiori.
"Gee, lets give the monk a prize! You got it. I'm half demon." Shiori said, not imagining where this conversation was going.
"Willyoubearmychild?" He asked quickly, and looked down. Here it came….
"Huh? Oh, yah, sure. Whatever." Shiori said, lifting Miroku's chin up with her hand.
Miroku looked at her, and smiled. No way!!!! Had she just agreed?? "When?" he asked excitedly.
Shiori gently lowered her hand down, from Miroku's chin, to his neck. Grasping it firmly in her clawed grip she growled, "When hell freezes over."
"I'm not sure if I should help him, or just walk away." Sango said behind a cupped hand to Kagome, loud enough for Inuyasha to hear.
"Hear that monk? Should we leave you here to get what you deserve?" Inuyasha asked, snickering. It was nice to see the normally mellowed out Miroku looking so panicked.
"What do you mean? He asks this to every woman he meets? You're a womanizer. To think, that for a minute, I was almost flattered." Shiori said, and lifted Miroku off the ground by his throat. His toes were a good two inches off the ground, before Shiori dropped him down, where he sat, clutching at his throat, wheezing.
"How sad is that? Me, almost being pleased of a human to like me…" Shiori said, dropping her eyes. She seemed sad. Really sad.
"Well, you seem demon to me." Kagome said, still keeping Sango and Inuyasha in front of her.
Shiori lifter her head, and looked to the uniform clad girl. "I have ways of disguising myself… Just as you have ways of disguising what you are. What is that type of garment is that? Its too short."
Kagome blushed. She hoped that Shiori would have left, and that she wouldn't had noticed.
"Ah, well, um… its my school uniform. I'm from Tokyo." Kagome explained, surprised at her own tongue. What made her speak the truth? Now more questions would follow-
"Oh. Tokyo, huh? Never heard of it. But, hey, I don't remember things too well, so, oh well. Bye!" Shiori said, and turned to leave.
Everyone stood, gaping at the demon/human girl who was walking off, who had only asked one question, and a common one at that. at that. Usually, demons and people alike asked what brought the group of hanyou, monk, demon exterminator, and weird dressed girl together, and what did they hope to obtain with the completed jewel? Who were they? Questions that they often asked themselves, while sitting beneath the stars, late at night, laying awake for hours. Questions that they sometimes didn't had answers for.
"Okeydokey. Lets get going, huh?" Kagome said, breaking up the silence.
#($)#($)#($)#($)#($)
It was night. A small wooden hut was their only means of shelter against the promising snowstorm. All were cold. And all were tired.
Kagome checked her small watch on her hand. The time was 9:16 p.m. The day was… Friday. Another day of school missed so she could look for fragments of the Shikon No Tama. Tomorrow was…
"Shoot!" Kagome nearly screamed, not believing it. Then, she looked nervously around, hoping she had not awaken anybody. Seeing that everyone's eyes were still closed, she pulled her small blanket closer to her chin. She tried to close her eyes, tried not thinking about tomorrow…. It didn't work. Only a single voice changed her thoughts.
"Whats wrong?"
Inuyasha's voice rang out among the silence.
"Shhhh." Kagome said, figuring she needed to talk to someone, or else lose sleep all night worrying about tomorrow, with Inuyasha losing sleep worrying about her. Nah, he wouldn't worry about her. Wait...he might.
Kagome gently crawled over to where Inuyasha was sitting against the wooden wall. His only means of warmth was his clothes. But he was okay. He was half-demon.
She sat next to him, and leaned against his warm shoulder.
"Hm?" Inuyasha asked, looking down at her, breathing in her scent of her hair. Her very shiny hair. He couldn't help but breath in deeply, filling his nose with the scent flowers. Shompee? No, Shampoo, stupid, a voice said in his head. It was a small voice, easy enough push to the back of his mind. If Kagome needed comforting… well, he was there to do so.
"Inuyasha, is there any chance you could take me home tomorrow?" Kagome asked, sighing. She knew that they'd have to hurry to do so.
"Uh, no, not really. Why?" Inuyasha asked, his voice lowered.
"Well...I was supposed to meet Hojou tomorrow." Kagome explained, feeling almost shamed. She could miss school, and have an almost free conscience. But turning down the cute Hojou...that turned her insides cold with sympathy for the guy that never gave up.
"Oh… a date, huh?" Inuyasha asked, almost cross. He knew why, but was too afraid to admit it. He tried not to let his frustration seep into his tone...but it was hard not to.
"Uh-huh."
"So...your willing to leave us while you have fun? Do you know what we do while your gone? Nothing. We hang around, and wait for you to come back. Would you like to do that?" he said in a low snarl.
Kagome leaned away from him, and flinched. "Sorry. I didn't know. I guess… I wouldn't like that. But, I do have to do stuff that I don't want to, too. So don't feel too left out!" Kagome sad, her voice raising to a slightly higher octave.
"What? You can come and go at free will-" Inuyasha said, wanting her to lower her voice.
"Yeah, but you could come any time you want to my home."
"That's not my home." Inuyasha said simply.
Kagome was stumped for a reply. "Ahhh...um…"
"What do you do that you don't want to? You cant say you don't like to risk your life. You do that of your own volition all the time." Inuyasha said gently, not wanting a harsh reply.
"I had to watch...I had to watch… you know," Kagome said, lowing her eyes to the ground. He knew exactly what she meant. When Kikyou had held her against her will, only to force her to watch Kikyou try to drag Inuyasha to hell with her.
"You saved me. And I thank you for that." Inuyasha said, placing an arm around Kagome's shoulders.
"Really?" Kagome asked.
"Really."
"Really, really?"
"Really really, really."
"Really really, really, real-"
"Yes! Okay?" Inuyasha hissed.
"I'm just kidding." Kagome said.
"I know that. But it was getting annoying." Inuyasha said, looking out into the distance. The darkness of the room was pressing down on him, making him feel trapped. He could hear the shallow and deep breaths alike of Sango, Kagome, and Miroku. The small kitsune had curled into a ball in the nook of Sango's arms, and his chest barely rose with the intake of air.
"So… Shiori." Kagome said, looking up at Inuyasha, wondering what his response would be.
"What about her?"
"Well...she seemed to, like, you know, like you." Kagome said, instantly regretting her words. But she had to know. Inuyasha's lips drew tight, and his ears drooped down.
"What makes you think that?" Inuyasha asked, looking down at her.
"The way she looks at you...is the same way Kikyou looks at you." Kagome took a pause to think, choosing her words carefully. "The same way I look at you."
Inuyasha chewed his lower lip for a moment, lost in thought. Her words had no immediate impact, but realization soon spread across his face.
Kagome recognized it immediately, She silently stood, and walked over to her blanket that lay forgotten on the cold floor. She smiled, lay down, and pulled the cover over her.
"Night, Inuyasha." She said sleepily, closing her eyes.
"Er, Kagome? What was I to imply about what you just told me?" Inuyasha asked, feeling too old for the game they were playing.
"Make with it what you will. Good night."
"Good night." Inuyasha said.
"Good night," chorused Sango, Miroku, and Shippo.
Kagome blushed, and smiled. She didn't have to go home tomorrow. Hojou could wait.