Summary: Inuyasha and Kagome fatefully met one day and reached a mutual abhorrence. They were cast into a deal that was never wanted but necessary. What followed can only be described as this: the cycle from hell. PG-13 for language, mature topics, and bad humor
DISCLAIMER: I can own Inuyasha anytime I want, I just don't feel like it today.
The CycleChapter One – It Begins
By asian tofu"Goodnight, Hinakare-san," Goro waved just before he vanished behind his coworker's busy door, "I'm off to the lab."
A few minutes later she managed to notice and say some apathetic reply, "Mm-hm."
Eventually, when the clock struck six, she turned her face away from the prickling light of the computer monitor. Hinakare took off her glasses and set them down on her desk, which was cluttered with papers that contained graphs, reports, and analyses. She slowly rubbed her eyes in fatigue, a very notorious stomach growl scarcely reminding her she had forgotten to eat lunch.
She had lost a lot of weight after she had taken the job. Kaede was the one and only reason she had to keep it. It had been so hard for her years ago to prove to the foster home agency that she was ready to take care of her little sister. A short while later she had lost her job, and the agency retook custody.
When she toiled endlessly in school, spending every second perfecting her schoolwork in every possible way, Kaede was shipped from family to family. Kikyou was still in school at the time when she was summoned to the Head's office, which was where she got the news that her sister was being evaluated by this family in England, and that there might've been a possibility that she would be sent.
That was it. That was when Tomoyachi-sempai offered her the job, the task of 'tutoring' his son. She had taken it with reluctance, simply sick with the idea of what the older man had suggested. How she would be treated like a regular servant and would be expected to work like the others as well as give the Tomoyachi heir some academic boosts…and some.
/Flashback
"I want him to love you," the corporation owner remarked evenly, not skipping a beat.
"W-What?" Kikyou spluttered.
"There is simply a course of events that I must take action in…" Tomoyachi-sempai's eyes gained a breath of energy, "to give our world a rebirth."
What kind of crap is he feeding now? Kikyou thought quite clearly. Though, she was smart enough to voice some curiosity. "A course of events? What does that have to do with your son's love life?"
The man almost seemed to get an amused gleam in his eyes, "I'm thinking of giving the overlooked beasts a chance for survival."
Kikyou sniffed at him – he had easily avoided her initial question, "Sir, are you an animal activist?"
Tomoyachi-sempai smiled – or rather, the edges of his lips elevated slightly to something close to a millimeter. "You can say that," he said as he swiveled his leather chair with his back facing her. "I hope to hear your decision soon, Hinakare-san."
Figuring that this was obviously her cue to leave, Kikyou gratefully bowed respectively, "We will be in contact then," she replied, before dashing out the door until she was safely out of the building.
There, she let out an exceedingly prolonged scream.
/End Flashback
Once she had started tutoring Inuyasha, she had learned that he actually was different from his father. She had figured that the son would've been sophisticated and snotty, like all rich kids.
Then on their first lesson, his first words to her proved her way off.
'Fuck off.'
Charming.
As memories flew by, Kikyou had been automatically strolling down the hallway towards the cafeteria. While she approached, a certain white sign hung crookedly across the dull gray double doors. It withheld two very prominent (and cruel) words.
We're Closed.
"I don't like cafeteria food anyway!" Kikyou huffed, aggravatingly clicking her shoes soundly on the tiled floor.
She blindly made her way through the halls, eerily aware of the bright lights that bore down only on her shadow. She recollected that Goro-san had mentioned he had gone to the lab for some more research. Kikyou decided that some human interaction would be a good break from her work (and would distract her from food).
Hence, she redirected herself once again in some ignorant direction. Hopefully Goro-san hasn't left yet. He was only there to confirm a few measurements. Kikyou's heart ached for the poor animals that they were testing the poison on. It wrenched at her heart even more so since she had the largest part in creating it.
Upon reaching the bolted doors of the lab, Kikyou casually snuck through and closed the doors again, careful not to lock herself in. Goro wasn't in the main lab, which meant he was in the testing room, a huge space that contained the specimens that the staff used for research. Usually it was filled with cages that held animals, the room itself emitting a stench of urine, manure, and perspiration.
A short while after Kikyou had joined, the room's door was reinforced for the specimens supplied for her team's project. She assumed it must've been something like gorillas or chimps that were coming in. She hadn't seen them herself, of course, unless she wanted to experience a hell of a guilt trip.
Timidly, she peeked inside to see Goro indeed writing hastily in all his sloppy glory, the back of his white lab coat facing her. Instead, his attention was focused on two tanks that were longer than she was tall. The testing room had been removed of all cages, animals, and smells. The walls were whitewashed, and the vast marble tiles that encased the floor were glowing under the fluorescent beams.
