. : Muichimotsu : .
: . By Akikazu . :
. : Chapter Twenty Seven : .
His curiosity finally got to him.
Hiei had left for his own room an hour or so ago but Kurama found no rest. Kagome was too close and her injured wrist called to him like a beacon. His kitsune nature nagged at him with an impatient insistence that refused to be cooled.
Kurama scolded himself as he began to unwind the bandage that was wrapped around Kagome's left wrist. He hadn't believed for a second that she had cut herself while cooking. The problem was that he did have the slightest idea as to what she was trying to hide. The bandage came undone and he peered down at her naked wrist.
Her skin was cut and gouged in a way that the marks resembled a bracelet made of thorns.
Kagome was the cloaked figure that had been helping the Reikai Tantei (Spirit Detectives) fight.
For a moment his mind was frozen. He hovered between pride that Kagome had proved to be a fierce warrior and anger that she would not only place herself in danger but would also hide her doings from him.
There was also regret for causing her injury in a moment where he hadn't stopped to think. He had acted without pause and if Kagome hadn't stopped the attack, her friend Sango would have died. Kurama could only imagine what Kagome had been thinking when the events had occurred.
It came to passed that he began to debate what he would do with his newly acquired knowledge. He could confront her but that would force him to admit that he had not believed her when she had told him that she had injured herself in a cooking accident. He could ignore the information but that would allow Kagome to go skipping off into more danger. How could he protect her if she placed herself in the middle of whatever battles came up?
Finally, after some extensive debate, he decided that he would wait for her to tell him that she was fighting at their side on her own. However, he resolved to keep an eye out for her and tell Hiei to do the same. It wasn't that he didn't trust her. He just knew that keeping this a secret was practically begging for trouble.
Gently he lifted her wrist, placed a kiss to the damaged skin, and began to rewind the bandage. Kagome stirred as he worked but had been tired out by the day and didn't awaken.
After finishing the rewrapping, Kurama gathered Kagome's limp body to him. In her sleep the miko sighed and curled herself into his frame. Kurama's arms came up to wrap around her small frame.
With her form pressed tightly to him, sleep came easily to the harried male.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
At Kagome's mother's insistence, Sesshomaru brought Shippo back to the Ningenkai (human world). Since the murder of Rin's reincarnation and disappearance of her soul, Sesshomaru had been in a foul mood.
His black mood was not lifted in the slightest when he found one of the beings he most despised eating breakfast at his table.
Sesshomaru could feel the growl that rose in his throat.
The object of his increased anger looked up to find him looming in the doorway. His eyes widened as he took in his tense stance and his spiking youki (demonic energy).
His growl formed into a single word, "Naraku."
"Do I know you?"
Shippo bumped into Sesshomaru's back and peered around the stoic youkai (demon) with a frown. He eyes grew wide and he ducked back behind his uncle.
"Wha! It's a Naraku zombie!" he cried.
Hijikata and Souji came out from the kitchen at that moment. Their faces instantly went serious and they bowed to the taiyoukai that they had served for over five hundred years.
"Sesshomaru-sama," Hijikata greeted.
"What is Naraku doing at my table?" Sesshomaru demanded. "What is he doing alive?"
"Souji and I found him when we were grocery shopping. He doesn't recall anything past a few days ago," Hijikata answered promptly. "We immediately brought him back to Kagome-sama and she insisted that he stay here."
"Why was I not informed?"
Souji answered this time, "Kagome-sama told us that she would inform you."
A maid stumbled into the room and whispered something to Souji whose face began to show alarm.
"Kagome's not in her room, aren't Kurama and Ayame-ojo either. The window is broken and the wall is all but destroyed," he reported, already moving towards the door.
Sesshomaru growled again, this time more viciously. The enraged Demon Lord stalked out of the room and spread his senses to find his missing sister. He located her aura in the Northern Wing. He immediately scooped up Shippo and headed in that direction.
He nearly tore the door apart to get inside.
Sesshomaru's golden eyes immediately landed on his sister… And the fox whose embrace she was curled into.
"Okaa-san (Mom)!" Shippo cried, wiggling to get out of Sesshomaru's arms.
The loud noise startled both the sleeping miko and kitsune awake and both persons jumped into a sitting position. Kagome looked around and found herself in the embrace of Kurama and her brother and son standing in the doorway. She yelped and moved away from Kurama, her face coloring red.
