Doing the Impossible
By:
Senko Tenrou
Disclaimer:
I don't own Inuyasha.
A/n:
Sorry for the late update, minna-san. I so needed a break for a while. I hate writer's block, especially when it comes in bulk (like on all one's stories T-T) like it did. I'm sorry—so, so sorry. And what's worse, I'm not sure if I'll even be able to make it through this chapter. I hate switching from chapter to chapter, trying to write something. But, I may have to… Sorry again. Gomen nasai.
Review Responses:
InuYasha'sGurrl: Hey. Sorry this update took so long. I didn't mean for it to, really. I had even told myself aloud that I was going to get straight to it, but my mind went blank whenever I thought about how to write this… Sorry, but thanks for the encouragement.
DragonMistress325: XD Thank you so much. I wouldn't say that I hate Kikyou, though. She's not my favorite character, but… read some good stories, focused around her, and you'll take a small liking to her. Seriously. -.- And sorry, sorry, for the lateness.
AgentPenguin207: Yay. :P I loved that "sit" idea, too. I've wanted to do something like it for so long, but… heehee. It was definitely fun. Sorry this installment took so frikken long. Look above if you'd like my (pitiful yet useful) explanation.
Sleeping-in-loving-peace: Short but sweet. Thanks.
Sikame: Eck. Sorry this took so damn long. Look above for my justification.
And special thanks to Valese for getting me into gear and reminding me to update.
Chapter 5: Piecing
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Inuyasha tipped his face heavenward, his coppery skin taking in the golden rays of the burning orb above. He leaned back, resting his head on the lip of the sacred device that intertwined Kagome and hanyou's fates. His shoulders were slumped, his posture lazy. He was lost in his own daze, the warmth pouring over him lulling him gently. Ears flicked back in contentment and unguarded, he didn't sense the three intruders nearby.
In the lot of entangled branches at the edge of Inuyasha's forest, three pairs of eyes peered through the masses. Green pools shined from forest floor, innocent, childlike eyes. Above, two figures stood beside the small one. There was a magenta stare, irritated and guarded, looked impatiently through the brush. Along with it, violet orbs, where a lecherous and naturally perverted glint shined, waiting serenely for the hanyou's next move.
Of course, all knew what they were waiting for. The bunch wanted to see Inuyasha go to Kagome, see him admit with silence that he did care about her. They needed to see that he cared. Because if he didn't…
If he didn't, then the three had some serious work to do…
So, they were silently watching, waiting for Inuyasha to leave. They watched him pillow his head in his arms against the well, watched as he yawned and stretched as the sun lulled him to sleep, and watched as his eyes lidded nonchalantly. But, they didn't quite make it closed, didn't make it to dreamland…
Because the hands attached to those purple eyes couldn't keep to themselves, finding themselves sliding down a certain magenta-eyed woman's shoulder, down her back, and to her rear—all in one quick movement.
A noisy gasp alerted Inuyasha, his triangular ears shooting up.
SLAP!!
This had him on his feet in a second, eyes concentrated on a mass of leaves and bushes, and growling treacherously. A sole eyebrow was risen high, ticking constantly in his fit of anger. He was not being spied on. If he was… Inuyasha barred his teeth menacingly, just imagining what he would do to the intruder. "Who's there?"
A feminine voice mumbled, words unintelligible, and there was a slight popping noise, almost like when Inuyasha cracked his neck before a fight to ease himself—but Inuyasha pegged it down as a snapping stick when he saw a woman appeared through the bushel, stumbling slightly as if someone had shoved her—but maybe that was just Inuyasha. Besides, the said hanyou was too busy gaping at the girl. Cobalt eyes stared back at Inuyasha from afar.
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After her friends finally gave up on getting any more information about Inuyasha out of Kagome and left, the aforementioned girl collapsed on the couch. She was exhausted now, listening to them prattle on and on about the solely most tiring subject in the world—Kagome's love life. She lidded her eyes forcefully, willing herself to sleep off all her worries and concerns. Sleep away Inuyasha, maybe…
But she couldn't. Her dear friends had left the television blaring noise; it was beginning to wear on her mind. She could feel a migraine starting in the back of her mind. Kagome groaned and fumbled around for the controller that her friends had left somewhere on the sofa she had sprawled out on. Cracking open an eye when she discovered it, the miko located the "mute" button and pushed it, dropping her head, letting the remote slip from her fingers and clatter to the floor, and allowed her eyes to slip closed idly.