Goro finally put his clipboard down, and Kikyou began to reveal herself, but he then took two items out of his pocket.
They were the two identical vials that she had issued to Tomoyachi-sempai the other day. The bloodred fluid contained in the vials rocked slightly as he moved. Goro couldn't be making an unauthorized dosage, could he? The other members of the faculty had to confirm it first!
Kikyou hesitated for another moment. What could Goro be thinking? She stared at him as he struck in the common code for both capsules, listening to the vacuum suck in air as the drug holders elevated out. Goro uncorked each vial, oblivious to his shocked spectator, and inserted them snugly into each holder.
At this time Kikyou already knew that she had to take action before it was too late. Goro was giving each of the specimens a month's supply of experimentation drug.
Goro-san! She shrieked out inwardly, unable to get herself to recover from the original horror. Even if she were to jump out now, it was already belated. She had missed her chance when the last detail of both vials had already been swallowed into the pods.
The young woman opened the door and exposed herself, "G-Goro-san." Her voice faltered as a tight knot of fear twisted in her chest.
"Hinakare!" The scientist jumped, yelping her name. "Don't – kuh…kk…" Goro clutched at his heart, darting his eyes around, his legs crumbling beneath him"…look…" The life seemed to have already drained away before he touched the ground, his eyes wide and red with trailing tears of blood.
Kikyou had the urge to call the paramedics immediately, but something even more imperative was calling. Hastily, she clouted the same code Goro had just entered minutes before into the common number pad, and commanded withdrawal.
The drug holders slid out, the vials both half full. Kikyou sighed in relief as doses could only be taken twice a month. She had saved a disaster from happening.
Except the color of the fluids weren't exactly the same color as when she had handed them over…they had mutated into a light pink liquid.
Kikyou couldn't contain her curiosity any longer – she had to find out what the reactions of the specimens would be. She was ashamed at herself for almost anticipating the way her chemical would work. Apprehensively, she leaned over and took a good look into one of the pods.
She gasped, coming face to face with the waxy skin of corpselike creatures. But these creatures were writhing in internal pain, sending air bubbles rocking in every direction, until they had only occasional spasms. Except that wasn't what had shocked her.
Two men…Kikyou confirmed to herself, her curiosity of the effects overcoming her humanity.
She gazed back down through the resilient glass of one of the cases once each of them had stopped writhing.
Ice blue eyes stared back at her.
Kagome tore a fallen leaf out of her hair. What the heck?! It was barely getting into September and the stupid trees were already shedding?
Stupid lack of pigment…
Kagome huffed as she flipped the offending yellow object off.
What is he doing there? Don't tell me he has a mirror and he's fallen in love with his reflection…
She hardly stifled a dry chuckle that dared to burst out of her. It wasn't exceptionally arduous to believe. Kagome shifted a little behind the bushes so she could get a better look at Inuyasha.
Eavesdropping, when a parent told his or her child, was an immoral transgression. The child when told this lecture, after in which being caught by the parent eavesdropping, would process the information and sort it along with the category for their values.
Kagome had evidently processed the information and sorted it along with her category for other processed things; cheese, meat, etc.
She had a feeling it was wrong, but Inuyasha didn't want her as a tutor. He needed some time alone to think about it and accept the idea. Besides, she really hated him for insulting her friend like that yesterday.
Had she met Inuyasha under any circumstances, she still would've hated him. He was an egoistical, immature rich boy who used vulgar words periodically. If it hadn't been for him running off like that when she was trying to talk to him, she wouldn't have been in this situation right now. Kagome picked up an acorn from under a bush and squeezed it, imagining it was Inuyasha's head.
Inuyasha checked his watch, and noticed it was already past seven. She told me it was at six…why isn't she here?
Because you're too late, dumbass, A traitorous voice chirped in the back of his mind.
The ramblings that he had recited in to himself ever since he had gotten her letter; the ones that he was going to say to her were useless now. Suffering from a looming depression, Inuyasha bleakly raised his concentration out of his teenage self-pity.
"Kikyou?"
She watched him as he stood, the jacket blanketed around him gradually settling on the grass. Inuyasha had his face turned away from her, staring in the other direction. Kagome caught a glimpse of a shadow moving near the trees that Inuyasha was so concentrated on.
He retrieved his coat from the pillows of moon-paled grass and hurdled it above the finely trimmed grass into the nearby lake. Kagome could imagine him using his favorite potty words in some innovative sentence already.
