Jayden woke up with the sun in her face. Even facing the wall, it was high enough to get her. She groaned and gave in yawning, blinking, and rubbing her ear to get the sting gone. "What I get for remaining in one spot all night..." One hand went through hair, the other over her face. She turned, yawned again, and froze. Hands went to her eyes and scrubbed, then looked again.
She edged to the floor, hand floating across the space and halting inches from tousled black. It dropped as brown took in the room, neighboring bed, and locking with a peaceful face. A brow rose, hand millimeters away. "Oi, ototo -" Jayden gasped as her wrist was gripped. It wasn't crushing, simply wary. Brown blinked as she tried to get her heart to settle.
'So much for that coffee...'
Even brown peeked open as he blankly stared at a knee. He was aware of not being alone, but too tired to bother with details.
It'd been one hell of a long night. Time went on forever, but he didn't check the clock that much for fear of letting attention slip. He didn't want to think of sleep anymore than was thrust upon him. Last time he knew it was somewhere past three, but was anyone's guess when his eyes shut on their own and he flopped over.
That freaky guy was starting to piss him off. The death threats got annoying after a while and tempers clashed in a battle in the dark.
He relived a few scenarios, many of them despairing and fearful as well.
A child picked on and shunned over his looks...
A teenage-looking boy fighting demons who got close enough to razor-sharp claws...
The meeting of a beautiful girl who became a first love...and the betrayal which led to their demise.
"What time is it?" He slurred, finally squinting at the morning.
"Almost ten ototo. Mind letting go of me now?"
His hand laxed in a second and ignored the roomy to roll over and watch shadows on the ceiling. Brown pinned on any random spot, trying to clear his head.
A brow furrowed a degree, idly watching Jayden out of the corner of his vision. Oddly enough, now that he was alone, he could feel someone in the room. It was very familiar and the hairs on his neck rose. He inched to sitting position, scanning every inch. Noises outside drifted in, but seemed very far away. His breath held in expectation, wondering if the thing would appear from nothing or simply walk in. His jaw clenched. Tension was getting to him and he could no longer be silent. Brown narrowed. "Where the hell are you?"
In your HEAD moron.
He startled. Irritation and exasperation came, but he was feeling neither. Among those, he could feel trepidation and uneasiness. These emotions were his and he tried not to get swallowed by the others.
You can't ignore me and you can't fight me for long. One slip and you lose.
He adopted the foreign emotions and added a few of his own. Fists clenched as he shifted to kneeling. "You won't control me. I don't know WHY you're in my head, but get out!"
Not possible.
"I CAN have you taken care of. There are ways..."
You don't scare me.
He snorted and stood. "This may be the age of technology, but I know of a few monks who study the old ways."
Keh! Those stupid bouzu never beat me no matter how hard they tried! I've always been stronger than them...what makes you think yours will do any better?
Brow narrowed. "Because you're out of your depth here. I can feel you - you're old...and old means out of touch."
I know of your crowded modern world. Those idiots forced me to go to make sure that bitch was fine. She also took too damn long and forced me to bring her back too.
He stopped in the hall and absently blinked at the sitting room. Recognition was pushing his senses and his home was the cause.
The mustiness of time.
The smell of cedar boards and invasion of moisture to age them.
Large grounds - somewhat recognizable in their design.
The smell of food, shoji, floorboards, wide spacing, tatami...
"Eh? Inuyasha?"
"Hey bitch...who said that it's okay to go home at your own convenience..."
"You...from where did you come out of..."
"From the well of course!"
There was that girl again. She looked an awful lot like someone he knew, but lack of sleep and the intrusion to his mind was muddling his thoughts.
A hand went to his forehead as dull pain graced him with its presence. He grimaced against it and headed for the bathroom, hand automatically going for the storage cabinet. He grabbed two aspirin and snatched the glass by the faucet. As he made to fill it, quickly popping the pills, shock red caught his eye and he looked up.
That white-haired freak in recognizable get-up was glaring at him.
Who's the freak you asshole?!
Water spilled onto his hand and it jerked back. He gave a second of ignorance, gulping the amount down before leaning on the sink and giving the mononoke his attention.