"Hi," she greeted meekly.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and he glared at the red head that he had found in bed with his sister. Never mind that all their clothes were on and the room told nothing of certain activities occurring.
"Explain yourself," he barked.
"He's only doing what you told him to do," Kagome said before Kurama could respond.
His glare never moved from the fox.
"I don't recall asking him to sleep with you."
"Nothing happened," Kagome yelped. "He's keeping me safe. We were attacked last night on the way to our rooms… our separate rooms. Ayame came too."
"So Kurama isn't going to be my daddy?" Shippo wailed.
"Shippo!" Kagome exclaimed.
Kurama finally designed to speak, "Sesshomaru-sama I would like to speak with you later."
His eyes narrowed further but he nodded. Sesshomaru set Shippo down, turn on his heel, and left without another word. Both Kagome and Kurama understood the unspoken message that they only have a couple of minutes to follow after him.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
Itsuki found Keiko sitting quietly on a bench in the garden.
He came to a stop at her side and her sad eyes looked up at him. Itsuki sat next to her and enfolded her hand in his. Together they looked out at the gardens, an ocean of flowers lying before them.
"Are you happy to be back?" With me? He wanted to add.
"It's different," she said softly. "I'm glad you're here."
His hand squeezed her and Keiko smiled. She laid her head on his shoulder and continued to stare out at nothing. A dark look clouded her eyes.
"Do you regret going to Koenma to help me?" She questioned.
"No. I glad that you're safe," Itsuki admitted.
"I was worried about you too."
He glanced down at her in surprise.
"Sensui told me that you two fought. I know you were loyal to him."
He shrugged, "It was nothing. I'm not so low that I would sell a girl off to slavery."
He sounded miffed and she patted his arm.
"I feel calm here, around you. Things do not trouble me as they should."
"Is that a bad thing?" he questioned.
"Yes and no. I don't really care. I would stay with you, if you don't mind."
Itsuki tugged his hand away from her and wrapped it around her body. Keiko leaned against him further, using her body heat to ward off the cold.
"I'd like that."
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
He could see them.
Yusuke scowled at the snuggling pair from the other side of his bedroom window. He didn't like it at all. It tugged at his mind increasing the feeling that he was losing control to a part of him that wanted to be Inu Yasha… The part of him that wanted to play the outraged boyfriend.
But he wasn't her boyfriend.
He had Yukina, right?
But Yukina wasn't around and without her calming presence he felt his mind deteriorate farther. It was a confession he couldn't bring himself to make to his team members. They already saw him as a loose cannon, more than once they had doubted his stability. He couldn't bring himself to fan the flames, so to speak.
Huffing, he moodily sat back in his bed. He had, once again, been confined to bed rest until Kurama gave him the okay. Yusuke stared at the hated window for a moment before moving to glare at the blank, white wall.
He wasn't in any sort of mood to deal with anyone today.
If you would let me out I can take away all this pain.
Yusuke resisted the voice's urging. He knew that if he gave in no one around would be safe. He might end up killing his friends and teammates, or worse he might end up killing Yukina.
Still the voice nagged at him. It took all his control to hold off the desire to obey. Yusuke told himself that he was no a weakling. He insisted that he could and would overcome the desire to give into the voice. But he knew that he was losing the battle. The urge was taking him over, cell by cell.
In a last effort at resistance he brought forth all the energy he could find and drove the voice away. It was temporary, but it allowed him the silence he required to fall into a regenerative sleep much like the one that had overtaken him during the beginning of the Dark Tournament.
For the first time Yusuke felt very much alone.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
Naraku was alone.
Everyone had left the dinning room after hearing Souji's announcement about Kagome not being in her room. No doubt they were all outside scouring the palace looking for her. Naraku wondered what it would be like to have so many people concerned about you.
Kagome made him welcome in her home, and Souji and Hijikata both stayed by his side talking to him. But he got the feeling that the two men were watching him. Naraku would have had to be blind not to see the glances that the servants sent his way, the jump that most people when he entered the room. He got the feeling that they were all watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake.
His ear worked as well as ever, he could hear the servant's whisper. Such a horrible person he must have been to deserve such spite. Around every corner Naraku overheard more details on what he had done, another person he had killed, another life he had ruined.
He wondered how Kagome could let him under her roof. How she could let him live after all the trouble and pain he must have called her?
"Excuse me?"