He's shouting someone's name…
The wind shrieked even more stridently, rustling the trees till their leaves gave way into a tumultuous hurricane of autumn colors. Inuyasha strained to control his coat to cover her, the ashen, lip-trembling girl whom he had thrown out his heart to. She was as good as dead.
Never.
A rivulet of blood screamed, demanding his attention as it exploded and snaked around in a band of intricate crimson, steadily flowing down his arm.
Kikyou seized a sharp intake of breath through her teeth, unconsciously hissing in pain as Inuyasha's hand quivered on her wounded shoulder. "Damnit Kikyou…who did this?" Inuyasha growled, his very essence being crushed together into a smoldering flame that was threatening to erupt through him any minute.
He would've attempted to soak the blood with his coat at first, but it was already sodden from the pond.
I am such a fuckin' idiot!
Though he had his back turned to her, the wind took his hair into ripples of illuminated silver-blue, painting the air around him with the glow of innate tranquility.
He wasn't Inuyasha.
Inuyasha isn't like him at all. This Inuyasha…he's…he's taking off his shirt?!
Kagome slapped a hand over her eyes a little more audibly than her throbbing face would've liked to save her chaste innocence once and for all!
That pervert! How dare he…! Kagome thought as her innate reflexes kicked in and she radiated with a scandalized shock. But she knew that something significant was going on…and she couldn't miss it. So, using her other hand as leverage, Kagome tediously plucked each finger away from their almost-permanent position on her face.
The maelstrom of thoughts slammed into the reserved inlets of her mind, flooding them with what Kagome called, corrupted and graphic images of Inuyasha's nicely chiseled physique.
Bad thoughts! Bad thoughts!!!
The last thought that managed to cross through him before he outright took off his favorite shirt?
I hope Kikyou doesn't think I'm fat…
It took a little while for Kagome to discontinue the unconscious gawking of Inuyasha's bare upper body. Usually his lengthy hair covered it, which did not disappoint her, but the wind sporadically blew past for Kagome to get another eyeful of 'unwanted and obscene' flesh.
She could see that there was obviously someone there with him, judging from his motions, but she couldn't determine anything else unless he turned around.
Inuyasha gave the knot another tug, making sure it was secure. Hopefully his shirt would be enough cut off circulation and ease the blood into abating. No way was he using his pants! Timidly, he slung Kikyou's arms around his neck and slipped his clammy arms under her back and knees. Trying to be as gentle as possible, Inuyasha hoisted her up. He traipsed through the blood-soaked grass, cringing with the pungent metallic fragrance that threatened to drown him, and placed the wounded maiden delicately to lean against the sakura.
Inuyasha scrutinized the bulky knot that secured his shirt around her shoulder, and fortunately for him, it showed only a little sign of blood.
Suddenly Kikyou furrowed her eyebrows as the moon's rays splattered across her face. She struggled to breathe and gasped as she wrenched the shirt off with her still-functioning hand.
"Kikyou? Hey, take it easy - "
"Tell…me…the truth," Kikyou enunciated carefully through her shallow breaths, her bloodied shoulder attacking the fabric surrounding it with a new vitality.
Inuyasha almost fell back a step from the serene rage that was paralyzing his senses. "What?" The tremors of pain that kept surging through her made his every word obstinate to speak without choking.
She sent a finger sliding across her wound strenuously so he could see the blood splurge through the cloth and flinch with her pained winces. "Aren't you happy now, Inuyasha?"
"I don't get it…why would I-I be happy?" Inuyasha lifted out his hand to pull Kikyou in a tender hug. "Why would I be happy, when the one I love is in pain?" He breathed through her hair, taking in the scent of her familiar shampoo.
Kikyou retracted from him and stared into him, her eyes instantaneously flashing shock but then emitted with blazing anger. "How could you say that Inuyasha? After all you've done, you try and charm me into trusting you again," she spat bitterly. Inuyasha grimly opened his mouth. "Getting ready for another tactic? I don't think so."
Kagome was restless. She couldn't help but squirm when she saw Inuyasha envelope the girl and take her against him. Isn't this beginning to get private? She had been holding onto her tiny bit of guilt from the start, and it was only growing with time as Inuyasha's actions were getting to her.
She breathed again when the two broke away from their embrace, continuing a conversation she couldn't hear.
"Kikyou, is this some sort of sick joke? 'Cause I'm afraid I'm getting tired of it," Inuyasha snapped, suddenly building up on a flash fury than on worry or rejection.
"Oh, and was tricking me into feeling for you some sort of sick joke too?" Kikyou glared, her throat mounting with the tumultuous sea of words that she wanted to let out.
