Chapter 16 revised (2.8.04) ^-^
Disclaimer: ::still wearing her Inuyasha getup, nods at her little brother:: Okay, say the subduing phrase.
Tessen's brother:: ::monotonous:: Sit.
Tessen:: NO~! Like we practiced!
Tessen's brother:: 'Tessen doesn't own Inuyasha'
::Tessen slams into the ground facefirst::
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Six :: Illusions
Chapter Sixteen :: The Scent of Azaleas
Torou groaned as he worked his arm. It had taken four days to grow the damned thing back. He had required his grandmother's help, but as luck would have it she was incredibly angry with him for being so stupid and had prolonged the healing process for four times the length of time needed to regrow an arm, as punishment.
As he worked his new joints and flexed his new fingers, the door creaked open. He looked up, expecting his mother, but instead, Kikyou entered the room. He lifted his red eyes to hers in surprise, and then narrowed them belligerently. "What do you want?"
"I told Uramiko that I was coming to check your wound, but--"
"Well I'm fine." he interrupted, and the miko snorted. "Good for you. That's not really why I came, fool."
Torou looked irked at being called a fool, but narrowed his eyes at Kikyou's second statement. "Why DID you come, then?" The miko lifted her sleeve, baring her arm, and she gestured to Torou to watch as she lifted her claws --compliments of her demon soul-- and slashed her wrist.
Nothing happened save a little dust spurting from the slash, which looked like she had cut through hard dirt, with clay underneath. Kikyou then knelt and took some dirt from the ground and packed it into the wound. It sealed almost like real flesh. Then she glared at Torou, who was unimpressed. "Like I thought. You know why this happens," she accused and he nodded.
"But I don't have to tell you shit. I can't stand you, and helping you find your fucking way through life is not part of my job description." He told her this with a sneer, and Kikyou nodded. She rose and went to the door in a swish of black hair.
"That's true. But then, I suppose I could stay here forever. God knows that if I knew the truth..." She turned to face him again, "If I knew what that Kagome girl had told me was true... that Uramiko is tricking me into staying... for whatever purpose, whether it be to use my strength or simply as a shield..." She paused.
"If you knew...?" he pressed, and she narrowed her eyes. "If I knew it was true, I would kill her."
Torou gasped in surprise. She started to leave, but, seizing his chance, Torou stood quickly. "Wait." Kikyou stopped but did not turn. Torou nodded at her. "If I tell you... who you are, how we found you, and all that bull... Would you leave?"
"Yes."
"Would you kill my grandmother??"
"Yes."
"Sit down and I'll tell you everything I know."
~*~
"Kaede-baachan~!!"
Kaede looked up from where she stood at Kagome's voice, as did the young woman next to her. The woman smiled. "Oh, Kagome-sama and the others returned." The pair of them blinked in surprise as Kagome shot past on her bicycle with a childish-sounding cry of, "Long time no seeee~~~~~~"
She skidded to a stop and grinned. "It's been awhile, Kaede-baachan." She bowed her head to the young village woman in acknowledgement and Kaede smiled, ambling up to her. "It has, Kagome. I see you all are well and in one piece."
"Well? Yeah right. Inuyasha's not a happy hanyou." Kagome turned to watch her brood head in. They had spent the last three days trekking from Koyama Mountain in Kouzuke back to Musashi, and had finally made it back to Kaede's village.
Tama had taken to the front, as she still had her ears and nose, and she kept an eye out for things, and Tanpopo spent her time with Tama when she *wasn't* with Shippou. The two kits had bonded, and Kagome wondered if maybe Shippou looked at the older kit as a sister, since he rode on her head now and she never seemed to mind. She had stayed with them, despite her preaching about hating hanyous and humans.
Speaking of sisters, Kohaku had taken to pestering Miroku, since the keen-eyed boy had noticed his sister's feelings for the monk and had gone into a very brother-like, defensive attitude about Sango. The houshi had apparently failed a major test of the boy's when he had talked Koyama into paying them very heavily for their services in freeing him from the earth sprite, and then turned around in the next two villages over and sold it all.
