Chapter 13: Welcome Back!
Inuyasha stood outside Kaede's village when he caught a familiar scent. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest as his gaze took its way behind him. Then he saw her. Kasumi! But that was impossible. She's dead. How could this be possible? He decided to turn back around and take no acknowledgement to his daughter. But his heart was telling him differently…
Kasumi turned to Miroku and pointed to Inuyasha. "Look Miroku! There he is!" she said excitedly.
Miroku nodded and replied, "Yes, but as I said before; it's as if you're not existent any longer.
Kasumi's head hung low. Wet tears clouded her vision as she proceeded on. The only reason she came back in the first place was to be reunited with her family, come to find out they disowned her in their own way.
Kaede took notice of the young dog demon and called out to her. "Kasumi," she said. "Have ye come back?"
"Kaede!" Kasumi replied as she jogged toward her. She brought the elder woman in a gentle hug. "It's so good to see you again!"
Shippo and Sango turned their attention to Kaede. They caught sight of Kasumi and felt their hearts skip a beat. As soon as the two broke their hug, Shippo immediately ran up to Kasumi and jumped into her arms. Kasumi welcomed him warmly and hugged him. She then held him into the air and spun quickly, then bringing him back.
"I can't believe it's really you!" Shippo exclaimed.
Kasumi giggled as she replied, "I can't believe it either, Shippo. I've never been so happy to see all of you."
"My my," Sango said whilst approaching Kasumi. "Look how big you've gotten. You're a young woman now."
Kasumi smiled. They both stood there for a moment. Then Kasumi walked up to Sango and brought her in a giant hug able to cut off her circulation. But Sango just returned it.
"Miroku," said Kaede, "are ye the one who brought Kasumi back?"
Miroku nodded.
"How did you find her?" asked Sango.
"Actually Sango," replied Miroku, "Kasumi's the one who found me."
"Thank goodness. Aw Kasumi, I missed you so much!" Shippo said and hugged her leg.
Kasumi smiled but looked back to her father. He was staring at her. As soon as their eyes met, Inuyasha turned back away. Kasumi left the group and approached her Dad.
"Look," she said, "I know you want to forget me. But Daddy, I love you… and I came back to see you…"
No response.
"Please, Dad. Just say something."
Inuyasha turned back around to face his daughter. He saw it. Kasumi was shedding tears. She came all the way back to be reunited with her family and they shunned her.
"First of all, lose those tacky clothes, will ya?" Inuyasha said. He grinned as he opened his arms for her.
Kasumi didn't hesitate. Instantly, she ran to him and brought him into a giant hug. Inuyasha tightly wrapped his arms around her as he felt as though he'd cry. Kasumi already was. They've never felt so happy. Even though they haven't known each other very well, they were as close as ever.
Just then an argument broke loose between two wolf demons. One was a man that Kasumi recognized from back at Naraku's, but the other, she wasn't quite sure of. It was a female with brown hair tied up in two ponytails, emerald green eyes, and white fur clothing.
"Ayame, it's not my fault your clan disagrees with our marriage!" the man yelled.
"Look, Koga," replied the woman. "The counsel came up with the judgment that we are not meant to be."
Koga asked angrily, "What kind of clan holds a counsel?!"
"Mine does. And I must go with their decision. I'm sorry, Koga," said Ayame. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must check up on Kagome."
Koga grunted as he crossed his arms.
"No luck in finding Kagome," said Sango. "She still hasn't come back."
"But I could've sworn I caught her scent," Ayame said; confused.
A figure came from around the corner of the hut and said, "It wasn't Kagome's scent. It was mine."
"Kikyo?" Kaede asked in confusion. "What are ye doing here?"
"I came to speak with Kasumi. I must tell her something," Kikyo replied.
Kasumi asked, "What do you want with me? I didn't do anything."
"Wait, Kasumi? Isn't that the name of Kagome and Inuyasha's child?" Ayame asked.
"Yep," Kasumi replied.
Koga stepped up and said, "There you are. Finally. Jeeze, took ya long enough to come back."
Kasumi said, "Oh you be quiet you little--" She was cut off in mid-sentence as she got a closer look at this 'Koga' character. Her eyes gaped wide open as her cheeks became crimson. Her heart raced rapidly in her chest and she was at a loss of words. What's this strange feeling I'm getting? She thought.
Koga was confused. He waved his hand in front of her face and said, "Hello? Can you hear me? Say something."