Inuyasha coughed out a puff of breath, his eyes red from the time he hadn't blinked since he'd spotted her coming. "Fine. For the last time I don't know what you're talking about," he rubbed his eyes, "but all I know is that I care about you and that you are coming with me to a hospital."
"Save your breath, Tomoyachi, I don't need your god-damned sympathy." Kikyou said raspily, proving herself to him by standing in a fiery determination. She planted each foot on the ground firmly before she was sure she could take a step without hinting on her weakness.
Then she left him.
School on Monday was a chore. Inuyasha was unable to sleep over the weekend, so he was early. Nothing seemed to be moving him as he immersed himself in his own confusion and ponderings.
He hadn't been able to go after her that night. But he'd waited. She would come back and laugh at him…laugh for being so gullible, stupid…call him an idiot once or twice.
The sun had risen just over the sakura when he began to understand what she'd really been saying.
It was the simple matter that she was lost to him.
"Inuyasha," Miroku greeted, taking note of the severed expression on his face. "Hey." Miroku was some new guy who kept following him around. The lecher claimed that he needed to learn how to attract specimens of the opposite sex like Inuyasha did.
He wasn't in the mood to talk – Miroku's salutation remained unreturned. Inuyasha took his time to get to his locker, noticing that he was already too early for the classrooms to be unlocked. Miroku bristled at his friend's irregular behavior, so he left him to his own devices.
Kagome had to admit that Friday night's happening were something out of the ordinary. It was hard to explain, but even worse with the fear that Inuyasha would find out. It's obvious that he wouldn't flash his bare chest to any girl…and that wouldn't have mattered if the girl was not Hinakare Kikyou.
A bit of a woozy feeling struck her, and Kagome leaned herself against a wall. She'd forgotten to eat dinner the other night and breakfast that morning because of the load of studying she had to do. Thinking about it only made her stomach lurch even more vehemently. She'd been studying in the school library till now, when she'd decided to buy something from the cafeteria to ease her stomach pains.
She slid to the ground hugging her stomach as the pain peaked. When it abated, she picked herself up and clenched her teeth as her movement set off another pattern of agony. Tediously, she walked with one hand over her stomach and one hand trailing on the wall.
Kagome gazed ahead at someone strutting towards her, recognizing the long, white hair just as her vision impaired with semi-black spots dotting her view.
"Inuyasha…"
He was just in range to see Kagome begin to crash into the ground before he sped in and grabbed her, "Whoa, bitch…shit! What did you do?" Inuyasha exclaimed, picking her up from the ground. "What the hell made you want to faint?" He took her up so he carried her under the knees and upper back, hoping that the nurse wouldn't blame him for her state.
Every so often, he would look at her. She's a lot better out cold…gods I can't stand her. All that talk messing with my head…Inuyasha couldn't help but mutter, "Smells sort of nice…" He looked at her and made a face, "…but still a bitch." Inuyasha gagged when she shifted a little, turning closer towards him. "Maybe she's waking up," he said, sighing with relief as he spotted the nurse's office.
Inuyasha, straining with holding Kagome, had to kick the door for a long time before it finally swung open to reveal a frail old woman with a loud voice.
"Mister Tomoyachi, I presume?" Inuyasha nodded dumbly, a little discouraged by this strange old lady. "Well? GET IN!!" She screeched, making Inuyasha jump and run inside. He heard the door slam close and saw the old woman swiftly enter the room. "Put her down here!" She barked, slapping her hand down on a bed. Inuyasha did so gratefully; Kagome was lighter than she looked, but still a job on the muscles.
"So…" Inuyasha said, lounging on one of the unoccupied beds, "She's going to be all right?" He coughed, trying not to sound too concerned. He got no reply. "Hey! Old hag! I asked if she was going to be –," Inuyasha glanced at Kagome, who was stirring. "Humph." He grunted, turning away.
"Hi…Inuyasha…" Kagome said thickly, rubbing her head. Did she fall…? "Inuyasha?" She scruntunized her surroundings, "Did you…?" Inuyasha grunted again as he propped his back against the wall.
The nurse reappeared with a small clipboard and a pen. "Higurashi Kagome?" She asked. Kagome nodded. The small woman climbed onto a stool to obtain better access to examining her patient. She exposed a wooden stick and a small light, "Say 'ah'." Kagome did as she was told and let the senior citizen check her throat. Then, taking the light, her eyes were checked.
The nurse scribbled some stuff onto her clipboard and inquired, "Have you eaten anything in the past 12 hours?"
It didn't take long for Kagome to blurt out, "No."
That had come to Inuyasha's surprise. "How could you not eat? What were you thinking?! No wonder – " He cut himself off before he said anything stupid. Kagome rolled her eyes at him.