Sango spent her time watching Kohaku and Miroku, laughing silently to herself when the monk got flustered by the twelve year old's insistent pestering, and Kagome spent a portion of her traveling time riding next to the former exterminator, chatting about how funny it was to see Kokaku demand an instant answer from the over-stressed houshi.
The rest of her time was spent trying to cheer up Inuyasha. The hanyou had not transformed back into his normal self, and it was the fourth day he'd had to spend as a human. The wound he had received from the earth sprite hadn't healed completely yet, and so Kagome had been keeping an eye on that as well.
She knew he hated being human. He hated feeling weak, and he hated not being useful, and she ESPECIALLY knew he hated that she was taking special consideration for him since he WAS human, because his exact words were "Lord knows you wouldn't worry about me if I had my demon blood," (although Kagome wondered where in the world he had gotten that idea).
But as usual, he refused to talk about it; he just told her not to worry about him and went on brooding.
Kaede watched the group head in, and met their greetings heartily, also warmly accepting Tanpopo and Kohaku's introductions. "Well, I wonder if you all are hungry?" she inquired after everyone had settled, "I expect if Inuyasha had his way, you've not stopped traveling since breakfast this morning, and supper just finished stewing."
"Wai, wai~!" Shippou and Tanpopo cheered, diving into the hut and Tama, Miroku, Sango and Kohaku all accepted, turning to head into the house until they noticed Kagome setting her bike to the side of Kaede's hut. Tama blinked. "Kagome-chan, you're not staying?"
She looked up. "Ah, gomen ne, minna, but I need to go home for a little while and restock on supplies. I should be back in a few days, okay?" Tama grinned.
"Have fun!"
"Fun? Hell, I'm going to relax~!" Kagome insisted playfully as she headed off, the others making way into Kaede's meager home. Tama pulled back again, suddenly realizing one of their group was missing. "Kaede-sama?"
"Yes?"
"Where's my idiot brother??"
~*~
Kagome sighed when she saw what was sitting at the edge of the well, and walked over, tossing her bag down the well. "What do you want, Inuyasha??" Inuyasha's cheek twitched. "What's that supposed to mean??"
"Well you're here for something, what is it?" she asked innocently, and he glared at her. "I was just waiting for you, let's go." She blinked, wondering if she had understood him. "What?"
"I said let's go." he said impatiently and she softened, inwardly delighted he wanted to come.
"You want to come?"
"Is that okay?" he asked, his face softening into something like sadness. Kagome blinked at his expression; it meant something, but she couldn't quite figure out what. Loneliness?? Was he afraid of being alone?
"Yes." she replied, fidgeting nervously. Inuyasha asking her if it was alright to come with her to Tokyo was almost like being asked on a date; at least, that's the way it felt. It was so odd to hear him with that tone of voice. She barely noticed the pleased grin he got before he turned it off and jumped back into Inuyasha-character. "Okay then, let's go."
She looked up at him, reaching out and slipping her hand into his. "Let's go."
"Wait."
Both of them stopped at the sound of the third voice, and Inuyasha turned. At the edge of the forest was a young woman, with long auburn hair and blue eyes. Pointed ears and a fluffy kitsune tail. A youkai. The woman had a distinct scent, the scent of azaleas, and despite the fact that she had never once seen this person in her life, Kagome couldn't help but feel she knew her.
"Who are you?" Inuyasha demanded, suspicious, and the kitsune reached back, pulling a long, wooden staff from her back. It was thin, about the circumference of a broomstick, but looked of hard, unforgiving wood. It was nearly double Inuyasha's height. But there was nothing to it, no metal weapon attached, no chain.
Just a stick.
The kitsune twirled the bo in a manner that rivaled any cheerleader Kagome had ever seen, and then she pointed it at Kagome. "I want your Shikon shards. The nearly complete Shikon no Tama that I know you have... Give it to me~!"
"Tell me why you want it." Kagome asked softly, her face open and honest. The kitsune cursed. "I don't have to talk to some stupid human bitch trying to pass herself off as a miko. Just give me the fucking Jewel before I rip your head off."
