Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Harry Potter belong to Rumiko Takahashi and JK Rowling. I am merely borrowing them for my creative and imaginative cravings. ^_^
(Warning: some swearing, courtesy of a certain hanyou.)
Title: Persevere
Chapter Four
Inuyasha leapt out of the well and landed in front of it gracefully. He had never understood why the well was encased in a building in Kagome's time. She had told him that it was a shrine -- a place that people respected.
Looking around as he left the building, he supposed the humans had made it into a 'shrine' at some point. After all, the villagers in his time rarely went near the well or the forest as it was. They seemed to fear it. Because of him and Kikyo.
He stopped at the Goshinboku tree and sighed. It wouldn't do him any good to walk down memory lane right now. He needed to help Kagome. With one last glance at where he had been pinned for nearly fifty years, he headed towards the main house.
He was surprised to find someone else at the entrance to the building. It was a man with short dark hair carrying a strange brown box. Inuyasha leapt up to a tree and observed him suspiciously. He kept knocking on the door but no one seemed to be responding. After a few minutes he opened the door himself and stepped in. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. A trespasser!
He jumped down from the tree and in a moment he was in the house. The man had just set down the box when Inuyasha entered.
"What the-" He didn't say much else as Inuyasha, teeth bared, grabbed him by the shirt. The man screamed in surprise and fear and Inuyasha winced at the sound.
"Why did you sneak in?"
The man seemed unable to take his eyes off Inuyasha's teeth as he stuttered a response. "I-I was j-just putting the package in here. D-Don't hurt me!"
Inuyasha didn't have a chance to respond as two people entered the room. He knew their scents before he actually saw them -- Kagome and her mother. He almost wished he hadn't turned to see Kagome's face. He saw her look at the package, the man, and him. It only took a moment before her face contorted in anger and annoyance. For his part, Inuyasha could only think one thing. Oh crap.
"SIT!" He felt the beads pulsate and the familiar feeling of being pulled as his face connected with the ground. He bit his tongue as he longed to curse at Kagome and her stupid word, but it just seemed WRONG to do so in front of her mother. He contented himself to glaring at her as she talked to the man and lead him outside.
She then turned on him furiously. "What on earth were you doing? That man was scared out of his mind!"
"Well what the hell was he doing just breaking in here, huh?"
Kagome looked surprised for a moment and then pointed towards the brown box. "He's supposed to deliver those. That's why he came in here."
Inuyasha felt his face warm in embarresment. "Feh! I don't care anyway."
The spell had worn off now and he moved into a sitting position. He looked at Kagome in surprise as a warm hand was placed over his own. She smiled at him and Inuyasha could only blink in confusion. She wasn't mad? "Thank you, Inuyasha."
He was debating on what to respond when more people entered the room. Kagome's brother greeted him with a warm smile while the person next to him looked at his ears and fangs in surprise and curiosity. Inuyasha felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and he unconsciously growled. Something wasn't normal about this stranger. He moved slightly in front of Kagome, preparing to strike if there was a threat.
Kagome seemed to notice something was wrong and placed a placating hand on his arm. "Inuyasha, this is Sirius Black. Sirius, Inuyasha."
They regarded each other, one with curiosity, and the other with mistrust. Inuyasha sniffed a bit. Who the hell was this? "You're not human."
Inuyasha was shaken out of his musings as the man, Sirius, said the statement. He was regarding Inuyasha incredulously. And it was starting to piss him off. He hated it when people stared at him. But at least he wasn't staring with hate -- like everyone had done when he was a child. Inuyasha took one last sniff. "You should be one to talk. You're not human either. But you don't smell like a demon…" He looked at Kagome. "What the hell's going on?"
Kagome opened and closed her mouth as though not sure where to start. She looked to her mother, who took a deep breath before speaking. "Why don't we take a break for awhile? Kagome and Sota, you two have had a lot of…things thrown your way today. Just relax for a bit. But…" She looked from Inuyasha to Sirius. "I think we might have to explain things a bit more."
She took Sirius by the arm and Inuyasha felt Kagome do the same. She headed outside and in a moment, they were by the Goshinboku tree. She sat down on a bench and Inuyasha followed suit, although somewhat uncomfortably. He never liked human seats. He preferred a nice branch any day.
He looked at Kagome expectantly. "So, who the hell was that?"
