Legal stuff: I don't own Inu-Yasha or the characters within the story – I'm just borrowing. D I'm not making any money… period… so don't worry hehe.
Only They Know: Old Friends, Yet New
By Gabreilla Moushigo
Last time:
"Oh… your just sick." His eyes narrowed on him. "Why didn't you warn me you stupid pervert?!" A fist came down and Miroku blocked it deftly.
"Inu-Yasha… wouldn't you much rather talk this through?" Miroku said, his usual stupid smile in place.
"No!"
"Why are they fighting?" Sango asked Kagome.
"Because they are stupid." Kagome answered. "They don't need a reason to fight…" She was calm because she knew that they were just messing around anyway. Inu-Yasha wasn't any angrier than usual, other wise Miroku would be flat on his back.
Sango laughed a little. "I guess they don't." She watched them as they mock battled, the moment of worry over the vortex no longer consuming them.
But it was dangerous to let their guard down, who knew what lurked beyond the clearing and the bushes… the trees and the waters? He would always watch them, and wait…
SNAP! A twig broke and the CRACKLE CRUNCH! of the leaves followed. A man stood in the shadows before them. They all froze when they saw him. He had billowing robes; they were hazy in the gloom cast by the trees.
"Inu-Yasha-?" Kagome began asking, worried. She noticed that the man in the darkness flinched. That only made her think of one person… but? Why was he here?
'Damn!' Either Inu-Yasha's nose was playing with him… or this man had absolutely no scent at all. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure it out. For someone to stand there… that close without a smell… Could this be Naraku? Wasn't he taller? "If you're finished playing in the shadows you can come out here with us!" Inu-Yasha mocked, hoping to get a reaction.
Sango had enough and sent her boomerang into the woods, the man held up us staff, and barrier forming around him and the huge object just made a loud WONK! sound before it bounced off and tumbled to the ground.
"Ha… hah ha ha ha." A laugh, everyone froze at the familiarity of it. The man stepped out of the shadows and their mouths gaped. "Ladies… no need to stare like that… there is plenty for all."
Miroku?!
Inu-Yasha glared backwards, wondering how the hell the little bastard moved so quickly. 'Miroku?!' He looked in front of him "MIROKU?!" he shouted.
The man who looked strangely like their friend looked into the back of the crowd. "Ah… I see…" He said, but refused to tell anyone his findings.
"You SEE?!" Inu-Yasha said, his mouth agape still. This had to be a trick! Either that… or they were suffering from some mass hallucination. Maybe Naraku had put something in the air to screw with their minds… maybe he was just dreaming?
"Miroku!" A woman's voice came from overhead, close to the man. She stood atop a small, but very steep hill. Inu-Yasha couldn't believe his eyes. Was that? Kikyo? She wore the priestess robes… her hair… the same style as when he first met her. Only… her face carried more gentleness, more concern… almost like she were still alive. She didn't smell like Kikyo… she had a normal human smell… Kagome's smell in fact! What in the hell was going on?
"Kagome?" The man answered.
"Catch me!" She cried, throwing her body down.
"Wait!" Miroku stumbled forward to catch her, and did so with very little grace. At least he didn't drop her. "Give me more warning next time." He cautioned.
She had noticed them all from the beginning. "How is this possible?" She pushed away from the man. "Sango? Shippo? Kirara?" She smiled at them so sweetly, so genuinely and so happily that they couldn't help but smile too. "Inu-Yasha?" She said softly. The man behind her looked a little perturbed at the sound of her voice. "How is it that you are all alive?" She then noticed a girl that looked very much like her. "You are me." She gasped, then looking at Miroku. "They are us…"
"It would seem." The man that looked like Miroku said. "Where do you think we are?"
"Naraku must have done this." She said softly, but too happy to see her friends to care.
"Maybe if you two explained yourselves…" Miroku began. "We could understand the situation a little better?"
They spent hours at a time explaining everything that had happened. First they talked about their adventures. How they all met, how they battled to get the Shikon jewel. Then they told them how their friends had slowly left them. Shippo was the first to die. Kagome recalled tearfully. Then her friend Sango died next. Kirara decided to stay with them, even after that.
Inu-Yasha, in their time, suggested that they would get more done if they separated. He went with Kikyo and Miroku went with Kagome. Kirara stayed with the two humans, the demon cat making sure that they were free from harm when she could. They met up together when there was a great need, and the battles became to strong for just two people to handle. Of course, they always separated afterwards. Then the two recalled their last memory of that time… when they faced down Naraku. With his last remnants of strength he wished to take Miroku away, hoping that his loss would destroy them mentally, even if he could no longer kill them. Just as Miroku started hoping that the curse in his hand was leaving him, another whirlwind appeared and picked him up. Kagome threw herself at him and tangled around his legs, being pulled up to… and then… they were here.
"I hope Inu-Yasha is taking care of Kirara." The woman named Kagome said.
