Completely Fubared

Chapter 5: A Day at the Beach

Kagome sighed, packing the picnic lunch for the day at the beach. She really hoped Tama hadn't changed his mind about going along. After all, he could be as fickle as his previous incarnation. She smiled a bit, remembering waking up next to Inuyasha's grave with all her friends standing over her. For a moment, she thought she'd seen Inuyasha standing behind them, wearing a gentle smile, his eyes gentle.

She heard a knock at the door and wiped her hands, walking towards it. Sesshoumaru was standing there. "What are you doing here?"

"Tama was eavesdropping on my conversation with the other great demons. Inuyasha was mentioned. I'm afraid he's too much like his previous incarnation. Sticking his nose in where it wasn't needed."

Kagome frowned. "We need to tell him the truth."

"How did you feel knowing you were the incarnation of the boy you loved old love?"

She frowned. "But he needs to know."

"Bigger problem. Naraku has returned."

Ice filled Kagome's veins. "No...not again..." She felt like her knees were going to give. She closed her eyes breifly and when she opened them, they were filled with the fire of someone who'd already lost too much and wasn't going to let a speed bump like Naraku slow them down. She took a deep breath and looked at Sesshoumaru. "I guess we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, however, I have plans. I'm going to the beach with my friends."

"I know." Sesshoumaru grinned. "I'm driving."

She froze.

"You are the guardian of the jewel and at the moment, most of the great demons, myself not included, feel very threatened by Naraku's return. They want the jewel." He looked at her. "My brother wouldn't let me hear the end of it in the after life it I let his favorite human die." He said dryly.

She sighed. With a shrug, she walked into the kitchen, finishing the picnic lunch and she lifted the heavy pack up with little trouble. She had to admit, even though it was a nasty shock to learn, she'd been expecting this for awhile. She'd been training. Anything she could think of. Her mother had bought her a small dart gun, like a small cross bow. It was fit into a small glove, and was easy to conceal. She'd learned some basic aikido, and had a better handle on her powers, able to manifest them when she wasn't in fear for her life. She'd learned basics, but she was not a well hewned warrior as Inuyasha had been and Sesshoumaru was.

When she walked back into the main room, her friends were all there, as well as Sesshoumaru's children. Tama leaned against the wall, looking decidedly grumpy. She figured she hadn't wanted 'Datsu' to come along. Her friends were fascinated with the great demon, cooing over him. Except Yuki, whom Sesshoumaru had, in fact been eyeing with a bit of interest.

Yuki noticed her and jumped up, throwing her arms around her. "KAGOME, HIROSHI-KUN DUMPED ME!" She sobbed, her bottom lip trembling.

Kagome gently patted her back. "It'll be okay, Yuki-chan. Come on, let's get out of here. The beach awaits!" She smiled at the girl, knowing her good moods were usually infectious.

Yuki wiped her tears, smiling a bit. "Yeah. Who needs that jerk anyways. If he can't see what a catch I am, it's his loss!"

"Exactly!" Kagome and the other girls ran towards the door. Kagome reached the top of the steps and stared down in shock. Down at the bottom was, for lack of a better word, a tour bus. She looked at Akuma Datsuzoku and arched an eyebrow. "Tour bus."

He grinned a bit. "Don't be so vulgar. I always travel in style."

Tama rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Datsu. Let's get a move on, alright." I need to get Kagome alone and grill her about Inuyasha. His eyes caught sight of an almost glowing pink ball around Kagome's neck and saw a look on Datsu's face that said now was not the time to ask about Kagome's past. He snorted, heading down the stairs and opening the door, waiting till everyone except him and his cousin had piled in. "What the hell is that bauble around her neck?"

Datsu smiled secretively. "Just a...Tama." He joked, getting on the bus while Akuma Tama fumed.

"THAT IS SO NOT FUNNY!"

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Kagome glanced towards Tama, who's mood seemed to be worsening, inspite of the sun and laughter and general good times being had by most. She walked towards him, sitting on the oversize blanket and looking at him. He seemed to be lost in thoughts that were growing increasingly dark. "Akuma-kun?"

"What the hell is the deal?"

She blinked. "Huh?"

He glared at her. "Inuyasha was your boyfriend or something, right?"

"Or something." She agreed. Boyfriend? No. Heartbreak was a better word for it.

"And he was Datsu's brother, right?"

"Half-brother..." She allowed. She saw the irritation on his face and knew where this was leading. He was going to grill her about Inuyasha and her relationship.

"So how come neither of you talk about him?" He growled.

She looked down at the jewel, resting against her chest and sighed. "Tama, sometimes wounds are too raw to prod. That's one of them. Talking about him...saying his name...it hurts very much, but I am trying to move on."

"I thought 'he said he'd come back'."

