Chapter 5: Honesty Is Always the Best Policy
Inu Yasha: Hey Woman! I don't see much of me down there!
Danielle: that is because I want to get a little more into Sango and Miroku and maybe a little bit of Akiko and Kaori... Stingy hanyou...
Inu Yasha: I heard that! And I have a right to be stingy! After all who is the show named for huh? ME that's who.
Miroku: Would you be quiet? I want to see what genius idea Danie-sama has in store for me... and the rest of you. *smiles*
Danielle: Why thank you Miroku. See Inu Yasha? There are other people who want to see what I am going to do with those four... So stuff it. You're getting to carry Kagome around and you already know that I love it when you two get together so... Oh the disclaimer! How could I have forgotten? *mutters under breath* I do not own the stingy little beast that keeps on annoying me. *holds hand over Inu Yasha's mouth to keep him from answering*
Miroku looked at where Sango lay sleeping. He felt sorry for saying the mean things that he did, but his temper had gotten the better of him. Akiko had strangely enough disappeared right after Inu Yasha and Kaori had taken Kagome into the woods. He sighed as he moved closer to her.
Sango could hear the houshi as he moved closer. Habit more than willpower took over as she brought her boomerang around and clocked him a good one over his head. Once she had realized what she had done, she smiled. It was nothing short of what that ass deserved she thought. After a short while he sat up clutching his aching head. "What was that for? I didn't do anything to you?"
Sango shrugged. "Habit." Miroku bit down on the retort that was just begging to be let out. Instead he took a few calming breaths to prepare for his apology. "What do you want houshi?"
'So she's still upset over the whole issue...' (A/N: Gee you think?) He cleared his throat. "Sango, I am sorry for what I said earlier. It was unwarranted and cruel of me to have said that. I didn't mean it at all and I want you to know that if you want me to I could envision you in some of my fantasies." He smiled at her trying to lighten up her mood.
When she just sat there staring at him, he got a little flustered. 'Okay I'll take that as a no. Lets see...' He scooted closer to her and hugged her. "Sango I am really sorry for what I said. If you want to stay mad at me you have every right to and I won't blame you for it." Giving her a tight squeeze, he released her and went to the luggage for the mats.
The material wasn't too soft, it scraped at his fingers but he supposed it had to be that way to keep the person from sliding around on the ground or to keep them from rolling around too much. Miroku brought his mat over towards the fire and sat with his head resting on his knees.
'Stupid little- He's doing that on purpose and you know it Sango!' She told herself. 'He wants you to feel sorry for him so you can forgive him for hurting your feelings- Wait! I wasn't supposed to act like I cared! Ugh this is perfect! Now his overtly large ego will just get bigger because I acted like it mattered to me and he will think- He would think that I WANTED to bear his child! Ugh this is really a gem of a moment.' Sango glowered at him. "You're forgiven." She muttered as she rolled over on her mat and feigned sleep.
Sesshomaru sat down at the base of a tree. Rin looked at his lap then to the place where Jaken was resting. The way she saw it, it was either sleep with the annoying toad who hated her or risk Fluffy-sama getting mad at her by her sleeping in his lap... But Fluffy-sama didn't hate her so he was the lesser of the two evils.
She crept closer to him. 'He knows I'm here... So why hasn't he said anything?' Looking at his closed eyes, she took another cautious step forward. When he still didn't register any thing that would say that he knew she was there, she crawled into his lap and rested her head on his knee.
Jaken glared at the girl. 'Any moment now and Sesshomaru-sama will shove her out of his lap.' He watched and waited only to see that Sesshomaru kept his eyes shut and his tail curled around to cover the sneaking Rin. Jaken's jaw dropped. 'Why the forward little brat is getting to sleep in the master's lap! He never treated me half so well as he treats that little pest of a child.' He fumed as he lay on the cold ground. (A/N: aw does anyone else feel sorry for Jaken?)
One of the servants from the castle came running to them. Sesshomaru's eyes opened with the intrusion. 'He was quieter than that little brat and yet the master opens his eyes to notice him and not her?' He glowered, his mood growing darker by the minute.
"Lord Sesshomaru," The young servant said after panting for a moment. "There are wanderers coming towards the castle Lord Sesshomaru." He knelt in front of the demon lord.
"How many were there?" Sesshomaru's cool voice asked. Rin looked up at the lord's calm face as did the servant. "Come on, how many were there? Do not make me ask another time, you will not like the results."
"T-there was eight total my lord." He trembled knowing his master's temper.
Sesshomaru thought on that for a while. 'Eight? It can't be Inu Yasha can it? Last time I checked he had six total... that fox child, the monk, that exterminator and her pet, his mate and himself... did he take on new members of his odd little pack? And what in all the blue blazes is he doing coming onto my property?' Unknown to him his face had gotten even more emotionless and was currently scaring the jeepers out of the poor servant. "You may go." He barked out quickly.
The servant didn't waste any time as he scrambled back towards the castle. Rin looked up at Sesshomaru as he stood up and shook his clothes free of dirt. "Where is Sesshomaru-sama taking Rin and Jaken?" Rin asked as she skipped ahead.
"I am not taking you two any where. Rin you are to stay with Jaken as I go to see to the intruders." He gave a pointed look at Jaken as he said, "And I had better find you here when I return." He remembered the last time that Jaken had 'watched' Rin. She had supposedly run off when Jaken wasn't looking. Sesshomaru had found her hog-tied in the nearest village. Jaken had better have learned his lesson, he thought.
"But Lord Sesshomaru..." Jaken swallowed whatever it was that he had intended to say as Sesshomaru gave him a pointed stare that spoke volumes. He turned and Rin watched as he disappeared from view. His hair blew out behind him with his perfect turn. As he strode off Jaken sent her a purely malevolent glare.
"Jaken? Where has Sesshomaru-sama gone?" Rin sat down on the dirt. She looked into the sky as the moon was rising high above her head.
"Isn't it obvious you little twit? He went to go find the intruders." Jaken spat as he paced the dirt. Rin smiled as she played with her kimono. "And what is so funny human?"
"Nothing. Rin just can't wait until Sesshomaru comes back to Jaken and Rin." She picked at the grass under her feet. Her brown eyes took in the little green toad-like demon. His staff that resided on his shoulder wiggled around as he got more frustrated at the staring girl. Before he could blow his stack Rin took a strand of her black hair and wound it around her fingers. She looked to the stars. "Aren't they pretty Jaken?" She asked idly as she took out her small pony-tail.
"Do I think what are pretty?" He asked irritated. His yellow eyes pierced through the darkness to glower at her. She was staring up at the sky so he looked and blew out a breath. There were scatterings of the stars all above them and even though they were pretty he wasn't much on them. "You stupid twit go to sleep and wait for Lord Sesshomaru to come back. Idiot human going to get her head lobbed off one day by some demon." He said under his breath.
Rin heard but she decided not to say anything as she ran her hands through her hair. "Jaken... I know that you don't like me because I'm a human but why?" She took the ribbon that held her hair and wound it around her wrist. Jaken ignored her question and huffed out an annoyed breath. Rin sighed and looked at the demon. "Would Jaken like it if Rin left?" She asked quietly.
"I would love it should you leave Rin but Sesshomaru would kill me should you do so. He would think it was my fault." Jaken grumbled. Rin nodded and lay down like he had asked. Jaken fiddled with his brown cap then rested back against a tree to sleep until the Lord returned.
Inu Yasha came back with Kagome wet in his arms. He looked to the fire where Miroku was currently huddled up and then to Sango and Kirara where they lay far away from the fire's heat and light. Deciding that now was not the time to ask, he sauntered over and gathered up his and Kagome's stuff. "We're leaving. I hope you had a nice sleep because someone is going to be here soon and we have got to go. I don't feel like fighting with Kagome in the vulnerable state she's in." He threw his stuff into a pack and shouldered it. He looked to where he had set Kagome and gathered her up again. 'This is going to help me with my muscle mass. Hauling her around has to have SOME benefits at least.' He could feel her heartbeat against his chest as he held her with her legs around his waist and his arms supporting her by her bottom. Her face was pressed to his shoulder and her wet hair lay along side his over his back.
Akiko appeared behind them and gathered up his stuff. "And just where were you?" Miroku asked of him as he packed up also. Sango sat up and began the process of repacking everything while Kirara twirled around her feet. Shippo landed on Inu Yasha's shoulder and petted Kagome's hair. As he did so he felt calmed and soothed so he continued stroking until he was lulled to sleep.
"I was around." Was all Akiko said as he took his already packed things and rummaged through them. He quietly pulled out whatever he had been looking for and stuffed it in his shirt front. He turned to face them. "If you really don't want to meet who's coming here then I suggest that you hurry as they are coming here at an alarming rate and I may be able to heal but if you all get hurt then I am pretty much useless as it drains me to do more than one person with out help." He sighed as he shouldered his pack.
"Well do you know if there are more traps ahead Inu Yasha?" Sango asked as she mounted Kirara with Miroku. She looked at him disdainfully as he held onto her. When he didn't take the hint she kicked him lightly in the shin but looked at Inu Yasha instead.
Inu Yasha ignored Akiko's statement for the time and answered Sango first. "Yes there are traps ahead, I know that much. You may go ahead until you reach the castle then stop just before you get too far. If the guards see you they will attack and it won't be too easy as they are used to dealing with youkai more often than not." He warned. He looked at Akiko and Kaori. "And I don't recall asking for your help you're here for Kagome's sake only remember that. I suppose you two want to go too?" He sneered at them.
They glared at him as if to say that they thought he was the stupidest thing they had ever seen, should he think he wasn't. "Yes.... we are coming." Akiko answered tightly. He handed Kaori her bag and they stepped up to the hanyou. "Do you need us to be able to fly or keep from touching the ground so as to not run into the traps?"
The hanyou snorted. "Well yeah. How else are we supposed to get through them?" He rolled his eyes. Akiko whistled and Inu Yasha had to resist the urge cover his ears for the loudness of the sound. Kagome would have fallen to the ground should he have given in. He looked at her ears that resided on her head during the dark hours of the days. He watched as a mist rolled out and Akiko and Kaori stepped onto it. They set their baggage down and sat waiting for him to lead them. "Feh." He growled as he took off.
Kirara was already gone. Inu Yasha jumped from tree to tree and glided through the air at will. The mist kept him from see the ground and it was slightly freaky for him to be leaping and not knowing how he would land if he fell, should there be something to land on he reminded himself.
As the various traps sensed them, he could hear the twang of arrows and sometimes the rustle of leaves as though something was moving under them... Akiko and Kaori managed to keep up and once they reached Miroku and Sango they were huddled in a cave close to the grounds but not quite on the castle's property. They hadn't lit a fire yet and he decided that it was better that way.
Miroku and Kaori shared the back of the cave like the last time. Sango and Akiko were guarding the front. 'Tell me about your life before you were cursed as you are by that spell that Kagome is going to get rid of.' She had touched his hand with her own and squeezed lightly as she asked.
'Ah so you heard that did you? Well I don't really want to... but if you really want to know I'll send you the story as I did with what was happening with Kagome and Inu Yasha okay?' She nodded and instantly was plunged into darkness. She could feel the euphoria that seemed to surround her and knew she was seeing things from Akiko's point of view.
He broke free of the darkness of the trees and sat upon an old and weary tree that had seen better days. He reclined into the branches and seemed to be waiting for something or someone... The bark of the tree bit into his hands and therefore into her own. She could smell the spring as it was leaving the summer air... Taking in a deep breath, he relaxed and calmed himself.
It was not long before her attention was directed to a scuffling among the bushes. She gasped as a young Kaori stepped out of the bushes her face flushed and red from her happiness at seeing him and from her minor fight with the bushes. Her hair held witness to all the trees she had passed as her curls seemed full of twigs and leaves. Her face had a little dirt smudged on it and Akiko was sure that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Sango could feel him as he schooled his face into indifference when he really wanted to run to her and hug her. His emotions were familiar to her but she couldn't quite place where she had felt them.