At that moment, the door flew open.
"Kagome!! I came as quickly as I could! Are you all right?" Sango flung her arms around Kagome's neck, "I was so worried when you didn't get to class at exactly 7:30!" Sango jumped, looking at Inuyasha as if he had just appeared out of nowhere. "When did you get here?"
Kagome brushed some of her hair behind her ear and said, "Inuyasha…he um…" Kagome felt herself flush a little, "…carried me here." She turned at him, "Thanks."
The brooding Inuyasha mumbled, "Keh."
The rest of the time at the nurse's he remained completely ignored.
That day Inuyasha got two sodas, throwing one to Miroku, who was extremely surprised but not the least grateful as the can had hit him on the head.
"Wasn't my fault you can't catch Miroku!" was Inuyasha's idea of an apology; Miroku sighed and cracked the top of his open. The soda fizzled and a small wisp of smoke came out of it. Miroku gulped it down. Inuyasha popped the top off his as well, satisfied at the looks of horror from the guys who had been hoping he had been transferred. Yup, it was great to be back.
"So Inuyasha, do anything interesting when you took Kagome to the nurse's office?" Miroku asked, his eyebrows going up and down. Inuyasha practically spat out his soda.
"Lech!!" He yelled. Miroku's smirk widened.
"Ahh…so you did do something!!" He quipped, punching Inuyasha playfully in the arm. "You dog, you!" Inuyasha glared at him.
"Miroku, if I ever need someone with a mind only large enough for remembering scenes from American Pie movies, I'll call you."
Miroku beamed.
The moment in which Inuyasha was supposed to say 'That wasn't a compliment!', someone tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "What the hell do you want?" He asked, not turning his head to look at the person.
"Inuyasha!! Have you no time to consider not being a pompous ass?!" Kagome retorted, hitting his head with her lunch bag, which clanked with what she considered necessary accessories for a proper lunch. The list included a wok, silverware of all kinds, a cell phone (in case she forgot), and some bricks (god know what she uses those for).
"Woman! Are you trying to kill me?!" Inuyasha snapped, trying to ignore the twinges of pain searing from his head. Kagome glowered at him, raising her lunchbox for a second blow. Inuyasha whimpered.
"Can you come with me for second?" She said. Inuyasha gave her this bewildered look for about two seconds; then it rose to suspicion.
"And why the fuck do you suddenly want me to – "
"Language!!!" Kagome huffed. "There's something I need to tell you!" She took hold of his wrist and dragged him outside towards the hallway. Surprisingly to her, he didn't struggle at all or even protest—just sort of followed wherever she willed to go. As soon as they left the cafeteria whoops erupted in the cafeteria.
"You go girl!"
"Make sure you don't wear him out!!"
"I never thought Kagome would like his type!!"
Kagome stopped when she was sure no one would be listening to their conversation. "Ok, I have a confession to make…" Kagome turned around to face him. "Last Friday – "
Miroku wiggled his eyebrows.
"Kagome darling, I never thought you had it going for me! Been playing hard to get all this time huh?! Don't worry…I'm don't disappoint!"
Kagome glared at him.
"You have five seconds." She said coldly, you-are-so-dead written all over her face.
"One…"
"Stop this Kagome…you know you want me…" Miroku teased, smiling.
"…two…"
Miroku started to back away.
"…three…"
"I'm always available if you feel the urge to…"
"…four…"
Miroku was starting to turn away from her.
"…five!"
"Gaaaaaaaahhh!!" Miroku shrieked, speeding into a dead run.
"Now you die!!!" Kagome said, lunchbag raised high over her head, her midnight black tendrils flying behind her as she chased in hot pursuit.
"Kagome!! I thought you wanted it too…!" Miroku shouted over his back, trying to quicken his pace.
"Dream on!!" Kagome hollered to Miroku, who was losing ground as she let herself become mad with rage.
Miroku crashed through the double doors of the entrance, pausing only to unlock his bike from the bike rack.
"Yes!" He cried as it snapped free. Miroku threw himself over it, and pedaled away.
"Don't think you can escape that easily!!" Kagome hoarsely yelled, standing at the entrance. "I know where you live!!"
Miroku's laughs ricocheted from down the block. Kagome could hear some restrained mirth behind her as well. Whirling her windblown hair around, she saw Inuyasha roaring, grasping the lockers for support.
"Run." She muttered to him. Inuyasha let a few sniggers escape him before he could comprehend what she was saying. His face turned quite pale.
"AW SHIT!!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, how was it? I still haven't finished editing it, but I thought a humor part at the end was something that this story needed.