Kagome looked shocked at the sudden animosity, and in a second there was a red-clad arm barring her from the kitsune. Kagome looked at Inuyasha. His eyes had narrowed in that dangerous glow they typically got when he was angry. "I can't fucking forgive you for talking to Kagome like that, you bitch! You wanna fight someone, I'm here!"
"Can you back up that big mouth of yours, little boy?" the woman asked, and Inuyasha kehed. "Damn straight. I'm gonna make you eat that staff."
Kagome bit her lip, frightened suddenly. Considering the peaceful, kitsune form, Kagome would have thought the youkai harmless. But her youki was strained, as if her emotions ran high. On impulse Kagome grabbed the back of Inuyasha's gi, tugging him back. The human boy looked back at her, and Kagome shook her head. "Please don't, there's something wrong with her... she's not..."
"Kagome, it'll be okay." he said softly, untangling her fingers from the dark red fabric, and Kagome shook her head. "But you--"
"I'm going to protect you," he assured her, and gently he pushed her back towards the well. "So wait for me." Then he turned a gaze of pure steel on the kitsune, and drew Tessaiga. "You still didn't answer my question. Who the hell are you?!"
"I don't have to answer to some worthless hanyou."
Inuyasha flinched inwardly. How did she know he was hanyou? He was still in his human form...
The kitsune charged, stabbing forward with the staff and aiming for Inuyasha's stomach, and he
dodged to the side, swiping at the kit's head. She ducked her head, letting Tessaiga flow over
her red hair harmlessly. She twisted her hands, and the staff swung, slamming hard into Inuyasha's
ribs.
Inuyasha gasped out loud. Broken ribs. Who knew how many, but he was sure at least one was damaged badly. He caught himself on his hands as he fell forward, flipping and turning in mid-air to catch a nearby tree and push off again, flying at the kit, aiming for her back. The nicked blade of Tessaiga slashed across her shoulder, and she cursed.
She swung the bo and Inuyasha jumped over it, lashing out with his foot and landing his heel on her forehead. She let out a loud, frustrated cry as she forced herself back into a standing position and brought the staff up under his chin, and Inuyasha's head snapped back. A spray of blood went into the air.
Inuyasha went down on one knee, and the kitsune kicked him in the face, slamming him backwards onto the ground. She stomped down into the hanyou's chest and Inuyasha gasped, the breath knocked out of him. Kagome ran forward. "Inuyasha!"
"...stay.. there." She froze. Inuyasha rolled onto his belly, wiping the blood from his lip as he forced himself back to his feet. "I told you I would protect you. I'm fine." Kagome clenched her hands, biting her lip. "Inuyasha..."
The kit snorted. "Hanyou are so fucking stubborn." She reared back and kicked him hard in the
stomach. Inuyasha caught his breath, both arms hugging his stomach protectively, and the kit knocked him back to the ground, bringing her bo down onto his injured shoulder. Inuyasha cried out. She twisted it in the wound, making the human-hanyou writhe, and Kagome clearly heard her words. "This is for my child, who you fucking stole."
She pulled the bo out of the wound, the end dripping with blood, and used her foot to roll Inuyasha onto his back. One hand clutched over his newly-reopened wound, Inuyasha opened his eyes at her. "What... what fucking child...?"
The kitsune's eyes widened with fury and she slammed her foot down onto Inuyasha's neck to try and strangle him to death. The hanyou gave a small gasp of protest and both hands went to her foot, trying to push her off, but she didn't budge.
"How dare you!!" she screamed at the man trapped beneath her, "How fucking DARE you not remember her!!! I want my daughter back, you son of a bitch!!!" She twisted her foot as if grinding rubbish beneath her heel, and Inuyasha gasped again, choking.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome swallowed. She had to help him. The kitsune was fast, faster and stronger than your average kit, and Inuyasha was still just human right now. Kagome could sense Shikon shards nearby, from the kit. One at her chest and one in the bo itself. Kagome had one arrow.