Kaori unfazed rushed to him and started talking very fast in a language that wasn't familiar to Sango. She could understand what the girl was saying by Akiko translating it in her head. "Akiko you shouldn't be out here by yourself. Your father wouldn't like it for one and I just may think that you're sneaking out with other women when I see that your room is empty." Her flushed face and smiling mouth made her words less serious than they were supposed to sound.
"You peek in my room do you?" His happiness and surprise rose inside her. Sango marveled at the feeling. "And just what is it that you're expecting to see when you peek eh?" He let a toothy grin show that he was teasing her. Then it faded and he spoke calmly. "What if I were seeing other women what would you do? As you haven't said whether you care for me or not..." His eyes were grave and serious but on the inside he was praying and hoping that she would tell him what she thought.
"If you were running around with other women you would not be able to bear children in the future is all I have to say." She huffed slightly. "But if its other women you really want... instead of me I won't stand in your way." She turned and hugged herself lightly.
He reached down for her and pulled her into his lap. Sango felt as if it were her fingers that were brushing Kaori's hair out of her face. Once again she marveled at the depth of feeling that came from the man she was looking through. "I am not seeing other women koi. I never said that I was, you're putting words in my mouth besides I have what I want right here with me." He kissed the top of her head and tucked her into his chest.
Kaori shivered in his arms so he tightened his embrace not too sure what he should do. Kaori wasn't much more than a girl at this time... Sango thought. Her tiny arms had wound themselves around his chest and were clinging to him. He felt his shirt stick to him because of the dampness created by Kaori's tears. "Come what are you crying for?" Her face only buried itself further into his clothes. Sango looked down at the girl's brown curly head. 'What is this girl's problem? He just said that she was his love.'
"I'm sorry... Its just you... you just don't seem like... I love you..." She buried her face in his chest and Akiko could feel her lips move against him as she talked. Kaori's soft words held quite the effect on him and of course as Sango was in his body or rather his memories at the time... She could feel the love and desire swamp through her. 'Now this is what I feel with Miroku.' She gasped at the realization as she heard a light chuckle beside her.
Suddenly she was out of his point of view and facing him... while he was also right behind her in frozen motion with his lips pressed to Kaori's. 'Wow I didn't know guys felt things... just like well... I do... and oh god I feel so sorry for you... now that I know what you lost I realize how hard it must be for you to resign yourself to this...'
His usually cheery face was solemn and sad. She stepped up to him and hugged him. 'You said that... is exactly what you felt for the monk... am I correct?' She nodded against his chest. 'Well you know what you should do, do you not?' His hands stroked her hair as he looked on the couple that he used to be a part of.
Once again she nodded but this time it was reluctantly. 'But I don't want to... He... if I did he would only ruin what I say by trying to grope me or asking me to bear his children... and I just don't want that... it would make me feel so cheap... and he would probably say something off to ruin it or do something to make me mad...' She sighed as she looked towards the couple in the tree behind them.
'You never know until you try you know that too.' He paused as he watched the scene move again. 'That was the first night that I knew I was in love with her... A month or two later that whole tragedy happened but by then I had already taken her to bed with me and we were lovers by then...' He followed that with a world weary sigh.
'If it wouldn't hurt you too much to let me see... would you show me?' He looked to her... There was so much of him in her that he could see... and even more that he couldn't. 'You don't have to if it hurts you.' She looked back to the couple and sighed as it ended too quickly for him. He was swamped with regret at all the missed moments he had to tell her that he loved her before the incident.
"We need to go back. I'll walk you to your house and I'll call on you tomorrow afternoon." Akiko said as he took her in his arms and slid off the branch they had resided on. His feet hit the earth with a dull thud and he let her down. She slid her small hand into his and they walked back towards the village.
He sighed as he watched his memory... 'It's no skin off my nose if you see it as long as the others don't and I know that the hanyou will ask you when we get back as you have no idea what we just did in there but you can rest assured that I won't let him or the monk get angry or ask you any questions you don't want to answer okay?' She nodded so he opened his mind and his heart to her...
She was as Akiko again. The air in her lungs was burning like a wild fire but she had to keep going. Her legs didn't want to cooperate and she wasn't used to the length that she now had. Looking down into the bundle in her arms she recognized Kaori's soft features. "Oh Kaori please hang on please!" Was a new mantra for her even though she knew it was Akiko who was saying the words and not her, but she couldn't help but feel like they were hers as she was him in a sense.
Then all she saw was flashes of a man that had brown wavy hair and black squinty eyes. His body was angular and he smelled of strange herbs. Akiko kept what they said from her which irritated her to no end... but she figured that whatever it was that was said bothered him too much. The man's mouth moved and she could feel sorrow for him at what he was saying.
Then she flashed to the next scene where something enveloped him in a blindingly bright light. Pain came in waves upon waves. She could feel a comforting pressure on her hand. She looked and saw that she was holding Kaori's hand. The girl's face was contorted into the pain that she was feeling. Then a horrible laughing filled her ears and she had to get away from it anything to get away from it.
She woke up panting on the floor of the cave Akiko sprawled out beside her. Miroku was hovering over her face. She closed her eyes again but she felt hands cup her face... Opening her eyes, Miroku's face was contorted in worry and pain... 'Was he worried about me?'
'Yes he was... You don't know what Akiko did... do you?' Kaori asked her voice sounding in Sango's head. Sango turned and shot the girl a withering glance. Her tone was too cold for Sango. Inu Yasha came up and got in her face. She didn't hear his words but she saw that he had been worried. Kagome was lying on the floor far enough away from them just in case something drastic would happen with Sango. She smiled then looked at Kaori.
'No I don't, unless you count what he showed me, but I would like to know. All I know is that he took me to see what happened to you guys and I feel so sorry for you... but what happened I need to know so that I can sort this out okay?' She heaved out a big breath and felt Miroku let go of her as he walked away.
'Well you should ask the monk about it. He was so concerned... He even asked me to stop him so that you wouldn't do something you regretted. But I didn't he needed to hear-' Sango raced off when she heard the last not bothering to listen to the rest of what the girl had to say. "Miroku?" She called gently as she reached the back of the cave.
He was sitting in the darkest part of the back of the cave his head resting on his knees. His shoulders shook with emotion. "Miroku..." She said softly. His body stiffened and he looked at her with over-emotional eyes.
"Yes Sango?" 'His voice! Where was the sweetness? Where are the lilting tones that I always heard in his voice?' She walked over to him. "You shouldn't be up after what you did... I would imagine you need a few days to recuperate..." He trailed off.
"Listen Miroku I don't know what I did... and Kaori said that I should ask you... but you aren't acting like yourself... would you tell me what's wrong?" Sango sat close to him and touched his knee comfortingly.
"No I would rather not." He could remember the way her body had shown with her life force and how it had almost gone out. How he couldn't get very close due to the shield that Akiko had thrown up to keep them out. He shuddered, then her hand on his knee brought him back. He looked at her, fear of what he had seen evident on his face.
Sango's lips pursed. "Miroku I think you need to tell me what happened." Her hand moved from his leg to his hand and she squeezed it lightly. He looked at her hand in shock. 'What happened to her in her mind that she is acting like this? Usually if I were to pull something like that on her I would be out like a light in under a minute...' "Please." She asked quietly.
'Well with what she's doing she won't mind.' He laid his head on her shoulder. "Do I have to?" He sighed when he felt her squeeze his hand again. 'She isn't going to hit me?' He cleared his throat and tried to stall... but when she just looked at him and waited... He tried to tell her. "When you and Akiko started whatever it was that you were doing... a blast of white light ran through the cave and I don't know how far it went outside... Well anyway when I got there, as I was the first to arrive, you were doing some odd things..." He sincerely didn't want to tell her... not any of it...
"What did I do?" He lay closer to her knowing that this would probably be his only chance as she wanted information... He knew he shouldn't grope her as it would make her leave him so he kept his hands to himself...
"You were talking aloud about the things that ran through your mind... Well I supposed that they ran through your mind especially at the time... Things that I shall not repeat as it is bad enough that we all heard them..." She pulled away from him suddenly and stood up.
"What did I say?" When he didn't answer her and he just looked away she assumed that he wouldn't tell her. "I'm sorry for what I said even though I have no clue what the things I said were..." She trailed off and left him to walk out into the fresh air... 'As it is bad enough that we all heard them? What did I say?' His words had hurt though she would never tell him so. She walked for a while in the forest not going too far lest they be discovered but enough to feel like she was getting away from Miroku and the feelings he was causing. 'Please dear God, do not let them be things that were overtly bad.'
"Sango? Sango, where are you?" She closed her eyes as she heard the monk calling for her. 'Don't let him see me. Please don't see me.' She cursed when she heard his footsteps slow behind her and she felt his good hand take her left one. "I'm sorry that was uncalled for of me to say that." He rubbed the back of his head with his cursed hand. "I seem to only be able to say the wrong things lately... I am sorry Sango."
"Don't think on it. After all you were only stating what you truly thought no one should be required to apologize for their feelings..." Sango replied quickly thinking that the sooner she agreed the sooner he'd leave. "I just needed some fresh air after all... what I saw did give me quite the shake, but I'm fine now you can go back inside."
"What happened?" Miroku asked as he stepped closer. She could feel his breath on her neck, and the goose bumps that were coming up all over her skin because of it.
She gave pause. 'What were his exact words? Oh yeah.' "Things that I shall not repeat as it is bad enough that I heard them." She felt him stiffen a bit and was satisfied that his words thrown back at him had almost the same effect as it had had on her. She wanted him brought down to her level for once. With all his groping of other women and asking them to bear his child while she was just right there... She squashed the thought so it didn't take root in her mind.
"It did bother you Sango. Why didn't you say that it did?" He stepped in front of her and looked into her dark eyes. "I'm sorry Sango I didn't mean to hurt you like that." He tried his best to appear as sincere as he felt but he wasn't certain that it was turning out that way...
She turned her head away from him. "It seems that you pick up a lot more from Inu Yasha than you think... Apology accepted. But what I saw... it was... different and odd but I'm not certain that I can tell you." He gripped her hands a little tighter, making her turn to face him.
"Why can't you?" His eyes searched her own to try to detect any underlying tones.
"Because it's Akiko's past, not mine, so I don't know if I have the right to tell you what he showed me in confidence... although there is some of it that I can tell you. If you want to hear it that is." She turned away from him again and pulled her hands out of his grasp. He followed her as she tucked her skirt under her when she sat down.
"Yes I would like to hear whatever it is that you can tell me." Miroku looked up into the trees as he relaxed back a little. He kept his hand near her just incase she decided to leave again.
"Well Akiko and Kaori were in love-" She started but was interrupted.
"They were what?" His eyes bugged. "But they're brother and sister... that's just wrong." He couldn't fathom it. 'Was Akiko so desperate as to come onto his sister?'
"Are you going to let me continue? You don't even know what happened so if you'd shut up for a while and listen..." She eyes him and he apologized so she continued on. "Well they were in love and they weren't brother and sister then. He was apparently the tribe leader's son and she was the daughter of one of the family's close friends. She looked like she was rather adventurous then and he was a real calm person but its not as if he changed. Any way they loved each other but then they were cursed by a spell gone awry and that is why they are brother and sister now." She looked at Miroku.
"So what was it that you experienced while you were with Akiko?" Miroku asked as he rubbed her shoulder lightly. She sighed and rested her head on her knees.
"I was Akiko while I was there. I felt what he did that's how I knew that he really loved her... and while I was there I almost fell in love with her too... she was really sweet and special if a bit odd. She cried when he called her 'koi' don't ask me why but she did... I know that I wouldn't do that should anyone ever call me that but that's beside the point... She was a really girly girl but she had no qualms about getting a little dirty..." She sighed and didn't notice it when Miroku moved a bit closer.