The hair or the outfit, he couldn't tell what was more outlandish. He tried to place the date by design and stitching, but couldn't remember far back enough. He knew it was old due to the hakama, but that didn't satisfy his curiosity enough and asking was out of the question.
Too tired to retort, he gave a flat look and pushed away. "Give me back my reflection."
When you give me back my body.
"It's MY body." He mumbled, bored already. He started for the door.
Where the fuck do you think YOU'RE going??
In mid stride, it was like a vice clamped around every muscle and he off-balanced, crashing into the cabinet before sliding to tile. That was going to hurt later, but he was more worried about the sufficient lack of mobility and mutiny of ordering his limbs to move.
"What the fuck are you doing to me?!"
Taking back what's mine. I'm stronger than you, so don't try to struggle.
He still resisted. "This...is...MY body..." It was hard to see and almost like someone cast a dark curtain over his face. Sleep hit like lightening, though not from staying up all night, and he fought that as well. Somehow he knew if he gave in, he would never get control back.
Mine now.
Brown dully stared as his head thumped against tile. There was muted noise just outside and suddenly the door was thrown aside and banged him in the shin. "Ototo!?"
The expressionless look soon melted when he was shifted and light hurt his eyes. He blinked a few times before shaking and loud voice registered. "Damn it! Stop talking so loud!"
Jayden's eyes widened as she sat back in shock. Mentally snapping forward, she leaned over him again. "Ototo...daijoubu?? There's a bruise on your cheek." Hands went under shoulders. "Why don't you sit up and I'll help you to the kitchen for ice -"
He jerked from her hold and backed away. "I can stand on my own and I don't need your help."
Jayden's jaw clenched against the hurt flooding her. She tried to be defiant, but the proud, almost egotistical look in her ototo's eyes off-set her. "Ototo..."
"Uresai! Shit...women always talk too much..." He grumbled, standing. Leaving Jayden on the floor, he passed the doorway and took a left. Not even three steps outside, an odd weight over his back made him pause. With an exasperated look, a hand went to his neck, eyes widening at what he found. "What the fuck?!"
It was a braid. His hair was in a braid. 'A fucking braid...' Brown quickly smoldered as he yanked the tie out, not caring how much pain it put him in. 'Stupid idiot. My hair is NOT to be put in a braid! What the hell was he thinking?!'
"Damn idiot anyway for -" He blinked and dumbly stood at the bottom step, seeing and smelling so many new things as much as weak senses allowed.
The home was elaborate. He could see traditional traces, but this fur stuff underfoot was interesting to touch and baffled him. He touched the top of the steps, brow furrowing in confusion. What kind of animal did they skin to do this? It felt like fiber from what he gathered.
Noises behind gained rapid attention and he whipped to them, body tense and ready for anything. Brown widened and he dumbly stared again at finding a woman moving around next to what vaguely looked like the cooking room.
He shuffled off the bottom step and to the edge of tatami, avidly watching the middle-age woman move about. He couldn't take his eyes off her and everything in this body was saying she wasn't a threat and there was a bond.
She finally spotted him and a shocked but pleasant look met him. "Ah musuko...how odd to see you up so early. If you wouldn't mind, can you help set the table for me? Jayden left to go look at a noise and she isn't back yet." There was a kind smile and soft eyes before she turned to the stove and presented her back.
For someone to be so open, carefree, and trusting to anyone who could pass... His knees nearly gave out at a word he recognized over this new language - one he didn't know and yet oddly did at the same time.
'Musuko... Is she...ofukuro?'
His heart twinged as he slowly moved forward; mechanically going to cupboards he didn't know and grabbing the exact number he didn't count out. He let the body do these things as his mind pondered this.
He had a mother again. This body was gifted with what seemed a family. He felt jealous as he watched hands expertly put plates in their proper spots before going to other drawers. He took in details as they moved almost on their own, amazed at this.
This weakling had what he lacked for so long. It was some other world in the literal and figurative sense.
He took in the eating and cooking areas, spying yet MORE rooms past these and was astounded at the size. They could easily fit a dozen people here and still have room for more! What did one family need that much space for?? Usually a hut the size of the cooking and eating rooms served for a family of four and that was enough.