"I-I can h-hear you just fine… um, Koga," Kasumi managed to say.
Miroku snickered as he said tauntingly, "Someone's got a little crush."
Kasumi got back to her senses. She turned toward Miroku and replied angrily, "I do not!!"
"Then what was that look on your face?" Inuyasha said in the same taunting tone.
"Shut up!"
Both Koga and Kasumi were blushing intensely.
"Kasumi, may I have a word with you?" Kikyo asked impatiently.
"Uh, sure," Kasumi replied. She was just happy to get away from the teasing.
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Kikyo took Kasumi's shoulder and guided her to behind Kaede's hut. She said, "Kasumi, I understand that you now have the Sacred Jewel."
Kasumi nodded.
"I also understand that you understand its power and can use it."
"Yeah. What's your point?"
"My name is Kikyo. I used to be the purifier and true owner of the Shikon Jewel," she said. "But since I am passed, I can no longer handle it. I don't have much time before I must give up the souls of dead women."
"Hold it right there!" Kasumi said. "You mean you're dead and the only way to walk the earth is to steal souls of dead women?!"
"Well… yes…" Kikyo replied.
"Why? What the hell'd you do?"
"My soul cannot rest in peace unless Inuyasha dies with me," Kikyo explained.
Kasumi got enraged. "Hell no, bucko. That ain't gonna happen. Now you stay away from my Dad!"
"Kasumi you must understand that my spirit cannot rest until that is fulfilled.
"But Kikyo, that's my father, okay? I need him. There is no way I'm going to let you get away with stealing him away from friends and family!"
"Then just promise me this, Kasumi. Take care of the Shikon Jewel."
"I'll only do so if you leave my Dad alone," Kasumi warned.
"I cannot guarantee that, but we'll see," said Kikyo. "But you must protect it anyway or else your fate will meet a dark ending. I must take my leave."
Before Kasumi had yet to argue, white snake-like creatures came and took Kikyo away. She growled to herself and said, "I don't like that Kikyo lady. I suppose she must be the one whom my Mom was reincarnated from. Damn… that sucks…"
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Kasumi made her way back to the group as she heard Inuyasha say, "There goes Kikyo."
Koga stood in front of her and grinned. "Ya know… you have a really nice scent… for a dog-demon."
Kasumi felt that feeling come on again. She then felt his hands take her own as he brought her closer to him. On the inside, she was melting.
"I want you to be my woman," he said.
Ayame was appalled. She thought that Koga just wanted to make her feel jealous. But then she noticed something. His eyes showed no sign of revenge or jealousy. He was serious.
Kasumi's heart stopped. "You want me to be your… Oh my gosh!" she said. She brought her hands to her cheeks as she held them and shook her head. She was acting totally goofy over a guy! She liked the feeling, but it was starting to ruin her reputation as being a tough girl.
Koga reached his hand around Kasumi's waist, bringing her closer to him, and asked, "Well? What do you say?"
Inuyasha cut in between them and said angrily, "No daughter of mine is going to marry a flea-bag like you!"
"Let her make her own decisions, mutt-face!" Koga replied just as angrily.
Kasumi then got in between those two and yelled, "Everyone, chill out!"
Koga and Inuyasha stopped bickering and stared blankly at her.
"Look, Dad, I love you and I know I just got back, but still… I'm almost seventeen and I think I should be able to make my own decisions," she said. She turned to Koga and said, "And Koga, you seem like a really cool guy, but--"
She was cut off with Koga sticking his tongue out at Inuyasha. Inuyasha crossed his arms and turned away. Kasumi continued on.
"But! I'm still not ready for a total commitment, so how 'bout a date?"
Koga shrugged. "Alright."
"What?! You're still gonna go out with him?!" Inuyasha asked.
"Sure, why not? I mean… it sounds pretty cool to have a boyfriend," Kasumi replied happily.
The three continued to argue as the group all sweat dropped.
"How long do you think they'll keep this up?" Sango asked.
Shippo replied, "Until they get Kagome to settle it. That is… if she's willing to welcome Kasumi back."
"Of course Kagome will take Kasumi back," Kaede said.
"What do you think, Monk?" Sango asked looking to Miroku.
"I think I wish I had the same ego as Koga. That could come in handy with girls," he said.
Sango slapped him hard. Kaede and Shippo stepped aside as Sango started arguing with Miroku. It was no use. These guys along with Inuyasha and the others, weren't going to stop for a while. So they decided to make a Beef Hot Pot dinner.