The man from her time placed a hand on her shoulder, not having the heart to tell her that he had seen the demon cat die before his very eyes. Even if she had lived… he doubted that Inu-Yasha would've waited around with her, but rather went with Kikyo into the world beyond… where he belonged with her. He never voiced such things though, for they would only upset her. "I'm sure she is fine and happy."
"That's amazing." Sango decided to be the bearer of the dreaded cliché.
"We all died?" Shippo asked. The two nodded their heads in unison.
It hurt this woman to look at Shippo, he was the first to go, and one of the hardest for her to let go of. She had always looked out for the little boy… and even after just a little while… she started to think of him as her own son. She dreamed at times, when everything was over, that she would be able to take care of him. She missed having someone to take care of… then again… Miroku was enough to take care of… he was just a little boy in a big body… a little boy with a thing for butts apparently. When Sango left it was up to her to deal with the ass-grabber… oh well… she had to take one for the team if they were ever going to get rid of Naraku. But… now that all that was over… "Miroku!" SMACK! Only, she slapped his arm instead of his face. "Have you no shame? We've just introduced ourselves… show some restraint!"
"I couldn't help myself my dear…" He purred. "When presented with such-"
"He's just as perverted as ours." Sango said incredulously. "Great… that's just great! We have two deviants in camp now! What shall we do?" They laughed at that.
Inu-Yasha thought about their story for a minute. "Well… what are you two going to do now?"
"Well… we obviously cannot get back." The man called Miroku said. "I wouldn't know the first thing about doing that… nor would I want to risk our lives." He paused. "We also wouldn't want to impose upon you, since… well… it might be very confusing for you."
Inu-Yasha scoffed. "Who cares about that? Kagome looks different enough… and you… well… your taller than our monk… but…" He tried to think of something else.
"Maybe you could wear something to identify yourself." Their Miroku suggested.
"Here, wear this!" Kagome said helpfully, pulling out of her bag a bright red scarf. "It's getting cold anyway, it will keep you warm." She wrapped it around his neck a couple times. "I brought it for me… but it's not that cold out yet… and when I go back home next week I can get another."
"Thank you for your gift." He said politely.
"Who said you could go back?!" Inu-Yasha shouted. "I thought you didn't have school anymore?!"
Kagome turned so quickly everyone was surprised she didn't break her neck. "I don't you idiot! I wanted to go see my family!" Kagome shouted back, careful to pronounce her words carefully for him, just in case he missed any.
"What's more import-?!"
"SIT!" She yelled at his face right before he fell into the dirt. "You dummy!"
"K-Kagome!" He wailed, the night drifting off in peals of laughter.
The next day they set out again, the initial shock had left them about the strange couple's appearance. What were they to do? Leave them there? Besides, they could feel great power radiating from them. They would be foolish to give up powerful allies that not only knew how to destroy Naraku, but also knew everyone and their quirks along with that.
The two kept to themselves though, singsong smiles dancing across their faces every so often. They were happy, despite all that was happening… it was as if their friends were reborn. They looked on their doubles with just as much carefree happiness as they showed the others. In a way, they were almost living their younger lives through them again. It delighted them to see how much happier they were than they at their age.
Miroku-san often complimented them, saying how wonderful they worked together. They all guessed his reasons behind it were because the people in their time were all but eternally separated.
The other Kagome was the same, despite her being just as good as Kikyo with the bow and arrows… if not better… she complimented little Kagome on how much she learned in so little time.
The others started to enjoy the two's company just as much. Sango thought that this Miroku must be some Godsend… for she never had to endure his groping hands or lecherous comments; Inu-Yasha liked him for the same reason. Inu-Yasha also liked the two of them, but for other reasons still. The new woman promised to help them while Kagome was away, so that she could complete her studies. She clucked her tongue when she heard that Kagome had decided to quit. Telling her "You should stay in school and finish. You don't have to stay there all the time, and once you get finished with the tests and studying you need to do, you can come right back." Her eyes promised that there would be no rude interruptions by Inu-Yasha anymore. Sango liked her because she was sympathetic towards her losing her brother. "I lost my brother Sota a long time ago." Kagome mused. "The well is shut up, and far away from me now." A sigh escaped between her lips. "I miss him… I wish I could have said goodbye." And Sango cried, someone who finally, truly understood.
Kagome watched her double walk in front of her, they had been together for several days. They had gotten so much accomplished, they even managed to steal back a huge chunk of the Shikon Jewel from Naraku. It appalled her how much she looked like Kikyo when she got older. She even did her hair up the same way as when she first met Kikyo. How strange… she of all people didn't want to even think of Kikyo… much less look like her… but she wondered how she thought of it.
"Ummm…" How did you address yourself? "Kago-chan?" There we go… keep it natural.
Her older self stopped, turned and smiled at the nickname. "Yes Kagome?"
By the inflection on her name she realized how weird it must have been to say her name… either that… or she was teasing her. By the looks of it, it might be the later, since when did she start acting like that? "Um… why do you wear those clothes? Why do you wear your hair like that?" Stupid question, she knew it, but she had to know or it would bother her all through the trip!