Naraku heard the voice and turned to find a woman standing several feet behind him. She didn't appear to be a maid, as she was dressed in a white yukata that had pale pink designs that he could not clearly see. He examined the young woman closely, she had long brown hair and pretty dark eyes, she couldn't be more than eighteen. Naraku found the woman pleasing to his eyes. She was very pretty in fact.
"Can I help you…?" Naraku waited for her to supply her name.
"Sango."
"Can I help you with anything Sango?" He asked again.
She stepped closer to him.
"Have you seen Kagome?"
He shook his head, "No. No one else seems to know where she is either." He changed the subject and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"
"I'm not hungry." Still she inched closer. "Do you know me?"
"I can't say. I don't remember anything before a couple of days ago. Do I know you?"
Her eyes went wide. "You don't remember either?"
"Not a single thing," he admitted.
Sango smiled and held a hand out to him, "Do you want to come with me then? I'm going to find some answers."
Naraku smiled back at her and took her hand. "Sure."
She helped him get to his feet and look surprised as she saw him stand straight. She blinked but continued to hold onto his hand.
"I didn't expect you to be so tall," she explained.
"Maybe your just short," he teased.
Sango punched his arm playfully and pulled him from the dinning room. Naraku followed obediently, a smile turning his lips.
He didn't feel alone any longer.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
Kurama hadn't expected the meeting with Sesshomaru to have gone as well as it had. Still, it was a relief to be out of the calculating glare of the taiyoukai. And he had managed to escape with Sesshomaru's approval.
He was officially allowed to court Kagome.
Logically, Kurama knew this could cause no end of problems, starting but not limited to his immortality and her humanity. But he reasoned that there were ways around such things and he would do anything with in his power to see where the emotion that was building within him would lead. He had had enough of cold, meaningless relationships that held no promise for the future. He had had enough of that in his previous life.
But he would take matters as they came. At this moment he had to deal with the other matters that had discussed with Sesshomaru. Namely last night's attack on Kagome, which could hopefully be solved with a security boost, and Shippo's wild powers, meaning he and the kit would have time to bond during training. Hijikata-Sensei and Souji would have to be informed of the first and Hiei might have to be enlisted for help with the second.
Having made up his mind he made a detour into the direction he sensed Hijikata-Sensei and Souji were in. They had obviously found out about last night's attack and were in the Western Wing studying the scene of the "crime".
"Ah Kurama-san, you were present when this happen weren't you?" Souji said as Kurama approached the pair.
"Yes. Kagome would have been killed with the first blast had I not been present," he confessed.
"How many blasts were there Minamino?" Hijikata asked.
"Two, Ayame-ojo was almost hit by the second."
"But you believe that Kagome-sama was the intended target?"
"Yes. She saw him. Kagome said that he went through the motions of firing the Rei Gun (Spirit Gun) but the attack didn't come till a minute after that."
"Yusuke never left his room last night," Souji said.
"Hiei told me. Kagome said he was somewhat familiar but she couldn't place him. He had white hair and violet eyes like Raizen but his hair was much shorter and not as wild."
"We will talk to Kagome-sama later. She'll be able to make a to-scale image of him for us. Actually she can probably recreate the whole scene for us."
"Don't worry Kurama, we'll be stepping up security." Souji's face hardened and his eyes narrowed, "a little bird informed me as to who the traitor in out midst is. I'm off to inform Sesshomaru-sama after this."
Kurama nodded, knowing better than to ask anything further about that subject. Instead he said, "Is there anything else you need to know?"
"Nope, Kagome-sama can fill in from here," Hijikata answered.
"I'm off then. I have to begin Shippo's training."
"Good luck," Souji said.
He nodded and left the two to whatever they were going to do. He immediately headed for the Northern Wing. Kagome was still there and Shippo was with her.
The greeting he received from the kit was the standard.
"Kurama!" Shippo shrieked after launching himself at the older kitsune (fox).
"Hello again Shippo, Kagome." He pried the kit off his waist but left his hand on his small shoulder.
"How was your talk to Sesshomaru-ani (big brother)?"
Kagome eyes were anxious and worried. Kurama was warmed to see that she cared for him. He smiled down at the small female and she blushed, no doubt remembering that morning's scene.
"It went well, but I'm actually here for Shippo. I thought that he might like to start training today." Kurama took in the kit's widening eyes.
"Really?" He demanded. "Are you going to teach me how to control my powers so they don't keep going out of control?"