'This age is so strange...' He groused, watching hands set chopsticks on their holders. He looked at the plates, seeing tradition in design and the eating area itself. Tatami lay in this corner, with a chabudai and surrounding zabuton. The family must be rather wealthy to have that and so much space. Though he was not one for wealth and despised the rich - especially the well-off who always treated him horribly - ofukuro seemed like a good woman at least.
He took control of movement when something came to mind. After setting the last teacup down, he counted the number of plates and marveled at the number. Either this woman and the other often had some guests over, or more people lived here than what he saw. He tried to find memories to help ease discomfort, but the presence was dangerously close to them so he opted to ignore them and keep control.
That was more important than knowing what was going on. He could find out if it was necessary and deal with it when the time came.
Something caught his attention and he quickly walked to a large window to find what it was. His eyes narrowed at a middle-aged man and another elderly carrying loose branches and heading for a small pile to the side of some yard. They looked friendly enough, but he knew from experience friendly faces couldn't be trusted.
"Ofukuro...there are two men out there..." He reported, casting her a glance.
Brow furrowing, Kristine leaned over the sink and smiled. "Ah, Omo-kun and Kekoy no ojiisan. Why don't you tell them to come inside and I'll have some tea ready."
Omo-kun? Kekoy no OJIISAN??
'Fuck...a mother AND grandfather?!'
He never had anything more than his mother and the vaguest memories of his father. Now it seemed this Omo was well-known to his mother and he wondered the level. This man had better be strong in order to take care of someone special to him. Even though he didn't know the mother well enough, she gave life to this body and that's all he needed to know. Her instinctive kindness made protection rise, and he warily stepped out onto the engawa, not caring about sandals.
"Oi, omae-ra..."
Both men stopped and blinked. He nearly bristled, but didn't want to unsettle a situation more foreign than Kagome's time. Not until he knew the threat of everything around and what he needed to protect.
A thumb jerked inside. "Ofukuro says food is ready."
Omo smiled and nodded. "Time to go otousan. Shall I take your bundle for you and let you head in?"
Kekoy snorted and turned first. "I'm perfectly capable of managing such a feeble load. You go in and see how much Kristine has finished and put the boy to work."
Omo grinned and headed for the back door, smiling. "How much has okaasan got done musuko?"
He nearly balked as the man stopped to be let inside. A mother, grandfather, AND father?! 'What the hell??' He didn't know how to deal with having a father who paid attention and seemed loving at that. It wasn't right that the father seemed so attentive to his child, and he was unsure of how to handle the brief pat before gently being moved to the side.
He treated ofukuro with the respect she needed, but never felt oyaji needed the same amount. A few emotions toward these people called family came from the other. He didn't know how to take them and stepped inside, leaving the door open for the one coming in behind.
A quick slap on the shoulder gained attention and he whirled with a glare. Kekoy gave a less-than-happy look and walked past. "Oi! Sore wa -"
"Youth these days. Don't even let your elders pass through..."
He bristled, but Kristine stopped next to him and smiled before digging into a drawer. She handed him a small, colored bottle and turned for the sink. "Here musuko...please go wake hisobosan and hisofusan and tell to hisobosan take her medicine. And don't let her skip it either."
He stared at the color, idly shaking the contents and wondering what they were exactly. He trusted ofukuro when she said it was medicine, but it certainly didn't look like it. He absently took the glass and took a few steps in the direction she gently pushed him in before stopping.
Not only did he not know where the room was, but now he had MORE family than originally thought. Shit...he thought having two parents was enough, grandparents more amazing than reality, but GREAT grandparents?? How long did people of this age live anyway??
He chanced a root through this person's head to find the people and room needed. Two gentle-looking, wrinkled faces met his vision.
A family of three extra generations was more than he ever expected. His primary goal was getting to find Kagome again - which a quick look would help - anything else wasn't really thought of. The idea of having a mother was nice, but he really didn't need anyone else. All he needed was the two most important women in his life to protect and take care of.
Doing as ofukuro ordered, he used the discovered route and took the closed door on the right. The last door on the left - the one he knew was his sleeping area - was cracked, but he ignored the quiet shuffling inside.
He wondered if it was necessary to knock, though he always barged in on babaa. But this was not his time and not his family. Though politeness to humans was never an issue, he was sadly one and would only embarrass himself by trying to act hanyou right now.