Sesshomaru could see some of Inu Yasha's pack members sitting under a tree by themselves. 'So Inu Yasha is here... I should've known.' He looked around for any sign of where they were staying but came up short. 'I guess I have to stoop low enough to use my nose to find them.' He made a face and sniffed disdainfully at the air. He could smell the monk's scent as it heightened to entice the girl next to him but with their bad noses she wouldn't be able to smell it. He sniffed delicately again and could smell Inu Yasha and his woman all over them. 'What do they do? Do they all sleep together?' He wrinkled his nose at the thought utterly disgusted, conveniently forgetting that he let Rin lay on his chest at night and that he must smell like her.
He could pick up the trail from where they came from. He followed the trail slowly and making sure that they didn't see him nor pick him up. Suddenly he felt someone probing at the barriers at his mind. He closed up immediately and erased any trace of where he was at. He could hear murmurings up ahead so he followed the voices. Coming upon a cave he smiled slightly. He could see that Inu Yasha's wench wasn't around and some girl was lying in his arms. 'Did she die? What happened to her?'
He stepped as close as he dared. Inu Yasha was currently getting his temper boiling so he wouldn't notice his big brother as he stepped up to the entrance. His orange eyes took in the meager surroundings and he wanted to sneer. 'Of course he would sleep in a pathetic little hole like this where he could be attacked at any moment... not as if he cared or anything.'
He sniffed the air at the strange girl. Something was familiar about him. It confused him as well as intrigued him. Curiosity piqued, he wandered into the cave before he thought about it. He was crouched down in front of the girl before he noticed that his brother was growling at him and trying to hide her from him and draw his sword at the same time. "Stay your sword Inu Yasha. I have no intention of fighting you as of now... What is this wench that she smells like your mate? Who is she?" He asked before he thought about it.
"She is not my mate." Inu Yasha blurted before he thought.
"I know this girl isn't but where is your mate? Wouldn't she be upset at you and send you to the ground should she see you like this?" Sesshomaru touched the girl's forehead with his claws and a pounding headache started behind his eyes. 'What is it about this girl?' He felt like he was trying to recall something that was just lurking beneath the surface... 'What is it?'
"This girl is Kagome." Inu Yasha barked out curious as to where Sesshomaru was going with this.
His cold eyes lighted on the two new additions to Inu Yasha's pack. "Who are your new pack members Inu Yasha?" His eyes stayed on the girl in his brother's arms as he asked. The sun was rising and he could smell human starting to take over her body. When the sun came up he watched amazed as her hair turned into a black mass and her ears that had been on top of her head traveled down until they touched the side of her head. He stared his jaw slack as he noticed that 'this' was Inu Yasha's bitch.
He noticed that his jaw was slack and was instantly mad that he had shown emotions. His mask came down with a vengeance as he looked over the new additions.
The brown haired human girl stared in awe at his face. "What?" He asked a little curious as to what she was staring at. He looked at the blonde boy and they were staring at him as if they had seen a ghost.
He glared at them. "I hope you had a comfortable stay Inu Yasha for it ends now. Go home and don't come back. If I remember correctly you were sentenced to death should you ever enter on this property of mine again." He stood up and eyed Kagome again. His tail flared out as he left the cave.
A few minutes later Sango and Miroku ran inside the cave. "Sesshomaru was here!" They called in unison. Inu Yasha gave them a dry look. "No. It was the lord of all that is holy and merciful. He rolled his eyes at them. "You should really start paying attention instead of always goofing off with each other." He looked down at Kagome and then outside.
'Akiko did you recognize that man?' Kaori asked as she stared at where he had just left. Akiko nodded mutely. "Inu Yasha who is that man?" Kaori asked, thankful that her voice stayed steady.
"That is my half-brother Sesshomaru." Inu Yasha replied tersely. He looked down at Kagome and whispered to her alone. "Just what is it that you're doing over there, Kagome? Why is it that Sesshomaru was remembering something by looking at you? Have you seen him over there?"
"Taking care of spell... Sess... no" She mumbled groggily.
"Your half-brother?" Kaori pressed. Inu Yasha nodded not paying her any mind as he stared at the girl in his arms. "What happened while you were growing up? I don't remember seeing you around him." Kaori said before she thought about it.
Inu Yasha's head snapped up at that. "What do you mean you don't 'remember' me being around him?" His voice was dangerously low. "Of course I wasn't around that jerk. I never went back because he sent people to kill me."
"And that endangered Kagome?" Akiko said quietly. His green eyes pierced into Inu Yasha's golden ones. Inu Yasha just stared at the blonde boy unwilling to answer. "It did and that is the main reason you hate him now. You can't take anyone who tries to harm her, especially with what all she's done and is doing for you. Sesshomaru is the only one that hurt her and he lived, so you hate him that he is still here after he hurt Kagome. You probably tried to kill him and it didn't work and that really got you." His face seemed to block out all else in Inu Yasha's vision. He growled not liking the sensation that was running up and down his spine.
Inu Yasha glared murderously at the boy. Miroku and Sango moved away from the two boys knowing something big was about to blow. The kitsune had the unfortunate luck to have heard the last bit of Akiko's little speech and spoke up. "Boy does he ever try to kill him. But as you see, Sesshomaru just strolled in here not missing much but his left arm."
Kaori looked at the hanyou and decided rather quickly to pick up the kit. 'Don't say any more, Shippo. Akiko is pushing buttons with Inu Yasha and the hanyou isn't taking too well to it.' Shippo looked up at her about to say something, not realizing that she had spoken in his head. Kaori quickly covered his mouth. 'Say what you want in your head. I can hear it just fine.'
Shippo's eyes widened as he saw that her lips didn't move. 'How are you doing that?' He was interrupted by Inu Yasha springing to his feet accidentally knocking Kagome out of his lap. He was instantly contrite and leaned down to apologize and to rearrange her to where she didn't look so uncomfortable. 'Akiko is using Kagome as bait isn't he? That is a very bad idea.'
'And why is that such a bad idea little one?' Kaori asked slightly confused.
'Inu Yasha's sword is laying by Kagome and not on him. When he went to go and use it on Sesshomaru he forgot to put it back.' Shippo looked to where the sword gleamed in the light from the rising sun.
'What does his sword have to do with anything?' Kaori stroked the kit's hair playing with his ribbon, not realizing the true danger that was just beside her... literally.
'If he doesn't have his sword he turns into a full demon if his emotions get the better of him.' Shippo explained quickly as he thought about rushing to get the sword to him... but when this happened it was safer for Kagome to do it, as the demon loved her and would never hurt her no matter what he thought of doing. 'I don't think any of us would survive if we tried to get the sword to him. Just look at Inu Yasha's eyes.'
His eyes were tinged red as he approached Akiko. Kaori looked worriedly at him then at the sword. 'Stay here.' She ran over and snatched the sword up. "Oh look at what Sesshomaru left. Boy does he have a cool sword." She twirled it around in the air as she spun lithely towards the demon.
"That is my sword." Inu Yasha said. Kaori could see where his fangs had started to grow. "Give it back." He held out a clawed hand. Kaori just looked at it then at him.
"Why don't you try to claim it from me?" He reached out and snatched it from her hands before she could start to mess around. Sheathing it, he gave Akiko a warning glance then went back to Kagome. Pulling her close to him as he laid down.
"Get to sleep stupid humans. We'll go look around in the afternoon." He said as he snuggled closer to her.
"But what about your brother?" Sango asked as she and Miroku moved to the front of the cave to sleep.
"Feh, he's not going to rely on some stupid human to come kill us. If he wants to he'll come here himself and he's already left. That about says that he doesn't care one way or the other... He was probably thinking it was someone important or something." Inu Yasha yawned widely lolling his tongue. "Get to sleep we can talk later if you guys are wanting to so badly."
Kagome looked at the little boy that strolled beside her. He noticed her stare and smiled at her as he took her hand. "What are you thinking about, Kagome?" He asked as he swung their joined hands to and fro.
"I was thinking about you and me... the things that happened in the future..." She looked off wistfully into the trees. Looking back down at him she gave him a brilliant smile.
"Like what things?" He tilted his head slightly as he looked at her.
"Well I can't very well tell you incase it might not happen..." He gave her a cute puppy dog stare trying to get her to tell him. She laughed at him and smiled some more. "Okay I'll tell you. You rotten little thing manipulating me like that." She tickled his tummy to show that she didn't mean it. "Well you kissed me twice, I think. And I was just thinking about how you felt about it, as you hardly ever tell me what you think in that time. I just wanted to know how you felt." She smiled again. "Stupid huh?"
"No not at all. What did you feel like after you kissed me?" He smiled at her as he squeezed her hand. "After I kissed you I mean."
"Well... you know this could sound wrong as you're right here but... well I liked it. I really did." He grinned as if it had been him and not his future self who had kissed her. He elbowed her lightly teasing her. "Oh you." She laughed as she pushed him gently.
"Someone has a crush on me!" He laughed as she punched him in the arm not quite so gently but it didn't hurt. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding... What I really meant was someone loves me." He laughed some more and strung her arm about his shoulder again.
"Of course I love you." Kagome said as she continued walking. "My dad used to tease my mother about her loving him... I can still remember sitting behind them and listening as he joked with her." Inu Yasha pulled at her shirt, the unspoken request to be picked up. She complied as she carried him much like Inu Yasha carried her around in the future. His tiny legs dangled at her waist and her hands were supporting him under his bottom. His face pillowed itself on her chest while he listened to her talk of her family.
"Mom cried days on end when he was finally gone. I remember Souta was so little and he didn't understand what was going on. He kept asking me and mother when dad was going to come home... Of course this always brought about a fresh round of tears for my mother as her loss was still new..."
"Well I suppose it's best that my mother and father went out at the same time ne? That way neither one of them would have suffered that heart ache... How did your mom survive? I was told that when you are closely mated with someone... that you die if they do... How did your mom not do that?" He ran his claws up and down her neck as he spoke.
"Well she needed to take care of Souta and me. Grandpa is really old and he wouldn't be able to... plus in my real time that doesn't happen anymore. When your mate dies, you have to go on living no matter what, so that you don't hurt the ones that are still there and that want you around." She explained as best she could.
"But what if there is no one that loves you and wants you around?" Inu Yasha asked as his hand stilled on her neck. His eyes met hers as she looked down at him and frowned.
"No matter what you may think at the time, there is always someone who loves you at every moment of your life." She paused. "Even if you don't think so, they just may not be there yet... or they may not have told you how they feel yet." She took one of her hands out from under him and ran it through his hair trying to soothe him. She could feel that he needed it. He leaned into her hand as he relaxed, keeping what she had said stored in his memory.
"My dad always said that... It was one of the things that I always loved about him. He could say something that would totally lift you up... I can remember when he said it too... I had been so mad at both him and mother, although I can't really remember what it was that they had done to me. I yelled at him when he came into my room and told him that no one loved me." She smiled at the memory. Inu Yasha twirled his fingers through her hair. "He tried to tell me that he did. But I screamed at him to get out and that he didn't... that's when he told me that little phrase."
Inu Yasha rested his head on her shoulder. Her fingered the dual colored strands of hair thinking on her words. It had gotten quiet again, not half so bad last time as an owl was hooting through the air. "My father never said anything like that. He was always out for himself or for his mate... my mother. Whatever suited him at the time was what he did. Sesshomaru suited him more often than not... I know that he loved me but he wanted to have Sesshomaru around more because he was older than I was and more useful... or at least that was my dad's reasoning as far as I knew." He paused listening to the owl's sounds. "I loved my mother as she always said or did stuff that made me feel better. She kept the other demons who made fun of me for my half-demon state. No one wanted to play with me in the city. I wasn't allowed to play with them as I was a 'dirty half-breed' as they liked to call me. I was older than a lot of them as it was my father that brought the town together instead of roaming around like regular packs did."