Kurama nodded and Shippo squealed, struggling to get at Kurama and tackle him again. The red head kept a firm grip on Shippo's shoulder to prevent the tumble to the ground that would no doubt result in such an enthusiastic embrace. Kurama looked up at Kagome and saw her watching them with a smile, a happy glow in her eyes. He wanted to be the one who would put that look in her eyes everyday.
Shaking his head Kurama turned his attention back to Shippo. The kit had stopped trying to get at him and was looking up at him with wide eyes.
"Let's go Shippo." He left the kit loose and the boy scrambled out of the room. Kurama turned and looked at Kagome again. She was watching him, "Souji and Hijikata will come for you soon. They want you to recreate what happened last night."
"Thank you for telling me Kurama, and also for taking Shippo in hand."
"You're welcome." Anything for you, Kagome. "I'll see you later."
"Bye."
Kurama turned and went after Shippo. The kit had good sense and was making his way to the dojo. Kurama knew that they wouldn't be practicing with youki today but before they could do anything they had to find out what Shippo could do exactly, then it was stamina, speed, and control, then hand to hand combat, then weapons, and finally youki. He had the feeling that Shippo would be a quick learner though. Chances were that he had picked up something during his years with Kagome.
Entering the dojo, Kurama found himself attacked by a rambunctious kit. He reached out calmly and grabbed Shippo's ankle holding him upside-down as Shippo pouted at his failed flying kick. He sat the kit down and moved towards the middle of the room.
"Sorry Shippo but we won't be sparring for a time to come. After today you won't even be using your youki much," Kurama said.
Shippo groaned dramatically but Kurama continued on, determined to teach the kit.
"Right now I want to learn your attributes and after that you'll have to sit still for a lecture. Tomorrow you can start physical training." Kurama looked down at his charge. "Have you discovered anything of your powers?"
Shippo's face brightened, and he said excitedly, "I can do this!"
His arms shot forward and he held his hands about a foot apart. His face scrunched in concentration but a ball of water began to form in his hands. The water swirled in an invisible globe for a second before exploding. Shippo ended up drenched but Kurama managed to stay completely dry.
"I see, the scientist was telling the truth then," Kurama murmured. Then he asked, "as a kitsune you should still retain your illusion skills. Have you?"
"I don't know… I'll try."
Shippo pulled a leaf out of thin air and placed it on his head. There was a burst of mist and out of it emerged a Kurama look-a-like. However there was a dark auburn tail attached to "Kurama's" behind. Shippo looked down at it with disappointment.
"I forgot my tail," he whined.
Then he straightened and looked at Kurama for approval.
"Very nice, can you do another?"
Shippo nodded and the mist blasted again only this time a demon he didn't recognized stepped out. He had about the same size as Kurama but had black hair and blue eyes.
"Kagome's my woman!" He announced.
Then he giggled and turned back into Shippo. The kits shook the leaf out of his hair and grinned up at Kurama expectantly.
"That was very nice Shippo," Kurama complimented. "Who was that second youkai?"
"That was Koga." Shippo grinned, "he was always coming around and saying that okaa-san was his woman."
"I see."
Kurama shook off the unwarranted jealousy that attacked him. After all Kagome hadn't mention Koga to him so there couldn't be any serious competition from that quarter. He motioned for Shippo to sit on the ground and took a seat, folding his legs Indian style.
"Do you know anything about attributes?" Kurama asked.
Shippo shook his head and Kurama prepared himself for a long lecture. First he thought to explain what an attribute was.
"An attribute is a youkai's tie to a power. For example Hiei has his fire and I have my plants. Your attribute is a water of sorts. It is also possible to have a secondary attribute, like Hiei's Jagan (third eye that allows for mind control, mind reading, and clairvoyance) and both of us as kitsune have illusions and kitsune seduction." Kurama paused. "Do you know anything about youkai hierarchy?"
"Only the kitsune." Shippo looked ashamed at the confession.
"That's fine," he reassured the kit. "Then you know that kitsune with only illusionary skill rest at the bottom and kitsune like yo-ko (type of kitsune Kurama is) reside at the top."
Shippo nodded, "my tribe was near the bottom, we had some control over fire."
"But now your attribute has change and you've moved to the top."
"Really?"
Kurama nodded. "Besides deciding rank attributes usually have a connection to a demon's personality. The theory behind this is that if a youkai looses the contact that their personality forms with their attribute they loose all control of that attribute. Knowing this gives you a great advantage when you fight because you can accurately predict what an enemy will do."