He settled for slowly peeking the door in, sticking his head in and unconsciously sniffing the area. What he got was the smell of old people and his nose wrinkled against it. There was a faint trace of some perfume which made him enter a little more.
He swung the door open, but kept it from banging against the wall when two bodies snuggled together on a large, high-raised bed caught his attention. He stared a few paces from the foot, idly wondering if he and Kagome would live that long. Could they be as close as these two people were? Would he be able to sleep like that with her, when she was found? His heart pounded at the thought of being able to hold her again and a fist clenched against the bottle, making it rattle a little.
He startled at slight shifting and cheeks flamed when a pair of aged brown met across the way.
"Ah himagomusuko...what are you doing here, standing so quietly like that?" Mira sat up and then tapped the shoulder she was resting against. "Oi jijii...get up. Breakfast is ready."
Setsumo rolled over and scratched a nearly bald head. He yanked the tie off his braid and started unraveling it to be put in order again. "Eh? Himagomusuko, what are you holding? Did your hahaue tell you Mira needed those horrible things?"
The hand cradling the bottle lifted. "Ofukuro said for you to take these and you'll take them."
Mira stared as he leaned over the edge of the bed, holding both for her to take...looking almost uncomfortable. She spared Sestumo a glance before quietly taking the glass and bottle. She opened the bottle without complaint and took one. She gave the pills back, brown on brown. She stared, looking at emotion in those depths, brow furrowing the tiniest of degrees.
"Himagomusuko...you're different. Is something on your mind?"
He jerked as if someone pricked him with a sword. How did the old woman know?? He cast a suspicious glance, watching her shift to get out of bed and stand before him. He tensed a little, wondering if she would punish him for being disrespectful and was ready to defend himself. No woman would get the best of him - never had and he didn't let Kagome push him around.
Much... Kind of... Sort of...
'Oh who the hell am I kidding?!'
A wrinkled hand grabbed a fistful of hair and gently tugged. He watched, eyes looking for any intent on her face, but found nothing. "What are you doing??"
Mira met his gaze, looking for what seemed hours. She finally let go of his hair, eyeing his body. "You took out the braid again. That makes quite a few times. Why do you wear it loose?"
His head jerked up. "Keh! I'm not wearing my hair in the manner of some sissy!" There was no retort as he expected and he looked into brown again.
Mira only nodded and stepped around, giving a slight pat on the shoulder.
For some reason he felt bad and didn't know why. It irritated him to feel something without cause and he gripped the bottle with wish to shatter it. He gave the old man a look as he shifted out of bed and shuttered a glare before twisting and almost stalking out.
He watched the woman tackle the stairs and an inane urge to help her hit, but he forced limbs to keep from moving and looked to the bottle, mind buzzing. Everyone would be sitting for breakfast and though he was hungry and eager to taste food again in so long - as long as it wasn't curry - he couldn't deal with all those people. He wasn't orientated with humans, even if they were family. Ofukuro was the only one he'd tolerate.
He needed to get out of here. The closed spaces and walls were getting to him. He needed natural light. Damn the others and what they thought, they weren't his family - no matter how nice it sounded to finally have one. They were all human anyway.
He easily hopped the steps and paused when he noticed it was hard to shift. He stared at the long-sleeve shirt and some kind of thick, blue hakama-looking wear. His nose wrinkled as he lifted a knee and plucked at the material on his chest. It was airy enough, but stuck to his skin almost. Not even his trusty haori and hakama when wet were this bad. The sleeves were annoying at times, but he dealt with those.
This had to go too. He set the pills on a counter and turned to go change.
"Ah, musuko...that nice girl called, so I put her on hold so you can talk to her."
He twisted, a confused look in his eyes. "Girl? What girl??"
Mira looked up from her tea. "Kalie-ojousan."
He blinked and looked to the elder. He wanted to retort that he knew no such name, but a memory and the presence surged.
Brown hair.
Emerald eyes.
Petite figure.
Kind, hard-working personality.
His girlfriend.
Pain shot up his head and spread through his neck as her face came to mind. Eyes squeezed shut as he grimaced, a hand cradling the side. He was getting too confused and it was making him feel more closed-in. Dogs weren't meant to be caged and that's what he felt at this moment.