Kagome sighed and began. "That was my father's friend. He's a wizard…"
* * *
Kagome exhaled in relief as she finished telling everything she'd learned about Sirius. She was still going over all of it herself. It was hard to believe it was true…but looking at Inuyasha, she had to smile. She'd shown him the moving picture as proof, but he'd just pointed out that she already had a box with moving pictures in it. It was probably harder for him to take in everything she'd just learned herself. But the fact that he was trying to understand mattered most to her.
Inuyasha scratched the back of his ear. "So, you believe this Sirius guy?"
Kagome tucked in some loose hair. "I do. He can't be making this all up and my Mom trusts him. Besides, I can't take the chance that he's lying. From what he told us, there's too much at stake."
Inuyasha nodded and regarded her critically. "Are you going to help him?"
"How can I not?" She bit her lip. "I know I need to find the shikon shards, but I have to help Sirius too."
He looked at the ground a few moments before he locked eyes with her. "I won't let you do this alone."
Kagome blinked in surprise. Inuyasha, who lived and breathed for finding the shards, for defeating Naraku, was willing to put that aside? She smiled a bit. He acted so tough at times but he was truly caring underneath. "That means a lot to me, Inuyasha."
They were both quiet then and Kagome turned to look at the sky. The day was almost over. She looked up as the first stars began to appear. They weren't very clear here. In Inuyasha's time, the sky was ablaze with stars. That was something she missed when she came back.
"Kagome?" Her gaze left the sky as Inuyasha spoke. "Did you just find this out today?"
She nodded and frowned slightly. "Why does that matter?"
He hesitated a moment before answering. "At least I know this isn't what's been bothering you."
Kagome froze. Did he know? How could he? The dream she'd had that morning came to mind and she groaned. She must have said or done something in her sleep. They probably all knew by now! That was why he'd let her go home without a fight. She narrowed her eyes at him. "It doesn't matter Inuyasha. It has nothing to do with you."
He scowled. "The hell it doesn't! You've been out of it for days."
"I don't need your stupid pity!" She stood up with her fists clenched. "I-It doesn't even bother me anymore!"
He stood up then as well and Kagome glowered in annoyance. Did he have to be so tall? "Damn it! I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but I know it still bothers you."
"You don't know anything! I don't even care anymore. I-I'm just sick of it!"
They were both glaring at each other. "Bullshit. If you didn't care, you wouldn't be acting like this."
Kagome opened her mouth to respond and then snapped it shut. She'd told herself over and over that she needed to be strong for her family. It didn't matter anymore. She'd gotten over it… Red. Her hands were red. She was shaking now and then she saw him. He was in front of the well…blood pouring from him. Blood. It surrounded her. The scent filling her nostrils. It was covering her hands…her feet... everywhere. The nausea came and she screamed...
"NO!" She pushed Inuyasha away form her and squeezed her eyes shut. She was over it…it didn't matter…but why was she crying? Thick tears came down and despite her effort, she couldn't stop them. She'd promised at his grave to be strong. And she just kept on crying. She lowered to the ground, trying to abate the tears.
She was so absorbed in her tear-fest, that it took a moment to realize that someone's arms were around her -- Inuyasha. She trembled a bit and leaned into him. He was telling her that he was sorry…that he hadn't meant to make her cry. He always hated it whenever she cried. After what seemed like forever, her tears abated enough that she could speak. She sniffled a bit and looked up at him. After drenching him with her bawling, the least she could do was to tell him what he'd wanted to know. She opened her mouth to begin, but Inuyasha beat her to it.
"You don't need to tell me. I don't want you crying anymore."
She smiled slightly and shook her head. "No…It's probably better that I tell you." She breathed in shakily. "A few years ago, something happened in the shrine with the well. My father…died there. I was looking for him because he'd promise to help build a birdhouse with me." She smiled fondly at that. "When I went in the shrine, it was dark and I fell to the bottom of the steps. I found my Dad then. He was on the ground in front of the well. Dead."
She brushed a hand through her hair nervously. "The authorities said he'd been stabbed in the back, but they never found the murderer or any weapon. My Mom took it pretty hard and Sota was still so young. I promised myself that I'd always be strong for them." She wiped her eyes in disgust. "And I go and do this."
She sniffled a bit and she imagined her eyes were very red and puffy. She glanced guiltily at Inuyasha. He was probably very uncomfortable with the whole situation. She was slightly surprised when he brushed one of her stray tears away. "You don't need to feel bad about crying. It doesn't mean you aren't strong."
Kagome's brows burrowed. Inuyasha was always acting tough and macho. Was he serious? But his family…
She nearly hit herself. She should be one to talk this way! His parents were both dead and he and Sesshomaru nearly killed each other whenever they met. Looking at him, she realized that he probably understood her situation best. And with him being half-demon, it must have been terrible.