She wondered if… well, if that certain someone had, in fact, visited. Mrs. Higurashi had been oddly suspicious. But, then again, she could only wonder. Her mother always had something strange running through that one-track mind of hers—a way to get grandchildren. So, what could she be up to now?
Kagome sighed, nonchalantly allowing her sleepy azure depths to prop themselves open. She was tired, surely—it had been a pretty rough day, but she couldn't convince slumber to come pay her a visit.
Suddenly, a thought came to her. 'Had a tree really fallen?'
"Hey, hey, hey! I can sit down by myself, thank—!"
Brows creased, she pushed herself up. Her tired mind had swept of all thoughts of sleep. Maybe she was just imagining things, but… Kagome swung her legs off the couch and made her way out of the main shrine house. She looked to the side. 'Left. Where the sound came from…' She reasoned even as she looked to the mini shrine that enclosed the well on the right of her household. Kagome took a deep breath, anticipation building in her stomach, and ventured down the few steps that met the courtyard to the Higurashi's home.
She looked around the side of the house, at the kitchen window. She felt like she was on a secret, dangerous mission; her heart was racing, her mind jumbling thoughts in one. A hand at her chest to control the anxiety in her that was making her fidget, she trotted to the kitchen window, the one that Kagome's mother had been leaning out when she interrupted her, scaring the living daylights out of her. Was…?
Kagome's orbs rounded as she examined the ground outside the sill of the window, crouched down near it. There were claw markings in the soft dirt, clearly animalistic.
"No!" It had been such a masculine voice, a tenor—like Inuyasha. She had never heard Momma like that.
She was collecting the pieces, now only to put them together. She still needed to search the forest. Had that tree truly fallen? She had to know. She needed to in order to relax. This wasn't going to leave her alone, no matter her wishes.
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Inuyasha watched as the female with those entrancing blue pools approached him hesitantly. If this was a dream, he decided… he didn't want to wake up to the nightmare he was apparently living in.
Kagome—it was her.
It was Kagome who was taking tentative steps his way, adjusting the pack on her back nervously—that huge bulking pack—and pulling at the skirt of her school uniform in discomfort. She was here.
…And she was talking to him. She was speaking with him. What was she saying?
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I didn't mean to interrupt you." It sounded just like her, her voice—her sweet voice. He couldn't… It was impossible. Wasn't she, well, not on speaking terms with him? Just a while ago… she hated him.
Two more steps sent Kagome towards him and she looked up at his face, close enough to reach out at him and make contact. She did so, her hand lining his jaw and falling to his shoulder. In one quick movement, she hooked her arms around his neck and pulled herself close. Inuyasha was forced to slink his arms around her middle in order to keep from toppling backwards at the sudden impact. He pulled away slightly to look at her face, and saw her orbs waver into a soft jade hue.
What was…? Inuyasha shook his head, convincing himself that he was just imagining it when he looked a second later—because they were a sapphire color again.
She fought through his grip and tucked her head under his chin again. "I'm sorry." She repeated.
Her shoulders were shaking, Inuyasha noted. He wanted to know, sure, but he didn't want to move, to disrupt her. He was, well… pretty comfy.
Against Inuyasha's throat, Kagome was giggling silently in her own mischief, and, in the bushes, Sango and Miroku were just about ready to go find some popcorn to complete the entertainment.
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She returned home, completely puzzled and utterly exhausted. The miko had searched that whole damn forest and hadn't found one bent tree. Dragging her tired body up the stairs, she trekked to her room for some well-needed rest. She had a feeling… a feeling that he had been here. But why…? Kagome flopped backwards on her bed and curled up around her pillow, lost in her thoughts. She didn't even realize her eyes had slipped closed in her own fatigue when she buried her head in the soft cushion at the head of her bed.
She flipped over, eyes flying open as a sole thought came to her. 'Could he… care?'
"Get well, Kagome; I hate to see you this way…" He did. Or was he just, well… just saying that to play with her again? She trusted Inuyasha—she really did, but when he did this to her… It was hard to just forgive and forget, like usual.
But she was sure he did.
Then, if he did, why did he put her through this? Was it some kind of test?
If he didn't care, then he wouldn't have come. If he didn't want to see her, then he wouldn't have come, either. Inuyasha doesn't do what Inuyasha doesn't want to. Kagome knew that very well.