One arrow. One shot that would save Inuyasha.
Despite the situation --Inuyasha getting his ass thoroughly kicked-- Kagome was reluctant to fight the kitsune. There was something wrong with her attitude. She wasn't fighting just for the Shikon shards; that sounded like a plain-as-day excuse to get past her real vendetta against Inuyasha, whatever that was. And in her youki, Kagome could sense kindness.
A mother's kindness. She could sense a mother's sadness at having lost her child.
*My okaan ran off after my oyaji died. After she watched the man she loved suffer... she left me.*
It hit Kagome like lightning. The kitsune's true identity. She threw down the arrow and instead ran straight at the auburn-haired youkai.
~*~
As the sun lowered into the western horizon, Shippou clambered up onto the roof of Kaede's hut to watch the golden orb find its earthen sleep. As he reached the top, he noticed Tanpopo already sitting at the edge. She looked slightly worried.
Shippou peered at her. Yep, definitely worried. He sat next to her and snuggled against her, trying to comfort her in whatever way he thought possible. The older kit's hand found its way to his shoulder, and she rubbed it gently before sighing. Shippou narrowed his eyes, perturbed. "What's the matter?"
"Tama-san ain't back yet from lookin' for Inuyasha no ahou."
Shippou nodded and grinned. "It'll be okay, Tama can handle herself, no matter what she comes across." Suddenly both kits stopped short, their little bodies jolting. Shippou gawped at the air. "That's a kitsune scent!"
"Not just kitsune," Tanpopo said, "That's the scent of azaleas..."
"Azaleas...?? You mean tsutsuji no hana?" Shippou asked.
Tanpopo's eyes softened. "Yes... tsutsuji... A flower called azalea... and my mother's name~!!"
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: Btw, just a reminder: okaan is "mother" and oyaji is "father" with that sort of half-assed Kansai dialect that Tanpopo speaks with. "ahou" is the word she uses for "stupid" or "idiot." (That's what she calls Inuyasha, "Inuyasha no ahou" ;p)
Okie ja~!
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
~Tessen
Disclaimer: ::still wearing her Inuyasha getup, nods at her little brother:: Okay, say the subduing phrase.
Tessen's brother:: ::monotonous:: Sit.
Tessen:: NO~! Like we practiced!
Tessen's brother:: 'Tessen doesn't own Inuyasha'
::Tessen slams into the ground facefirst::
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Six :: Illusions
Chapter Sixteen :: The Scent of Azaleas
Torou groaned as he worked his arm. It had taken four days to grow the damned thing back. He had required his grandmother's help, but as luck would have it she was incredibly angry with him for being so stupid and had prolonged the healing process for four times the length of time needed to regrow an arm, as punishment.
As he worked his new joints and flexed his new fingers, the door creaked open. He looked up, expecting his mother, but instead, Kikyou entered the room. He lifted his red eyes to hers in surprise, and then narrowed them belligerently. "What do you want?"
"I told Uramiko that I was coming to check your wound, but--"
"Well I'm fine." he interrupted, and the miko snorted. "Good for you. That's not really why I came, fool."
Torou looked irked at being called a fool, but narrowed his eyes at Kikyou's second statement. "Why DID you come, then?" The miko lifted her sleeve, baring her arm, and she gestured to Torou to watch as she lifted her claws --compliments of her demon soul-- and slashed her wrist.
Nothing happened save a little dust spurting from the slash, which looked like she had cut through hard dirt, with clay underneath. Kikyou then knelt and took some dirt from the ground and packed it into the wound. It sealed almost like real flesh. Then she glared at Torou, who was unimpressed. "Like I thought. You know why this happens," she accused and he nodded.
"But I don't have to tell you shit. I can't stand you, and helping you find your fucking way through life is not part of my job description." He told her this with a sneer, and Kikyou nodded. She rose and went to the door in a swish of black hair.
"That's true. But then, I suppose I could stay here forever. God knows that if I knew the truth..." She turned to face him again, "If I knew what that Kagome girl had told me was true... that Uramiko is tricking me into staying... for whatever purpose, whether it be to use my strength or simply as a shield..." She paused.
