Four
Kagome wasn't sure how much time passed. He must have so many questions yet here he is just holding me, being with me. Giving without question or complaint.
Her tears subsided and she became aware of his prayer beads pressed against her cheek. He never removed them and he hated them so much. She fought for composure and pulled away to study him.
Inuyasha's face was more defined than she remembered. The roundness of his features had diminished. He was no longer a boy. A scar cut across his eyebrow and from a distance it would appear as if he had pierced it. His hair was still silver and flowed freely down his back. His golden eyes glowed and his pupils were the same black slits. Unconsciously Kagome ran her fingers through his hair over his head. Her fingers found his still furry ears and she smoothed her palms over them. He sat completely still even though he had to be burning with protest and outrage.
Still a hanyou (half demon)? He had the stupid jewel the last time I saw him, what did he use it for?
"Ahmen," he cleared his throat giving her a subtle hint. When did he learn restraint? Her Inuyasha would have howled and slapped her hands away.
"It's really you." She whispered.
"Yeah, that's what they keep telling me." He muttered.
"How… how did you get into the sword?"
His voice swelled with pride. "Sesshoumaru. When he realized he'd never defeat me he got Jaken to do the next best thing."
Kagome sighed and closed her eyes before she could roll them. "Still fighting Sesshoumaru? Some things never change."
"Yeah, well when I get back," he gave a wicked vulpine grin, "he's in for a nasty surprise."
"Back? Inuyasha, there is no back."
"Kagome?"
"You are not out of your time. I found the Tetsusaiga here in my era and released you. This is your era too now. There is no going back. Even the well, it's still sealed."
He sat back on his haunches in stunned silence and Kagome recognized a bit of the lost youth she'd known thirteen years ago.
"Maybe now isn't a good time to discuss that. Tell me about your life. How long has it been since you tossed me back down the well?"
Inuyasha closed his eyes but answered so quickly it was obvious he knew the answer without even thinking.
"Thirty years", he whispered.
"Thirty years? But you aren't much older than I am!"
He opened one eye to glare at her. "I'm only half human. Remember?"
"Why is that? I always assumed you made good on your dream to become a full yokai."
He sighed. "I nearly did."
"Kaede? Did she stop you?"
"No I never tried. As a human I was too weak and defenseless. As a yokai I could never trust myself not to hurt….you. So I stayed like this."
"But you knew I was leaving. Hell you even kicked me out." Kagome tried to keep an even tone. It happened so long ago why does it still piss me off?
He gave a half grin exposing the tip of his left fang. "Yeah but ya always find a way back don't ya?"
Kagome gave him a light punch on the shoulder. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and huffed. "Keh to you too!"
Kiki decided now was an opportune time to leave her safe hiding spot in the kitchen and investigate the strange house guest. She bolted into the den then dropped down on her belly and growled. Inuyasha snorted.
"Nice dog ya got there. What's her name?"
Kagome grabbed the dog by her collar and ordered her to relax. "Shh it's okay girl."
She turned to Inuyasha. "This is Kiki."
"Kiki hmmm?" He lifted a dark brow. "That sounds an awful lot like Kikyo. You didn't?"
Kagome was outraged. "Of course not! I'll have you know Kiki is a very popular American name!"
"American." He sounded the word out thoughtfully. "That's the country across the ocean. I remember your school books…"
Icy dread crept up Kagome's spine. "America."
He smiled, "That's right America."
"Umm about that…" Damn! I've reverted back to my teenage self. She cleared her throat and started again.
"Inuyasha, we aren't in Tokyo. Hojo and I moved here to America five years ago."
"Oh" was his only reply.
Inuyasha, your whole world has been turned upside down. Did I make the right decision? How will I ever know?
His next question surprised her. "Were you married?"
"What?"
"Hojo? Was he your husband?" he was looking at Kiki and avoiding her gaze.
"No. He became ill after our engagement. Then he called off the wedding."
Inuyasha smiled softly. "And I suppose you fought him about it."
"Yes." It was her turn to look away.
"Stupid Kagome, why do you always fight those who only wish to protect you? He knew you needed more than he could give. Why didn't you accept it?" Inuyasha was surprisingly insightful. How come I never noticed?
"I wanted to help him" she muttered.
"He probably wanted to know you'd be okay."
She sniffed. "Probably."
"So are ya?"
"Am I what Inuyasha?"
"Are ya okay?"