She spoke in almost a whisper. "Did you ever cry?"
Inuyasha blinked and then wrinkled his nose. "Feh! Like that would ever happen!"
Kagome just smiled sadly. He had cried. She knew it. With him being shunned by both humans and demons, he must have been so alone -- except for his mother. But she had left him too.
"Kagome…" She was taken out of her musings and looked at him expectantly. "You can still be strong for your family and cry. If…If you need to cry," Kagome tipped her head curiously. He seemed…embarrassed. "You can come to me."
He itched behind his ear and his face seemed red, even in the dark. Kagome gently smiled. "Inuyasha…"
He looked away. "It-It doesn't mean much! Just don't go crying anymore!"
She giggled a bit. "I won't."
She rested against his shoulder then. He didn't move away and the two of them sat together under the stars. They stayed like that for quite some time.
* * *
Kagome took a deep breath in happiness. The air always smelled so fresh in the Feudal Era. She glanced at Inuyasha and smiled fondly as she remembered the previous night. It had felt good to have a peaceful moment with him. No shouting. No fighting. Just him and her. It had been great to be together with him.
Kagome stumbled a bit at her thoughts. Together with him!? What had gotten into her? She was acting like he was her boyfriend! She glanced at him. If circumstances were different, perhaps they COULD have been a couple. But too many…things were in the way.
She shook her head abruptly. She couldn't go off into la-la land. She had a job to do. She and Inuyasha needed to go back to explain some things to the others. While they were there, Kagome planned on asking Kaede if she knew a way to track down a missing soul. Sirius Black's soul.
She grinned as she remembered Sirius's reaction that morning. Her mother had told him everything she knew about the well and Inuyasha. He'd had so many questions! When she said she'd be going back for a few hours, he'd wanted to come. He'd really wanted to see what the past was like. She had been willing to bring him with them but he'd decided against it in the end. He'd told her that he could hear the voices if he went too close to the well.
She shivered. Did those voices behind that veil have a strong attachment to the well? Did they have some sort of control on the people passing through it? That thought did NOT sit well with her.
She realized that they'd stopped walking. She looked at Inuyasha in confusion. He just gave her a look that said 'Idiot' and pointed forward -- Kaede's hut. Grumbling to herself she walked in and greeted the old woman.
Kaede was cooking some soup and she turned to Kagome. "You seem to be feeling better, child."
Kagome smiled slightly and glanced at Inuyasha. "Yeah…"
Inuyasha just turned away with a snort before speaking. "Where are Miroku and Sango?"
Kaede stirred her steaming creation. "There was a demon attack on a nearby village. They headed in that direction earlier today. You can catch up to them if you leave now."
Kagome glanced at Inuyasha. He would most likely be itching at the chance to see some action. But he wasn't moving. Somehow warmed by this, she addressed the old woman. "Actually, Kaede-sama, we need your help…"
She explained everything that had occurred within the last few days. She listened intently, her soup forgotten. But somehow, as Kagome finished, she noticed that the woman didn't seem very shocked by any of it. But after all, Kaede had probably seen much more than she had.
"…So, do you know any way that we could track down someone's soul?"
Kaede seemed to be doing some quick thinking. Kagome expected her to answer with a 'yes' or 'no'. She wasn't fully prepared for when the old woman walked over to the door and started shouting at the top of her lungs. "Akari! Child, come here quickly!"
Kagome glanced at Inuyasha who had a similar look of confusion. Had they missed something? With a sigh, she just contented herself to waiting. She didn't have to wait too long because a young girl entered the building, peering at everyone shyly.
"Akari," Kaede smiled affectionately at the girl. "Do you have the gift I gave you?"
The child nodded while at the same time gazing with awe at Inuyasha (or more specifically his ears). Kaede observed this astonishment with mild amusement as she continued. "Go get it, and quickly Child!"
She did as was asked and Kagome turned to Kaede. "Kaede-sama…Who was that? And how with this help Sirius?"
Kaede poked at her cold soup with a spoon before answering. "That was my granddaughter. And you shall see in a moment what will be of help to your…wizard friend."
Kagome merely nodded. A granddaughter? She hadn't even known that Kaede had any children! She didn't have time to think on it much longer as Akari returned. Kagome leaned forward a bit to see what she was carrying. She had two small objects in her hand and it took Kagome a moment to realize they were two square mirrors. They looked very old – like an antique almost.
