(AN) :-/ I'm not exactly happy with this chapter. I mean, some parts just would not translate into written word the way I wanted them to. I tried, more than once actually. This is the third version of this chapter. Writer's block is trying to take hold, but instead of giving in, I'm fighting it. I've come to the decision that a good portion of 'inspiration' is nothing more than 'initiative'. So, a-writing I will go!
Um, there was a question about Kagome's age. In this fic I'm assuming she is 17. I'm not sure how old she is in the series now...nobody seems to be getting any older. O_o I know she started out as fifteen, what I don't know is if the series is one of those where the characters tend to not age, or their age isn't discussed. I mean, logically Kagome should be at least 17, but she appears to *still* be 15. I dunno. She is 17 here.
It Changes Everything
Chapter Three:
Some Things Never Change
It wasn't easy, explaining to her mother how two demons had suddenly manifested in her room, and proceeded to tear it apart. It was even less easy when the story came to their departure, and after that, why they had been there in the first place. Looking into her mother's softly concerned eyes, Kagome couldn't do it. She couldn't tell her they were 'fighting over her'. That, in itself, wasn't so bad, but eventually she would have been forced to say a word she wasn't ready to discuss with her mother yet. It began with 's', ended with 'x', and sounded suspiciously like the word 'hex'.
So, she had gone the route of the coward, telling some story about youkai and shikon shards, punctuating her words with numerous exaggerated movements and sound effects. It was a complete and utter lie, but what was the truth? Mama, I have a mate! And he's a demon! But he's actually more like a curse...
Kagome sighed. Lying to her mother had put her in a bad mood, but it also brought her a new perspective on the situation. And so, she was marching across the courtyard to the well-house, ready to deal with the dogs and anything else that came her way. She was going to get answers today, she was going to be heard---or someone was going to get hurt!
With that thought ringing in her head, she leaped into the well, completely bypassing the conveniently placed ladder. Climbing down meant slowing down. She had a goal now and nothing was gonna stop her from reaching it.
Emerging five hundred years in the past, Kagome didn't give her customary pause to admire the beauty and fresh air of the Sengoku Jidai. She hopped out of the well, hopped over the twisted remains of her bike, and started toward Kaede's village in a dead-stomp.
A low wind stirred her hair into movement. Kagome looked up just in time to see Kirara clear the canopy of the forest, with Sango sitting bestride in full battle-gear. Her armor appeared battered and her hair swirled half-free around her shoulders, while the other half still clung hopelessly to its previous incarnation as a ponytail.
Sighting the miko, the exterminator shouted, "Kagome-chan!"
At the same time, a thrashing through the underbrush brought Kagome around to her original path, her eyes wide and confused. Miroku ran full-tilt out of the woods, swinging his staff in a crescent before him. Oddly enough, the action seemed like a warning, or a warding-off. His usually pristine robes were torn, ragged along one black sleeve, and various leaves and twigs were sticking out of his hair.
Seeing her, he cried, "Kagome-sama!"
"Kagome Kagome!" squealed a ball of fur that suddenly attached itself to her waist. Her arms immediately wound around the shaking mess that was Shippou, her hands trembling as they stroked soothingly over his hair. Gone was her purpose, lost in the screaming of her fully aroused mother-instinct. It demanded that she find the source of his fear and Destroy.It. Nothing else mattered.
Gripping the kitsune protectively against her body, she turned on the monk, knowing he would present the situation as quickly and clearly as possible. So many questions---was it Naraku? Was it a shikon shard?
"What is it?! Wha—"
Miroku dove to the ground, covering his head as the line of trees exploded into splinters behind him. Kagome flinched back, curving her body into a shield over Shippou.
The ground shuddered as something struck it, a blur of colour that cut a long, smoking furrow into the earth. Kagome only had a fraction of a second to register the red of Inuyasha's haori before he leaped, barely dodging Toukijin as Sesshoumaru brought the demon-sword down in one powerful swing. Bolts of decimating light pulsed out from the double-edged blade, ripping apart all that it touched.
In the same instant, both dogs were lost again to her weaker human sight, leaving only blurs of movement and smoldering trails of aftermath. The once peaceful clearing looked as if some great giant had come and clawed up handfuls of dirt, flinging it into the air. Shippou whimpered, burrowing his face in her side.
Miroku collapsed beside her, startling the miko out of her stupor. A cloud of dust and leaves stirred from his stained robes. A great shadow passed over them as Kirara circled overhead, looking no better than those on the ground.
Miroku coughed, "We've tried to keep them away from the village..."
Kagome's mouth closed and her wide blue eyes narrowed. "How long have they been fighting?"
"Hours."
"HOURS?!"
"Hai. All morning, most of the night, too."
Since I sent them away. Stupid dogs! I am sick to death of this! Kagome gently pried the kitsune from her and settled him into Miroku's arms. The monk held Shippou then looked up at her curiously. Kagome didn't pay any attention to him; her blue eyes purposefully scanned the small area around the well.
"I would not step between them, Kagome-sama," Miroku advised.
"Too late for that," she said, glancing down at him meaningfully. The monk blinked, but then his lips curved slightly. He nodded his agreement. "Kagome-sama is brave."
Kagome gave him a thankful, but weak smile. She turned, not really certain of how she could put an end to the battle. Of course, she knew exactly how to get Inuyasha's attention. Taking a deep breath, Kagome opened her mouth and screamed, "INUYASHA!"
