Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Yu-gi-Oh or any other anime. I also don't own Dark Cloud 2, that's where the officer blinkhorn originated from, even though he's not exactly evil in the game...
A/N: LEMONS in this chappie. I have warned you...
I wrote this chapter at 3 in the morning so I was half asleep when I wrote it so please let me know if I messed up or confused something. Thank god for the spell check on Word. It saves my life and makes reading easier for you.
Anyways, onto the story...
Chapter 20: The Future in the Past.
Inuyasha jumped out of the well. He looked up to see an overcast sky threatening rain. And not just any rain...a storm by the looks of it. He looked around before swearing blackly and throwing his haori down into the dirt.
She had taken it off and thrown it aside without a second thought. The act of affection on his part had gone unnoticed. He was too hurt to even consider the possibility that Kagome had not thrown it aside, her mother had.
A cold breeze blew in his direction reminding him that he was wet from the rain in Kagome's time and he shivered. True, he was more resistant to the elements than most humans but today he felt cold.
He had put his beads back on...in an attempt to show Kagome just how much he wanted to be with her. He knew he would never be able to confess his feelings for her. He would never be able to tell her just how deeply he had come to care for her...maybe even love her.
And she had used those beads to save the life of a pathetic human boy, she had not thought twice about shoving his face into the floor at the first chance she got. She had humiliated him to save her boyfriend.
How many people will he have to compete with for Kagome's love? How many people will he have to threaten and scare off?
He didn't even know if she wanted to be with him.
He looked at the haori that lay crumpled on the ground. It had saved his life numerous times, including Kagome's. He felt attached to it. It had been there for him countless times...and it lay at his feet. He felt that everything that was important in his life now looked just as useless as the red fire rat jacket that lay at his feet. All because he had fallen in love.
He flinched as a big fat raindrop fell onto his face.
Is this how Rei feels? He frowned when he remembered what had occurred earlier that day. He had found out that Rei loved him. It felt so strange...to spend most of your life being hated and despised only to be torn between two women. He had found the decision regarding Kikyo and Kagome hard. Kikyo had been his first love, the first person who had shown compassion instead of contempt.
And then there was Kagome. Her sweet and carefree nature had reawakened the need to live in him. He had gained the ability to trust and make friends. He had learned that no matter how hard and cruel life gets there is always something to live for. There is always someone who wants you to be beside them.
Then there was Rei. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be alive today. She had given him life and Kagome had given him something to live for.
Rei had tried to hide the fact from him; she had kept her feelings buried deep inside her. If Inuyasha hadn't made the connection between her beliefs and actions that morning...he would never have known.
Isn't that why he had worn the beads? To prove to himself that he belonged to Kagome, even after he had been claimed by and then wrenched from the grasps of death. He was Kagome's.
And today he was going to make sure they were bonded, once and for all. But he had started rethinking that idea when he had seen her with that Hobo boy.
He scowled at the memory and picked up his haori, then started moving towards the forest not bothering to see where his feet were taking him.
She had agreed to go on a date with him. Did she not want to be with him? Did she not know that Inuyasha was going to claim her? How would she? He had spent the last two years telling her otherwise. He had spent the last two years leaving her hanging. He had never told her whom he wanted to be with.
But that was because he hadn't known who he wanted to be with.
It was clear now though. The moment before his soul had left his body, he had had but one thought. One terrifying thought.
I'll never see Kagome ever again.
He hadn't thought of Kikyo or Miroku or Sango or Shippo. He had though of her. It had to mean something. He had wanted to protect Kagome. But from who or what? She was more than capable of protecting herself and with friends like their's he had no reason to worry. But the thought of anyone but him protecting her had gotten him angry and he had refused to move on only to make sure that she was ok.
Even after his soul had been cruelly torn into two pieces, he had kept an eye at her.
That is, until she had told his human side to leave her alone and his demon side had been banished by Miroku's holy magic.
It had made him feel so worthless.
And he had returned with only one desire, to see Kagome again.
And even now, he couldn't find the courage to tell her how he felt about her.
He looked down when he felt chilly water at his feet. His eyes widened as he realized that he had reached a stream. The current was strong because of the heavy downpour and because there was a waterfall nearby.
The same one behind which he had kissed Kagome for the first time.
That's it! He screamed at himself mentally. He crumpled the red jacket into a ball and tossed it into the stream as hard as he could. It travelled quiet far before falling into the raging waters and drifting away.