"If you knew...?" he pressed, and she narrowed her eyes. "If I knew it was true, I would kill her."
Torou gasped in surprise. She started to leave, but, seizing his chance, Torou stood quickly. "Wait." Kikyou stopped but did not turn. Torou nodded at her. "If I tell you... who you are, how we found you, and all that bull... Would you leave?"
"Yes."
"Would you kill my grandmother??"
"Yes."
"Sit down and I'll tell you everything I know."
~*~
"Kaede-baachan~!!"
Kaede looked up from where she stood at Kagome's voice, as did the young woman next to her. The woman smiled. "Oh, Kagome-sama and the others returned." The pair of them blinked in surprise as Kagome shot past on her bicycle with a childish-sounding cry of, "Long time no seeee~~~~~~"
She skidded to a stop and grinned. "It's been awhile, Kaede-baachan." She bowed her head to the young village woman in acknowledgement and Kaede smiled, ambling up to her. "It has, Kagome. I see you all are well and in one piece."
"Well? Yeah right. Inuyasha's not a happy hanyou." Kagome turned to watch her brood head in. They had spent the last three days trekking from Koyama Mountain in Kouzuke back to Musashi, and had finally made it back to Kaede's village.
Tama had taken to the front, as she still had her ears and nose, and she kept an eye out for things, and Tanpopo spent her time with Tama when she *wasn't* with Shippou. The two kits had bonded, and Kagome wondered if maybe Shippou looked at the older kit as a sister, since he rode on her head now and she never seemed to mind. She had stayed with them, despite her preaching about hating hanyous and humans.
Speaking of sisters, Kohaku had taken to pestering Miroku, since the keen-eyed boy had noticed his sister's feelings for the monk and had gone into a very brother-like, defensive attitude about Sango. The houshi had apparently failed a major test of the boy's when he had talked Koyama into paying them very heavily for their services in freeing him from the earth sprite, and then turned around in the next two villages over and sold it all.
Sango spent her time watching Kohaku and Miroku, laughing silently to herself when the monk got flustered by the twelve year old's insistent pestering, and Kagome spent a portion of her traveling time riding next to the former exterminator, chatting about how funny it was to see Kokaku demand an instant answer from the over-stressed houshi.
The rest of her time was spent trying to cheer up Inuyasha. The hanyou had not transformed back into his normal self, and it was the fourth day he'd had to spend as a human. The wound he had received from the earth sprite hadn't healed completely yet, and so Kagome had been keeping an eye on that as well.
She knew he hated being human. He hated feeling weak, and he hated not being useful, and she ESPECIALLY knew he hated that she was taking special consideration for him since he WAS human, because his exact words were "Lord knows you wouldn't worry about me if I had my demon blood," (although Kagome wondered where in the world he had gotten that idea).
But as usual, he refused to talk about it; he just told her not to worry about him and went on brooding.
Kaede watched the group head in, and met their greetings heartily, also warmly accepting Tanpopo and Kohaku's introductions. "Well, I wonder if you all are hungry?" she inquired after everyone had settled, "I expect if Inuyasha had his way, you've not stopped traveling since breakfast this morning, and supper just finished stewing."
"Wai, wai~!" Shippou and Tanpopo cheered, diving into the hut and Tama, Miroku, Sango and Kohaku all accepted, turning to head into the house until they noticed Kagome setting her bike to the side of Kaede's hut. Tama blinked. "Kagome-chan, you're not staying?"
She looked up. "Ah, gomen ne, minna, but I need to go home for a little while and restock on supplies. I should be back in a few days, okay?" Tama grinned.
"Have fun!"
"Fun? Hell, I'm going to relax~!" Kagome insisted playfully as she headed off, the others making way into Kaede's meager home. Tama pulled back again, suddenly realizing one of their group was missing. "Kaede-sama?"
"Yes?"
"Where's my idiot brother??"