"You formed packs usually?" Kagome asked. "I'm sorry but I don't know all that much about demons. In the future all we do is fight them off there's really no time to do much else. Although lately there hasn't been that many demons... the last ones we fought almost killed me if it weren't for Akiko.. Who is that lady's brother, I would have died in our cave."
"Well I'll have to thank him for doing that. I wouldn't have liked it if you had died... I wouldn't have known... would I?" He said quietly.
"No you wouldn't have... until way into the future and I would imagine that you wouldn't want to wait that long to know would you?" She smiled.
"Kagome, if you would've died... that would have... I don't want to be with out you Kagome." He wrapped his arms around her neck and held her to him.
"I told you I'm not going to leave you silly. I love you too much to just up and do that." She smiled at him trying to alleviate his fears.
"But you can't help but leave me if you die Kagome. You don't have any control over that." He ran his hands over her shoulders. "You could die when you go back and then I would be alone. And I would have no idea of what happened to you..."
"Then all you have to do is promise me that you'll do the best you can to protect me. That's all you have to do. I trust you to keep your word and if you do that then I have no worries and neither should you." She smiled at him. "You are the strongest person I have ever known. I trust you with my life almost every day... well I do every day really." She smiled some more but didn't look at him as her eyes held an off otherworldly interest.
"I promise Kagome. I won't let you get hurt." Inu Yasha said. Rain started to come down and promised to get their clothes soaked quickly. Kagome moved under a tree and shielded him from all the rain she could. He looked up into her face and saw her hair as it stuck to the sides of her face. Before he thought about it, he kissed her cheeks. "Let's figure out what to do about this rain. You're going to get sick should you stay out here and morning comes... The cold and the wet will get to you. It happened to my mother." He paused and looked at her face. "Father had to shield her from the rain to keep her from getting sick."
"Well what do you suggest we do? I doubt there's a cave conveniently located just around the corner." She looked just to make sure that she was right with her point.
"I wasn't suggesting a cave. Why don't we just make a dry spot for ourselves? It would be easier." He looked to the giant tree that was only a little ways away but would get them both soaked to the bone should they run for it. "Do you think you could dry out by morning should you get soaked?" She nodded. "Do you see that tree over there?" She looked then before he could say anything she bound over and up into the higher branches.
He looked around satisfied when only a few drops made it down to touch them. He noted that they were a lot higher in the tree than what he was used to. He could feel her hands as they touched his face. Looking to her, he saw that she was smiling at him. "Thank you for showing me this. I didn't notice it and I would've stood in the rain oblivious to the shelter that was just right there."
He frowned at her. "You would've stayed out in that rain like that? You wouldn't have moved?"
"You would've gotten wet and sick should I have done that. But now we don't have to worry about it as we're both going to be dry when the morning rolls around... maybe we should go to sleep as I doubt the rain is going to let up and we don't travel during the day usually... plus we haven't gotten too much sleep as of late." She snuggled down at the juncture of the branch and held out her arms for him to crawl into.
He took the hint and curled against her. 'She would have stayed out like that... protecting me from the rain just so that I wouldn't have to have any problems during the day... I wish I had the chance to show her how much that meant to me that she would have done that...'
Kagome could see the grown Inu Yasha snuggled against her in the light of morning... 'Must be another vision.' His eyes cracked open as he stared at her. He pressed his lips to her forehead creating a heat to start in her heart and travel through out her body. "Kagome you've done so much for me." He murmured so quietly she wondered if she had imagined it. "How much more are you going to do?" He pressed his forehead against hers.
Inu Yasha felt like someone was watching him. He opened his eyes but it was only Kagome in his arms that he could see. No one was awake. He figured that he had only been sleeping for an hour or so. He could still feel her rain soaked skin pressed against his as she protected him from the rain. He kissed her forehead and felt the heat coming off of her. "Kagome... you've done so much for me..." he wanted to tell her what he had been realizing as of late but it was so fresh in his mind that he was still trying to get used to the idea before he said anything to her... Let alone risk the others finding out. "How much more are you going to do?" He paused. 'I think I'm falling in love with you... if I'm not already there.' He frowned not liking the thought too much but then again... He didn't really have an excuse not to let himself. After all she was now part hanyou at least half the time and he was teaching her to fight fairly well even if she wasn't a hanyou at the time.
He couldn't use the excuse that she had her own time now as she couldn't go back to it now... with the way she is she just might get stuck in one of those laboratories or something... He could still remember her explanation for them.
' "It's a place that scientists study what they don't know." Kagome said.
"Are there many demons in your time?" Inu Yasha asked as he lay up high in his tree.
"No there aren't. Most people don't know that they do exist... well if there are anymore that is." She licked her lips to get rid of the dry feeling that had been bothering her a lot lately. "If we were to find some then I would imagine that they would take them to a laboratory to see what their insides looked like or to see how they worked. You know... put them through tests to see how their bodies operate." Kagome popped her back as she stretched.'
She could get stuck in one of those places. He would kill them all before they cut her open to look at her insides. And now that she was part hanyou... or rather a 'him' as she had put it. He grinned at the memory. Demons could come to hunt her for her being the way she was but he would be with her so that kind of put that idea down. He could love her freely... the only problem being now was his pride.
Would loving her be weak? Would she think he was weak if he said he loved her? 'No she told you all the time she loved you when she was with you when you were a few decades younger... Wait... why doesn't she tell you so now?' He looked down at her frowning slightly. 'Do you still love me?' He wanted to know. Burying his face at her neck he went back to sleep to ponder his new problem.
Author's Note: Thank you all for reviewing. I love it that you guys like my fic. Pay attention to everything that I say in this. Most of it is foreshadowing of stuff to come in later chapters as I have this all outlined and I can promise that they are all as interesting as I can make them.
Lindy girl: ok, it's me again. ^_^did you miss me? I miss ch5.rnBut that could be because it's not posted yet*sigh*.rnYour story rocks, and the sooner another chapter is out the more opportunities people will have to review ^_^. RnSo. Up-date and save my sanity Whahahaha!
I am trying my hardest to get these out just as fast as my little hands can manage and I hope that you are all really enjoying this fic. Like most of you say you are ^^;
lindy*girl Fine, fine! I just read your bio and got a major guilt trip I didn't deserve. So now I'm going to review all the chapters. I've already done 3 and 4 but I'll write one for 2 if it makes you happy and willing to post sooner. rnIf you can't tell I'm totally lovin' this fic( I wouldn't bother to go back and write these if I didn't^_^). Please post again soon^_^.
I'm sorry if you guys feel guilty reading my bio, I'll change it.. ^^; Sometimes I have that averse effect on people when I feel down about not getting what I want.
Dark Rose Really good!! but how does Akiko know about Romeo and Juliet?
Okay I'm sorry if I didn't explain it in my fic but I will put up a little off track thing to show how he knows if that's what you guys want. I am really sorry if you guys want me to be really specific and stick to total detail on what they did and didn't know. After all who's to say that Shakespeare didn't get the idea off of some story he heard as a child? I don't know... any way Ill try to rectify that as soon as possible.
Dark Rose This is an amazing story!! it is soo good, but I got confused during the second chapter when she turned hanyou before it got dark, was it because of the dream? well good work. Keep writing!!
Yes she turned hanyou before it got dark because of her little visit to the past as it got dark there before it got dark in the present time. Sorry if that threw any of you off earlier.
SofiaDragon (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=332526)
This is an awesome story! You've got a solid plot, a nice mystery w/out leaving the reader with the feeling of "Wait a minute! Why did they stop writing there?" That such tactics usually do in fan fiction. You are a wonderful writer, keep it up! I can't wait until Fluffy finds them... or will Kagome run into Fluffy in the past? ^__^
*wipes tear from eyes* I love you *sniff sniff* You gave me such the great idea and I will use that... You all catch that? This is what I like giving me ideas like this.. *hugs Sofia Dragon* And you are all so nice to me 'its just all so magical'
0 (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=1)
I really like your story. I don't usually review so bare with me but I think you're a wonderful writer.
And its people like you that make it hard for me to get up with such a big head.. You guys are really fueling my ego and I love it! Heheh
lindy*girl()
Hi again^_^! Wow, I'm still floored by this fic. rnEverything about it is awesome. rnSorry about the not reviewing every chapter thing, but I only found this yesterday ^_^. rnBut hey! I'm hooked now so as long as you keep up-dating I'll make sure to write reviews. rnYou're awesome, good luck with the rest!
One thing I have to ask and please don't think I am stupid ^^; what is the rn for? And thank you so much for telling me how much you liked my story.
tigerlily87 (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=336803)
I think that your story is still as awesome! I REALLY wanna know what's going on with what Kaori and Akiko want Kagome to do! Can't wait for the next chapter! ^_^
Thank you so much for you guys saying so many nice things...
lindy*girl()
OMG! This is so good! Hardly any grammatical, or spelling erros that I can see. A plot to die for, and I mean it, this combines a few of my favorite things in Inu Yasha fics. I love the length, and the attention to details is greatly appreciated ^_^ .rnIn other words PLEASE up-date soon. I'm hooked!
Lindy*girl if you keep this up I'm going to start crying you are so nice to me and I appreciate it so much you just have no idea. You other reviewers take a page out of her book. Look at how many times she's reviewed for me. I am so touched heheh
Aldrean Treu Peri (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=125915)
Mmm, me likes. Kagome's little ventures into Inuyasha's past are sweet and I like how they're cautiously treading onto the unfamiliar terrain of trust and love. I hope you continue this soon, as I'd like to know more about this spell Kagome must break. The room of crystal and such sounded simply beautiful and I'd love to have one of my own that meant so much to my true love. Wait. I need a true love first. *sigh* Someday, someday...just as someday Inuyasha and Kagome can be happily and openly in love and Miroku and Sango quit dancing around each other and their emotions. rnrnHugs, kisses and sweet *day*dreams ~ Aldrean Treu Peri, Neo-Moon Guardian ~rnrnSee you, Space Cowboy!
Well I hope I satisfied you with all the loverly stuff that's been happening lately. I know I enjoy it and I'm trying to get it to go the way I want but sometimes my imagination distracts me. And I hope that you do find your true love soon as everyone needs one but just to let you know I wish I had that stuff too *sigh* And you watch Cowboy Bebop don't you?
SquirrelnoShi (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=216346)
Wow! You write so well, and super long chapters, too! I hope you write more soon because I have really enjoyed it so far!
I tried to write all that I could. I liked long chapters on my fics to so that's why I wrote mine that way although some of the other authors told me that I should probably break them up into shorter chunks. Well if I did that I would be able to put out some almost every night so if you guys want updates every night then its going to be shorter but if you guys want long chapters it'll probably take a week in between updates. Your choice, tell me what you think.
Yodey Really enjoyed your story so far. I also like the long chapters. Can't wait to read the next one.
Once again thank you so much for telling me how much you appreciate the fic I really like hearing about it.
sayin-girl (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=240923)
I love this story! I think it's beautiful. please continue it. I promise to give you good reviews every time. Little Inu is so cute!
Well I always adored the way little Inu looked in the anime so I put him in my story and I love him so much that I just had to do it... can you blame me? Hehe
tigerlily87 (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=336803)
OMG! This is the stupidest story I've ever read! NOT! I'm just kidding! Seriously though, I absolutely LOVE your story! I got so into the story...^_^...Keep up the GREAT work, and I can't wait until you post the next chapters! ^_~
Well I'm trying to type them up super fast... If I were a strong hanyou maybe that would help.. (wonder if I can get the dead demon to curse me too jk)
Heather (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=252785)
I really like your story. It has a very original plot line, the only thing I can think of for you to improve is two not make the chapters quite so long, split them into more, also, your missing commas in places, but hey, great story anyway! Can't wait for The next chapter. rnrn-Heather-
Well I try to get them out like I said earlier but you haven't reviewed for the longest time heather. Is it too much to read? Incase any of you guys want a great story to read go to heather's story I think I have her marked in my favorite stories or authors I'm not sure which but she's there and she writes so well.. you guys should read her story if you like mine.