He knew he should run after it and try to retrieve it, but because of some reason he didn't want to. He sighed heavily and took a few tentative steps towards the drifting article of clothing before the breeze blew again and chilled him to the bone.
He froze, as he smelt the familiar scent. It was all the exotic flowers blended into one and then personalized so that they screamed just one name – Kagome.
She was here? The haori forgotten instantly he ran towards the well and saw her standing there her back to him. She had changed her shirt though she was still wearing her school skirt. This shirt was black and covered her arms fully though it didn't look very warm. His suspicions were confirmed when she shivered violently and he was behind her in a minute.
"You're just waiting here to get sick aren't you?" He said to her and watched her turn around so fast that he thought she'd fall.
He watched her, as she kept quiet and just stared at him. He smiled inwardly when he saw her eyes stop at his face. He knew she was attracted to him; there was a subtle change in her scent and body temperature that represented her interest in mating.
Not to mention that the small changes were affecting him greatly. She was unknowingly pulling him towards her and Inuyasha decided right there and then that he would let her know how he felt and then claim her if she agreed.
That is, if he doesn't lose control first.
"Come on, let's get you inside before you get sick." He said to her as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the forest. He didn't want to take her to the village yet because he knew that they would be interrupted. The cave behind the waterfall was the best choice. No one knew it existed except Rei, because she could read his mind, and Kagome, because Rei had taken her there.
"Inu...Inuyasha?" She asked softly when she realized that they were heading away from the village. Inuyasha smiled at her confused voice.
"Just come with me...trust me okay?" He told her hoping she would let him lead her to a quiet place.
His smile broadened as he felt her try and straighten his hair in an attempt to occupy herself. It was just like Kagome, she couldn't sit still for a moment. She had to be doing something. Even when it seemed that she wasn't doing anything, she was probably worrying about something or the other.
She was such a little firecracker. He smirked when he remembered that was what he had thought of Kagome when he had seen her for the first time. She was little firecracker. Whoever tried to stop her would get burned in the process and once she was released, she would bring joy to all the people who are with her. His little firecracker.
He hissed when he felt her fingers get tangled in his long hair and she tugged at them, none too gently, to free her fingers. He turned around and looked at her to tell her to quit it but when he saw her look up at him with those big brown eyes, he just couldn't snap at her. He smiled instead and let her get away with it.
His little firecracker.
Her felt her shudder through his hold on her hand and realized that she would get sick before they reached their destination. He turned around with a sigh and stopped, taking her into his arms and running off into the forest. He felt warm when he felt her pressed against his chest, her head buried in his shoulder. He wished that moment would freeze and they would forever be together that way.
But wishes had an uncanny way of twisting themselves and attacking you when least expected. That's what happened with Kikyo. He had wanted to be with her forever and she had instead promised him an afterlife of hell with her.
He inhaled deeply when some of her hair flew into his face. He hadn't known it was possible to love someone so much. To have someone so close to you but still feel as if they were too far away. Too feel so bound and so free at the same moment.
"Kagome?" He asked her softly. She made a small sound in the back of her throat letting him know she had heard him. It sounded like a small squeak and it only made him hug her tighter.
"Do you want to be with me?" He asked her. He had to know. He held his breath as he waited for her answer. The longer she kept quiet the more he persuaded himself that he should have expected her to refuse. Why would she want to be with him anyway? She had a normal boyfriend at home who was approved by her mother. He, on the other hand, had been forbidden form seeing her ever again and now he was expecting her to say yes to such a question?
He swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat while at the same time blinking back his tears. He didn't know why it hurt so much. He had only been shunned ever since he could remember. Why did it hurt now?
Then he felt her nod. It was shaky and soft but it was there nonetheless. It was all he could do not to stop right there and claim her. She had said yes. He had never felt his happy in his life.
"Then tell me I'm yours." He said, now encouraged by her acceptance. If she claimed him as hers, then he would claim her as his mate. Timelines and overprotective mothers were a distant problem. They could be taken care of later.
He felt her stiffen and thought that maybe she's not ready for this kind of commitment. He frowned but refused to give up. He would only let her go if she said 'no' straight out. He wouldn't put her down until she said 'no'.
"Say that I belong to you, Kagome. Say that I'm yours." He said again but this time with a small amount of urgency.
Please say it. Please. He pleaded with her silently. He saw the waterfall appear just in front of him and he jumped into the raging waters, hearing her squeak when she felt the freezing water come in contact with her body.
He landed on his knees, thankful that the ground inside the cave was relatively dry. He hadn't let her go still. The silence grew thicker by the moment and his heart sank lower and lower with each passing moment.
