Kindred Spirits
An Inu Yasha and Saiyuki fan fiction by Iapetus
Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this story is the way the two worlds have been twisted… *evil grin*
Again, please remember that the Inu Yasha storyline has gone AU. The descriptions involving their changes in the past six years will be over soon… *sweatdrop*
Review responses can be found on my live journal for January 8, 2004. Thank you to everyone for reviewing!
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Chapter 3: Promise
Kagome awoke to the touch of soft fir against her face. Opening her eyes, she saw her old cat Buyo nuzzling her cheek, purring the whole time. Raising her right hand, she scratched the cat behind the ears, which only increased the volume of the cat's purring. Sun streamed into her room, and Kagome blinked back the last remnants of sleep from her eyes.
The sun… the sun reminded her of her dream the night before. His hair was as golden as the crown on his head, as golden as the rays that touched it. It was as if he was the model from which all other blondes vied to be like. And his eyes…
Jumping off her bed, Kagome looked out the window. Yes, the lilac bush was blooming. It was so hard to keep things straight in her time anymore. She inhaled the sweet fragrance and closed her eyes to picture him better. His eyes were the exact shade of purple that her lilac flowers were. How strange that so soft an eye color could belong to a rebellious man… Kagome laughed at the irony of it all. She had remembered how he hated tradition and rules as a kid. Had he grown up to be the same way?
The sound of her alarm clock broke her from her thoughts. I hate waking up before my alarm clock… she thought, annoyed. Of course, after years of living outside with her friends, they had all learned to rise with the sun. She turned the buzzer off, not wanting to wake the other members of her house before they had to.
She found her supplies in the chair where she had left them the night before, completely ready for the day – no year – ahead. As she had gotten older, she had learned to cope with less and less supplies from the present. After completing high school, Kagome decided take a semester off, because the jewel was almost complete. They were either going to complete it, or she'd die and would not have to worry about more school. However, Kikyo had shattered Naraku's portion of the jewel, sending Kagome's hopes of a normal life and a college education right after high school down the drain.
Despite not being in school, she was doing all right. Needing money desperately, Kagome had started to write down the legends of demons that she encountered in the Era of Warring States. Under a penname, she had published the book, and enjoyed moderate success. Since she needed to stay by the well, and it would have cost too much money to have her own apartment when she never lived there, Kagome still lived at home. Her friends assumed this was because of her various "illnesses," and came to visit whenever she was able to come back. She didn't know how her grandfather was going to explain her yearlong absence that was about to take place. He had run out of diseases years ago, so Kagome just began to suffer "relapses."
However, when she started to write stories of her actual adventures in the Era of Warring States (with only her name changed) under the same penname, she became a national phenomenon. Her editor begged her for her secret, but she refused to divulge any information. It wasn't like anyone would believe her anyways. Still, she was glad of the several contracts she signed and the lawyer she had ensuring her privacy. She could not do stardom, "sickness" and her life in the past.
Checking her supplies, she made sure for the third time that it was fresh, and that she had several pens. The journal had been her tradition even before her decision to write about the past. Fully awake now, she slipped on her pair of black dragon hide pants, as well as the matching bodice. To the common man, it appeared as if she put on leather from head to toe. However, dragon hide was much more sturdier than leather (some of the strongest armor available, even if it wasn't the fur of a Fire Rat), and much more flexible. At least, it was when it was handled correctly. Kagome was able to come across her own tailored outfit when a certain demon she saved insisted on returning the favor. She had been hesitant to wear it at first, but she had grown to like the outfit. It had also saved her life on several occasions. Looking in the full-length mirror, she assessed how she had changed over the years.
No longer was she the build of an ordinary schoolgirl. Constant fighting for her life had forced her to train in several marital arts, and had honed her muscles to a lean look. As she put on the matching dragon hide arm length gloves, she noted the calluses on her fingers from archery. They were so hard, she wasn't sure if they would ever go away.
Grabbing her over clothes, Kagome slipped them on quickly. Deception was important in everything, and it wouldn't be good for her enemies to know she was wearing dragon hide. The brown pants rested comfortably on her hips, as well as the matching brown tank top. While her outfit wasn't completely historically accurate, the plain fabric that draped over her figure ever so slightly stood out less than her old school uniform.
Kagome picked up her brush and ran it through her hair, which reached the small of her back. One of the pleasure items she was allowing to be taken with her from her time was her brush. Whenever they were to go into battle and actually were prepared for the fact, she would braid her hair and put it on top of her head. A couple tendrils from the sides of her face would remain, but that was all.