He twirled for the stairs, eyes peeking open against the annoyance. "Don't know her." He grumbled, heading up.
He left everyone wide-eyed and blinking in confusion and wonder, looking at each other as if the person could provide answers to his behavior.
He shoved the door open and strode to the dark color of his bed. A chest at the foot lay there and he dropped in front of it, chancing what he could of memories in this world. 'It's in here somewhere and I'll be damned if I'm going to wear this restrictive shit all day long!' After throwing the second hakama and third juban carelessly aside, he sensed a presence and turned.
Jayden stared, cheeks wet, arms around legs at her chest. She looked as small as she felt and even smaller when pinned with almost aggressive brown. She tried not to shy away in unease, wondering at his sudden shift in behavior. Teeth bit her lip before bothering to speak. "Ototo-chan...nani o shimasu?"
He stared, seeing sadness and it quelled some of the emotions raging inside. A thread of guilt sewn in with the rest, making him more somber than before, knowing he created that look. He felt a little bad, knowing at the time this girl was trying to help. He saw the same look on Kagome's face before and it never failed to hit him in the gut.
But this girl wasn't Kagome and only Kagome had the power to sway him into doing something he normally wouldn't do. This person would have to earn that privilege first.
He ignored her and dug to the bottom, finding a primly folded swath of red. He ventured a grin - the first today - and pulled. He tossed the outfit, juban, and fundoshi on the bed and made to yank the shirt off.
Jayden startled, face flaming. "Ototo!" Hands covered her eyes, not in the mood to see her brother stark naked. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"What does it look like??" He retorted, finagling the coverings off his legs. "Changing." A flimsy cloth covered his lap and he blinked at it. He shrugged and yanked them off as well, snatching the fundoshi from the bed.
It seemed a while since he wore this, but still not quite so long. He made quick work of putting everything on. He paused when tying the hakama, tightening the knots and casting Jayden a dry look. "Oi onna...you can look now."
Jayden's fingers peeked open a slit and she mentally sighed in relief. Anger at the rough treatment reared up as she glared. "What's the big idea of you tossing clothes around like you're the only one living in this room, huh?? I don't care to see you naked anymore than I did years ago! Show the same respect I show to you!"
He tugged the haori into place, barely listening. "Mou uresai..." He muttered, deftly tying everything. Shoulders rotated to get the feel of a more known set of clothes. Another smile came at the freeness. "Ah, much better."
He turned and checked himself in a nearby mirror, feeling more like himself - albeit human - than before and drew comfort in that fact. These were a pretty good imitation of his old fire rat, but the magic wasn't there. This was just plain cloth and while he would've liked the knowledge of magic, he was happy to have this.
Disregarding the tabi and zouri - never having use for them before - he left the clothes where they were and started for the door.
"Oi! Ototo! Come back here and pick up this mess! Where do you think you're going??"
He ignored the girl and hopped the steps again. He found everyone seated with ofukuro setting the table. He met a few pairs of eyes, turning his nose up a little at the shock and unasked questions. He didn't need to answer anything they had to say and started for the door, more searching telling him exactly where he could go to be alone and find a way to survive.
More importantly, a way back to Kagome.
"Musuko, where are you going?"
He stopped at that soft voice almost as if running into a wall. His jaw clenched, head bowing. "Out ofukuro."
"In THAT??"
"You go put that back Inaki - that outfit is reserved for special occasions only!"
He bristled at the order and snorted. He ignored the rambling and opened the door, shutting it to drown out their voices. With a quick scan of the area, knowing they wouldn't give him much time before chasing after - he took off down the street.
He was annoyed after dashing through the third yard that this body hadn't the calluses for long-distanced running. It wasn't equipped for sprints or his normal stride and it pissed him off to have to keep stopping. He wanted to sit in the highest tree he could find and watch the sun set for some clarity. The fact that people lived so close was strange, and dangerous. He was too easy to spot in this color and could be reported if someone recognized him.
The fire rat could've been useful in some times where branches scratched at him. This cloth - whatever it was - snagged too easily and many times he had to stop and untangle himself. He had to do the same with his hair, and almost - but not quite - wished for the stupid braid back.
