Present Time.
Inuyasha Fanfiction
By alandrem
Disclaimer: Blah, Blah, Blah. Same as chapter one.
Author Note: Thanks for the reviews. Sorry to have taken so long in writing this but after I came back I just got into a writers block. I actually wrote some stuff but the problem was I could not decide which of the plots (3 actually) would go better with what I've already written. I finally decided to go with what you'll be reading and hope you like it.
Chapter nine will be up in hopefully a couple of days since I'm already writing it.
This is still in beta form and will be revised.
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It was sunset already by the time he managed to go through the well back to the Sengoku Jidai, jumping out he proceeded to make his way to Kaede's village hoping to find the rest of his strange pack there. Shippou was the first to notice his approach, and he was out of the hut in a flash of orange fur; when he realized Kagome was not with him he turned into his pink bubble mode and gnawed on the young hanyou's head angrily. This time instead of slapping him away like he always did, Inuyasha just gave him a path on the nose; not hard to actually hurt, but enough to call the surprised kitsune's attention and apply to his canine instincts.
Shippou came back to his normal appearance and landed on his butt with a thud, looking wide eyed at the dog-demon. His Otou and Okaa used to do something similar when in fox form to chastise him; a light bite to the nose; how did Inuyasha of all people found out about it? More surprises came when he was tucked under the hanyou's arm as he made his way to Kaede's, with no yelling or cursing whatsoever.
"Inuyasha." He was greeted by the old Miko as he entered the hut. Sango looked up from the fire where she was cooking something and Miroku raised his eyes from polishing his staff.
"You didn't bring Kagome-sama back with you." The houshi stated a rather surprised look on his face.
"Did you fight with her again?" Was Sango's question, before she turned and used her faithful Hirokotsu to hit the houshi on the head after one of his hands strayed to her backside. "Why can't you keep your hands to yourself houshi-sama?" The taijiya asked tiredly.
"No. She had to remain in her time." He said sitting by the fire.
"And you let her stay?" Sango stared at him wide eyed.
"Yes."
"Just like that?" Kaede asked and Inuyasha just nodded.
"No tantrums?" Asked Shippou after finally recovering from his surprise only to realize he was still tucked under the dog-demon's arm, and his other hand was rubbing his head in what was sort of a rough caress. He expected a bump but none came.
'The jerk's sure acting weird.' The kitsune thought, he eyed the hanyou wearily and sniffed, just to make sure it was indeed him and no Youkai disguised as Inuyasha.
"Since when do you let Kagome-sama stay in her time? You're always in a hurry to gather the Shikon no Kakera." This was Miroku who was carefully examining the damage to the area of his head that came in contact with the large boomerang.
"Inuyasha something happened to you." Kaede commented.
"Feh! Nothing happened to me. Kagome on the other hand…" He began saying.
"What happened to Kagome?" The kitsune pup demanded.
"Is she all right?" Sango asked, and then remembered their quick conversation the day before. "She mentioned something about some trouble in her time and that you were hurt."
"She ran into some trouble."
"How about you?" The tajiiya wanted to know, and the young man just shrugged.
"Then I suppose you're all right now." Kaede stated.
"Not really baba." He admitted and the old woman gave him an inquiring look with her only eye. The others too looked curious, so he decided to tell them. "A very small thing went through my thigh; Kagome called it a 'bullet'; somehow I'm not healing as fast as I usually do even if the wound wasn't really as bad as others I've gotten before. My leg is still a bit stiff."
"Bullet? Is it small? I seem to recall Kagome-sama mentioning those things yesterday."
"Yeah it is. The hole wasn't all that big, but it was a bigger on the other side." He used his thumb and index finger to show them its diameter. "I didn't get to see one up close. They are shot with these odd, smelly and loud things called guns."
"Just exactly how did you get hurt Inuyasha? Kagome-chan said you did not rescue her." He looked to the floor like there was something very interesting there, his bangs hiding the guilty look on his face.
"I got hurt while tracking her attackers." He finally said.
"Tracking her attackers? What good would it do? She was already attacked you jerk!" Shippou exclaimed angrily. "You should have been there to protect her!"
"I know that!" The hanyou snapped, but he still refrained from bumping the kit on the head.
"Then why weren't you there to protect her?" Demanded the furious kid, they all could see the conflict in the hanyou's face. He felt responsible.
"How was I to know her time is dangerous?" He asked defensively. "She always says it's so wonderful!"
"Where were you jerk that you left her alone?"