~*~
Kagome sighed when she saw what was sitting at the edge of the well, and walked over, tossing her bag down the well. "What do you want, Inuyasha??" Inuyasha's cheek twitched. "What's that supposed to mean??"
"Well you're here for something, what is it?" she asked innocently, and he glared at her. "I was just waiting for you, let's go." She blinked, wondering if she had understood him. "What?"
"I said let's go." he said impatiently and she softened, inwardly delighted he wanted to come.
"You want to come?"
"Is that okay?" he asked, his face softening into something like sadness. Kagome blinked at his expression; it meant something, but she couldn't quite figure out what. Loneliness?? Was he afraid of being alone?
"Yes." she replied, fidgeting nervously. Inuyasha asking her if it was alright to come with her to Tokyo was almost like being asked on a date; at least, that's the way it felt. It was so odd to hear him with that tone of voice. She barely noticed the pleased grin he got before he turned it off and jumped back into Inuyasha-character. "Okay then, let's go."
She looked up at him, reaching out and slipping her hand into his. "Let's go."
"Wait."
Both of them stopped at the sound of the third voice, and Inuyasha turned. At the edge of the forest was a young woman, with long auburn hair and blue eyes. Pointed ears and a fluffy kitsune tail. A youkai. The woman had a distinct scent, the scent of azaleas, and despite the fact that she had never once seen this person in her life, Kagome couldn't help but feel she knew her.
"Who are you?" Inuyasha demanded, suspicious, and the kitsune reached back, pulling a long, wooden staff from her back. It was thin, about the circumference of a broomstick, but looked of hard, unforgiving wood. It was nearly double Inuyasha's height. But there was nothing to it, no metal weapon attached, no chain.
Just a stick.
The kitsune twirled the bo in a manner that rivaled any cheerleader Kagome had ever seen, and then she pointed it at Kagome. "I want your Shikon shards. The nearly complete Shikon no Tama that I know you have... Give it to me~!"
"Tell me why you want it." Kagome asked softly, her face open and honest. The kitsune cursed. "I don't have to talk to some stupid human bitch trying to pass herself off as a miko. Just give me the fucking Jewel before I rip your head off."
Kagome looked shocked at the sudden animosity, and in a second there was a red-clad arm barring her from the kitsune. Kagome looked at Inuyasha. His eyes had narrowed in that dangerous glow they typically got when he was angry. "I can't fucking forgive you for talking to Kagome like that, you bitch! You wanna fight someone, I'm here!"
"Can you back up that big mouth of yours, little boy?" the woman asked, and Inuyasha kehed. "Damn straight. I'm gonna make you eat that staff."
Kagome bit her lip, frightened suddenly. Considering the peaceful, kitsune form, Kagome would have thought the youkai harmless. But her youki was strained, as if her emotions ran high. On impulse Kagome grabbed the back of Inuyasha's gi, tugging him back. The human boy looked back at her, and Kagome shook her head. "Please don't, there's something wrong with her... she's not..."
"Kagome, it'll be okay." he said softly, untangling her fingers from the dark red fabric, and Kagome shook her head. "But you--"
"I'm going to protect you," he assured her, and gently he pushed her back towards the well. "So wait for me." Then he turned a gaze of pure steel on the kitsune, and drew Tessaiga. "You still didn't answer my question. Who the hell are you?!"
"I don't have to answer to some worthless hanyou."
Inuyasha flinched inwardly. How did she know he was hanyou? He was still in his human form...
The kitsune charged, stabbing forward with the staff and aiming for Inuyasha's stomach, and he
dodged to the side, swiping at the kit's head. She ducked her head, letting Tessaiga flow over
her red hair harmlessly. She twisted her hands, and the staff swung, slamming hard into Inuyasha's
ribs.
Inuyasha gasped out loud. Broken ribs. Who knew how many, but he was sure at least one was damaged badly. He caught himself on his hands as he fell forward, flipping and turning in mid-air to catch a nearby tree and push off again, flying at the kit, aiming for her back. The nicked blade of Tessaiga slashed across her shoulder, and she cursed.