He walked through the forest, recognition coming. It was confusing to know a place you'd never been to, but he used information to his benefit and found the tree this body normally sat in.
He looked at the highest branch and looked put out. It was a few stories up and if he was the normal half-breed, he could clear the entire tree in one jump. Now he had to climb it like a monkey and that was annoying enough without thinking of how the sleeves would get in his way.
He glared in annoyance, but jumped for the first limb and wrapped his legs around it. Climbing a tree this way proved slower than his normal jump-and-land. He was glad no one was around to see his clumsy attempts.
The view was reward enough and he tried to situate on the limb for long term. He eyed it in appreciation, a small smile tugging.
After a bit, he figured getting to business was a good idea. Where to start was the issue. His eyes closed, brow furrowing in deep concentration.
The main and only issue was finding where Kagome was and getting to her. He dared a venture into the memories of this time, seeing the girl spoke of from earlier. The face looked wrong, though still held similar traits, and he knew it wasn't all. Digging deeper found more recent faces, one that mirrored Kagome exactly.
"I feel like...I don't know you..." They were so different... How could she be a different person when he left her side only a day?? Sure he noticed some strange behavior recently, but didn't think anything of it.
-----
Her amiable behavior was setting off warning bells and arms forced her to viewing length as he stared at brown. He was taken aback at that and gave her a good once-over. He didn't question the hair change - it looked kinda nice on her really, but didn't notice the eyes with all that happened. He thought he saw a trace of them in certain lighting and always attributed it his mind playing tricks on him. K didn't like contacts and she had green eyes.
But now they were dark brown - just like his.
If that girl was Kagome, he was going to give her so much shit. Now that he lost the prayer beads, she couldn't sit him in retribution either. He evilly grinned, wondering what else he could do that earned him unjust punishment in the past.
How many times was Kagome going to be reincarnated?? Did her soul merit that many favors and do that many good deeds along the way to allow it? Were they forever going to be tied together in whatever form or name given to her spirit? Not that spending the rest of his lives - given the chance - with Kagome was an issue. It sounded rather appealing...so long as she stopped blowing up on him. The lack of necklace would help, but her temper was still there and recent checking saw it easily.
'You...are an asshole...'
He jumped and nearly fell off the tree. He chided himself on too much prying, knowing from earlier traipsing the other would feel him and find the connection between conscious and unconscious. It was only a matter of time, but at least he was in the middle of nowhere to deal with it.
"Keh. You're the one who kept my body away from me."
'It's MINE! And what the fuck did you abuse my family for?! Have you no respect for your elders...for your siblings and parents?!'
"I had no family." He bit. "I had ofukuro and that was it. I don't need all those people anyway. The old just get in the way and have to be protected and that girl looked like she could handle herself without me."
'Yurushimasen yo! Go back to the abyss where you came from and leave me in peace!'
"Not going to happen. I'm in control and that's all you need to know. From now on, you're going to be in the dark with no body to sustain you outside your mind." He could feel the presence seethe and grinned.
'You think you have all the power just because you're in control...but I've been the one in charge for twenty-four years. I know my body better than you do.'
"And I've had my body for three times that age! Even if I've been asleep, you think you can wrestle my hold? You have no experience losing and regaining your soul. You're below me!"
There was a beat of silence and he almost thought the pest gave up, but there was a violent mental shove he was unprepared for. As if physically pushed, he teetered and made to grasp the trunk for balance. Lack of claws kept him from getting a grip and he landed painfully on his side and landed another blow to his head before managing to get a grip.
"Are you trying to kill us both?!" He snarled, using legs as helpers.
'I have nothing to lose right now. If you won't give back my body, I have to do whatever it takes to get it back. You're fighting for keeps and so am I.'
Intense pain rendered him nearly blind and white spots clouded sight. His head shook to try and clear them, but the blow to his head jabbed more pain up his neck. This high up was dangerous with the promise and he came too far to let death chase him back again. He made for the ground, pain growing quicker than he could move. Up was easier than down and he nearly passed out by the time feet touched cold, hard ground.
He staggered, legs widening for balance, hands clutching his head. "Ya - yamero...yo..." He grit, eyes squeezed shut. "Kisama...mou yamete!"