Inu Yasha: Hey Woman! I don't see much of me down there!
Danielle: that is because I want to get a little more into Sango and Miroku and maybe a little bit of Akiko and Kaori... Stingy hanyou...
Inu Yasha: I heard that! And I have a right to be stingy! After all who is the show named for huh? ME that's who.
Miroku: Would you be quiet? I want to see what genius idea Danie-sama has in store for me... and the rest of you. *smiles*
Danielle: Why thank you Miroku. See Inu Yasha? There are other people who want to see what I am going to do with those four... So stuff it. You're getting to carry Kagome around and you already know that I love it when you two get together so... Oh the disclaimer! How could I have forgotten? *mutters under breath* I do not own the stingy little beast that keeps on annoying me. *holds hand over Inu Yasha's mouth to keep him from answering*
Miroku looked at where Sango lay sleeping. He felt sorry for saying the mean things that he did, but his temper had gotten the better of him. Akiko had strangely enough disappeared right after Inu Yasha and Kaori had taken Kagome into the woods. He sighed as he moved closer to her.
Sango could hear the houshi as he moved closer. Habit more than willpower took over as she brought her boomerang around and clocked him a good one over his head. Once she had realized what she had done, she smiled. It was nothing short of what that ass deserved she thought. After a short while he sat up clutching his aching head. "What was that for? I didn't do anything to you?"
Sango shrugged. "Habit." Miroku bit down on the retort that was just begging to be let out. Instead he took a few calming breaths to prepare for his apology. "What do you want houshi?"
'So she's still upset over the whole issue...' (A/N: Gee you think?) He cleared his throat. "Sango, I am sorry for what I said earlier. It was unwarranted and cruel of me to have said that. I didn't mean it at all and I want you to know that if you want me to I could envision you in some of my fantasies." He smiled at her trying to lighten up her mood.
When she just sat there staring at him, he got a little flustered. 'Okay I'll take that as a no. Lets see...' He scooted closer to her and hugged her. "Sango I am really sorry for what I said. If you want to stay mad at me you have every right to and I won't blame you for it." Giving her a tight squeeze, he released her and went to the luggage for the mats.
The material wasn't too soft, it scraped at his fingers but he supposed it had to be that way to keep the person from sliding around on the ground or to keep them from rolling around too much. Miroku brought his mat over towards the fire and sat with his head resting on his knees.
'Stupid little- He's doing that on purpose and you know it Sango!' She told herself. 'He wants you to feel sorry for him so you can forgive him for hurting your feelings- Wait! I wasn't supposed to act like I cared! Ugh this is perfect! Now his overtly large ego will just get bigger because I acted like it mattered to me and he will think- He would think that I WANTED to bear his child! Ugh this is really a gem of a moment.' Sango glowered at him. "You're forgiven." She muttered as she rolled over on her mat and feigned sleep.
Sesshomaru sat down at the base of a tree. Rin looked at his lap then to the place where Jaken was resting. The way she saw it, it was either sleep with the annoying toad who hated her or risk Fluffy-sama getting mad at her by her sleeping in his lap... But Fluffy-sama didn't hate her so he was the lesser of the two evils.
She crept closer to him. 'He knows I'm here... So why hasn't he said anything?' Looking at his closed eyes, she took another cautious step forward. When he still didn't register any thing that would say that he knew she was there, she crawled into his lap and rested her head on his knee.
Jaken glared at the girl. 'Any moment now and Sesshomaru-sama will shove her out of his lap.' He watched and waited only to see that Sesshomaru kept his eyes shut and his tail curled around to cover the sneaking Rin. Jaken's jaw dropped. 'Why the forward little brat is getting to sleep in the master's lap! He never treated me half so well as he treats that little pest of a child.' He fumed as he lay on the cold ground. (A/N: aw does anyone else feel sorry for Jaken?)
One of the servants from the castle came running to them. Sesshomaru's eyes opened with the intrusion. 'He was quieter than that little brat and yet the master opens his eyes to notice him and not her?' He glowered, his mood growing darker by the minute.
"Lord Sesshomaru," The young servant said after panting for a moment. "There are wanderers coming towards the castle Lord Sesshomaru." He knelt in front of the demon lord.
"How many were there?" Sesshomaru's cool voice asked. Rin looked up at the lord's calm face as did the servant. "Come on, how many were there? Do not make me ask another time, you will not like the results."
"T-there was eight total my lord." He trembled knowing his master's temper.
Sesshomaru thought on that for a while. 'Eight? It can't be Inu Yasha can it? Last time I checked he had six total... that fox child, the monk, that exterminator and her pet, his mate and himself... did he take on new members of his odd little pack? And what in all the blue blazes is he doing coming onto my property?' Unknown to him his face had gotten even more emotionless and was currently scaring the jeepers out of the poor servant. "You may go." He barked out quickly.
The servant didn't waste any time as he scrambled back towards the castle. Rin looked up at Sesshomaru as he stood up and shook his clothes free of dirt. "Where is Sesshomaru-sama taking Rin and Jaken?" Rin asked as she skipped ahead.
"I am not taking you two any where. Rin you are to stay with Jaken as I go to see to the intruders." He gave a pointed look at Jaken as he said, "And I had better find you here when I return." He remembered the last time that Jaken had 'watched' Rin. She had supposedly run off when Jaken wasn't looking. Sesshomaru had found her hog-tied in the nearest village. Jaken had better have learned his lesson, he thought.
"But Lord Sesshomaru..." Jaken swallowed whatever it was that he had intended to say as Sesshomaru gave him a pointed stare that spoke volumes. He turned and Rin watched as he disappeared from view. His hair blew out behind him with his perfect turn. As he strode off Jaken sent her a purely malevolent glare.
"Jaken? Where has Sesshomaru-sama gone?" Rin sat down on the dirt. She looked into the sky as the moon was rising high above her head.
"Isn't it obvious you little twit? He went to go find the intruders." Jaken spat as he paced the dirt. Rin smiled as she played with her kimono. "And what is so funny human?"
"Nothing. Rin just can't wait until Sesshomaru comes back to Jaken and Rin." She picked at the grass under her feet. Her brown eyes took in the little green toad-like demon. His staff that resided on his shoulder wiggled around as he got more frustrated at the staring girl. Before he could blow his stack Rin took a strand of her black hair and wound it around her fingers. She looked to the stars. "Aren't they pretty Jaken?" She asked idly as she took out her small pony-tail.
"Do I think what are pretty?" He asked irritated. His yellow eyes pierced through the darkness to glower at her. She was staring up at the sky so he looked and blew out a breath. There were scatterings of the stars all above them and even though they were pretty he wasn't much on them. "You stupid twit go to sleep and wait for Lord Sesshomaru to come back. Idiot human going to get her head lobbed off one day by some demon." He said under his breath.
Rin heard but she decided not to say anything as she ran her hands through her hair. "Jaken... I know that you don't like me because I'm a human but why?" She took the ribbon that held her hair and wound it around her wrist. Jaken ignored her question and huffed out an annoyed breath. Rin sighed and looked at the demon. "Would Jaken like it if Rin left?" She asked quietly.
"I would love it should you leave Rin but Sesshomaru would kill me should you do so. He would think it was my fault." Jaken grumbled. Rin nodded and lay down like he had asked. Jaken fiddled with his brown cap then rested back against a tree to sleep until the Lord returned.
Inu Yasha came back with Kagome wet in his arms. He looked to the fire where Miroku was currently huddled up and then to Sango and Kirara where they lay far away from the fire's heat and light. Deciding that now was not the time to ask, he sauntered over and gathered up his and Kagome's stuff. "We're leaving. I hope you had a nice sleep because someone is going to be here soon and we have got to go. I don't feel like fighting with Kagome in the vulnerable state she's in." He threw his stuff into a pack and shouldered it. He looked to where he had set Kagome and gathered her up again. 'This is going to help me with my muscle mass. Hauling her around has to have SOME benefits at least.' He could feel her heartbeat against his chest as he held her with her legs around his waist and his arms supporting her by her bottom. Her face was pressed to his shoulder and her wet hair lay along side his over his back.
Akiko appeared behind them and gathered up his stuff. "And just where were you?" Miroku asked of him as he packed up also. Sango sat up and began the process of repacking everything while Kirara twirled around her feet. Shippo landed on Inu Yasha's shoulder and petted Kagome's hair. As he did so he felt calmed and soothed so he continued stroking until he was lulled to sleep.
"I was around." Was all Akiko said as he took his already packed things and rummaged through them. He quietly pulled out whatever he had been looking for and stuffed it in his shirt front. He turned to face them. "If you really don't want to meet who's coming here then I suggest that you hurry as they are coming here at an alarming rate and I may be able to heal but if you all get hurt then I am pretty much useless as it drains me to do more than one person with out help." He sighed as he shouldered his pack.
"Well do you know if there are more traps ahead Inu Yasha?" Sango asked as she mounted Kirara with Miroku. She looked at him disdainfully as he held onto her. When he didn't take the hint she kicked him lightly in the shin but looked at Inu Yasha instead.
Inu Yasha ignored Akiko's statement for the time and answered Sango first. "Yes there are traps ahead, I know that much. You may go ahead until you reach the castle then stop just before you get too far. If the guards see you they will attack and it won't be too easy as they are used to dealing with youkai more often than not." He warned. He looked at Akiko and Kaori. "And I don't recall asking for your help you're here for Kagome's sake only remember that. I suppose you two want to go too?" He sneered at them.
They glared at him as if to say that they thought he was the stupidest thing they had ever seen, should he think he wasn't. "Yes.... we are coming." Akiko answered tightly. He handed Kaori her bag and they stepped up to the hanyou. "Do you need us to be able to fly or keep from touching the ground so as to not run into the traps?"
The hanyou snorted. "Well yeah. How else are we supposed to get through them?" He rolled his eyes. Akiko whistled and Inu Yasha had to resist the urge cover his ears for the loudness of the sound. Kagome would have fallen to the ground should he have given in. He looked at her ears that resided on her head during the dark hours of the days. He watched as a mist rolled out and Akiko and Kaori stepped onto it. They set their baggage down and sat waiting for him to lead them. "Feh." He growled as he took off.
Kirara was already gone. Inu Yasha jumped from tree to tree and glided through the air at will. The mist kept him from see the ground and it was slightly freaky for him to be leaping and not knowing how he would land if he fell, should there be something to land on he reminded himself.
As the various traps sensed them, he could hear the twang of arrows and sometimes the rustle of leaves as though something was moving under them... Akiko and Kaori managed to keep up and once they reached Miroku and Sango they were huddled in a cave close to the grounds but not quite on the castle's property. They hadn't lit a fire yet and he decided that it was better that way.
Miroku and Kaori shared the back of the cave like the last time. Sango and Akiko were guarding the front. 'Tell me about your life before you were cursed as you are by that spell that Kagome is going to get rid of.' She had touched his hand with her own and squeezed lightly as she asked.
'Ah so you heard that did you? Well I don't really want to... but if you really want to know I'll send you the story as I did with what was happening with Kagome and Inu Yasha okay?' She nodded and instantly was plunged into darkness. She could feel the euphoria that seemed to surround her and knew she was seeing things from Akiko's point of view.
He broke free of the darkness of the trees and sat upon an old and weary tree that had seen better days. He reclined into the branches and seemed to be waiting for something or someone... The bark of the tree bit into his hands and therefore into her own. She could smell the spring as it was leaving the summer air... Taking in a deep breath, he relaxed and calmed himself.
It was not long before her attention was directed to a scuffling among the bushes. She gasped as a young Kaori stepped out of the bushes her face flushed and red from her happiness at seeing him and from her minor fight with the bushes. Her hair held witness to all the trees she had passed as her curls seemed full of twigs and leaves. Her face had a little dirt smudged on it and Akiko was sure that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Sango could feel him as he schooled his face into indifference when he really wanted to run to her and hug her. His emotions were familiar to her but she couldn't quite place where she had felt them.
