Title: Carry Me Home
Rating: PG-13 and R for violence and occasional sexual implications
Summary: Inuyasha's been wounded and is trapped in a sleep in which visions of a life he doesn't remember plague him. A life in which he was not a small child running from humans to become a nervous young man in love with a miko, but something else completely.
Disclaimer: Copyright for Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and the author does not write for profit
Author(ess): bluefuzzyelf
A/N: Uh, yeah. Hi. This is my third complete rewrite of this story, fresh with a new plot. My muse and this plotbunny have been hounding me to write this, and I've written three chapters now, all today. So go check out the other chapters before you read this, otherwise you will be completely lost.
Chapter Five
Inuyasha forgot about anything and everyone as soon as Alitash stepped through that door. His first instinct was to jump into the arena and take her away, get her out of the hell she was in.
She was different. Her features were sharper, her body harder. She fought mechanically and with none of the zest of years before. She had no scars that Inuyasha could see, and he was glad. A wound that left a scar on a full-blood was a wound not many recovered from. If anyone could, his Alitash could.
She fought alone. That was the next thing that caught his attention. There was no group. He should have expected it, because no one ever lasted as long as Alitash had managed to. They were probably all years dead. The thought struck him like a sword, and almost hurt as much.
He watched her like a thirsty man watches a waterfall. She was as beautiful as she had ever been, swift and deadly. He wanted desperately to call out her name. The only thing stopping him was that the distraction would get her killed. He had no fear of the guards. He could fight his way past them all, his friends in tow.
Inuyasha looked at Kagome, and his heart jumped. Her face was strained, and her eyes were glittery. He slipped an arm around the girl and held her close.
"It's almost over."
"What if she dies?"
"She won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because Tash never does anything as stupid as dying."
Kagome sniffed. "Who is she, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha inhaled. A mixture of perfume and blood and excrement filled his nostrils. "It's a long story."
"Can you tell me now?"
"No. But later. Between the fight and dusk, I'll tell you."
Kagome nodded. "Alright."
Alitash thrust her sword again and again into her opponent. The crowd cheered. She left the arena, proud head held high, and just before she left, she scanned the crowd as if out of habit. Her eyes widened for a moment, and then she was gone.
Inuyasha swept out of his chair and out of the arena as soon as Alitash had gone, followed by Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Shippou. They followed him as he led them to an old house on the outskirts of the city. He pushed aside the door flap and stepped inside, greeted with the sight of a rather older Udo tending to a little boy, no older that six.
"Udo."
The man stopped his work and spoke. "I know that voice well. I had thought it's owner to be dead."
"Not likely."
Udo looked up. "You are alive my old friend!" He stood and embraced Inuyasha like a brother.
"I am. Is your Grandmother still kicking?"
"No, sadly, she passed away several years back."
"Good. Meddling old bitch."
Udo snarled. "You insult my Grandmother like that, you ungrateful cur!"
Inuyasha backhanded Udo and he fell to the floor. Miroku stepped up to hold Inuyasha back as Kagome went to help Udo up, but Inuyasha stopped them both.
"She gave me some sort of potion to make me forget what had happened here, Udo. There was a poison in it that prevented my healing. I was in a healing trance for three weeks, Udo!"
"She did what?"
"I made a promise! And your Grandmother made sure I would never remember that promise, by erasing my memories!"
"I did not know. She said only that she'd sent you on your way."
"Yeah, well, I don't care if you knew or not. You're still going to help me."
"Do what?"
Inuyasha grinned, baring his fangs. "Still in the habit of rescuing slaves?"
They left Udo's house silently, everyone's mind whirling. Inuyasha had planned to meet Udo at dusk. In between now and then, they were going to go back to their campsite, where Inuyasha had promised to explain everything.
"What were you talking about, back there, at Udo's house?" Kagome was, predictably, the first to ask a question. Inuyasha sighed.
"When I was in my healing sleep," he began, "I began having visions, fragments of scenes, bits of a life I didn't remember having. Hakura worked it out that I had taken a potion that repressed my memories. She said it had come out of my bloodstream because of my wound, and slowly my life came back to me. Hakura also said that there was an herb in that potion that was commonly used as a poison, and it was that which made it impossible for Hakura to heal me. All she could do was keep cleaning my wound, until the potion and moth poison was gone and I could wake up and heal naturally."
"So, this old woman poisoned you?"
Inuyasha scratched his head. "No, not on purpose. She was a kind woman, I remember. I think she only wanted to save me some suffering, but she had no right to meddle in my life like that!"
"How does this connect with the woman in the ring and Udo? Why did the old woman give you the potion in the first place?"