Turning to her equipment, she made a quick assessment. Everything was there: her bow, quiver, weapons belt, kodachi, and dagger. After the Mask of Flesh incident so long ago, there had been other demons that had come after her in the present. She had to be prepared no matter what time she was in, and so always took her weapons everywhere.
I don't need to strap them on yet, though, she thought to herself. I'm not leaving until after Breakfast.
Slipping into the hallway, she passed her younger brother's room. Souta was now sixteen years old, and going to high school. She smiled as she saw him holding a dog-eared copy of her first book in his sleeping hands. How many times had she told him stories of the past? Did he never get tired of them?
Buyo ran past her legs and jumped onto the young man's lap. He woke suddenly, seemingly used to this action. Kagome went to move out of the doorway, so as to not appear as if she was spying, but his laugh stopped her.
"C'mon sis," he chuckled softly, "Don't leave yet…"
She walked in and closed the door. "I'm not leaving yet, Souta. Not until after Breakfast."
"I know, but it looks like you want to leave now…" he said with sadness.
"I don't know what I want anymore, really, little brother," she said with equal sadness. "I miss you and mom and grandpa when I'm gone, but I miss my friends when I'm here…"
"I wonder if the Centipede Woman knew what she was doing when she dragged you through the Well," Souta pondered for the thousandth time. "If it wasn't for her…"
"…I'd have a normal life," she finished his sentence.
"It's funny having a sister who is "sick" all the time," he chuckled. "There are some kids that won't come near me for fear of getting some deadly illness."
"Isn't your attendance record perfect?" Kagome questioned.
"Five years running!" he said with mock enthusiasm. "I hate not faking sick, but I know the school will go ballistic, thinking that I'm coming down with the "Higurashi illness." Of course, that might be fun…" he smiled evilly, then changed his mind.
"Nah, that wouldn't be fair to Mom."
Kagome felt a pang in her heart at the thought of their mother. She had suffered greatly through these long six years, not knowing if her daughter would come back through the well with each time she left. It was draining on the woman, not being able to protect her daughter.
Sitting down on the edge of his bed, she grabbed her younger brother's hand and squeezed it gently. "Will you take care of Mom and Gramps for me? I should really be there for them right now, especially with Gramps health…"
"Why did you ask?" Souta sounded offended. "I'd do it even if you said nothing."
Ruffling the boy's hair, she leaned over and gave him a hug. Souta, who had learned to appreciate his sister more than his friends did with their siblings, did not shy away at the expression of affection. She knew this was hard for him. Most of the time, she'd only be gone for a week or two, at most a month. She was going to be gone a year, and there was no going back. If she did not come back after a year… their grandfather would "pull the plug" on his dear granddaughter, and she would die to the modern world as well as in the past.
For her family's sake more than anyone else, Kagome prayed for her quest's completion. The last thing she wanted to do was to break their hearts.
"Mission?" he asked dubiously. Kougaiji didn't like how her angry mood seemed to evaporate, even if it did mean he was able to stop listening to the annoying wining sound Gyoukumen Koushu's voice made when she was angry.
"Yes," she smiled slowly, "a mission. That is, if you are in "top form" again?"
He didn't miss the jab at his honor. Still, he would not rise to her bait. Seeing that he was in no mood to play, she pulled out a map of Tougenkyou and continued.
"Doctor Nii has informed me that there is an unusual disturbance gathering around this area," she indicated on the map with a finger. The demons there do not have human forms, and appear oblivious to the minus wave." She smirked at the statement. "Not that it would matter, they have a bloodlust all their own, and do not mind eating humans to their hearts content."
Formless demons immune to the minus wave, and with bloodlust? Kougaiji thought, confused. In Tougenkyou, formless demons did exist, but they couldn't harm a fly, much less kill humans.
"I sent out a team of assassins to try to distinguish what they were, but they weren't able to figure anything out. I highly doubt that they would be a cause of concern, but I want you to go investigate anyways. You may take anyone you want with you, except Lirin. She is to stay here."
Kougaiji eyed his stepmother with distaste. The woman had no love for her daughter – that act could not fool him. It never had, and it never would. He knew that the only reason she cared for the girl's safety was because she was essential in the plan to resurrect their father. Kougaiji made a mental note for him to get Yaone to take her somewhere "fun" outside of the castle once he and Doku were gone – he wanted his own eyes on her at all times. The day he'd trust Koushu to care for his little sister would be the day he'd betray his own real mother. The Demon Prince would not be contained; he would do things his own way.
Lady Koushu opened the bedroom door to let herself out. Then, she dramatically turned back to where the red haired demon was standing and grinned.