Kaori unfazed rushed to him and started talking very fast in a language that wasn't familiar to Sango. She could understand what the girl was saying by Akiko translating it in her head. "Akiko you shouldn't be out here by yourself. Your father wouldn't like it for one and I just may think that you're sneaking out with other women when I see that your room is empty." Her flushed face and smiling mouth made her words less serious than they were supposed to sound.
"You peek in my room do you?" His happiness and surprise rose inside her. Sango marveled at the feeling. "And just what is it that you're expecting to see when you peek eh?" He let a toothy grin show that he was teasing her. Then it faded and he spoke calmly. "What if I were seeing other women what would you do? As you haven't said whether you care for me or not..." His eyes were grave and serious but on the inside he was praying and hoping that she would tell him what she thought.
"If you were running around with other women you would not be able to bear children in the future is all I have to say." She huffed slightly. "But if its other women you really want... instead of me I won't stand in your way." She turned and hugged herself lightly.
He reached down for her and pulled her into his lap. Sango felt as if it were her fingers that were brushing Kaori's hair out of her face. Once again she marveled at the depth of feeling that came from the man she was looking through. "I am not seeing other women koi. I never said that I was, you're putting words in my mouth besides I have what I want right here with me." He kissed the top of her head and tucked her into his chest.
Kaori shivered in his arms so he tightened his embrace not too sure what he should do. Kaori wasn't much more than a girl at this time... Sango thought. Her tiny arms had wound themselves around his chest and were clinging to him. He felt his shirt stick to him because of the dampness created by Kaori's tears. "Come what are you crying for?" Her face only buried itself further into his clothes. Sango looked down at the girl's brown curly head. 'What is this girl's problem? He just said that she was his love.'
"I'm sorry... Its just you... you just don't seem like... I love you..." She buried her face in his chest and Akiko could feel her lips move against him as she talked. Kaori's soft words held quite the effect on him and of course as Sango was in his body or rather his memories at the time... She could feel the love and desire swamp through her. 'Now this is what I feel with Miroku.' She gasped at the realization as she heard a light chuckle beside her.
Suddenly she was out of his point of view and facing him... while he was also right behind her in frozen motion with his lips pressed to Kaori's. 'Wow I didn't know guys felt things... just like well... I do... and oh god I feel so sorry for you... now that I know what you lost I realize how hard it must be for you to resign yourself to this...'
His usually cheery face was solemn and sad. She stepped up to him and hugged him. 'You said that... is exactly what you felt for the monk... am I correct?' She nodded against his chest. 'Well you know what you should do, do you not?' His hands stroked her hair as he looked on the couple that he used to be a part of.
Once again she nodded but this time it was reluctantly. 'But I don't want to... He... if I did he would only ruin what I say by trying to grope me or asking me to bear his children... and I just don't want that... it would make me feel so cheap... and he would probably say something off to ruin it or do something to make me mad...' She sighed as she looked towards the couple in the tree behind them.
'You never know until you try you know that too.' He paused as he watched the scene move again. 'That was the first night that I knew I was in love with her... A month or two later that whole tragedy happened but by then I had already taken her to bed with me and we were lovers by then...' He followed that with a world weary sigh.
'If it wouldn't hurt you too much to let me see... would you show me?' He looked to her... There was so much of him in her that he could see... and even more that he couldn't. 'You don't have to if it hurts you.' She looked back to the couple and sighed as it ended too quickly for him. He was swamped with regret at all the missed moments he had to tell her that he loved her before the incident.
"We need to go back. I'll walk you to your house and I'll call on you tomorrow afternoon." Akiko said as he took her in his arms and slid off the branch they had resided on. His feet hit the earth with a dull thud and he let her down. She slid her small hand into his and they walked back towards the village.
He sighed as he watched his memory... 'It's no skin off my nose if you see it as long as the others don't and I know that the hanyou will ask you when we get back as you have no idea what we just did in there but you can rest assured that I won't let him or the monk get angry or ask you any questions you don't want to answer okay?' She nodded so he opened his mind and his heart to her...
She was as Akiko again. The air in her lungs was burning like a wild fire but she had to keep going. Her legs didn't want to cooperate and she wasn't used to the length that she now had. Looking down into the bundle in her arms she recognized Kaori's soft features. "Oh Kaori please hang on please!" Was a new mantra for her even though she knew it was Akiko who was saying the words and not her, but she couldn't help but feel like they were hers as she was him in a sense.
Then all she saw was flashes of a man that had brown wavy hair and black squinty eyes. His body was angular and he smelled of strange herbs. Akiko kept what they said from her which irritated her to no end... but she figured that whatever it was that was said bothered him too much. The man's mouth moved and she could feel sorrow for him at what he was saying.
Then she flashed to the next scene where something enveloped him in a blindingly bright light. Pain came in waves upon waves. She could feel a comforting pressure on her hand. She looked and saw that she was holding Kaori's hand. The girl's face was contorted into the pain that she was feeling. Then a horrible laughing filled her ears and she had to get away from it anything to get away from it.
She woke up panting on the floor of the cave Akiko sprawled out beside her. Miroku was hovering over her face. She closed her eyes again but she felt hands cup her face... Opening her eyes, Miroku's face was contorted in worry and pain... 'Was he worried about me?'
'Yes he was... You don't know what Akiko did... do you?' Kaori asked her voice sounding in Sango's head. Sango turned and shot the girl a withering glance. Her tone was too cold for Sango. Inu Yasha came up and got in her face. She didn't hear his words but she saw that he had been worried. Kagome was lying on the floor far enough away from them just in case something drastic would happen with Sango. She smiled then looked at Kaori.
'No I don't, unless you count what he showed me, but I would like to know. All I know is that he took me to see what happened to you guys and I feel so sorry for you... but what happened I need to know so that I can sort this out okay?' She heaved out a big breath and felt Miroku let go of her as he walked away.
'Well you should ask the monk about it. He was so concerned... He even asked me to stop him so that you wouldn't do something you regretted. But I didn't he needed to hear-' Sango raced off when she heard the last not bothering to listen to the rest of what the girl had to say. "Miroku?" She called gently as she reached the back of the cave.
He was sitting in the darkest part of the back of the cave his head resting on his knees. His shoulders shook with emotion. "Miroku..." She said softly. His body stiffened and he looked at her with over-emotional eyes.
"Yes Sango?" 'His voice! Where was the sweetness? Where are the lilting tones that I always heard in his voice?' She walked over to him. "You shouldn't be up after what you did... I would imagine you need a few days to recuperate..." He trailed off.
"Listen Miroku I don't know what I did... and Kaori said that I should ask you... but you aren't acting like yourself... would you tell me what's wrong?" Sango sat close to him and touched his knee comfortingly.
"No I would rather not." He could remember the way her body had shown with her life force and how it had almost gone out. How he couldn't get very close due to the shield that Akiko had thrown up to keep them out. He shuddered, then her hand on his knee brought him back. He looked at her, fear of what he had seen evident on his face.
Sango's lips pursed. "Miroku I think you need to tell me what happened." Her hand moved from his leg to his hand and she squeezed it lightly. He looked at her hand in shock. 'What happened to her in her mind that she is acting like this? Usually if I were to pull something like that on her I would be out like a light in under a minute...' "Please." She asked quietly.
'Well with what she's doing she won't mind.' He laid his head on her shoulder. "Do I have to?" He sighed when he felt her squeeze his hand again. 'She isn't going to hit me?' He cleared his throat and tried to stall... but when she just looked at him and waited... He tried to tell her. "When you and Akiko started whatever it was that you were doing... a blast of white light ran through the cave and I don't know how far it went outside... Well anyway when I got there, as I was the first to arrive, you were doing some odd things..." He sincerely didn't want to tell her... not any of it...
"What did I do?" He lay closer to her knowing that this would probably be his only chance as she wanted information... He knew he shouldn't grope her as it would make her leave him so he kept his hands to himself...
"You were talking aloud about the things that ran through your mind... Well I supposed that they ran through your mind especially at the time... Things that I shall not repeat as it is bad enough that we all heard them..." She pulled away from him suddenly and stood up.
"What did I say?" When he didn't answer her and he just looked away she assumed that he wouldn't tell her. "I'm sorry for what I said even though I have no clue what the things I said were..." She trailed off and left him to walk out into the fresh air... 'As it is bad enough that we all heard them? What did I say?' His words had hurt though she would never tell him so. She walked for a while in the forest not going too far lest they be discovered but enough to feel like she was getting away from Miroku and the feelings he was causing. 'Please dear God, do not let them be things that were overtly bad.'
"Sango? Sango, where are you?" She closed her eyes as she heard the monk calling for her. 'Don't let him see me. Please don't see me.' She cursed when she heard his footsteps slow behind her and she felt his good hand take her left one. "I'm sorry that was uncalled for of me to say that." He rubbed the back of his head with his cursed hand. "I seem to only be able to say the wrong things lately... I am sorry Sango."
"Don't think on it. After all you were only stating what you truly thought no one should be required to apologize for their feelings..." Sango replied quickly thinking that the sooner she agreed the sooner he'd leave. "I just needed some fresh air after all... what I saw did give me quite the shake, but I'm fine now you can go back inside."
"What happened?" Miroku asked as he stepped closer. She could feel his breath on her neck, and the goose bumps that were coming up all over her skin because of it.
She gave pause. 'What were his exact words? Oh yeah.' "Things that I shall not repeat as it is bad enough that I heard them." She felt him stiffen a bit and was satisfied that his words thrown back at him had almost the same effect as it had had on her. She wanted him brought down to her level for once. With all his groping of other women and asking them to bear his child while she was just right there... She squashed the thought so it didn't take root in her mind.
"It did bother you Sango. Why didn't you say that it did?" He stepped in front of her and looked into her dark eyes. "I'm sorry Sango I didn't mean to hurt you like that." He tried his best to appear as sincere as he felt but he wasn't certain that it was turning out that way...
She turned her head away from him. "It seems that you pick up a lot more from Inu Yasha than you think... Apology accepted. But what I saw... it was... different and odd but I'm not certain that I can tell you." He gripped her hands a little tighter, making her turn to face him.
"Why can't you?" His eyes searched her own to try to detect any underlying tones.
"Because it's Akiko's past, not mine, so I don't know if I have the right to tell you what he showed me in confidence... although there is some of it that I can tell you. If you want to hear it that is." She turned away from him again and pulled her hands out of his grasp. He followed her as she tucked her skirt under her when she sat down.
"Yes I would like to hear whatever it is that you can tell me." Miroku looked up into the trees as he relaxed back a little. He kept his hand near her just incase she decided to leave again.
"Well Akiko and Kaori were in love-" She started but was interrupted.
"They were what?" His eyes bugged. "But they're brother and sister... that's just wrong." He couldn't fathom it. 'Was Akiko so desperate as to come onto his sister?'
"Are you going to let me continue? You don't even know what happened so if you'd shut up for a while and listen..." She eyes him and he apologized so she continued on. "Well they were in love and they weren't brother and sister then. He was apparently the tribe leader's son and she was the daughter of one of the family's close friends. She looked like she was rather adventurous then and he was a real calm person but its not as if he changed. Any way they loved each other but then they were cursed by a spell gone awry and that is why they are brother and sister now." She looked at Miroku.
"So what was it that you experienced while you were with Akiko?" Miroku asked as he rubbed her shoulder lightly. She sighed and rested her head on her knees.
"I was Akiko while I was there. I felt what he did that's how I knew that he really loved her... and while I was there I almost fell in love with her too... she was really sweet and special if a bit odd. She cried when he called her 'koi' don't ask me why but she did... I know that I wouldn't do that should anyone ever call me that but that's beside the point... She was a really girly girl but she had no qualms about getting a little dirty..." She sighed and didn't notice it when Miroku moved a bit closer.