Inuyasha fidgeted. "Well, after my mother died, I wandered all over the place, and ended up walking right into that city. They snapped me up immediately, a couple of silk traders, and sold me to the highest bidder." Kagome gasped. "They put me in the arena, after a couple years of training. They wanted to make sure I'd last a while." Sango hand her hand to her mouth and Shippou had curled up in Inuyasha's lap. He was a comforting weight. "I was an arena fighter. I had my own group of men and women, and we would fight together. We put on a great show. Alitash was one of my girls." There was a fondness in Inuyasha's voice that Kagome, nor the others, were used to hearing, and it tugged at Kagome's heartstrings. "Udo came to me and told me he could get me out. He likes to save as many people as he can, Udo does. The only decent youkai I'd ever met. I agreed, and he showed me a way out. It was dangerous, but I decided to go. I promised Tash I'd come back for her and the others." Inuyasha curled his hands into fists. "I promised.
"I got out and as I ran to Udo, I was shot in the shoulder. We rode to his Grandmother's house, and she helped me. She pulled the arrow out and bandaged my wound, and then ,when Udo left, she gave a potion that she said would help. I drank it. The next thing I remember, I was waking up outside Kikyou's village." As always, whenever her name was mentioned, Kagome felt a wave of sorrow and jealousy.
"So, you had a completely different life that you thought you did? Incredible." Miroku had one hand up to his chin. "How is it you knew Alitash was still alive?"
"Hakura. I don't know how she knew, but I couldn't take the chance to doubt her. Every day, Tash could die. Tonight we're going to get her, with Udo's help."
"Tonight?" squeaked Kagome. Inuyasha nodded. Kagome felt another wave of jealousy. She had the feeling Inuyasha wasn't telling the whole truth about himself and this Alitash woman. How many ex-girlfriends could he have?
"I have to fulfill my promise."
"We're with you, Inuyasha," said Sango. "Do we need to keep our kimonos on?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "No. Sango, get into your uniform. It's easier for you to move in that, and it will camouflage you. Kagome, do you have anything other than that school uniform thing?"
Kagome nodded. "I brought some shorts this time."
"Wear those, whatever they are. Miroku, you're fine. I'm going to be staying in this. As we go in, Kagome, you and Miroku will have cloaks, like me. Sango, you keep to the shadows. Udo will be showing us a way to the arena without being spotted. After that, it's just us. I know how to get in and out, but if we encounter anybody, we need to get rid of them quickly."
Kagome was breathing heavily. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Inuyasha looked into her eyes.
"She needs us, Kagome. Don't worry. I'll protect you." His words sent warmth coursing through her belly. She smiled and went to change.
She came back attired in denim shorts and a black t-shirt. She strapped on her bow and her quiver as Sango attached her wakizashi to her hip and her hiraikotsu to her back. Miroku took up his staff, his ring back in place.
Dusk came. Inuyasha swung his cloak over himself and as them entered the city, they met Udo, who handed cloaks to Kagome and Miroku. Shippou crouched inside the hood of Kagome's cloak.
"Do you think this'll work, Kagome?"
"I don't know, Shippou, I don't know."
Udo led them through the city, along old and unused roads, through alleyways and the slums. At last they ended their nerve-wracking journey by the walls of the arena.
Inuyasha embraced Udo one last time, murmuring something in the youkai's ear. He left soon after, disappearing into the night.
Kagome tried to still her pounding heart as Inuyasha crouched low and ran his hands along the stone wall.
"Inuyasha?"
"Shh! Aha!" His fingers caught on a stone and he pulled out a large slab to reveal a man sized hole. He climbed down into it, pulling Kagome in with him.
"Keep watch," he whispered to Sango and Miroku. Shippou jumped from Kagome's cloak to Miroku's. They nodded. Inuyasha turned and walked down a long tunnel, Kagome at his heels.
"Are you sure this is right?"
"I just got my memories back and they're clear, so stop fussing. We're nearly there."
They came upon a large gate about three feet from the ground which Inuyasha pushed open and climbed through. He turned to help Kagome up as well. When she was gotten up safely, Inuyasha turned and surveyed the room. It was dusty and smelled damp. No one had been in the room in a long time. Kagome slipped her hand into his. He smiled in the dark and pulled her along, a sense of excitement filling him. They crept along old cells and around occupied ones, Inuyasha's nose busy searching for her scent. He caught it and was glad to know she was in that same cell as before.
"C'mon," he whispered, tugging anxiously at Kagome's hand. Inuyasha led her around the cell and to the back, which looked like a solid wall.
"Inuyasha?"
"Watch." The hanyou pushed slightly and one section of the wall gave way to a door. He stepped over the threshold, Kagome behind him.
In the dark he suddenly found a knife to his throat. "In all my time here, there was only one man who knew that entrance, and he's dead. So will you be if you don't tell me why you're here."
Inuyasha chuckled. "Nice to see you too."
A gasp, and then the thunk of a knife upon earth. A candle was lit and for the first time in over fifty years, Inuyasha gazed upon the face of Alitash.