"Waiting for her at her house like I always do! She was two hours late and there was no one I could ask! Besides if I ventured outside of the shrine's grounds she'll probably 'sit' me until my back broke." Shippou wanted to argue some more but he did get the warning looks from the rest of them. It was clear Inuyasha regretted not being there for her; it wasn't his fault. Kagome did say her time was wonderful and it never crossed his little mind that her time might be dangerous too.
"Those modern weapons sound interesting." Miroku commented changing the subject. "Maybe we can use them against demons, seeing as they seem to delay your healing."
"Yeah I thought the same, but I got the impression they are forbidden or something in her time because the baka wench refused to talk about them." Inuyasha said with a hint of annoyance in his voice, both Miroku and Sango looked a bit disappointed. "But… Higurashi-sama said we might talk about them later." His voice held a hint of hope they all noticed.
"Higurashi-sama?" Sango asked perplexed, since meeting them she had never heard Inuyasha use honorifics for anyone. "I don't think I've ever heard you give anyone an honorific before."
"Kagome's Ofukuro." He explained a bit embarrassed. Miroku brought them back to the subject of Kagome.
"We still don't know what really happened over there. I'll also like to know why you left her there; it's not like you at all."
"She didn't tell you?" Both Sango and Miroku shook their heads. He'd been angry when she told him she'd gone through the well while he slept to tell their friends not to worry; he thought she had told them. "A couple of thugs attacked her and she got pretty frightened… actually I've never seen Kagome like that before… I think she lost it or something. It took me a lot of time to calm her enough to tell me what happened."
"YOU? Calming Kagome?" Shippou exclaimed a disbelieving expression on his young face. "Hmphg!"
The hanyou just patted his nose again instead of exploding in a tirade of insults or bumping the kit on the head, although it was clear that it took some effort to contain his anger, especially after being recriminated by the kid. This time Shippou tried to free himself and almost bit Inuyasha's hand. It led to another pat; the young man's hand grabbed the kit with some force by the scruff and let out a guttural woof/growl that sounded quite disapproving. Shippou's eyes went so wide open they almost covered his whole face, his kitsune instincts where telling him his behavior was not accepted and would not be tolerated by the leader.
'Since when do I consider this jerk the leader?' He questioned himself.
The conflict between his instinct and his rational brain was enough to keep him quiet. Shippou had unconsciously assigned that role to Inuyasha from the moment he became an integral part of their little group, as in the beginning there was no one else to fill that position, and even when Miroku joined it was still the hanyou who took most decisions. He had fought against that instinct from the beginning and treated the rather exasperating young man like a litter mate, getting bumped quite often in result. But now it seemed the hanyou had suddenly become aware of his role and was messing around with his poor kitsune instincts.
He just laid still and with a resigned sigh looked submissive. He was not released but was not really being restrained either; he was rather held loosely; the kitsune child decided to stay on Inyasha's lap and accept the rough patting to his head. He got the feeling that he was forgiven and started to purr very softly. His keen ears caught a very soft woof from the Inu youkai; a soft sound of approval; none of the others heard, with the exception of the two other demons in the hut.
The others watched this odd interaction in silence wondering what was going on between those two, just as Myoga watched from the warmth of Kirara's fur thoughtfully. He had an idea of what his master was doing but was rather surprised to see him use it on the kitsune, perhaps the kid was finally growing up. Kaede too watched and got to the conclusion that the young dog-demon had changed, but was sure he'll refuse to admit it; perhaps even to himself. She was well aware the others would question this strange behavior, but it was not the right time now. More than her Miko powers it was her experience that told her he needed time to sort himself up.
"Kagome is not the kind of girl to become hysterical Inuyasha." She commented bringing everyone back to the subject being discussed.
"Do you think I don't know that baba?" Inuyasha snapped. "A demon attack doesn't frighten her half as much. Yet… she was really scared… it wo…" He stopped short realizing he was going to admit being worried for her.
"You were worried." Miroku finished for him; the young dog-demon grimaced and growled.
"Feh! Anyway she escaped on her own before they hurt her."
"Before they hurt her? And what do you call that nasty bruise on her face?" Sango interrupted angrily.
"Sango, they had worst things on their minds than just bruise her." He said in a low voice, keeping his anger at bay.
'Rape her will they?' His mental tone betrayed his fury. 'Not while I'm alive! She's mine!' He thought vehemently, and then froze realizing what he just thought. 'Mine? What the hell am I thinking? She's not mine.' A little voice in his mind told him.
'Not yet.'
'Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggg! I have no time for this!' He berated himself.
"These guys are very dangerous." He went on explaining, the contained fury evident in his tense posture and hard set features, but he did manage to contain his inner turmoil. "Their law keeping forces; police they are called; are after them because they have killed some other women. They all looked a bit like Kagome…" He paused; really analyzing that little bit of information, and shook his head slightly at his conclusions. "Or rather Kagome looks a bit like them. They weren't after her specifically… She just happened to look like the others."
He proceeded to tell them all he learned during his stay on her time, he only left out those two ear scratching sessions, they were too personal and he really did not want to admit sharing those tender moments with her. As he talked Shippou fell asleep on his lap, the kit was in an uncomfortable position and he absentmindedly rearranged him on his lap without stopping with his story. They laughed at the reaction the people of Kagome's time had to him.
Inuyasha also told them of Detective Nomura, and described the scene of the murders he'd investigated in the alley. To say they were shocked by his recount was an understatement, that kind of brutality was not expected in a place Kagome always described as civilized and modern. No, it was something more appropriate to their time and specifically to what some demons might do.
He kept with his recount and had them laughing hard when he told them of the 'tests' he was to take the next day to prove 'those f****ng humans' he had an exceptional sense of smell. No amount of cursing, 'fehing', growling or threatening were able to silence them, on the contrary they went off to the point of shedding tears. In the end he finally had to join in admitting to himself that it was actually really ironic and funny. He a dog-demon was to take tests designed for dogs.
"You know?" Miroku asked while wiping away some tears with his sleeve. "This is the first time I hear you laugh like this." This sobered Inuyasha up.
"This is the first time I do since I was a pup Miroku." He finally admitted. He received surprised looks from everyone which made him a bit uncomfortable He was opening too much.
"What?" He asked irascibly at their still surprised looks.
'Has realizing they are members of my pack changed me so much as to actually laugh and share some private things with them?' He thought rather surprised.
"Nothing." Sango said noting his grumpy face was back. "It just seems that you changed suddenly."
"Feh! Stupid woman I have not changed a bit." He retorted, but did not meet her eyes. He set Shippou gently on the floor, so he could stand and walk away toward the door, where he opened the blinds and watched the starry night outside.
"So you finally realized it Inuyasha-sama." Myoga's voice came from one of his prayer beads. It was low but the others managed to hear in the silence that settled after he stood up.
"Myoga-jiji you have been here all the time?"
"Realized what?" Miroku asked the flea demon, curiosity tinting his voice.
"Nothing."
"That you are members of his pack." They said at the same time, Inuyasha growled and squished the flea demon at the time he muttered some curses.
"His pack?" Miroku asked plainly confused.
"Like a wolf's?" Sango mussed, and then added. "I remember the eldest tajiiya of the village would some times tell stories about packs of wolf youkai, like Kouga's. I didn't know Inu youkai did it too." Inuyasha only growled in response.
"Yes Dog-demons form packs too." Myoga finally answered puffing himself up and jumping to Kirara which was a safer spot than his master at the time.
"It's instinctive, even though Inuyasha-sama was not raised among them and he also carries human blood. It figures he'll follow the grouping instincts that both species have. After all most human also form 'packs'."
"Myoga-jiji…" Inuyasha's voice held the promise of much pain if he kept talking.
"They should know more about it, after all they ARE members of it." The flea demon admonished.
"Feh!" He said in an unemotional voice, when in fact he was beginning to feel rather apprehensive. The knowledge was just too new, he needed time to get used to the responsibility, even if he'd been already acting as if he accepted it.
"He's been assuming the leadership of our little group as he and Kagome-sama were the ones to start it. That's how a wolf or dog pack form traditionally; male and female loners gather together to make the hunt and survival easier; later pups arrive." He tactfully refrained from saying that those two loners became mates; most of the time for life; they were responsible for increasing the pack number of hunters with their pups, although dog and wolf demons were a bit different than wolves where only the leaders were allowed to breed. "And well Shippou there is a pup, the moment he was accepted into the group it became both Inuyasha-sama and Kagome-sama's responsibility to look for his well being and upbringing."
"Like parents." Miroku mussed surprised. "But you have not taken that responsibility Inuyasha. I know you'll protect Shippou even when you are hurt, have seen it with my own eyes, but to teach him and actually become paternal? I just can't see you in that role. You're just too immature!"
"Grrrrrrrrr!" Was the only response he got from the dog-demon.