'Kiss my ass!'
He wanted to know what those words meant, but lost the battle with such a weak body and slumped to the ground. The rough, crinkly texture of leaves was the last thing he saw before total blackness surrounded him.
He searched the area, knowing his human side was hidden somewhere. Ears twitched and he realized he was finally hanyou again. Glad for the attributes, he felt more powerful and confident for a win here. Oi! Come out you coward!
'I'm not hiding. I am this place. You're in my mind and I realized that here is where I call the shots.'
He snorted. Don't think so highly of yourself. I beat you here other times and I can do it again.
'It's time YOU stop thinking so high of yourself. You trying to take away the one thing I own until my death gives me incentive to fight with any method I can think of - dirty or not.'
Gold looked around, narrow and wary. Then come out if you're not afraid to fight me. Stop cowering in the blackness of your pathetic mind!
'Glad to.'
In front of him stood his human form, shroud in the same red fire rat imitation. His head jerked back in mild amusement. Even the same clothes. Doesn't that tell you anything?
'This is the thing my physical form wears and it's the last thing I saw. I take it to this realm as well.' Hands cracked as he shifted to a fighting stance. 'I'll fight you as long as I have to and here I have no physical body to tire. You don't have it as easy as you think.'
Arms crossed into his haori, assuming a higher-than-thou stance, disregarding the battle stance. Keh! Your mind was weak in the beginning. What makes me think you gained any strength since?
'Because I was unprepared for you then. I know more of you now from your memories. I know you and what you want...and you're not going to have her!'
He growled, claws flexing. NO ONE tells me what I can and can't have! Especially Kagome! He crouched low, judged the distance - which was hard with no physical plane - and jumped to attack.
A howl came with extended claws, but he was ready for anything. Walk-through attacks from many battles through this animal's mind taught him a lot, and also gave pointers on dirty fighting.
It was hard to have depth perception in pitch with the only light from two bodies, so he went with the light and hoped for the best. Hands extended and grasped wrists, using the momentum to throw the body before they could do any harm. Though harm in the subconscious level was hard to pinpoint, the physical body as representation of the mind might be convinced this was real. Though he never remembered a dream where he was in pain, this wasn't a dream.
An enraged cry arced before any sense of floor was found and Inaki was ready for another spring. There wasn't a long wait and he tensed, watching hands and feet for sudden movements. A hand whipped out, grabbing loose white hair and yanking, getting a yelp of pain and dropping his nemesis again.
A growl sounded before Inuyasha jumped to his feet and whirled around. You're starting to piss me off.
'My head - my rules.'
There was a loud snarl before Inuyasha charged and grasped cloth. He hoisted the body in the air with a hand and slammed him into unseen ground.
Inaki grunted and brown squeezed shut. A strong hand went around his throat and lifted him into the air, claws squeezing. If I break your neck, I win.
'If you break my neck...we both die.'
Gold narrowed. You're lying.
'My body, remember? You're an intrusion in it and if you kill me here, you screw yourself over worse than trying to take control.'
In an odd way, it made sense. And frustrated him to no end. Then I'll just take control until your puny human body gives out at the end of its life.
Hands clenched wrist, trying to remember the exact way to attack back and free himself. 'No matter what you do...you won't get her to see you for anyone but me.'
Teeth flashed as the hand slammed him to the ground but remained attached. Shut the fuck up! You're my human form...Kagome will see me for that and be happy that I'm even around to be with her. That's what I wished for and though I didn't think clearly enough, it worked!
He chanced a smirk, readying an opening. 'What's wrong Inuyasha? Insecure about the accusations you made about a certain girl and Kagome?' Seeing that thread of guilt, a leg swung out and landed right at a nerve he knew located to the arm. It spasmed and he rolled away enough to get to his feet. 'You're just a second to me.'
SHUT UP! Inuyasha lunged anger, guilt, and pain on his face. You don't know Kagome the way I do! She wouldn't judge me - she never has!
He dove out of the way, seeing murder quite clearly directed for him. It was easy to use the girl as a distraction, even when she wasn't here. If he could offset the hanyou enough to make him lose concentration, he would make his escape and keep this from ever happening again.
