Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. All rights reserved.
A/N: Heh, I decided to update again today. There are no reviews yet, which makes me wonder if this fanfic is worth completion. If you want me to keep going than review!
Her internal struggle was immense. Should she follow this strange demon that had just suddenly appeared out of the mist? He seemed to be friendly that she assumed as he had made no effort to hide the fact that he wasn't trying to lure her anywhere. Kagome peeled her body off of the ground and followed the demon warily. She certainly had no idea where she was so the only thing she could do was tag along.
"Who are you?" Kagome asked restlessly after they had been walking for at least ten minutes. Her curiosity was eating away at her insides.
"You'll find out soon, Lady Kagome," the miko's new acquaintance assured her.
Kagome followed silently from then on for the demon didn't seem to be willing to talk just yet. Countless questions filled her psyche as the two of them trotted through the underbrush of the magnificent woodland. They were along the lines of where exactly this mysterious demon was taking her and why he was addressing her as "Lady Kagome." Only Myouga and occasionally Miroku ever called her that. Kagome kept herself aware and a sharp eye out for anything else that was suspicious or could cause her harm.
They entered, what looked like to Kagome, an inu den—no more like a town. It was situated at the base of the mountains. The area was scattered with variously sized huts and there appeared to be a large dwelling inside of the cave carved into the rock. All of the inu youkai bowed low at the waist as Kagome walked past.
"What's going on? Why are they bowing?" The youkai in front of her did not answer, but continued to walk.
"That's it! I want some answers, now!" Just as the words left her lips the youkai in front of her came to a stop.
Kagome was becoming extremely frustrated as she looked past the Inu youkai in front of her. There, in obverse from the two of them, was very old looking demon. His eyes were filled with wisdom that can only be obtained from hundreds or maybe even thousands of years of living. He was adorned a dark robe that reached his ankles and his gray hair was tied loosely away from his face. The old youkai rushed towards the stunned girl and bowed deeply.
"My lady!" he cried out, "I thought I was never going to see your lovely face again!" Kagome stumbled backwards nervously and started to ring her hands. Nothing was making sense.
The old man paid no heed and continued to speak. "After you disappeared all those years ago, we…your father...well, we thought you might be dead."
"Wait a minute," Kagome said her eyes wide, "y-you knew my father?" The demon didn't stop in his ramblings.
"Of course we knew as soon as you came back to us! We all sensed your dominant blood!" The words clawed at her brain and settled there leaving her in a disheveled and lost state.
"Though, I am very sorry to say we couldn't bring you here until now. Because your real form and powers will be locked away until two days from now, your eighteenth birthday, we were able to bring you back to us!"
"Damn this! I've tried everything I can think of and I still haven't been able to make the slightest scratch!" Inuyasha tried several more times to cut through the barrier with the wind-scar using the Tetsusaiga, but his attempts ended up being fruitless.
"What are you talking about?" Kagome had had it! She was tired of being in complete darkness and she wanted answers immediately. The old demon stopped in mid sentence.
"Oh…well, you probably have no clue what any of us are talking about do you?" Kagome shook her head impatiently. She had been patient enough for one night now it was her turn to talk. "Well come on then. Let's go inside and talk for it's getting too cold out here. Oh and by the way, please, call me Shino,"
In truth the sun had risen, but gone behind a large rain cloud. Without the sun's direct rays it was becoming extremely chilly outside.
The brown eyed girl's thoughts flew back to her campsite. Were her friends okay? And if they were how mad was Inuyasha going to be when he found out that she was missing? Surely he would track her scent… Kagome's face was lit up by sorrow and deep concentration. She could never lie to herself about the fact that she cared deeply for the hanyou. How deeply, even she didn't know for sure.
"If only he knew," she whispered quietly to herself.
"Hmm, you're thinking of your young, inu hanyou companion, are you not?"
"Hai," she said sadly.
"Do not worry, child. I am sure he will come around."
"Thank you," she replied softly. Kagome didn't know why, but she felt like she could really talk to Shino. It was as if she had known him for a very long time and perhaps viewed him as close family.
"Now! You must be wondering what you are here for."
"Yeah," Kagome replied sheepishly.
"First of all, I think you should know who your farther was. He passed away quite a long time ago, far before your mind was completely developed."
Kagome, who didn't want to think about her otosan's death at the moment hastily said, "And who was he precisely?"
"Your father was King Yasisashi of the Southern Lands."
"But-but," Kagome stuttered. "He would have to have been a…"
"Demon," Shino finished for her. "That also means since your mother is human you are a hanyou."
"A hanyou…" Kagome trailed off. In her head she was thinking of all the opportunities, but then there would be consequences as well. And why had her mother neglected to tell her that she was a hanyou or that her father was a demon? Also, if she was a half demon, did that mean Souta was too?
"I'll obtain my true form and powers on my next birthday?" Kagome asked almost afraid of the answer.
"That is correct," Shino replied simply. "Well, I think it is time for you to go, Kagome. We will talk again when you sleep tonight."
"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.
"Different types of youkai have different powers. One of our powers is to communicate in dream and sleep. You must leave now. Your Inu friend is about to brake through the barrier we put up. Ask one of the youkai outside to give you a ride and take you away from here."
"Right!" the young woman said as she smiled. Kagome hugged him quickly and dashed outside. Shino smiled back as she left.
"She will make a great leader someday, her mind and strength are powerful," he said quietly to himself.
Kagome jogged out of the hut grabbed the closest inu youkai. "Will you please take me back to the edge of the barrier so I can go back to my camp?" she questioned him in a rush.
"Of course," the youkai said as he bowed. She quickly climbed onto his back and the youkai took off. When they came to around fifty feet away from the barrier the demon put her down.
"Thank you," she said graciously, arching her back forward in thanks. With that the demon bowed again and leapt out of sight.
Just as he left Inuyasha broke through the barrier and lept towards her.
"Where have you been?" He practically screamed at her; his actions were frantic. He stopped and took a step closer. Inuyasha bent down and started to sniff her. He was almost pressing his nose against her flesh and clothes. Kagome's face turned several shades of red and she instantly froze. Inuyasha's head jerked back in disgust. He could smell the other male scent all over her body. It was especially on the front…had she embraced another male?
"You have male youkai scent all over. Where the hell have you been?"
His words were harsh and Kagome's eyes widened as she looked at Inuyasha. Somehow she didn't think Shino wanted her to tell Inuyasha what she was just yet.
"Just walking around the woods," she lied. Inuyasha could tell she was lying to him again and made a disgruntled noise in the back of his throat. Though, he was the only one of their group that could tell when she did lie. The others were always fooled. Kagome brushed past him.
"We better go back before the others worry too much." With that, she walked back to Kaede's hut with Inuyasha following sulking not too far behind her.
Translations: http:(forward slash)(forward slash) www. geocities. com/gryffindorchica/translations.html
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