"That's what he was doing tonight." Kaede commented. "He was teaching the kid who is the leader and what behavior is not accepted." The young man didn't say a thing, not even turned to acknowledge the old Miko's words.
"But what role do we play in this?" Sango asked.
"You joined the pack as hunters and companions. In a way you are all hunting for the Shikon no Tama and Naraku, instead of food and territory." Myoga commented absentmindedly. "The bond in a pack is like the bond in a family, eventually it becomes one. You all depend on each other… even Inuyasha-sama, although I don't think he likes the idea very much."
"What brought this up Inuyasha?" Kaede asked curious. The young hanyou did not answer for such a long time that they thought he was just not going to when he finally spoke up.
"That 'police man' in Kagome's time asked what right I had to keep her from talking to him… It… got me thinking."
"So you consider us members of your pack?" Miroku asked wanting the young man's confirmation.
'In a way I would have never thought Inuyasha considered us members of his family. But I guess all that we've gone through looking for the shards kind of bound us together.' The Houshi thought. 'Yes, we are like a family now. We are all the other has with the exception of Kagome-sama.'
'What if they turn me down?' Inuyasha thought rather distressed. 'What if they reject me?' He felt a slight pang in his heart but he pushed it aside. 'Feh! I've been shunned by both human and youkai, why should I care if they want to be part of my pack?' He told himself. 'It's not as if it bothers me.' But it did no matter how hard he tried to deny it.
'A family? Yes, they all have become like and extension of my family. Inuyasha, harsh as he wants to appear cares for all of us. He accepted me after I took Tetsusaiga to Naraku, and… kept me from killing Kohaku.' Sango felt a slight lump on her throat form at the thought of her little brother. 'Yes I made the right choice to stay even after he turned full youkai the last time.'
"I think he does, but he's too young by demon standards to have formed a pack." Myoga said after a short pause where he allowed the information to sink in their minds.
"Too young?" Sango asked she'd been rather curious about Inuyasha's age, because most of the time he either acted like a child or a teen.
"A youkai is considered an adult when he's 100 years old, sometimes it can be earlier if he or she reaches his/her prime, which is around the same age give or take a couple of decades. Inuyasha-sama is no where near that age; even if we count the time he was dead and pinned at the Go-Shimboku; nor has he reached his prime. By human standards; not counting the Go-Shimboku; he's also too young to be considered an…"
"Stop it right there f***ng flea my age is not important!" He turned to look at Myoga, murder in his eyes.
"You're not yet 16?" Miroku asked, since he'd caught Myoga's drift.
That… was a surprise, actually a bit more of a shock, not just for the priest but for all present. For a teen this hanyou had accomplished great deeds that not even a powerful taiyoukai like his father had been able to accomplish. Beating Ryuukotsusei for instance, not counting that even before he was sealed to the tree by Kykyo he already had quite a reputation, not just among humans. The houshi was impressed to say the least. Somehow this increased his respect for the young man. Sango's and Kaede's thoughts ran along the same line. Yes, Inuyasha had proved everyone that his mixed blood was as good as the purest from either Youkai or human, perhaps even better.
"That sure explains a lot!" Sango exclaimed.
"What do you mean Sango?" Inuyasha asked her through narrowed eyes.
"That it just explains the way you act sometimes, don't be angry about it. Knowing this really makes me feel proud to be considered part of your pack. You've accomplished quite a lot." He was still by the door but she could bet Hirokotsu that he was blushing, not really used to being complimented.
"I have to agree with Sango." Miroku said.
"Feh!" He used his favorite word when he either cursed or really didn't know what to say, which was the case at the moment. He shrugged indifferently.
"So what are you planning to do about those men?" Miroku asked changing the subject to the original one. "You don't think they might have been demons or possessed by one?"
"No." Inuyasha answered more comfortable with this topic, he moved back to the fire and Sango who had started serving the food she cooked handed him a bowl and some tea. "I didn't get the stench of demon anywhere in the surrounding area. It wasn't on Kagome either, besides I think she would have been able to sense them if that was the case."
"So… What is it that you're going to do to catch them?"
"I already told you I am going to help this 'police man' track them."
"Hmm… That means you'll have to spend a lot of time on the other side of the well." Kaede observed. "What does Kagome think about this?"
"She doesn't know." He responded concentrating on his food. It suddenly became so interesting.
"Oho! That means trouble!" Miroku commented and it got him an instant death glare from the hanyou. "How are you going to pull that up? I'm sure Kagome-sama will begin to suspect something when you don't pull her down the well."