"Do be careful while you are out there. We wouldn't want you "outnumbered" again." Eyes narrowing, she continued. "However, if and when you get injured in the future, I want you to come to Doctor Nii. Technology can heal you much better than any of those potions can." With that, she closed the door of the irate prince's bedroom.
Like I'd let that bastard lay a finger on me, he thought severely. Healing with potions and herbs are the best for the body, and she knows it. What the hell is she trying to do?
Kougaiji had to wait a few minutes so he could be sure that Lady Koushu would not see his incessant fuming as he walked out of his room. It was close to the time that he was planning on meeting with his group anyways, so he headed to the one place where they would not be overheard.
He was only half way there when a junior level demon called out his name.
"Excuse me, Lord Kougaiji!" the demon sounded almost afraid of approaching the prince.
"What is it?" he asked curtly. His emotions were nearing dangerously high levels, and he needed to vent badly. When he saw the demon draw back in fear, he forced himself to relax. This demon didn't deserve the brunt of his aggression.
"What is it?" he asked again in a calmer, more polite voice.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Lord Kougaiji," the man bowed, "but I was ordered to have this note delivered to you. I was to make sure that you read it." He handed out the note, folded and sealed with the wax of a Silver Wasp. It was from the head of the assassins.
Breaking the seal, he looked at the contents.
Lord Kougaiji:
I have always been at your disposal, as well as all the demons under my command. However, I could not ignore the order that Lady Koushu gave me. She "insisted" that I send the Kuromaru squad to investigate the coordinates below. When only half of them came back, I immediately wrote this letter to you in hopes that it would reach you before our Lady.
What the hell? he thought furiously. Koushu didn't say anything about loosing half of a squad…
My Lord, forgive me for not resisting further. We lost a lot of good men, and I take full responsibility for the failure. If you wish to speak to the survivors, all fifty of them are in the infirmary, and out of critical condition. There were none who escaped injury. However, Lady Yaone's skills would be appreciated if you could spare them. Again, my deepest condolences, my lord.
Your Faithful Servant,
General Gekidoku no Kiba
As he opened the door to his mother's pillarist prison, anger burned yet again in his veins as he beheld the statue-like figure before him. He hated calling the Gyumaoh wife wannabe that was Gyoukumen Koushu his "mother." True wife of Gyumaoh, Rasetsunyo, was everything Lady Koushu was not: kind, caring, loving, trustworthy and honorable. The Lady Koushu deserved to be imprisoned in the pillar, not his dear mother. However, the Fighting God Crown Prince Nataku saw only his father, his mother, and himself as a threat. Making yet another silent vow to free his precious mother, Kougaiji let his attention shift to the one in front of him.
Lirin had run up to him the moment he had entered the room. She was apprehensive, vexed, and curious all at the same time.
"What did Okaasan say?" she prodded. "I haven't seen her so mad since… Wait, I don't think I've ever seen her that mad before."
"What did she say?" Dokugakugi inqired.
"She often doesn't mind yelling at you in front of me…" Lirin thought to herself.
"Lady Lirin!" Yaone said reproachfully. "Don't disrespect your older brother by saying such things!"
"But it's true…" the younger demon protested, but was quickly quieted down by the look Yaone gave her.
"She was 'upset,'" he said carefully, "About Doku and I attacking the Sanzo-ikkou." Free from the gaze of the witch, Kougaiji was able to shudder freely, even if it was slight, at the recollection of the memory. He noticed Dokugakugi also shudder. While the man had not been as seriously injured as himself, he knew that his friend still blamed himself for his helplessness against the Devil.
"Shouldn't she be worried?" Lirin demanded, "You almost died!"
She cares more about me than she cares about you… he thought bitterly. They were only pawns, and because he was her husband's heir, he was one of the most important pieces on the board. Kougaiji hated being anyone's piece, even if he was more than a pawn. Still, a mother should care about her daughter… why did Lirin have to have Koushu as a mother?
"She was worried that I was taking "unnecessary risks." I told her it was a misunderstanding."
"What didn't you say?" Doku asked seriously.
"Almost everything. According to her knowledge, I didn't save them, I didn't challenge Goku, and he didn't transform into the Great Sage."
Yaone's eyes widened. "Almost everything? That is the whole story!"
Doku chuckled. "Did you mix a few white lies in with all of the holes?"
Kougaiji smirked. "Of course. Anyways, she gave us another mission." He shifted his eyes to his beautiful apothecary. "Yaone, when we leave, I want you to take Lirin out to one of your more secluded herbal fields and have her help you harvest herbs."
"As you wish, Lord Kougaiji," Yaone said slowly, "I have enough supplies right now… but I can get more."