Sesshomaru could see some of Inu Yasha's pack members sitting under a tree by themselves. 'So Inu Yasha is here... I should've known.' He looked around for any sign of where they were staying but came up short. 'I guess I have to stoop low enough to use my nose to find them.' He made a face and sniffed disdainfully at the air. He could smell the monk's scent as it heightened to entice the girl next to him but with their bad noses she wouldn't be able to smell it. He sniffed delicately again and could smell Inu Yasha and his woman all over them. 'What do they do? Do they all sleep together?' He wrinkled his nose at the thought utterly disgusted, conveniently forgetting that he let Rin lay on his chest at night and that he must smell like her.
He could pick up the trail from where they came from. He followed the trail slowly and making sure that they didn't see him nor pick him up. Suddenly he felt someone probing at the barriers at his mind. He closed up immediately and erased any trace of where he was at. He could hear murmurings up ahead so he followed the voices. Coming upon a cave he smiled slightly. He could see that Inu Yasha's wench wasn't around and some girl was lying in his arms. 'Did she die? What happened to her?'
He stepped as close as he dared. Inu Yasha was currently getting his temper boiling so he wouldn't notice his big brother as he stepped up to the entrance. His orange eyes took in the meager surroundings and he wanted to sneer. 'Of course he would sleep in a pathetic little hole like this where he could be attacked at any moment... not as if he cared or anything.'
He sniffed the air at the strange girl. Something was familiar about him. It confused him as well as intrigued him. Curiosity piqued, he wandered into the cave before he thought about it. He was crouched down in front of the girl before he noticed that his brother was growling at him and trying to hide her from him and draw his sword at the same time. "Stay your sword Inu Yasha. I have no intention of fighting you as of now... What is this wench that she smells like your mate? Who is she?" He asked before he thought about it.
"She is not my mate." Inu Yasha blurted before he thought.
"I know this girl isn't but where is your mate? Wouldn't she be upset at you and send you to the ground should she see you like this?" Sesshomaru touched the girl's forehead with his claws and a pounding headache started behind his eyes. 'What is it about this girl?' He felt like he was trying to recall something that was just lurking beneath the surface... 'What is it?'
"This girl is Kagome." Inu Yasha barked out curious as to where Sesshomaru was going with this.
His cold eyes lighted on the two new additions to Inu Yasha's pack. "Who are your new pack members Inu Yasha?" His eyes stayed on the girl in his brother's arms as he asked. The sun was rising and he could smell human starting to take over her body. When the sun came up he watched amazed as her hair turned into a black mass and her ears that had been on top of her head traveled down until they touched the side of her head. He stared his jaw slack as he noticed that 'this' was Inu Yasha's bitch.
He noticed that his jaw was slack and was instantly mad that he had shown emotions. His mask came down with a vengeance as he looked over the new additions.
The brown haired human girl stared in awe at his face. "What?" He asked a little curious as to what she was staring at. He looked at the blonde boy and they were staring at him as if they had seen a ghost.
He glared at them. "I hope you had a comfortable stay Inu Yasha for it ends now. Go home and don't come back. If I remember correctly you were sentenced to death should you ever enter on this property of mine again." He stood up and eyed Kagome again. His tail flared out as he left the cave.
A few minutes later Sango and Miroku ran inside the cave. "Sesshomaru was here!" They called in unison. Inu Yasha gave them a dry look. "No. It was the lord of all that is holy and merciful. He rolled his eyes at them. "You should really start paying attention instead of always goofing off with each other." He looked down at Kagome and then outside.
'Akiko did you recognize that man?' Kaori asked as she stared at where he had just left. Akiko nodded mutely. "Inu Yasha who is that man?" Kaori asked, thankful that her voice stayed steady.
"That is my half-brother Sesshomaru." Inu Yasha replied tersely. He looked down at Kagome and whispered to her alone. "Just what is it that you're doing over there, Kagome? Why is it that Sesshomaru was remembering something by looking at you? Have you seen him over there?"
"Taking care of spell... Sess... no" She mumbled groggily.
"Your half-brother?" Kaori pressed. Inu Yasha nodded not paying her any mind as he stared at the girl in his arms. "What happened while you were growing up? I don't remember seeing you around him." Kaori said before she thought about it.
Inu Yasha's head snapped up at that. "What do you mean you don't 'remember' me being around him?" His voice was dangerously low. "Of course I wasn't around that jerk. I never went back because he sent people to kill me."
"And that endangered Kagome?" Akiko said quietly. His green eyes pierced into Inu Yasha's golden ones. Inu Yasha just stared at the blonde boy unwilling to answer. "It did and that is the main reason you hate him now. You can't take anyone who tries to harm her, especially with what all she's done and is doing for you. Sesshomaru is the only one that hurt her and he lived, so you hate him that he is still here after he hurt Kagome. You probably tried to kill him and it didn't work and that really got you." His face seemed to block out all else in Inu Yasha's vision. He growled not liking the sensation that was running up and down his spine.
Inu Yasha glared murderously at the boy. Miroku and Sango moved away from the two boys knowing something big was about to blow. The kitsune had the unfortunate luck to have heard the last bit of Akiko's little speech and spoke up. "Boy does he ever try to kill him. But as you see, Sesshomaru just strolled in here not missing much but his left arm."
Kaori looked at the hanyou and decided rather quickly to pick up the kit. 'Don't say any more, Shippo. Akiko is pushing buttons with Inu Yasha and the hanyou isn't taking too well to it.' Shippo looked up at her about to say something, not realizing that she had spoken in his head. Kaori quickly covered his mouth. 'Say what you want in your head. I can hear it just fine.'
Shippo's eyes widened as he saw that her lips didn't move. 'How are you doing that?' He was interrupted by Inu Yasha springing to his feet accidentally knocking Kagome out of his lap. He was instantly contrite and leaned down to apologize and to rearrange her to where she didn't look so uncomfortable. 'Akiko is using Kagome as bait isn't he? That is a very bad idea.'
'And why is that such a bad idea little one?' Kaori asked slightly confused.
'Inu Yasha's sword is laying by Kagome and not on him. When he went to go and use it on Sesshomaru he forgot to put it back.' Shippo looked to where the sword gleamed in the light from the rising sun.
'What does his sword have to do with anything?' Kaori stroked the kit's hair playing with his ribbon, not realizing the true danger that was just beside her... literally.
'If he doesn't have his sword he turns into a full demon if his emotions get the better of him.' Shippo explained quickly as he thought about rushing to get the sword to him... but when this happened it was safer for Kagome to do it, as the demon loved her and would never hurt her no matter what he thought of doing. 'I don't think any of us would survive if we tried to get the sword to him. Just look at Inu Yasha's eyes.'
His eyes were tinged red as he approached Akiko. Kaori looked worriedly at him then at the sword. 'Stay here.' She ran over and snatched the sword up. "Oh look at what Sesshomaru left. Boy does he have a cool sword." She twirled it around in the air as she spun lithely towards the demon.
"That is my sword." Inu Yasha said. Kaori could see where his fangs had started to grow. "Give it back." He held out a clawed hand. Kaori just looked at it then at him.
"Why don't you try to claim it from me?" He reached out and snatched it from her hands before she could start to mess around. Sheathing it, he gave Akiko a warning glance then went back to Kagome. Pulling her close to him as he laid down.
"Get to sleep stupid humans. We'll go look around in the afternoon." He said as he snuggled closer to her.
"But what about your brother?" Sango asked as she and Miroku moved to the front of the cave to sleep.
"Feh, he's not going to rely on some stupid human to come kill us. If he wants to he'll come here himself and he's already left. That about says that he doesn't care one way or the other... He was probably thinking it was someone important or something." Inu Yasha yawned widely lolling his tongue. "Get to sleep we can talk later if you guys are wanting to so badly."
Kagome looked at the little boy that strolled beside her. He noticed her stare and smiled at her as he took her hand. "What are you thinking about, Kagome?" He asked as he swung their joined hands to and fro.
"I was thinking about you and me... the things that happened in the future..." She looked off wistfully into the trees. Looking back down at him she gave him a brilliant smile.
"Like what things?" He tilted his head slightly as he looked at her.
"Well I can't very well tell you incase it might not happen..." He gave her a cute puppy dog stare trying to get her to tell him. She laughed at him and smiled some more. "Okay I'll tell you. You rotten little thing manipulating me like that." She tickled his tummy to show that she didn't mean it. "Well you kissed me twice, I think. And I was just thinking about how you felt about it, as you hardly ever tell me what you think in that time. I just wanted to know how you felt." She smiled again. "Stupid huh?"
"No not at all. What did you feel like after you kissed me?" He smiled at her as he squeezed her hand. "After I kissed you I mean."
"Well... you know this could sound wrong as you're right here but... well I liked it. I really did." He grinned as if it had been him and not his future self who had kissed her. He elbowed her lightly teasing her. "Oh you." She laughed as she pushed him gently.
"Someone has a crush on me!" He laughed as she punched him in the arm not quite so gently but it didn't hurt. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding... What I really meant was someone loves me." He laughed some more and strung her arm about his shoulder again.
"Of course I love you." Kagome said as she continued walking. "My dad used to tease my mother about her loving him... I can still remember sitting behind them and listening as he joked with her." Inu Yasha pulled at her shirt, the unspoken request to be picked up. She complied as she carried him much like Inu Yasha carried her around in the future. His tiny legs dangled at her waist and her hands were supporting him under his bottom. His face pillowed itself on her chest while he listened to her talk of her family.
"Mom cried days on end when he was finally gone. I remember Souta was so little and he didn't understand what was going on. He kept asking me and mother when dad was going to come home... Of course this always brought about a fresh round of tears for my mother as her loss was still new..."
"Well I suppose it's best that my mother and father went out at the same time ne? That way neither one of them would have suffered that heart ache... How did your mom survive? I was told that when you are closely mated with someone... that you die if they do... How did your mom not do that?" He ran his claws up and down her neck as he spoke.
"Well she needed to take care of Souta and me. Grandpa is really old and he wouldn't be able to... plus in my real time that doesn't happen anymore. When your mate dies, you have to go on living no matter what, so that you don't hurt the ones that are still there and that want you around." She explained as best she could.
"But what if there is no one that loves you and wants you around?" Inu Yasha asked as his hand stilled on her neck. His eyes met hers as she looked down at him and frowned.
"No matter what you may think at the time, there is always someone who loves you at every moment of your life." She paused. "Even if you don't think so, they just may not be there yet... or they may not have told you how they feel yet." She took one of her hands out from under him and ran it through his hair trying to soothe him. She could feel that he needed it. He leaned into her hand as he relaxed, keeping what she had said stored in his memory.
"My dad always said that... It was one of the things that I always loved about him. He could say something that would totally lift you up... I can remember when he said it too... I had been so mad at both him and mother, although I can't really remember what it was that they had done to me. I yelled at him when he came into my room and told him that no one loved me." She smiled at the memory. Inu Yasha twirled his fingers through her hair. "He tried to tell me that he did. But I screamed at him to get out and that he didn't... that's when he told me that little phrase."
Inu Yasha rested his head on her shoulder. Her fingered the dual colored strands of hair thinking on her words. It had gotten quiet again, not half so bad last time as an owl was hooting through the air. "My father never said anything like that. He was always out for himself or for his mate... my mother. Whatever suited him at the time was what he did. Sesshomaru suited him more often than not... I know that he loved me but he wanted to have Sesshomaru around more because he was older than I was and more useful... or at least that was my dad's reasoning as far as I knew." He paused listening to the owl's sounds. "I loved my mother as she always said or did stuff that made me feel better. She kept the other demons who made fun of me for my half-demon state. No one wanted to play with me in the city. I wasn't allowed to play with them as I was a 'dirty half-breed' as they liked to call me. I was older than a lot of them as it was my father that brought the town together instead of roaming around like regular packs did."