She swung the bo and Inuyasha jumped over it, lashing out with his foot and landing his heel on her forehead. She let out a loud, frustrated cry as she forced herself back into a standing position and brought the staff up under his chin, and Inuyasha's head snapped back. A spray of blood went into the air.
Inuyasha went down on one knee, and the kitsune kicked him in the face, slamming him backwards onto the ground. She stomped down into the hanyou's chest and Inuyasha gasped, the breath knocked out of him. Kagome ran forward. "Inuyasha!"
"...stay.. there." She froze. Inuyasha rolled onto his belly, wiping the blood from his lip as he forced himself back to his feet. "I told you I would protect you. I'm fine." Kagome clenched her hands, biting her lip. "Inuyasha..."
The kit snorted. "Hanyou are so fucking stubborn." She reared back and kicked him hard in the
stomach. Inuyasha caught his breath, both arms hugging his stomach protectively, and the kit knocked him back to the ground, bringing her bo down onto his injured shoulder. Inuyasha cried out. She twisted it in the wound, making the human-hanyou writhe, and Kagome clearly heard her words. "This is for my child, who you fucking stole."
She pulled the bo out of the wound, the end dripping with blood, and used her foot to roll Inuyasha onto his back. One hand clutched over his newly-reopened wound, Inuyasha opened his eyes at her. "What... what fucking child...?"
The kitsune's eyes widened with fury and she slammed her foot down onto Inuyasha's neck to try and strangle him to death. The hanyou gave a small gasp of protest and both hands went to her foot, trying to push her off, but she didn't budge.
"How dare you!!" she screamed at the man trapped beneath her, "How fucking DARE you not remember her!!! I want my daughter back, you son of a bitch!!!" She twisted her foot as if grinding rubbish beneath her heel, and Inuyasha gasped again, choking.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome swallowed. She had to help him. The kitsune was fast, faster and stronger than your average kit, and Inuyasha was still just human right now. Kagome could sense Shikon shards nearby, from the kit. One at her chest and one in the bo itself. Kagome had one arrow.
One arrow. One shot that would save Inuyasha.
Despite the situation --Inuyasha getting his ass thoroughly kicked-- Kagome was reluctant to fight the kitsune. There was something wrong with her attitude. She wasn't fighting just for the Shikon shards; that sounded like a plain-as-day excuse to get past her real vendetta against Inuyasha, whatever that was. And in her youki, Kagome could sense kindness.
A mother's kindness. She could sense a mother's sadness at having lost her child.
*My okaan ran off after my oyaji died. After she watched the man she loved suffer... she left me.*
It hit Kagome like lightning. The kitsune's true identity. She threw down the arrow and instead ran straight at the auburn-haired youkai.
~*~
As the sun lowered into the western horizon, Shippou clambered up onto the roof of Kaede's hut to watch the golden orb find its earthen sleep. As he reached the top, he noticed Tanpopo already sitting at the edge. She looked slightly worried.
Shippou peered at her. Yep, definitely worried. He sat next to her and snuggled against her, trying to comfort her in whatever way he thought possible. The older kit's hand found its way to his shoulder, and she rubbed it gently before sighing. Shippou narrowed his eyes, perturbed. "What's the matter?"
"Tama-san ain't back yet from lookin' for Inuyasha no ahou."
Shippou nodded and grinned. "It'll be okay, Tama can handle herself, no matter what she comes across." Suddenly both kits stopped short, their little bodies jolting. Shippou gawped at the air. "That's a kitsune scent!"
"Not just kitsune," Tanpopo said, "That's the scent of azaleas..."
"Azaleas...?? You mean tsutsuji no hana?" Shippou asked.
Tanpopo's eyes softened. "Yes... tsutsuji... A flower called azalea... and my mother's name~!!"
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: Btw, just a reminder: okaan is "mother" and oyaji is "father" with that sort of half-assed Kansai dialect that Tanpopo speaks with. "ahou" is the word she uses for "stupid" or "idiot." (That's what she calls Inuyasha, "Inuyasha no ahou" ;p)
Okie ja~!
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
~Tessen