A/N: So I FINALLY updated my website with a little story about my recent Titanic addiction…If this keeps up, Inuyasha'll scream "I'M KING OF THE WORLD!" sometime in the next fic for no good reason.
I'll agree with you all that Onigumo is gross. Also, he sounds like he's 40 in the Japanese dub, which makes it all the creepier…Now's he's a disgusting pedophile!
Chapter 12: Parallel Memories
As quickly as fall came, soon winter was upon them. Of course, it didn't snow in the village unless it was little flurries, and it was relatively warmer then usual winters. Considering that Kagome didn't really have any warm clothes, she was happy that the weather stayed warm enough so she wouldn't freeze.Like she had expected, since he was a hanyou, Inuyasha wasn't affected at all by the cold, or at least, if he was, he didn't show it.
He seemed to be more inclined to follow her around these days, like a watch dog guarding its owner. Inuyasha was determined to always meet with her and talk with her, while Kagome wanted to avoid him for a little bit longer. Seeing Inuyasha brought up the painful reminder that he was falling in love with Kikyou, not her. Avoiding him was easier—she didn't have to think about it and would ponder how to get back.
Although, when she spoke to him, she would often forget, even when he said Kikyou's name. Her heart would race whenever he said something particularly sweet. And she would feel herself begin to blush, despite the fact that she knew Kikyou never blushed. But when he left, she feel deeper into despair, having the slight hope of not knowing who she was for a few seconds do be dashed with cruel reality.
However, as the months seemed to fly by, going home was a bigger problem. Kagome tried purifying herself, since that seemed to have worked before, but since she was a pure, human miko, nothing happened besides fill the room with a pink light.
She even (though she knew it seemed quite insane) purified herself while running into Goshinboku. Several times. Nothing happened and the noise of herself exclaiming in pain after hitting her head on the ancient wood called the attention of villagers nearby, who were worried if she had run into another youkai again.
Youkai didn't seem to be the problem much anymore. With Inuyasha following her around, staying in the forest just outside the village, he would usually help her with any youkai that showed up. And now that word was out that the miko that guarded the Shikon no Tama was a powerful miko, not as many youkai came calling as before.
Still, every so often, there would be that rogue youkai wandering around who decided to challenge her. They were usually disposed of fairly quickly once both Inuyasha and Kagome fought it.
Though Inuyasha helped her most of the time, Kagome couldn't very well ask him to assist her. She was Kikyou right now, and Kikyou could take care of herself, she didn't need Inuyasha's help. But even so, hejoined in the fightanyway, though he never actually promised to protect Kikyou, as he had done to Kagome that time when they were both stuck in his father's grave.
"Shut up and let me protect you!" he had yelled. Though he had said it rather gruffly, after insulting her by calling her a 'weak human', that was the first time Kagome had felt her heart race around him like that.
Inuyasha had never said anything like that to Kikyou…he had never promised to protect her like that as far as she knew…the first time was after she had died, and he felt guilty because he failed to protect her…
Perhaps…I shouldn't be so jealous of Kikyou…Kagome told herself while she pondered this. I always thought that they had this beautiful, romantic relationship…but now that I'm discovering it…I guess I should be grateful in what I have…
And so, since he had never actually promised to protect her, or to help her at all, how was she to do this? Late, the night before, villagers from a village far to the north came to be the powerful miko to slay a youkai who had killed many of them.
When she had asked how powerful, she had become worried. Though she was Kikyou, she didn't want to go off alone like this in case she wasn't enough. Kagome knew the only one she could trust to go with her like this was Inuyasha. But asking him was the hard thing.
How was she to seek him out? She never came to him; he always came to her. Could she just go to him and ask? What would he say? What if he rejected her?
Of course, like always when she thought of these things, she was walking around the forest. And, like always, someone else was watching her. When she heard the leaves rustle to her right, she turned sharply, suddenly feeling Inuyasha's youki, though she couldn't see him at the moment. I guess I'd better get it over with.
"Inuyasha, can you come down here? I have something to ask you."
There was an annoyed grunt, and then, suddenly, the silver haired hanyou plopped down from the tree, an equally annoyed look on his face. "I'm listening."
Kagome was still worried about how she'd present the idea to him, but she decided to just go for it. I'll use Kikyou's method. It seemed to work for her. Taking a deep, nervous breath, Kagome asked, "Inuyasha, will you lend me your power?"
That didn't quite come out how she wanted it to sound, and only ended up confusing the hanyou. He raised a quizzical eyebrow. "So what sort of treachery are you up to this time?"
Sighing, Kagome explained simpler, "I've been asked to slay a youkai in another village, and I'm afraid I alone might not be enough."
After waiting a second for his response, the hanyou muttered, "Keh. You're just one thing or another."
Her eyes suddenly lit up with surprise, causing the hanyou to look fairly surprised t her reaction as well. "So, you'll help me?"
"Whatever." was all the response she got, though it was enough for her.
Without meaning to, a bright, very Kagome-like smile sprouted on her face, causing the hanyou to once more look at her with a look of calculating puzzlement, as if trying to figure something out.