He was mocking her. Nothing annoyed her more than being mocked. She looked towards the surf and watched Hojo chasing Sayuri, Rikan flirting with Maya and Yuki sitting alone. "He did. Tama, please, let the subject drop. I know you know how it feels to have lost someone. Please, just let me have time."

He saw the sadness she was unable to hide and felt like a jerk. "I guess I press so hard because I might like you." He mumbled so quietly she almost couldn't hear him above the sound of the surf.

She looked at him in suprise and her heart skipped a beat.

He looked at her and quickly interceded. "But just as a friend!" He said, fear in his eyes.

She smiled, letting all her senses take in what was going on around her. Tama sitting near her, their fingertips just barely touching on the blanket, the wind in her hair, the salty smell of the water, the warmth of the sun. The prickle of a demon approaching. Her eyes snapped open and she felt a knot of fear in the pit of her stomach. Not today, please not today.

Tama held his breath waiting for her to say something, anything. When he saw the fear in her eyes, he wanted to kick himself. STUPID! Of course she wouldn't like you! You're not even all Japanese or all American! You're a stupid half-breed! (AN: Wow, doesn't that last one sound familiar?) He hadn't even noticed she'd been using his given name.

Kagome stood slowly, looking around, her sixth sense, the one that could feel demons was going haywire. And it wasn't because of Sesshoumaru and his kids. She felt the prescence of evil. She grabbed her dart gun glove out of her bag and put it on. "Tama, go get Datsu!" She said softly.

"What!" He complained.

"Don't argue with me, dammit, just do it!" She shoved him out of the way, just as sharp claws tore through where he'd once sat.

Tama stared at something that looked humanoid, save the red eyes, the green and blue hair, the fangs and claws. "What the hell!"

"Closer than you'd think, human..." It's eyes went to the jewel around Kagome's neck.

Kagome looked at it, firing a single dart at it. It turned bright pink as it flew through the air, striking it's arm. She grabbed Tama by the wrist and started running across the sand. "Come on, we have to find your b-COUSIN." She glanced behind her. Her friends were screaming, running like crazy. Except Rikan.

He'd crouched in a fighting posture. "Kagome! Go find that damn dog so we can get rid of this RAT!" He attacked and for the first time, Kagome realized why he felt so familiar. Blue fire surrounded his hands.

"Rikan?" Tama sounded weak.

"Run you idiot!"

Kagome tugged him along while Rikan fought the demon. As they were running, another demon arrived. It looked a bit like the other one. She stopped, pushing Tama behind her. "Tama, go find him or we're all dead!"

"The Shikon no Tama...finally we found it." It hissed. "Now we can return to our master and get our just rewards..."

Kagome balled her fists and they became bright pink, as the dart had earlier. She felt it coming towards her and moved out of the way. When her hands touched it, it's right side was disolved.

"SESSHOUMARU! SOME HELP WOULD BE NICE!" She screamed, dragging Tama through the sand as fast as she could.

Tama watched as his cousin appeared out of nowhere. He watched as he pulled off the glasses and stuck them in his pocket. He extended his well manicured hand and as Tama watched, the man that Tama knew as his cousin disappeared. With a few well placed slashes, the demons were gone.

Tama stood there in shock. "Um...am I the only one here who doesn't have a clue about what just happened?"

Kagome felt drained. Why today? Why when she finally has a chance at a normal life, the proverbial shit hit the fan...again! "Probably." She looked at Sesshoumaru, who's demonic characteristics were showing. "What took you so long?"

"I was getting your human friends out of danger, girl. You should be greatful." He looked at her with a twinge of his old disdain. "Shippou is enough against one, but there were eight waiting to come in at any moment."

"Shippou?" Tama looked from his cousin to his best friend, who now looked less like his friend and more like the demon's they'd just been fighting.

Kagome looked at Shippou and smiled a bit. "How long have you been covering for him?" She asked, thumbing Tama.

The fox demon scoffed. "Too damn long. God, it's so good to be out of that disguise!" He said, shaking his head. He bowed sweepingly to Kagome. "Did I grow up how you'd hoped?" He asked smiling.

"A million times over."

Tama's head felt like it was going to explode. Just when he thought he'd had enough, he got another suprise. The feel of his skin ripping. He gasped in shock and looked back, seeing an evil looking female smiling at him, a wicked expression on her face.

"Shi ne, Inuyasha..."

Kagome heard the name and turned, seeing the shock on Tama's face and watching as he fell to his knees. Blood trailed down the woman's claw and she disappeared. The girl ran toward him, putting her arms around him. "Tama! Tama, are you okay!" She felt warm, wet blood on her arm and felt lost once again.

Sesshoumaru scooped him up and looked towards Shippou. "Get the other's home. Make them think this was all a dream. NOW! HURRY! Kagome, come with me."

She felt the demon pick her up, and she blinked and they were already half way to the apartment. A moment later, he was setting Tama face down on the bed. "YUKINO, TAROU! IN HERE NOW!"