"You," she whispered. "I thought you had gone away. How many time's I've dreamed this and still you keep coming! Why can't you leave me alone?"
"Tash"
"No!"
Inuyasha stepped forward and swept the panther youkai into his arms. Kagome looked on, feeling as if she shouldn't be there.
"I'm here, I'm here, I'm here. It's been so long, but I'm here now." Alitash started to sob. "Shh, don't cry, it's okay."
"You're really here."
"I am. We're going to get you out of here."
Alitash tightened her hold on Inuyasha, burying her face in his neck. Inuyasha looked at Kagome, his gold eyes pleading for privacy. She nodded, suddenly feeling very cold, and backed out of the room, not daring to let her tears fall. How many women would he love before he loved her?
Alitash shuddered in his arms. "I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you."
Inuyasha rocked her gently, stroking her braided hair. Suddenly she hauled back and slapped him. "Where were you? I've been waiting fifty years, Inuyasha! Fifty years!"
Inuyasha rested his head on her forehead. "Udo's Grandmother, a healer, she gave me a potion to erase my memories. I didn't even remember being in the arena or anything about it until I was wounded and the potion came out with my blood. As soon as I heard you were alive, I came to get you."
Alitash stared at him. "Like what they did to Miaka." He nodded. "Oh, Inuyasha." She moved her hands to the sides of his face and kissed him with all the love she had held for him for fifty years. He held her to him like he never wanted to let go.
She pulled back and looked at him. She took in his long hair, the fancy clothes, his angled features. He didn't seem to have aged. In a full-blood of his age, that would've been common, but for a hanyou, it was strange.
"I was also pinned to a tree for fifty years."
"What?"
Inuyasha looked down. "I went looking for the Shikon jewel and when I found the village it was in, I fell in love with the miko who guarded it. It was not meant to be, because a demon by the name of Naraku turned our feelings for each other into hate. She shot me and pinned me to a tree for fifty years, until Kagome came along and freed me. I am sorry, Alitash. If I had only had my memories, I would've come to get you long before this."
"That explains why you don't look so different."
"Neither do you." His eyes were glinting at her in a way she liked very much, but a soft knock at the door startled both of them.
"Inuyasha? We should go."
Inuyasha nodded at Kagome. "Here," he said, handing Alitash a set of gold robes. "Put those on. We're walking out of here, the way we should've. You've more than won your freedom, Tash."
She grinned at him. "I think I've more than won more than that." Inuyasha chuckled. Alitash put on her robes.
"Wait," said Inuyasha, "Before we go, I have to know. What became of the others?"
Alitash looked down. "Beron died not long after you left." Inuyasha bent his head, ears shut tightly. Kagome laid a hand on his shoulder and he covered it with his own. "Kado, he lasted three years before he was struck down by a bear youkai. I killed him later. Taji disappeared. One morning, he just wasn't there. We don't know what happened to him." Inuyasha took an unsteady breath. "Raidon?"
"Disappeared as well. I heard a rumor that he was dead."
"Maiya. Please don't tell me Maiya's dead." He was pleading with her, unable to handle the grief of losing his men and his adopted baby sister.
"She's not. We don't think so, at least."
"Where is she?"
Alitash looked down. "The cages," she whispered. Inuyasha couldn't breathe.
"The cages?" It was more a need to be told that she was not in the cages than an actual question.
Alitash nodded. "She stole a coin from a noble as he was inspecting her." From the way Tash said 'inspecting', Inuyasha knew that the bastard wasn't looking for fighting skills. If he'd been there, he wouldn't have even gotten close to Maiya. "They threw her in the cages and haven't let her out."
"When was this?"
"Twenty five years ago." Inuyasha choked on his own breath and he fought to keep the tears form falling. Alitash leaned into one shoulder, comforting him while Kagome held him around the middle, her face in his hair. One of his hands was over his ears, but try as he might, he could not prevent the escape of that single tear.
He sniffed and stood straight. "I'm getting her."
"What? Inuyasha, no one's ever gotten out of there"
"no one ever got out of here either. I'll take you back as far as the tunnel, then Kagome will take you the rest of the way. Miroku and Sango are waiting for you on the outside. If I'm not back in an hour, leave. I'll find a way back to you if I'm not dead."
Kagome felt her eyes water again and she flung herself at him. Inuyasha held her tight for a moment, a moment Alitash did not miss. Then Inuyasha pushed her away. "You know the way back?" Kagome nodded. "Good. Get her out of here." He turned to Alitash. "No promises this time, okay?"
Alitash nodded. She grabbed her sword and pressed it into his hand. "no, I can't," he said, surprised.
"You take this, you mangy cur and you get back to me, you hear?"
Inuyasha smiled. "Whatever, jungle bitch. Now go!"
Kagome and Alitash left, and Inuyasha was alone, conflicting emotions stirring in his gut. He didn't have time to think about them. He had to find Maiya.