"You formed packs usually?" Kagome asked. "I'm sorry but I don't know all that much about demons. In the future all we do is fight them off there's really no time to do much else. Although lately there hasn't been that many demons... the last ones we fought almost killed me if it weren't for Akiko.. Who is that lady's brother, I would have died in our cave."
"Well I'll have to thank him for doing that. I wouldn't have liked it if you had died... I wouldn't have known... would I?" He said quietly.
"No you wouldn't have... until way into the future and I would imagine that you wouldn't want to wait that long to know would you?" She smiled.
"Kagome, if you would've died... that would have... I don't want to be with out you Kagome." He wrapped his arms around her neck and held her to him.
"I told you I'm not going to leave you silly. I love you too much to just up and do that." She smiled at him trying to alleviate his fears.
"But you can't help but leave me if you die Kagome. You don't have any control over that." He ran his hands over her shoulders. "You could die when you go back and then I would be alone. And I would have no idea of what happened to you..."
"Then all you have to do is promise me that you'll do the best you can to protect me. That's all you have to do. I trust you to keep your word and if you do that then I have no worries and neither should you." She smiled at him. "You are the strongest person I have ever known. I trust you with my life almost every day... well I do every day really." She smiled some more but didn't look at him as her eyes held an off otherworldly interest.
"I promise Kagome. I won't let you get hurt." Inu Yasha said. Rain started to come down and promised to get their clothes soaked quickly. Kagome moved under a tree and shielded him from all the rain she could. He looked up into her face and saw her hair as it stuck to the sides of her face. Before he thought about it, he kissed her cheeks. "Let's figure out what to do about this rain. You're going to get sick should you stay out here and morning comes... The cold and the wet will get to you. It happened to my mother." He paused and looked at her face. "Father had to shield her from the rain to keep her from getting sick."
"Well what do you suggest we do? I doubt there's a cave conveniently located just around the corner." She looked just to make sure that she was right with her point.
"I wasn't suggesting a cave. Why don't we just make a dry spot for ourselves? It would be easier." He looked to the giant tree that was only a little ways away but would get them both soaked to the bone should they run for it. "Do you think you could dry out by morning should you get soaked?" She nodded. "Do you see that tree over there?" She looked then before he could say anything she bound over and up into the higher branches.
He looked around satisfied when only a few drops made it down to touch them. He noted that they were a lot higher in the tree than what he was used to. He could feel her hands as they touched his face. Looking to her, he saw that she was smiling at him. "Thank you for showing me this. I didn't notice it and I would've stood in the rain oblivious to the shelter that was just right there."
He frowned at her. "You would've stayed out in that rain like that? You wouldn't have moved?"
"You would've gotten wet and sick should I have done that. But now we don't have to worry about it as we're both going to be dry when the morning rolls around... maybe we should go to sleep as I doubt the rain is going to let up and we don't travel during the day usually... plus we haven't gotten too much sleep as of late." She snuggled down at the juncture of the branch and held out her arms for him to crawl into.
He took the hint and curled against her. 'She would have stayed out like that... protecting me from the rain just so that I wouldn't have to have any problems during the day... I wish I had the chance to show her how much that meant to me that she would have done that...'
Kagome could see the grown Inu Yasha snuggled against her in the light of morning... 'Must be another vision.' His eyes cracked open as he stared at her. He pressed his lips to her forehead creating a heat to start in her heart and travel through out her body. "Kagome you've done so much for me." He murmured so quietly she wondered if she had imagined it. "How much more are you going to do?" He pressed his forehead against hers.
Inu Yasha felt like someone was watching him. He opened his eyes but it was only Kagome in his arms that he could see. No one was awake. He figured that he had only been sleeping for an hour or so. He could still feel her rain soaked skin pressed against his as she protected him from the rain. He kissed her forehead and felt the heat coming off of her. "Kagome... you've done so much for me..." he wanted to tell her what he had been realizing as of late but it was so fresh in his mind that he was still trying to get used to the idea before he said anything to her... Let alone risk the others finding out. "How much more are you going to do?" He paused. 'I think I'm falling in love with you... if I'm not already there.' He frowned not liking the thought too much but then again... He didn't really have an excuse not to let himself. After all she was now part hanyou at least half the time and he was teaching her to fight fairly well even if she wasn't a hanyou at the time.
He couldn't use the excuse that she had her own time now as she couldn't go back to it now... with the way she is she just might get stuck in one of those laboratories or something... He could still remember her explanation for them.
' "It's a place that scientists study what they don't know." Kagome said.
"Are there many demons in your time?" Inu Yasha asked as he lay up high in his tree.
"No there aren't. Most people don't know that they do exist... well if there are anymore that is." She licked her lips to get rid of the dry feeling that had been bothering her a lot lately. "If we were to find some then I would imagine that they would take them to a laboratory to see what their insides looked like or to see how they worked. You know... put them through tests to see how their bodies operate." Kagome popped her back as she stretched.'
She could get stuck in one of those places. He would kill them all before they cut her open to look at her insides. And now that she was part hanyou... or rather a 'him' as she had put it. He grinned at the memory. Demons could come to hunt her for her being the way she was but he would be with her so that kind of put that idea down. He could love her freely... the only problem being now was his pride.
Would loving her be weak? Would she think he was weak if he said he loved her? 'No she told you all the time she loved you when she was with you when you were a few decades younger... Wait... why doesn't she tell you so now?' He looked down at her frowning slightly. 'Do you still love me?' He wanted to know. Burying his face at her neck he went back to sleep to ponder his new problem.
Author's Note: Thank you all for reviewing. I love it that you guys like my fic. Pay attention to everything that I say in this. Most of it is foreshadowing of stuff to come in later chapters as I have this all outlined and I can promise that they are all as interesting as I can make them.
Lindy girl: ok, it's me again. ^_^did you miss me? I miss ch5.rnBut that could be because it's not posted yet*sigh*.rnYour story rocks, and the sooner another chapter is out the more opportunities people will have to review ^_^. RnSo. Up-date and save my sanity Whahahaha!
I am trying my hardest to get these out just as fast as my little hands can manage and I hope that you are all really enjoying this fic. Like most of you say you are ^^;
lindy*girl Fine, fine! I just read your bio and got a major guilt trip I didn't deserve. So now I'm going to review all the chapters. I've already done 3 and 4 but I'll write one for 2 if it makes you happy and willing to post sooner. rnIf you can't tell I'm totally lovin' this fic( I wouldn't bother to go back and write these if I didn't^_^). Please post again soon^_^.
I'm sorry if you guys feel guilty reading my bio, I'll change it.. ^^; Sometimes I have that averse effect on people when I feel down about not getting what I want.
Dark Rose Really good!! but how does Akiko know about Romeo and Juliet?
Okay I'm sorry if I didn't explain it in my fic but I will put up a little off track thing to show how he knows if that's what you guys want. I am really sorry if you guys want me to be really specific and stick to total detail on what they did and didn't know. After all who's to say that Shakespeare didn't get the idea off of some story he heard as a child? I don't know... any way Ill try to rectify that as soon as possible.
Dark Rose This is an amazing story!! it is soo good, but I got confused during the second chapter when she turned hanyou before it got dark, was it because of the dream? well good work. Keep writing!!
Yes she turned hanyou before it got dark because of her little visit to the past as it got dark there before it got dark in the present time. Sorry if that threw any of you off earlier.
SofiaDragon (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=332526)
This is an awesome story! You've got a solid plot, a nice mystery w/out leaving the reader with the feeling of "Wait a minute! Why did they stop writing there?" That such tactics usually do in fan fiction. You are a wonderful writer, keep it up! I can't wait until Fluffy finds them... or will Kagome run into Fluffy in the past? ^__^
*wipes tear from eyes* I love you *sniff sniff* You gave me such the great idea and I will use that... You all catch that? This is what I like giving me ideas like this.. *hugs Sofia Dragon* And you are all so nice to me 'its just all so magical'
0 (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=1)
I really like your story. I don't usually review so bare with me but I think you're a wonderful writer.
And its people like you that make it hard for me to get up with such a big head.. You guys are really fueling my ego and I love it! Heheh
lindy*girl()
Hi again^_^! Wow, I'm still floored by this fic. rnEverything about it is awesome. rnSorry about the not reviewing every chapter thing, but I only found this yesterday ^_^. rnBut hey! I'm hooked now so as long as you keep up-dating I'll make sure to write reviews. rnYou're awesome, good luck with the rest!
One thing I have to ask and please don't think I am stupid ^^; what is the rn for? And thank you so much for telling me how much you liked my story.
tigerlily87 (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=336803)
I think that your story is still as awesome! I REALLY wanna know what's going on with what Kaori and Akiko want Kagome to do! Can't wait for the next chapter! ^_^
Thank you so much for you guys saying so many nice things...
lindy*girl()
OMG! This is so good! Hardly any grammatical, or spelling erros that I can see. A plot to die for, and I mean it, this combines a few of my favorite things in Inu Yasha fics. I love the length, and the attention to details is greatly appreciated ^_^ .rnIn other words PLEASE up-date soon. I'm hooked!
Lindy*girl if you keep this up I'm going to start crying you are so nice to me and I appreciate it so much you just have no idea. You other reviewers take a page out of her book. Look at how many times she's reviewed for me. I am so touched heheh
Aldrean Treu Peri (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=125915)
Mmm, me likes. Kagome's little ventures into Inuyasha's past are sweet and I like how they're cautiously treading onto the unfamiliar terrain of trust and love. I hope you continue this soon, as I'd like to know more about this spell Kagome must break. The room of crystal and such sounded simply beautiful and I'd love to have one of my own that meant so much to my true love. Wait. I need a true love first. *sigh* Someday, someday...just as someday Inuyasha and Kagome can be happily and openly in love and Miroku and Sango quit dancing around each other and their emotions. rnrnHugs, kisses and sweet *day*dreams ~ Aldrean Treu Peri, Neo-Moon Guardian ~rnrnSee you, Space Cowboy!
Well I hope I satisfied you with all the loverly stuff that's been happening lately. I know I enjoy it and I'm trying to get it to go the way I want but sometimes my imagination distracts me. And I hope that you do find your true love soon as everyone needs one but just to let you know I wish I had that stuff too *sigh* And you watch Cowboy Bebop don't you?
SquirrelnoShi (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=216346)
Wow! You write so well, and super long chapters, too! I hope you write more soon because I have really enjoyed it so far!
I tried to write all that I could. I liked long chapters on my fics to so that's why I wrote mine that way although some of the other authors told me that I should probably break them up into shorter chunks. Well if I did that I would be able to put out some almost every night so if you guys want updates every night then its going to be shorter but if you guys want long chapters it'll probably take a week in between updates. Your choice, tell me what you think.
Yodey Really enjoyed your story so far. I also like the long chapters. Can't wait to read the next one.
Once again thank you so much for telling me how much you appreciate the fic I really like hearing about it.
sayin-girl (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=240923)
I love this story! I think it's beautiful. please continue it. I promise to give you good reviews every time. Little Inu is so cute!
Well I always adored the way little Inu looked in the anime so I put him in my story and I love him so much that I just had to do it... can you blame me? Hehe
tigerlily87 (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=336803)
OMG! This is the stupidest story I've ever read! NOT! I'm just kidding! Seriously though, I absolutely LOVE your story! I got so into the story...^_^...Keep up the GREAT work, and I can't wait until you post the next chapters! ^_~
Well I'm trying to type them up super fast... If I were a strong hanyou maybe that would help.. (wonder if I can get the dead demon to curse me too jk)
Heather (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=252785)
I really like your story. It has a very original plot line, the only thing I can think of for you to improve is two not make the chapters quite so long, split them into more, also, your missing commas in places, but hey, great story anyway! Can't wait for The next chapter. rnrn-Heather-
Well I try to get them out like I said earlier but you haven't reviewed for the longest time heather. Is it too much to read? Incase any of you guys want a great story to read go to heather's story I think I have her marked in my favorite stories or authors I'm not sure which but she's there and she writes so well.. you guys should read her story if you like mine.