"Kago-chan" seemed to be taken aback by her abruptness, but she smiled softly as if to say 'she is me after all'. "Because this is how some priestesses chose to look."
"But… doesn't it remind you of something… or someone?" She scratched the side of her face nervously, hoping her words wouldn't offend her. Maybe in her time Kikyo was never reborn… maybe she never cared for Inu-Yasha the same way.
"It did, I'll admit… but does it really matter in the long run?" She sighed. "I cannot keep living in the past, and to "not do my hair a certain way just because someone else that I didn't like did it this way" is just silly." She hoped that she didn't sound to harsh saying it that way. "Kagome…" She really looked at her. "I know that it hurts sometimes… and I do not know what your future holds… but do not be bitter… or lose yourself." She offered a hopeful smile. "If it happens, it will happen… if it doesn't then you will find someone else… and these little things will not seem so important in time." God… she felt soooo friggin' preachy just then.
"I guess I see what your saying." Jeeze, what's with the speech? 'It's easy for her to say that life isn't hard… she hadn't had to deal with Inu-Yasha the…' She stopped in mid thought, 'Yes she did.' Suddenly she felt like one of the biggest fools of all time. She was refusing advice… from her older self! She nearly slapped her cheeks in embarrassment.
"You see," Kago-chan laughed. "You're doing it again." She started walking again on the path with the others. "Do not worry so much Kagome, have fun and enjoy yourself."
"Ummmm… Kago-chan?"
"Yes?" She answered patiently.
"How long were you with Inu-Yasha?" Kagome questioned.
"Long enough." She snorted humorously.
"Were you ever-?"
"Yes." She answered, knowing what she was about to ask.
'So she did love Inu-Yasha.' Kagome thought. "Weren't you sad when he went away?"
"Oh yes… I was…" She said. "I thought it was the end of the world… but I got over it eventually. There is no reason to cry any longer over it… besides…" And she left it like that, with a grin.
Kago-chan ran off in front of everyone laughing, leaving Kagome staring at her back. "W-wait!" Kagome yelled. "'Besides' what?! C'mon! Tell me!"
They all sat around the fire, Inu-Yasha in his tree, Kagome in her sleeping bag huddled up with her strangely silent Shippo, Sango sleeping with her blankets huddled around her, her giant boomerang close by just in case, Kirara laying on her shoulder. Miroku was the only one awake. Instead of sleeping he decided to meditate. The two figures that were added to the group seemed to stay close together, if not for warmth but for a familiarity in the world they had lost.
Miroku would not admit as much, but he felt sorry for them. They had lost so much, worked so hard… and for what? To be slung back into another nightmare, the same nightmare they thought they had corrected… and on top of that… they no longer had an identity. Miroku was Miroku and Kagome was Kagome… Miroku started understanding Kagome's plight with Kikyo now… maybe not the love triangle stuff involved, but the loss of one's self. That Miroku was now Miro-kun by some and Miroku-san or Miroku-sama to others and all knew Kagome as Kago-chan. They no longer had their names.
One thing he didn't regret however was to see how strong they had gotten. How much more mature Kagome was, and… even how much more suave he had become. It was so interesting to see them, it was like being able to look into the future for just one moment and to see what all of life held.
He did not open his eyes fully, but something shocked him… this man… his hand… was still wrapped. Miroku could not hold that dead feeling inside the pit of his belly. 'But… why?! Wasn't the curse supposed to be lifted once Naraku was taken care of? Wasn't there just the least bit of hope?' He sank miserably into himself.
"Hrmmm?" The elder Kagome seemed to budge a little.
"Kagome…" Miroku-chan nudged her and his voice seemed very suggestive.
"What?" She seemed grumpy for a moment. Then she looked at him, when she was fully awake. "What is it?" She asked quietly.
"Maybe we should… take a walk… and talk about a few things." He whispered, his face dangerously close to hers.
Kagome visibly shivered at that. "B-but…"
"Let's go now, before it gets too late." He sighed. "Besides, we are pretty close to… our place… do you remember that spot?"
"It is around here?" She looked about, finally recognizing everything. "Ah!" She exclaimed in a hushed tone. "I see." Then it seemed as if something had struck her, her eyes narrowed. "No way!"
They continued to argue so quietly he could not near them any longer; finally he grabbed one of her arms and pulled her very close and whispered into her ear.
Miroku could only guess that she was shivering in fear from the look in her eyes. Something was up. He watched as they silently got up, dusted themselves and rolled up their sleeping blankets. He pretended to sleep until he was sure they were out of earshot. He nudged Sango awake after rising to his feet. "Sango… come with me…"
"Hm?" She woke up. "What do you want Miroku?"
The end of chapter 2! I dunno... what do you guys think? I was hoping the whole different world didn't sound to weird for a story. I actually wrote the prequel to this story before I even wrote this one - then I thought of this story line. I'm probably going to finish "Only They Know" up first though. Review please, just want to make sure you guys like it.