As if by magic, there was a flash of red from the trees and the hanyou appeared, his mouth twisted with annoyance, and his ears laid flat against his head. He stared at her through narrow, slitted eyes, but there was definite worry in them. "What the hell do you want, bitch?! Can't you see I'm busy?!"
"OSUWARI!"
The half-demon met the ground face-first and the miko immediately flung herself across him, curling her smaller body around his protectively. Toukijin stopped in mid-stroke, crackling so close to her face that she could feel the heat radiating off the blade. She wrapped her arms as best she could around the prone form of Inuyasha, but she glared up at Sesshoumaru.
"I'll kiss him," she whispered, though it came out much louder than she planned. She was too scared to play it so cool.
The demon lord stared down at her, and she saw his hand tighten reflexively on the hilt of his sword. It was the only reaction that betrayed him. Expertly bringing Toukijin up, he sheathed it in one motion and stepped back.
Then and only then was Kagome able to take a breath. She slumped against Inuyasha, then eeped as the hanyou sat up under her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, steadying her, but she shoved free of him, climbing to her feet all on her own.
Ignoring Inuyasha at her back, she continued to stare at Sesshoumaru. Now was as good a time as any, especially with her last 'threat' still fresh in his mind. She really wouldn't kill him over something so small, but he didn't need to know that.
"I want answers about this curse. And I'm going to get them, one way or another."
Her 'mate' looked down his nose at her, obviously not liking the tone with which she spoke. She didn't shrivel under the glare, as he seemed to expect. She knew he couldn't hurt her. After a moment he appeared to reach the same understanding. He crossed his one arm over his chest and gave a curt nod.
There was a cough. Kagome looked past Sesshoumaru to see all her friends assembled. Sango was back on the ground with a de-transformed Kirara balanced in one hand, and Hiraikotsu in the other. Miroku set the blunt end of his staff firmly in the dirt.
"If it will help, Kagome-sama, you may kiss me, too."
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru growled at Miroku.
Kagome groaned, pressing her hand over her closed eyes.
Sango calmly lifted Hiraikotsu...and WHACKED the monk on the head.
Kagome sat across from Kaede-bachan in her hut, the empty fire-place nestled into the floor between them. She was waiting for those 'answers' she had been promised. Problem was, Sesshoumaru had disappeared soon after Miroku fell unconscious. This, of course, delighted Inuyasha, but only helped to fuel the miko's aggravation on.
Wisely, all her friends had found other places to be. Except Shippou, who obeyed different rules where Kagome was concerned. He bounced cheerfully in her lap as she complained to Kaede about stubborn youkai, curses, and males in general.
The shrewd old miko kept quiet, nodding her head from time to time when the conversation called for it.
Afternoon light slanted in through the suddenly open door. Sesshoumaru cast his gold eyes around the sparsely furnished hut, then stepped in. Kagome glared at him as he approached her, though her mind didn't quite feel it. It seemed stuck on how out-of-place he was in such a modest, human setting.
"Kon'nichi wa, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kaede said politely, peering up at him with her one good eye.
The youkai lord ignored her, dropped a scroll at the miko's side.
Kagome's hand immediately shot out to catch it as it started to roll away from her. Setting Shippou down, she leaned forward and smoothed it out, placing a hand on each end to keep it from curling back up. Her eyes poured over the writing, then narrowed on the inuyoukai.
"I can't read this," she said.
"That is not my concern," he said.
The miko twitched, her hand tightening unnoticeably on one end of the scroll. Shippou, smarter than one would think when looking at his cute little bow, immediately leaped to his tiny paws and scampered around to the other side of his 'adopted mother'.
Kaede took the scroll out of Kagome's hands, snapping the fuming girl's attention to her. The old miko lifted the scroll. "I can read this," she said simply, as if she was completely unaware of the disaster that she had just averted.
Shippou let out a relieved sigh, plopping down on the floor. Kagome crawled around the empty fire to Kaede's side, looking at the mass of old writing that vaguely resembled her own language. But not enough.
"Hmm..."
Kagome looked at the old woman expectantly, as her one eye traveled farther and farther down the scroll.
"Very interesting." Kaede seemed to stop at one part, her eye back-tracked, then continued. She had a thoughtful look on her age-lined face.
Kagome started to hop up and down impatiently. "What is it?! What is it?!"
Sesshoumaru stared down at the girl as she bounced across the floor. It was a clever disguise, he reasoned. But he knew personally what lay behind her mask. She could act as kind and sweet as she wanted, fooling all her friends, even his stupid half-brother. But he knew. He didn't even need to see the scar he still carried from her arrow. He could feel it. On its own his hand raised, pressing against his chest where the girl had struck him. Then he seemed to catch himself. He looked down at his empty hand and frowned. His fingers curled into a fist.
Kagome glanced up once as Kaede began to read the scroll out-loud to her. Just long enough to watch the flap on the door flutter closed.
TBC...
Hmm, well, I have half of chapter four done. And I must say, it is turning out to be a strange chapter. *nods passionately, then gives wide, frightened eyes* More of the curse will be revealed, and other little tidbits. I'll probably be adding another run-down of the curse, just to keep things clear. It's turning out to be a complex little bugger, isn't it? ^_^
Also, I think poor Sesshoumaru is going to finally start realizing what exactly he has gotten himself into with sweet, little Kagome. Let's all pity the unfortunate demon for a moment. :-D Okay, moment over!
All my thanks go to those who have reviewed! ^_^ I had a lot of trouble writing this chapter, so please tell me what you think of it!?