A vulgar name here and there, she could overlook. She could forgive a few rants and a few raves. Hell, Kagome could even forget a few of his beatings towards Shippou. But, this… She had forgiven him so many times before, during so many similar situations. The priestess wasn't sure if she could forgive him anymore—she wasn't positive her heart could take anymore ache.
But, she had to know—had to find out. Kagome was on her feet in a flash and scurrying around her room to find her yellow book bag. She needed to pack just in case. There was no telling if she would be staying or not. She found it, triumph clear in her features.
Kagome haphazardly flung necessities into the pack and lugged it over her shoulder. She couldn't believe how anxious she was to go back already. She hadn't even realized it until she began packing.
Making a quick checklist in her head, Kagome went down the stairs, exhaustion forgotten, and searched for Mrs. Higurashi. She dropped the backpack at the front door and trotted through the house. Where was her mother? She ambled into the kitchen and looked at the counter near the sink where she would usually find her mother whistling merrily and washing dishes. She wasn't there, but a note was.
Kagome snatched up the note quick and read it to herself:
Kagome-chan,
I hope you took my hints correctly, Dear. I wasn't permitted to say. :) I'll be out for groceries with your brother for a while. Figure it out.
Love,
Mama.
Kagome sighed dramatically. Of course Mama would be out shopping for provisions at a time like this. She slapped the memorandum back down on the counter and left to go find a pen. The teenager came back moments later, successful, with a pen clasped in her fist. She scribbled two words, expecting Mother to get the insinuation. Sengoku Jidai. She didn't care if her scrawl was messy; Kagome knew that, even if Mama couldn't read her writing, then she would understand where she went.
'So. I was right…' Kagome mused as she dropped the used ballpoint on the notepad. She wandered back to the front door to grab her book bag, a smile spreading across her features. 'He was here. He does care.' She slung the heavy bag over her shoulder again and headed out of the house.
'He really cares.'
.
Every time she looked his way, he couldn't ignore the flecks of emerald color in her sapphire eyes. He just couldn't overlook those sharp canines behind her lips every time she smiled. And, her voice seemed rather high pitched, even for Kagome. To say the least, Inuyasha was suspicious.
Kagome smelled a little strange, but he couldn't pinpoint why. So, he decided that she had changed that "perfume" stuff she was always wearing. He hated it because it smelled so good. Inuyasha knew it was an excellent attraction for youkai—enemies that he didn't want visiting—like that yase ookami that showed up at the worst times.
Speaking of which, why hadn't that damn wolf shown up yet? Inuyasha's yellow eyes averted to the bushes at the edge of the pathway when he heard a rustle and took a hold of Kagome's upper arm. He sniffed the air. "Speak of the devil." Inuyasha growled his annoyance. Kouga's scent was hovering just beyond the first row of thick trees.
The wolf youkai ducked around the tree, footing swift, and came for Inuyasha. He wasn't attacking like usual, but he looked angrier than ever. Coming nose to nose with the hanyou, causing Inuyasha to shield Kagome by forcing her behind his back, Kouga growled precariously. "Who's the wench and why's she stolen Kagome's body?" He demanded softly, his tone fearsome. In fact, if Inuyasha looked close enough, there was a glimmer of crimson behind his cobalt stare.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Inuyasha shot back, snarling just as severely. Behind Inuyasha, Kagome was frozen in fear, a jade hue radiating in her blue pools more than ever. The grip on her arm was gone but now she clung to the back of Inuyasha's haori for dear life. Yet, she couldn't tear her gaze away from the feral Kouga, like a deer in the headlights.
"You heard me. Can't you smell it, inukkoro?" Kouga barked, brow ticking with an unvarying reminder of his overwhelming rage.
Inuyasha paused, eyes widening a fraction in his wondering. 'The difference…' The only thought that came to mind. 'She's different—' Inuyasha immediately shook his head inwardly to clear away those thoughts. There was no differentiation and there was no doubting Kagome. "Like hell, yase ookami, you're imagining things!" The hanyou snapped back, defenses playing for him.