"Her Ofukuro will help." Was his simple answer.
"She will?" Shippou asked; he'd been awake for some time. He heard not just Myoga's explanation about packs, but the whole conversation; and he really needed to do some serious thinking and revise his opinion of the 'jerk'.
"She knows what I plan, and she made it quite clear today that Kagome has to spend more time over there because there is no way this police won't notice and investigate the well."
"But the logical conclusion would be to have her here where we can protect her!" Sango exclaimed.
"I f***ng know that! Besides you know there's no guarantee that she'll be safe here." He said a bit more harshly than he intended. "Although it was still my first thought, but…"
"But what?" Asked an impatient Shippou when Inuyasha just stopped mid sentence.
"You know she won't accept that." Miroku finished for him, and he nodded. "So what are your options?"
"There aren't many Miroku. That place is dangerous, and I don't really know anything about it. It's so different from this time…" He finally accepted his ignorance, which surprised everyone. "If I'm to keep her safe I have to learn about it. That way I can be around if she's in danger."
"But it's clear she doesn't want you there!" Sango exclaimed. "I'm still wondering how you're going to manage to be there without her finding out."
"I already told you, her ofukuro is going to help. I already got some stuff from her time; mostly clothes so 'I don't stand out in the crowd' like she says."
"Inuyasha you'll always stand out in a crowd of humans, unless it's that time of the month." Shippou commented, and it got him a disapproving growl. The kit clamped his mouth shut.
"And how long do you think it'll take to track these men?" Kaede finally asked after being silent for a while.
"I don't know." Inuyasha admitted. "There are more people in that city than men in a large army. I believe it's larger than Kyoto.*" Wide perplexed eyes, greeted his comment as none could really believe that many humans could live in one place. "I think it'll depend on what these police know so far."
"I see." Miroku observed thoughtfully, and then asked. "What about the Shikon no Tama shards?"
"You'll have to search for rumors." He replied equally thoughtful. "I'll bring Kagome as often as possible, else she'll suspect. But only for a few days so we can go after the demon and get the shard, anyway it's Naraku who has most of them and he's been laying low lately."
"You're right about that, but I'm rather worried by this situation, he's planning something." Sango's voice held deep misgivings. Naraku was a devious enemy. Everyone nodded in agreement. "Besides how are we going to keep in touch if you're over there?"
"I found some things in her time that might work and help us to keep in touch but I have to try them first." He added as an after thought.
"So you're going to keep your act of throwing tantrums whenever she has to leave?" Sango asked.
"It's not a tantrum!"
"Whatever." Sango replied uninterested. "You'll get a lot of 'sits' for the sake of pretending." The hanyou just nodded.
"It's going to be painful." Shippou teased him, and Inuyasha decided to ignore it.
"Anyway I have a pretext to be everyday at her home."
"You do? And what is it?"
"Her ofukuro is going to help me improve my reading." Gaping mouths regarded him making him angry, what did they think he was? Stupid? His oyaji had been a great taiyoukai, his ofukuro a hime, just because he chose to live wild didn't mean he hadn't got some education.
"Improve? Inuyasha I never actually thought you could read in the first place!" Kaede exclaimed.
"Of course I can read Kaede-baba!" He replied indignantly, and then in a low voice he added. "I just was more interested in hunting than reading when ofukuro was teaching me."
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He decided not to spend the night in the Sengoku Jidai after they assured him they'll help with the plan and work on checking most of the rumors about Shikon shards. As he came out of the well house a glimpse to the sky told him it was about midnight, too late to wake Higurashi-sama. And even if he felt like it, he could not go into Kagome's room, she believed him in his time. So instead he went to the Go-Shimboku and perched on his favorite branch to think.
The hanyou felt a bit wired up; all the coffee he drank during the day; he'd spoken more than any of the others were used to; or himself for that matter. He was glad and in a strange way relieved that Myoga had brought the theme of his pack forming instinct and that none had rejected him. Sango's comment about his achievements had been a surprise. He'd never seen himself in that light, at least not until he beat Ryuukotsusei, the enemy his father a full youkai and Lord of the Western Lands had not been able to kill… His chest swelled with pride.