"Wow," Shippo's eyes were wide. "You're going to teach me how to do all that Kurama?"
"Yes. Now let's begin. Fire youkai have quick tempers, provoking them is usually a good way to get them to make a mistake. Ice youkai are very calculating but they tend to over think a situation, the slightest things that can upset their plans. Youkai that have control over plant like I do are 'patient, subtle, and refined' as I've hear it put. Wind youkai are fast to any point and earth youkai are stubborn. Water youkai are constant and tranquil but can their rage is fierce. Are there any else that you would like?"
"What about Sesshomaru?"
"Poisons required the wielder to be logical and ruthlessness. The ability to draw out painful situations is key for a youkai with poison as their attribute."
"That sounds just like Sesshomaru. Why ruthless though?" Shippo asked, obviously enjoying the lesson more than expected.
"You have to be able to watch your opponents die when you have the antidote that could save their life," Kurama answered.
"Oh."
There was a small knock and a maid peeked into the room. Both Kurama and Shippo turned their attention to the intruding maid. She bowed and looked away.
"Sirs, lunch is about to be served," she announced before ducking out of the dojo.
Kurama stood and helped Shippo up.
"Come Shippo, that's enough for today."
"Alright," Shippo grabbed Kurama's hand.
Feeling hungry both boys made their way towards the dinning room.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
The pain had been unexpected.
Yukina clutched her abdomen but the pain spiked to a deeper intensity. It gave her the feeling of being ripped apart. The heating stone did nothing to help at that moment.
Then as suddenly as it had started the pain was gone.
She sat up and looked around. The absence of pain was strange and she wondered if her fertile period was over. Slowly she moved to the edge of the bed and stood.
Another wave of pain hit her, knocking her to her knees, this one even more intense than the last. It swept through her whole body, causing her to tremble at the horrible feeling.
Again it departed leaving no trace but her shaking form. Quietly Yukina stood again and climbed back into bed. She grabbed the pillow and brought it to her as another wave of pain over took her.
Tears dripped down her face, pool on the bed and creating a small pile of precious jewels. A few eternal seconds later the feeling receded.
She understood now. Her fertile period had reached its zenith and she would have to ride this out on her own. Afterwards the pain would decrease noticeably and she could sleep her way through it. It was all apart of the life she had created for herself. She was just going to have to endure it.
Another wave of pain struck her causing her to cry out.
All she had to do was ride it out.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
He laughed.
The noise ranged noisily around the room but nothing stirred. Carefully he scooped up his beloved and carried her to his bed… their bed. He sat on the edge and stroked her silky hair, it fell through his fingers like water.
"Rin, everything is perfect now beloved," he whispered. "It's almost ready, I've figured out the key, beloved. I need to collect it and we can be together."
He had finally perfected his work and he could bring Rin back to live without any worries. Best of all she would have only some of the memories that he selected returned to her. But first he required one last thing.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cold lips before standing. Without a moment's hesitation he swept from the room.
Now that Rin was returned to his side he would take care of another pressing matter. The people that threatened to take her away, threatened to restore the memories he would seal. After Sesshomaru and Kagome were dealt with no one would be able to take his darling Rin from him.
Violet eyes flashed, he was getting ahead of himself. First he had to bring back his beloved.
He left his hideout and turned in the direction of the nearest hospital.
After all, where else would he acquire a pure heart but from the chest of a newborn child?
. : End Chapter : .
: . Author's Note . :
Look I've updated already!
The rating goes up as does my promise for violence and gore. Sorry though I don't do lemons but if someone wants to write one, be my guest.
This chapter brings us all to an interesting stage where I hate to tell you but the next chapter will be a filler-type. But there will be romance for you addicts.
Speaking of which I bet your surprised at the new pairing that I've pulled out of my brain. Naraku and Sango. Fear me, for you don't know what will happen next!
I have a beta! Everyone rejoice because now there won't be anymore of those little annoying mistakes that you usually find because I can't go through and read my chapters right after writing them.
Next is the final, full chapter of Inazuma!
Ja ne.
. : Beta's Note : .
Hey everyone! Wow, this is the first time that I've actually had a part in the note. All the others I've beta-ed hadn't done that. But anyways, now there shouldn't be all those little mistakes that annoyed us all. But yeah, everyone be sure to review and thank Akikazu for this wonderful story!
. : Next Time : .
Getting closer
Revival
Death of a traitor
Collaboration
Training