Face it, she's not going to commit herself to a half-breed.
He decided that it would be best if he let her go. He still was holding her tightly and she still had her hands fisted in his undershirt. He moved to let her go but somehow his arms refused and only tightened themselves around her.
"Please say I'm yours." He said so softly that he was sure she didn't hear him. He fought a losing battle with his tears when the silence stretched on. She was not going to say it. There was no way she would say it. He was a fool for expecting her to spend the rest of her life with him. He was such a bastard, such a selfish bastard.
She mumbled something into his shirt and he didn't hear her over the sound of the raging waterfall and the loud beating of his heart.
"What?" He breathed as one tear fell out of one golden eye. It was too late to stop it so he let it fall. It trailed down his cheek and fell of his jaw and landed on her pale face. She looked up when she felt the warm tear fall on her face.
She wiped his cheek gently with one hand and then whispered, "You're mine Inuyasha." And then she added with a smirk, "and crying won't change a thing. You belong to me whether you like it or not."
He laughed a small laugh and felt his heart swell. He watched her as she kept her hand on his cheek, staring at him. He felt that it was about time he said something but he froze when she added in a soft husky voice, "You're mine Inuyasha."
She suddenly bent forward and placed a hard bruising kiss on his lips. He stiffened he felt her claim his lips but gave in to the warmth spreading in his body and tightened his arms around her fragile body.
She growled in annoyance when he didn't respond and he took his time responding just so he could annoy the hell out of her. She snaked her arms around his neck and then tugged at his wet locks when he refused to oblige.
He growled playfully and opened his mouth to her, sliding his tongue in deep into her mouth. He heard her moan and he smelt her arousal. He pushed his tongue even deeper as he tasted everything she had to offer.
His one hand slid up her shirt and massaged her bare skin, relishing in the feel of the velvet soft flesh. Kagome moaned again and he pushed his hand upwards stopping right below her breast. His thumb moved steadily upwards until he felt her breast, growling softly in annoyance when he realized that she was wearing a bra.
He used his free hand to support her back as he pushed her backwards such that she was lying on the ground on her back under him. Then he used the same hand to slice open her shirt and bra, letting them fall to the side...forgotten.
His hands moved up and down her body exploring the newly exposed flesh. He smiled against her lips when he felt her hands try to remove his shirt and fail miserably. He pulled back just to give her a mischievous half smile before untying his tie and removing his undershirt with expertise. His smile broadened when he caught her staring at his chest and proceeded to make her his.
She gasped when she felt him pull her breast into his mouth licking the sensitive flesh with his hot tongue. She arched her back trying to push herself further into him and tangled her hands into his long silver hair.
Inuyasha tried to keep himself in control, his demon side was urging him to quit fooling around and claim her but he was enjoying himself watching her reaction to his gentle teasing.
He growled a little louder when he felt her hand move from his hair down his back and up again. She stopped suddenly when she heard his growl and he knew that she thought she had done something wrong. He nudged her softly and purred to let her know that it was okay. He sucked on her breast one last time before claiming her lips again.
With one flick of his hand he had sliced her skirt into two pieces and her underwear went with it. He gracefully removed his pants before rubbing himself against her. He felt her body temperature increase further and saw her blush hard. He wondered idly what she was blushing about? They were lying naked alone in a cave about to be mated...why was she blushing?
He didn't have much time to ponder over it as he whispered urgently into her ear, "This is your last chance Kagome. After this there is no turning back. Do you still want to be my mate?" He half dreaded the answer, he knew it was silly but he dreaded it anyway.
"Yes." She hissed into his ear. He needed no more prompting and he swiftly slid into her while biting the right side of her neck hard. She yelped in pain from both the intrusion and the bite and he rumbled deep in his chest to sooth her. He stopped moving for a moment, his teeth still in her neck and her warm blood on his lips and teeth, letting the pain subside before he pulled his teeth out of her and licked the wound to help it heal.
He felt her hands loosen their grip on his back and he knew that she was ready. He pushed himself inside her again, stopping every once in a while to let the pain subside before proceeding again.
A few hours later, Kagome woke up with a start. She felt something warm and heavy on top of her and she shuffled bit before realizing that Inuyasha was till draped over her. Her growled softly to tell her to quit moving and then went right back to sleep.
She moved a little more and managed to free her legs and she started to slide out from under him. It was dark now and she could barely see anything. With a loud sigh, Inuyasha rolled off of her and lay down on his back, his arm covering his eyes. She smiled a little and started rubbing his ears just to see them twitch.