The left the same day, both agreeing that it wouldn't do to leave a dangerous youkai like that any longer. They only stayed long enough for Kagome to gather her things and instruct Kaede on what she was to do until her sister returned.
The trip north got steadily colder and colder as they traveled. Though winter in the village felt like a slightly cooler fall, it began to feel more like winter as they kept going. Soon, they even saw snow covering the ground, forcing them to tread through it.
For warmth and to keep herself dry, Kagome had to wear a reed hat and a cloak made out of reeds as well, which, for being 500 years prior to her time, kept the snow off mostly. Inuyasha wore nothing to keep himself dry, preferring only what he usually wore, and didn't seem affected at all by it.
As they journeyed in near silence while the wind howled around them, Kagome couldn't take it anymore and decided to strike up some conversation. "Isn't it cold, Inuyasha?"
He was walking next to her, and paused from his thought to look back at her. "Huh?"
"I mean," she rephrased her question, "Do you feel cold at all?"
The hanyou gave a near-stunned blink, as if he had never thought of that before. "Not really." he admitted. "I feel a little bit cold, but mostly, I feel normal. After all, I've got a body built stronger than humans, remember?"
How could I forget? Kagome turned away from him, remembering that time after they had defeated Yura of the Hair, how she had learned that he healed quickly by showing her a bare, healed chest.
"Don't you understand? My body's special!" Of course, even now, she still blushed at remembering that was the first time she had seen him without a shirt. She had to bandage him every day with his shirt off, but seeing it like that, without all the bandages…well, though Kagome led an interesting life, she wasn't that different from girls in her time.
Glancing out of the corner of her eye at Inuyasha, who now surveyed his surroundings with distaste, she mused, Yes, his body is special… feeling a smirk come on her face as well as a blush.
But Inuyasha noticed her looking at him. "Hey! What's with that look?"
Turning away quickly, while mentally chastising herself, she lied, "Nothing…just the cold, Inuyasha."
And so they continued on in silence, Kagome too afraid she'd slip up again. The journey to the village took them a day and a half, stopping once night hit them and continuing the next morning. They finally made it in early afternoon the next day.
The village was deserted because of the youkai, and it was hard to see for Kagome since everything had been turned a white hue because of the snow. The wind blew in her face so hard that she had to squint to see, and the howling of the wind blocked her hearing.
But, of course, not her miko powers. She could sense it before she saw it. She glanced from under the rim of her hat, seeing what appeared to be a grey snow-dog running at her. Its disguise was so good, that she would have thought so, had it not been for the red eyes it possessed.
It lunged for her, and while stepping to the side, she injected her purification powers into her undrawn bow, thrusting it in the way of the youkai and causing it to be pushed back with a howl of pain.
Kagome turned around sharply, seeing the grey blur through the wind and snow come closer to the red blur. "Inuyasha! It's here!" she called, Kikyou's voice slightly concerned.
"Leave it to me!" the hanyou yelled back. Through the wind, Kagome saw his hand near his right side. For a second, she thought he was going to draw the Tessaiga and finish it that way, before she remembered that he didn't have the Tessaiga now. When he raised his claws, she knew what he was going to do. "Sankon Tessou!"
With a flash of golden light, the grey body of the youkai was dissolved, leaving a black shadow like creature behind. Kagome ran up to him, silently cursing at the large red hakama pants that flapped in the wind and made it hard to run in.
"Kikyou, that's its true body!" Inuyasha told her, his eyes not leaving it.
"Right!" Kagome drew an arrow, aiming for the black figure, hoping that the wind wouldn't draw it away. She filled it with her miko powers and let it fly, watching it be pushed to the side just slightly before it slammed right through the shape, purifying it instantly.
There was a smirk on Inuyasha's face as he admired her handywork. "Ha! We did it!"
Yes, we did, together. That thought caused Kagome to remember the first time she and Inuyasha had defeated a youkai together, the crow youkai, when he used Sankon Tessou and she had fired an arrow.
And then there was the time with Yura of the Hair, when she had nearly been killed and he had been wounded several times. Inuyasha had maimed Yura just enough so Kagome was able to destroy Yura's true form—a comb.
That was also the first time he said my name…she remembered how he had said simply, almost not even realizing it, "Let's go, Kagome."
Her heart began to sink as she realized she really missed him saying her name. Inuyasha thought she was Kikyou, and him calling her 'Kikyou' all the time did get depressing.
But, even though she was Kikyou, she missed fighting alongside him like this. It was nice to have teamwork with him rather than have to fight youkai all by herself when he wasn't around.
"Inuyasha?" she asked.
"Yeah?" he turned back to her.
A very small, almost unnoticeable, clearly Kikyou smile came upon Kikyou's features. "Do you think we could fight like this all the time? Together?"
A secret smile appeared on his face as well. "Yeah."
A/N: Can anyone explain to me why the chapters I think are going to be really long end up being really short, and the ones I think are going to be shorter end up being longer than most chapters?
Just something weird I noticed…