"I guess so. There is no Naraku or Mistress Centipede here so yes I am okay."
"Good." He jumped to his feet.
Wow, I'd forgotten how fast he is.
"Cause I'm hungry! What do ya have to eat around here?" he headed to the kitchen with a cowed Kiki following in his wake.
As she watched him Kagome was struck. I hope he eats less than he used to. I don't know if I can afford to feed him!
In the seconds it took Kagome to reach the kitchen Inuyasha flew through all of her cabinets and the fridge and was utterly disgusted by their lack of contents. She found him chewing on a straw as he sniffed a Chinese take out menu.
"Mmmm, order several dozen of whatever this came in!"
Kagome laughed. It's been thirty years since he's seen modern times but he's never forgotten the concept of take out.
She strolled up to him and snatched away the menu. He growled playfully and she held it out of his reach and he jumped at it. Kagome was over come with an irresistible urge."Osuwari!" She said crisply.
Kiki's furry butt hit the kitchen floor but Inuyasha remained on his feet. He gave her a burning look of triumph.
"Keh! I fixed that a LONG time ago." He glanced down a Kiki and snorted. "Stupid mutt."
"How did you do that?"
"Kaede" he answered and left it at that. He tossed her an unopened box of loose green tea leaves. "This was all I found."
Kagome filled her beloved cast iron tea kettle with cool water and set it on the stove. She procured a block of cheese left over from some gift basket someone sent her weeks ago and a few crackers. She arranged them on a plate and was not surprised when Inuyasha ate them without complaint.
Kagome poured the tea into a matching set of Scooby Doo mugs and sat across from Inuyasha. He drank his tea while keeping an eye on her. She glanced at the stove clock and saw it was 2:55am. My God I will never make it tomorrow without sleep. I wish I had never had those last glasses of wine. Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Inuyasha."
He looked up and was for once silent.
"You had the Jewel of Four Souls. What did you wish for?" I know him too well to think he just gave it away.
He traced the out line of Shaggy's head with his claw. "Sango lost more than anyone so I decided to free Kohaku. I didn't want to risk having Naraku killing him before we got there."
There are no words. My heart is breaking all over again. Sango. It was the perfect gift for a tragic heroine.
Kagome felt tears prick her eyes and blinked them away.
"Was Kohaku…was he okay?"
"Physically he was back to normal but he was never right. Sango cried."
They sat in silence while she reflected on the gravity of his decision and how much it must've meant to Sango.
"Naraku?"
His face lit up with a chilling grin. "Dead, I scattered his remains all over the countryside. Just in case. Miroku helped us purify what was left."
"Miroku and Sango?"
"They parted friends but she went moved to distant village of Youkai slayers. He went back to his Buddhist shrine. Things were boring for a long while after they left."
Kagome smiled. "You never were one to lie around. Always something going on."
"Hmph, you can say that again."
"Tell me Inuyasha, what did you do for all those years beside fight Sesshoumaru?"
He frowned. "I fought."
"Fought who?"
"After we killed Naraku other yokai assumed I kept the jewel and his powers for myself and they came for me, one at a time."
"Oh" It was so sad. Even after it was over he still wasn't free.
"Even when it became known I did not have the jewel they still wanted to challenge me. It only lasted fifteen years or so. After that the yokai became rare and rarer."
"I'm so sorry Inuyasha." I always thought after the Jewel was destroyed all of our lives would be perfect. I was a fool.
Her apology offended him. He cut in. "No. It was my choice and I stand by what I did."
Thoughtlessly she put her head in her hands. I got my wish but what do we do now? One day at time, that is the only way.
"I'm sorry the kitchen is empty, I haven't felt like cooking or eating for that matter in awhile. Tomorrow morning we will go grocery shopping."
"Shopping" This brought a fast smile. "I haven't forgotten about the Ramen."
"I haven't either."
"Do they have them in here in America?"
"Oh yes and now in even more flavors."
Kagome settled Inuyasha in the guest room and stumbled her way to her own bed. She glanced at her laptop as she climbed into bed. He is very clever. How can I help him acclimate faster? The language barrier will be a blessing until he is more comfortable here but it really isn't fair to him…
She pulled up the computer and ordered a set of Japanese to English language tapes. It wasn't quite the same as his medieval Japanese but it would do. She would cherish the time she had before the tapes arrived. It might be the last peace she would have for a bit. Somehow that didn't bother her at all.