"Remember, wait for me."
She grabbed whatever was left of her clothes and pulled them up against her body to cover herself up. Some else was in there with them.
"Who are you?" She asked in a timid voice. The voice had come from the darker part of the cave and she had no idea who it belonged to. It did sound uncannily familiar though.
She heard something move and then she felt the shadow get closer, it started moving into the little light that was available.
She gasped when she saw that it was Inuyasha. She looked at the sleeping form next to her and the other man in front of her. They were identical but somehow different.
This other Inuyasha was the one she had seen in the mansion in her time. His clothes were ripped and his hair was thin and rough. His chest was bruised and wounded and he looked starved. His eyes had dimmed to dull amber rather than the bright gold that her mate exhibited.
"Who are you?" She repeated with a little more urgency. Inuyasha stirred and opened one eye. Seeing Kagome so distressed, he immediately jumped into a sitting position and wrapped his arms around her.
"What is it, Kagome?" He asked her. She gave a small tremble and kept looking towards the inside of the cave. He followed her eyes and saw nothing.
"Just wait for me. I will come for you." The other Inuyasha said before disappearing like he never existed. Kagome shivered again and leaned into Inuyasha's embrace. Suddenly she found herself wondering if it had been a dream.
But lately, her dreams had an uncanny way of coming real. Did that mean that Inuyasha was in trouble?
"I need to speak to Kaede." She said softly and Inuyasha nodded, planting a small kiss to her forehead.
Kagome eyed the clothes in her hands, there was no way she could put them on again. They had been sliced into at least ten pieces.
Inuyasha saw her stare at her clothes and handed his white undershirt to her. She took it and then eyed him warily.
"Where's your haori?" She asked him while putting on his shirt and thanking god that it came to her thighs.
"I...um...I don't know." He answered as he put his pants on and then bent forward to give her a small kiss on her neck, right on his mark.
"What do you mean?" She persisted but he seemed to not have heard her. He was too busy planting small kisses on her neck and licking her half healed mark.
"Inuyasha...we need to go." She giggled when he licked her neck again. It tickled.
He grunted in reply before turning around to let her get on his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her thighs tightly before leaping out of the cave and landing on the ground below them gracefully. It had stopped raining and the surroundings were wet. The clouds still thundered from time to time. Kagome guessed that it would rain again later on.
Kagome sighed as they ran through the forest. The events of that day were still fresh in her mind and she couldn't believe that they were mated. It had only taken two years of constant daydreaming to finally have it come true. That reminded her, how was it that she had dreamt of it that very day and it came true?
She couldn't stop a smile from forming at her lips as she saw Shippo playing with Kirara in front of Kaede's hut and Miroku and Sango sitting close by. Miroku was sporting a red hand mark on his cheek and Sango was well out of groping distance.
When will that monk learn?
Miroku's eyes grew wide when he saw that Inuyasha was topless and Kagome was wearing his undershirt. His face lit up with a knowing smirk and Sango started tugging at her large boomerang as if to hit him with it. Shippo bounded from where he was playing and jumped right into Kagome's stomach just as she got down from Inuyasha's back.
"Kagome!" He sang happily before snuggling in her stomach.
"Hi Shippo." She said stroking his head. He purred contentedly and then jumped down from her arms and started chasing Kirara again.
"I see that Inuyasha finally managed to do it." Miroku's smirk hadn't faded a bit and it only grew wider as he looked Kagome up and down.
"Hey, back off monk." He tried to shut him up when he saw how hard Kagome was blushing. Sango stood up from where she was sitting.
"Come on Kagome, let's get you dressed." She started moving towards the other girl.
"Miroku?" Kagome turned to face him, "can I ask you something?"
Miroku continued grinning, "Ask me whatever you want...I am always at your service."
"Did you ever blame yourself for your father's death?" She asked straight out. She knew it was a touchy subject but she had to ask him. Miroku's smile faltered and he suddenly grew grim. Sango had stopped walking and now stood staring at the monk.
"Why would you ask something like that?" He said in a dead serious voice.
"I need to know...did you ever blame yourself for it?" She pressed. She shifted his wait from one foot to another under her intense gaze.
"I was seven when it happened. I had a fight with my father and then I had prayed to whatever god there was that he would let me be. That he would not impose his values on me again. He died that night. I believed it was my prayer that had killed him." He said before moving his staff from his left hand to his right and then turned around to Inuyasha, "So...I see you have marked her." He said with a grin. Everyone blinked. He had switched emotions like someone plays catch. One minute he is quiet and gloomy and the next he's cheery and perverted.