Kaede took the mirrors from the child and Kagome waited patiently for an explanation. "Thank you, Akari." She turned to Kagome. "Do you know what these are?"
Kagome fought to quell the surge of frustration she felt at the obvious question. "They're mirrors. But what does that have to do with anything, Kaede-sama."
"These are not just simple mirrors. They were created by my Grandmother -- a woman whose power was stronger than even Kikyo." Kagome looked at the tiny things in astonishment. "They have been passed down to the children of my family since their creation. Using these mirrors, the children are able to test their powers and learn how to control them. It is often used as a game at first. The mirrors can be used as a device of communication between the holders. But over time…there are more possibilities."
She handed Kagome the mirrors. "I believe you have the power to use these. You'll need to focus your thoughts and energy on finding your friend's soul. The location or some sort of clue should appear within the mirror if it is done correctly."
Kagome nodded, feeling slightly nervous. "Should I try now?"
Kaede looked thoughtful for a moment. "This 'Sirius' is with you and still has part of his soul?" Kagome nodded. "Then he should be present when you make the attempt. The connection will be much stronger."
Kagome looked down at her hands. "I can borrow them?"
"Yes. If it is alright with someone…" She looked at Akari and the little girl blushed.
Glancing her Grandmother, she responded shyly. "You can borrow them, Kagome-sama."
Kagome thanked the girl with a smile. They stayed and talked with Kaede for a while after that. After reminding her to tell Miroku and the others what was happening, they departed and Kagome waved goodbye cheerfully
But on the inside, she was a swirling mass of anxiety. She glanced at the mirrors in her hand. Did she have the ability to use them? She had never really tried to control her powers. It had always come naturally when she used the bow and arrow. It seemed she'd been taking her powers for granted.
She sighed as they approached the well. It struck her then that Inuyasha was unusually calm and quiet. She frowned in guilt. He probably wanted to go after Miroku and Sango. "Are you OK with not going after the others?"
He looked at her in surprise, not expecting the question. "Feh! It's probably just some demon not worth my time. Besides you need someone to look after you."
Kagome bristled. "And what is that supposed to mean? I can take care of myself!"
He snorted. "You have an attraction for trouble and I always end up saving your ass."
She narrowed her eyes. "I seem to recall saving your butt more than once, Mr. Dog-Ears!"
They both glared at each other and Kagome itched to tell him to 'sit.' But thoughts of the previous night flitted through her mind and she lowered her eyes in thought. Inuyasha was never one to get sentimental. And the fact that he cared enough for her to put aside his own goals was probably a bit…unnerving for him. Could he be provoking a fight on purpose?
She turned from him. "Whatever, let's just go back." She approached the edge of the well and she knew he was doing the same. She glanced at him at him as she braced herself for the jump. "But no matter the case, I'm happy you're with me."
He colored at that and she leapt in before he could respond. He didn't seem too fazed because he was next to her in a moment and they were both pulled into the stream of time.
She looked at him and nearly laughed at the embarrassed look on his face. She should surprise him with a comment like that more often! She looked down at her feet and frowned. A cold feeling settled at the pit of her stomach.
It was happening again. It was the same thing as when Sirius had…dropped in on her. The time stream seemed to be 'stuck' somehow. She turned to Inuyasha, to say something, but never got a chance to. She felt a tremendous pull on her body, taking her from Inuyasha's side
She saw his face contort in surprise and fear at the sight of her being dragged from him. She reached out an arm to him, although she knew it was a useless effort. He was getting farther and farther away...
"INUYASHA!!!"
And all she saw was darkness.
Author's Notes: Well, this was one of the longer chapters. I hope you've enjoyed it. There might not be an update next week. School has hit a very stressful streak and midterms are coming up. But if I don't update next week, look for a new chapter the following weekend!
And now the most important piece of the chapter. The thank you dedicated to all you wonderful reviewers:
Geminidragon, SilverKnight7 (Apoligies for leaving another cliffhanger…I think I've got an attachment to them), Hotaru Tomoe (You're just filled with questions, aren't you girl? Most of them will be answered in subsequent chapters. Never fear! And you were too loud ^_^), DemonSorceress, ReJeCtEd AnGeL (That's such a sweet compliment! I'm blushing…), Tama-Shin (I suppose I'll have to get started on chapter five of my Kenshin story. I'll dedicate the chapter to you ^_^), kagomeserinity2, and FluffysBijin05 (You're making me blush! Thanks for the great review ^_^ Of course the HP gang will be in it, just not for awhile.)
You guys are great!
Now all that's left is for you to click on the little review button…