Kagome covered her ears. He was loud when he was authoritative...She gently took Tama's hand and looked at his pained face. "Tama, please say something..."

"This sucks..." He grunted.

She laughed through her tears, thinking if he could make comments like that, he shouldn't be dying. Gently, she wiped the splatter of blood from his face and leaned towards him, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. Moments later, the room was a buzz of activity, people trying to get the bleeding stopped, cleaned up, ect. Kagome herself had sewn the wound shut, being the only person here with any first aid training, thanks to Kaede.

It took almost three hours total.

Sesshoumaru left the room and called Kagome's family, leaving the two alone. There was a long, awkward silence. "I'm sorry, I should have noticed there was still one there..." Kagome said quietly, playing with the jewel.

"One what?" He asked roughly, looking away, feeling very weak. "What were those things? What the hell happened to Datsu and Rikan? Who the hell are Shippou and Sesshoumaru and Naraku! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!"

Kagome took a deep breath. She had to tell him. He was in the middle of it now, and she cared for him. She didn't want to lie to him anymore. "I've known your cousin for awhile. His name isn't Akuma Datsuzoku, that is an alias. His name is Sesshoumaru. He was Inuyasha's half-brother. I know this sounds crazy, but..." She looked at him and saw the expression on his face and felt dirty for lying this long. "Tama, he's a demon. A very powerful one. One known as a Great Demon. He is well over five hundred years old."

"A what?"

"Those things that attacked us were also demons, not as powerful as Sesshoumaru, but still strong." She shuddered. "Naraku is an EXTREMELY powerful one, whom I've crossed paths with before. The only person who ever managed to defeat him was...Inuyasha." She looked at her hands, feeling tears threatening.

Tama looked at her in disbelief. "And you're a what? Are you one too!"

"No, I'm human. I'm the protectress of the Shikon no Tama. My hand can purify it with a single touch. Rikan and Shippou are the same person as well. Shippou is a bit different, though. He's a fox demon, where as Sesshoumaru is a dog demon. Naraku...is a hanyou." She bit her lip, looking at him. When I first met them...I was 15. In fact, I met Inuyasha on my 15th birthday. But I also met him 500 years ago."

He looked at her, his face neutral. "Okay, I thought you might be when we met, but now I know it. You're mental."

"Hold your tongue, brat!" Sesshoumaru walked in, his stripes and crescent moon showing. "You could learn a thing or two from this girl. She's been through trials you could only dream of."

Tama stared at his cousin. "What do you care, Datsu-Sesshoumaru, whatever the hell YOUR FUCKING NAME IS!" He didn't say another word. The demon lord slapped him. HARD.

"Shut up and listen to her." He said firmly.

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru and then back to Tama. "There's a well on my property. It's old, I don't know how old, but it's old. It's called the bone gobbling well. In the feudal period, the people would dump the bones of demons into it and they would disappear within a few days. One day, a demon pulled me into the well and when I climbed out...I was five hundred years in the past. To make a long story short, I wound up accidentally destroying the jewel. Inuyasha and I didn't get along too well at first..."

"Cause you're a bitch." Tama muttered under his breath.

"Call me what you want, Tama. I've heard much worse from people far scarier than you." She said softly. "At the end...Inuyasha..." She couldn't continue. She had too much trouble talking about that day. It hurt too much.

Sesshoumaru picked up. "Inuyasha and Naraku were in a battle. Naraku was destroyed, but in the end, Inuyasha died as well."

Kagome nodded. She played with her fingers. "All for this stupid jewel." She stood. "Excuse me, I should go..." She turned to leave, but a hand grabbed her wrist.

"Your mother told me it would be better if you stayed here. If you return home and they attack again, your family will be put in harms way."

Kagome froze. Here. All night? No, she didn't think she could stay here with the cold look that was on Tama's face. She hung her head. "Fine." She said. She left the room and disappeared into the bathroom, locking herself in. She turned on the shower and undressed, getting in, finally letting her grief overwhelm her. Tears flowed down her face and her body was wracked with sobs. She had almost lost him again, today. Her outfit was covered in his blood, as was she. She sat under the showerhead, unable to control the shaking of her body.

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Tama glared at Sesshoumaru, his face filled with fury. "I'm not actually your cousin, am I?"

"No."

"Then what am I?"

"You, Akuma Tama, are the reincarnation of my brother, Inuyasha. Like it or not." The demon stood. "And if you think Kagome is just trying to be your friend because of that, why don't you ask her if she likes you because of him, or because of you?"

"Keh, like I care. She's just a stupid girl." He heard the demon leave and went to his door, locking it. He didn't want any company. All he could think was that everyone he'd ever cared about had lied to him. Rikan, Datsu, and Kagome. Angrily he slammed his fist against the wall, not caring about the pain that suddenly engulfed it.

There were somethings that just hurt worse than physical pain.