"Yeah...I...um...have to go talk to Kaede." With that she just turned around and started towards the hut, Sango followed.
However just before they went inside, they heard Miroku turn to Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, may I have a word with you?" They both turned around and headed towards a more private area to talk.
After getting dressed she was sitting next to Kaede, helping her ground some herbs to prepare some remedy.
"Kaede?" She asked uncertainly. The old woman looked up from her work.
"Aye, my child?"
"Is it possible to have dreams that well... come true?" Kaede looked up at her with a puzzled expression. "See there was this haunted mansion in my time where I saw a little boy in a purple robe crying about killing his father. I believe that was Miroku..."
"That was not a dream then, child." Kagome looked at her with big brown confused eyes. "That was a vision."
"I can see the past?" She said uncertainly. Kaede nodded.
"And quite possibly the future. It is a power only a few mikos ever exhibited. Kikyo was one who had just begun to discover this power when she died."
"I saw a dream last night and it came true today..." She said thoughtfully.
"Really? What did you see?" Sango asked curiously. Kagome blushed furiously.
"That's not really important. But Kaede?" She turned her attention back to the old miko, "The dream wasn't exactly a vision, and there were a few details that were different."
"Once one sees the future...he holds the power to change it." Kaede said wisely.
"I changed the future?" She raised an eyebrow, "I did didn't I?" She remembered how she had refused to claim Inuyasha as her own in the dream while in real life she had accepted him. Maybe she did change the future. If she hadn't had that dream...she would have refused him by asking him why.
"But see...I keep seeing this other Inuyasha." Both Sango and Kaede froze and stared at her, "He always looks like he's in pain and he keeps telling me things that I don't understand."
"What kind of things?" Kaede pressed.
"This first time I saw him, he told me not to purify the door to the past...oh right I still have to tell you about that. Anyway, this other time I saw him, tonight; he told me to wait for him that he would come get me. I don't get it."
"I believe you saw his future self...isn't that possible Kaede?" Sango asked her. Kagome's insides froze. Inuyasha's future self? Why would Inuyasha be starved and tortured and hurt. Why would his fire rat robes be destroyed beyond repair and why would he lose that light in his eyes?
"It is possible, but to see past is one thing...to see a future self contact you...I don't know what to make of it."
"How do I know if I can prevent his condition?" She asked hurriedly. It pained her to remember the battered starved form of the man she loved.
"His suggestions would make sense in time, my child. Wait till you understand them fully before you do something that you regret. Changing the future is a fickle thing. It can have many unexpected consequences."
"I understand..." She sighed and went back to grinding the herbs.
And here are the review responses:
Miss Kagosha: Thanx!
Princess Pen: Don't worry, I won't tell you anything that could give away the story but the well filling thing isn't happening anytime soon. You'll see ;)
Miriam: you read it twice?? TWICE??? I can't even read the chapter I write twice...now I feel like a fool. You got great patience there!!!
Marsha a.k.a. Inuyasha: Thanx a lot for the lovely review. And no, Kagome wasn't being a bitch...she was just surprised. And no, Rei isn't gonna kill Kagome for being in love with Inu. Remember, she was the one who got Inu to go to the future and hence save Kagome's butt? Rei isn't the bad dude here...hey wait a minute why am I telling you the story???
Kewlgurl175: Arrigoto for the new words (he he he he) I really like learning new languages and I am getting Japanese faster than any other coz maybe bc I'm using them in the fic? But either way...love ya lots and please gimme more words.
Inulover72: Eh heh...so it wasn't just a dream after all....
Kougagurl666: Glad you like!!!!
Krazifull2748: Hope you like her answer.
NefCanuck: Hojo is way too oblivious for my liking but hey, I guess that's why he's Hojo!!!
EmpKaylenatye: At least this time I didn't end it with a cliffhanger. I frankly hate cliffhangers but love it when I'm the author. Now I get why I come across so many of them now.
Arina: I can end it like that coz I'm evil. BWAHAHAHAHA. See?
Alex: Thanx for looking past the obvious. Kouga is still a topic I have to take care of...expect him in the next chapter or maybe the one after that. He's gonna blow when he finds out that she's mated. BWAHAHAHAHA.
Live-4-Evil: Well, I hope you are satisfied now!!! Thanx for reviewing!!!