"But I want to go with you, Kougaiji-oniisan!" Lirin said loudly. "I couldn't go last time, and look what happened! Maybe I could have done something for you!"
"Lirin, I am glad you weren't there for that reason. You don't understand, Goku did not recognize any of us. He even attacked his own companions. He would have hurt you too. You would not have been able to do anything about it." She made move to protest again, but he continued.
"Her specific orders were for you not to come with me. I want you out of this castle when I am not here, and somewhere where she cannot reach you. Yaone knows those fields better than anyone. Make sure that one of us is always with you. Your mother is up to something besides resurrecting Father, and I want you to stay out of it."
Lirin's face fell, but slowly nodded an affirmative. Kougaiji changed his gaze again, this time to Doku.
"You and I need to get going as soon as possible," he said curtly. "Yaone, I need you to go to the infirmary before we go and check up on the patients for me. Lady Koushu sent a squad of assassins without my consent to investigate and only half of them came back."
"Which squad was it?" Yaone asked, concerned.
"Kiba said it was the Kuromaru squad."
"But that squad had over a hundred members in it!" Lirin said, startled.
"Fifty are still alive."
Silence reigned for a whole minute before anyone could respond.
"Come on, Lady Lirin, we need to get going if were going to stop by the infirmary and leave without your mother noticing." Yaone grabbed the younger girl's hand and pulled her towards the door.
"Please be careful, my lord," the female demon said quietly as she left.
"Oy! Higurashi!"
Souta stopped walking as he heard his name called. He glanced at his watch, and noted that class didn't start until at least tem more minutes. Well, he thought, that's if Yamada-sensei isn't late again.
The person who had caught up to him was his close friend, Nagashima Yuuko. On a normal day, he would have sought her out along with his other friends – Fujiwara Rika, Tabuse Sakura, Kawasaki Satoru, and Akahori Akira. But now, Souta was still depressed about the departure of his elder sister. He knew that she could take care of herself, and that Inu Yasha and her other friends would never let his sister come to harm. But, he was the man of the house – he should be the one protecting his sister and his family, not the other way around.
His father had told him to be strong, and to watch over the family. When the Centipede Demon pulled his sister into the Bone Gobbling Well the first time, his father's request came vividly back into his head. He had begged his mother to allow him to take up a martial art. When he had seen Inu Yasha begin to carry a sword, he knew he wanted to take up kendo.
Souta was now a member of the Iyaido club at school – where they fought with actual bokkens and not a practice sword. Because of his previous five years of training in a dojo, Souta was in the higher levels of the club. So as not to show the others up, he rarely put out his full potential. He saved that for when he was training at the dojo. His master told him it was a shame that he had been born in the present, because he said the boy had the potential to be a great warrior. When he thought of the original reason for taking up the sword, he would simply nod and smile. His mission was not to be a warrior, but a protector.
"Are you alright, Higurashi?" Yuuko asked in a concerned voice. Souta's mind drifted back to the present, and he smiled sadly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he lied. "I'm just…" He struggled to come up with an excuse for his melancholy.
"It's your sister, isn't it?" she said softly.
"How do you know?" he asked, shocked that she had guessed correctly.
"Well, I know that her health isn't good – did she take a turn for the worse?"
Souta struggled not to laugh out loud. How is it that everyone buys the lie that she is sick? Every time she is here she is always "healthy"… Still, he had to stick to the lie.
"Yeah, it's really serious this time," he bit his lip. He hated lying to his friends like this. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Grandpa and Mom put her in a special hospital in the United States, and we're hoping that they can solve the problem."
"I'm so sorry, Higurashi," Yuuko said sadly. "Now you won't be able to even visit her on a regular basis…"
What are you talking about, Yuuko? He thought bitterly. I can't see her at all now. Souta simply replied with a "Yeah," and continued to walk towards their classes. He didn't feel like talking to anyone right now.
Yuuko could tell that he needed his space, and decided to back off. However, before she left, she asked pleadingly, "Is there anything I can do for her?"
Souta caught a sob in his throat. I can't cry! I have to stay strong! "Please pray for her safety," he requested quietly.
"Safety?" Yuuko asked puzzled. Souta could tell that his mouth had slipped, and wondered how he was supposed to recover this.
"Oh, do you mean safe travels to the United States?" she asked innocently. He nodded, hating the lie even more.
"All right, Higurashi," she smiled sadly as well. "But remember, you can always talk to me about it."
Believe me, Yuuko, I wish I could… "Thanks, Nagashima."
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If you would like to know when this story is updated, please let me know in your review and leave your e-mail address. I hope to update on a regular basis, but you never know what might happen.
Comments and criticisms appreciated! See you in chapter four!
-Iapetus