'I beat that beast… and I'm no more than a half breed. I wanted to become a full youkai to be strong, that's why I searched for the Shikon no Tama then, and now… No, not anymore, I really don't want to become a full youkai... I don't need it.' And that realization was like lifting a weight from his shoulders, his strength as a hanyou was enough, because even if he became a youkai sooner or later he'll encounter a stronger foe just as it could happen anytime now. 'For a while I wanted to become human; to be with Kykyo; but… it was more like it was her wish than mine.' He thought and frowned as he began to realize some things about his relationship with the miko that he had not seen before. 'I just wanted to be with her, I thought she understood me… her life was as lonely as mine. I wanted to have peace and be happy. But she was not a happy person, not even when she was with me.' He went on thinking. 'In fact I didn't remember what happy was until I had time to get to know Kagome. I don't feel alone when I'm with her, I feel calmer, at peace and… I trust her. Life doesn't look like it's only a struggle to survive anymore.'
Lately his mind had been filled with Kagome, even more than it used to be with Kykyo, he just couldn't get enough no matter how hard he tried to push aside those thoughts. In a way it bothered him because he'd even stopped eating for two days because she was not there! Now he could admit to himself the reason was he missed her terribly. Her smile, her intoxicating scent, her expressive eyes and the way she moved when walking… so many things. He sighed.
"Kagome, why can't I get you out of my head? What have you done to change me so much?" He asked the wind softly then sighed again, it was surprising how easy it was now to get Kykyo out of his mind, just the thought of Kagome and it turned into her direction. He looked toward her window, he was about to hop down to get a peek at her sleeping face or perhaps even breathe her sweet scent, when a strange bluish light on the horizon caught his attention.
There to the west near the mountains a soft blue light could be seen, for a moment he thought it was one of those odd contraptions the humans of the time had for illuminating, but then he felt an old and familiar sensation calling him toward the light. He knew then what it was and without further thought went toward it. The place was far and he had to hop over many rooftops to reach the outside of the humongous city and the mountains.
He came to a place that was not really familiar; except for the cliff; as trees he'd known only as saplings where now huge ancient ones, but there near the base of one was an old gravestone, barely recognized as what it was hidden among bushes. He hunkered in front of it and respectfully cleared the bushes. Leaving it clean, the thought that he'll have to visit soon and properly care for it crossed his mind.
"Hitomi obaa-chan." He whispered to the old grave, a hand tentatively touched the earth in front of the stone. "It's been so long, but I'm back." He paused. "Why did you call me? You are supposed to be resting in peace old woman."
The bluish light coming from the precipice and that only he could see intensified in response to his soft words, and he went over the cliff following a path that was barely visible even to his keen eyes, in fact had he not known it was there he'd never have found it. There at the end of it was a small ledge and the entrance of what appeared to be a small cave covered in the blue light that only strong wards could produce. Then tentatively he placed a hand on it and saw it go through without trouble, so the rest of his body followed.
He had to stop once inside and take a look at his surroundings, the place was just like the remembered, the light still shone bright inside fueled by some magic spell. It smelled musty of course, but nothing seemed to have deteriorated and if he thought about it, it was really about 550** years later than the last time he set foot inside. Feeling curious as to why he'd been summoned the young man moved further into the cave. He reached the main alcove of the place, tatamis, carpets and cushions where strewn on the ground strategically. Giving the place a look of comfort and being lived in, to one side was an old lacquered table. Some beautiful paintings and embroidered silks covered the otherwise bare stone walls.
"This place used to be my shelter from both youkai and humans." He said aloud to himself. "Why did you call me Hitomi obaa-chan?"
His gaze rested on a table on the back of the alcove, it held some things that did not belong to this place. In fact the table itself looked rather modern, for a moment he felt anger well up inside him, who had dared to invade his cave? But then reason took over, the spells were supposed to let only him, his ofukuro and the old woman in. In fact due to those same spells the cave was practically invisible to anyone else. So he cautiously approached it, his eyes going wide with the images on the frames; pictures Kagome called them; there beside them were an old book and several rolls, one of them in a beautiful and clear calligraphy read.
To Inuyasha.
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A/N: Finally it's done sorry again for taking so long and well I left you with a cliff hanger. Don't worry the next chapter is almost done, just a couple of days so I can finish typing.
* I believe the capital or most important city of Japan during the Sengoku Jidai period was Kyoto, but I'm not really sure. I'll investigate it and make a correction in case I'm wrong.
** I'm not really sure it's actually 500 years that Kagome goes back, but using episode 8 as a reference when they speak of Oda Nabunaga (1534-1582) and they mention he's around but has not become an important General yet. I think it's fairly accurate to calculate those 500 years.
I've proof read this chapter, so I think I found most of the errors. There might be some that escaped my notice, if you find any please point them out and I'll correct them.
Thanks.