Kouga's brow relaxed suddenly, and the wolf moved away to watch Inuyasha and Kagome impassively, the ookami's eyes blank and free of all crimson remnants. "Fine. I'm imagining things. But I dare you to regret a word you said here when the real Kagome doesn't take you back. I was about ready to give up, inukkoro, but here you go—getting with desperate wenches behind her back again…" He had put the pieces together that one time when he saw Kagome in the rain, crying her eyes out. And here that same dog was, the one who was at the giving end of all this depression—doubting a wolf's word in scent.
"You damn moron." Kouga backed away slowly, pace by pace, into the forest edge again and disappearing from Inuyasha's sight and senses.
Left in utter confusion, Inuyasha looked over his shoulder, where Kagome was clutching his shirt and looking like a petrified owl—azure orbs big and all. Inuyasha attempted to ignore that frequent glimmer of green in her still gaze as he turned away and tugged at her hand in an effort to move the girl. This awakened the girl from her daze, but only slightly as she stumbled along behind him, movements stiff and jerky in her fear.
Those eyes were still getting to him, but he wasn't having and doubt. He wished, at least. He couldn't ignore his suspicions. Besides, never doubt an ookami's word when it comes to the nose.
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The first thing Kagome noticed was the eerie feeling she had as she entered the Sengoku era, like something was amiss that she was not to know of. And, she could sense… someone nearby. A demonic aura, but friendly—she was sure that she—Kouga! 'Oh no. Inuyasha!'
The priestess heaved herself over the lip of the Bone Eater's Well, her backpack causing her to do a summersault right out of the square depth. She yelped when she landed hard and pulled herself to her feet, despite the excess weight on her back. Kagome took the regular path to the forest's edge and paused. The wolf youkai couldn't have been here long ago, for traces of his aura were still lingering in the air. There was Inuyasha's, too. And… Shippou?
Kagome had to wonder, sometimes, if she should trust her own sanity. Why would Shippou be with Inuyasha and Kouga?
Even with these thoughts flitting across her mind, Kagome made her way to Kaede's village. Kouga's aura had been removed from her sixth sense and she could find no more traces, so she had given up and continued on her journey. She expected that Inuyasha would be at Kaede's home.
Upon reaching the edge of the limits to Kaede's little town, Kagome was forced to take in a deep breath of the clean air around her to calm her nerves. Anxiety was building in her, and she knew that if Inuyasha were nearby, he would smell her in a second. So, she had to remain calm and collected to escape his senses.
Trotting into the village, she trekked to Kaede's house, trying to remain unseen to the villagers. If they caused and uproar about her return, she could be as good as found by that certain hanyou she was sneaking to—she didn't want to confront him that way.
Slinking along the side of Kaede's rough-sided hut, Kagome searched with her mind's eye. Sango and Miroku were nearby, probably out on a hunt for supper or something of that sort. Inuyasha and—she paused in her bewilderment again—Shippou were inside the hut. She could sense Kaede nowhere.
That was good. Now there were no meddlesome eavesdroppers around. All she had to do was to tell Shippou to run off…
.
The Kagome inside Kaede's hut with Inuyasha, who was too wrapped up in his daydreaming state—that he'd been in ever since she had arrived through those bushes—to realize what was amiss, was panicking and frantic. "Inuyasha, c'mon. Let's go outside for a walk." Kagome requested. "Please?" She added and fluttered her lashes prettily. She would not have herself caught.
Before Inuyasha could even agree, Kagome lugged him to his feet and let him lead her outside—only to come face to face with another Kagome. "Whoa." Inuyasha's eyes widened and rounded in surprise. There was… absolutely no way. The green-eyed Kagome behind him—the one that had requested his company outside—gasped and released the hanyou's hand instantly, backing away in what he suspected was surprise—maybe fear.
Inuyasha surveyed the blue-eyed Kagome in front of him. She was shocked as well, eyes big and lower jaw slack. She looked exactly the same as the one behind him, besides the slouch from that pack weighing her down and her eyes. This one's eyes were pure. Blue, just blue. There was no mix of green—maybe a few grey streaks here and there—but they weren't green.
Inuyasha angered instantly. The yase ookami was right. Kouga couldn't be right. Inuyasha wasn't supposed to be having doubts. He growled, though, despite his inward reasoning. With three collective gasps—two from unknown sources near the window—Inuyasha whirled around and took the green-eyed Kagome by the throat and slammed her against the eastern wall. "Who are you?" He demanded with a no-nonsense voice, snarling.
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Haha. Would you have a look at that. I did get through the chapter! XD Review for me!Remember this one,
Senko Tenrou