Inuyasha stood with clenched fists, cold molten sizing up his counterpart. You're as bad as Naraku. You don't fight your own battles and try to sway those around you with evil words. What the fuck kind of person did I become in this life??
He glared. 'You aren't me!! I would never let myself be the kind of person who has no disregard for others or treats people the way you do! You don't care about anyone but yourself and Kagome! There's a whole fucking world out there you ignored in your life. Now it's over and I'm the one with your face!'
Inuyasha smirked. Get over it. He lunged again and feinted to the side, lashing out with a leg and kicking...effectively sending the human into the distance.
He wasn't expecting that and knew Inuyasha wouldn't give him time to get his bearings. Dirty fighting might not be ethical or his style, but it was working. 'You're upset because you know I'm right!'
Don't flatter yourself! A fist shot vertical and stopped with some semblance of pain coming as it landed on black. It turned into a palm to support his weight as a leg shot out, missing his target by inches.
Inaki stood and jumped from a low kick meant to take his head off. 'You had your chance with Kagome AND Kikyou, and twice you screwed up. I'm not about to let you ruin my life because of your selfish desires.'
I didn't screw up anything! That was all Naraku! He was the one who enjoyed messing with my life - my head...just like you are! I never got my chance to make things right and you're denying me that!
'Not my problem! This is my life now and you don't belong in it!' He stopped a distance away and turned, trying to concentrate. With encounters like these, he could almost feel that thread of consciousness whenever in these situations. If he wished to wake up hard enough, Yume-sama would grant him his wish. 'You lose.'
Inuyasha stopped, tensing at the change in battle. We're not finished here...
He could feel the bridge start to merge and bothered a small lapse in concentration. 'Au contraire...we were finished the second you came here.'
Knowing something was going on, Inuyasha took off as fast as possible. Gold widened at seeing his human form blur quite rapidly. You're not leaving! I won't let you!
'My body - my rules. And if you think for one second I'm going to let you take control again - especially now that I know how to keep you from doing so - you're crazy. Bai bai Inuyasha...'
MATTE! In desperate attempt to have a hold on any kind, Inuyasha dove straight for the form, claws extended to grab. He gave a defeated cry of anger upon going right through and tucked into a roll. A fist harshly beat on the black, wanting to tear something apart. Damn it! Come back and fight me! Kisama!!
-----
Brown shot open as he automatically rolled away and landed against something. Hands went to punch and stopped seconds away from splitting his knuckles on the bark of his favorite tree.
"I'm back..." He smiled in relief and was racked with pain. He hissed when trying to sit up and used the tree for support.
You god damn fucking prick...
Teeth grit against the onslaught of pain in his head, and he went limp to handle it. 'Deal with it. What the hell do you think you did to me? How does it feel to have control and be forced into the background, ne??'
There was a pause, and anger mixed with pouting. You're going to regret messing with me. If you know me, you know I don't like being ordered and pushed around.
'Neither do I. If you're supposed to be me, take a hint of how I feel and go away.'
Not fucking happening.
He sighed, head thumping against wood. 'Didn't think so...'
If you think I'm doing you any favors by letting you get your strength back...
'I don't expect you to do anything for me because I know you WON'T.' He glowered, glaring at dead leaves. 'I can deal with you, just so you know.'
You're going to regret ever doing so too.
Pain intensified and hands went to his head to massage the area. What he wouldn't give for a few aspirin or something, but he knew if he went back and lost control, he would definitely not get it back now that his sneakiness was found out.
Like it or not, he would have to stay here and find a way to survive until he mastered this. It would take a while he knew, but he couldn't risk exposing his family to someone he never wanted to be. Two sides of the same coin? Maybe...but he didn't ever want to twist the other side and see what it was like in-depth.
I am a BEGINNER Japanese learner...so if these are not 100% correct...please let me know if you care to do so. I only have a web page to learn from, a dictionary, and a few months experience to work with.
Translations: Mononoke-Monster Chabudai-Low dining table Omae-ra-You guys (rude form of you) Sore wa-That's/That was Ofukuro-Mother (Not too sure how polite)
Nani o shimasu?-What are you doing? Mou uresai-Shut up already Kisama...mou yamete-Stop it already...bastard Bai bai-Bye bye