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Fade to Black
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"We should probably make camp here," Inuyasha sighed uneasily as they stared at the unfamiliar village in the distance, "I'm not sure they'd be welcoming."
"Since when do you care? Even when it was just us, you didn't care," Kagome asked curiously and he blushed.
"I know."
"So, what's the issue?" she pressed as she began walking towards the village, "We need to buy new clothes anyway."
Inuyasha sighed again and followed. It wasn't so much that he cared what random villagers thought of him. It was that it had been some time since he'd had to deal with it. Since he'd been in a village that didn't know who he was. In this world, where the jewel shards had changed everyone's worldview, he was respected. It had been a long, long time since anyone acted like he was there to kill everyone. Which never struck him as strange until now. Looking back, that should've been the first clue that something wasn't right but maybe because he'd desperately wanted to feel normal for so long his mind purposefully ignored the weirdness of it all. And now...now...
The rude awakening that Kagome hadn't actually been his wife was already one shock too many. With their relationship uncertain, he wanted to avoid any reminder that life with him would be difficult for the time being. Who knew how this village would react. He wasn't used to entering strange villages without all of his friends or, at least, most of them. Not anymore. In the two years Kagome had been gone, literally every village they visited had called for them or had some connection to the demon slayer's village. They knew he would be coming along as part of the package deal. Sure, in the 'journey' – either quest real or imagined – they'd encountered a few hostile villages but again, their group entering said villages had always been for a reason not just….hey we need one room and we know it looks like something is going between you two because it totally is. It had been because Miroku sensed an ominous presence, there was a demon nearby, or they'd been hired. They'd never really been just passing through and if they were, it was always as a pack. One half-demon surrounded by people whose life work was to kill his kind posed no threat. Now he was a half-demon accompanied by a strange disheveled woman in torn, beat up clothes that clearly didn't belong with him and acted like she knew it too. Her whole attitude towards him was awkward and forced. Any rational person would assume the worst. Why wouldn't they? That's what he was assuming at this point as well.
"Kagome slow down," Inuyasha finally huffed as he rushed forward and grabbed her wrist, "I really don't think…"
"Inuyasha-sama! Kagome-sama!" a boisterous male voice suddenly called across the clearing as a middle-aged man came rushing towards them – wiping his hands on a cloth as he went, "It has been far too long."
"What the fuck…" Inuyasha breathed as he cast a worried glance at the miko who seemed equally stunned.
"What brings you to our village this fine day?" the man asked happily.
"You know who she is?" Inuyasha asked skeptically and the man looked rather confused.
"Should I not?"
"No, no that's not what he meant," Kagome chuckled nervously, "It was just so long ago. We're just surprised you remember."
"You two are very difficult to forget," the headman chuckled with a warm smile, "Its not every day that a miko and a half-demon come into a village."
"Right..."
As Inuyasha looked to Kagome for answers, the miko herself tried to go over in her head exactly what her wish had been and figure out why some people remembered her but not others. No one should have remembered, right? Wasn't that the price?
'No one brought back will know your name. No one brought back will ever know you even existed. This is the price you must pay. To be forever forgotten and replaced by another.'
Oh stupid jewel playing word games. Not being consistent. What did that even mean? She'd thought she'd known but apparently this was just another thing that had gone completely over her head.
"Did anyone in your village die last time we were here?" Kagome addressed the headman who cast Inuyasha a surprised glance while shaking his head. Kagome could almost feel Inuyasha bristling behind her.
"No. You managed to slay the demon with no causalities," the headman informed her before sighing and giving them both a kind smile, "I know that battle must have been so trifling you don't remember it well. I believe you called the demon weak despite the damage it caused."
Inuyasha blushed uncharacteristically and fidgeted. That was probably - no definitely - something he'd say. Just dismiss the damage. Probably act like it was a waste of his time and now, ironically, this village was probably the only group in existence that knew Kagome existed. Something outside of his mind that confirmed what he already knew to be true.
"Did the demon that attacked you have a jewel shard?" the miko asked and the man cocked his head to the side. Meanwhile, Inuyasha was giving her some major exasperated side-eye.
"I don't understand the question," he admitted as he looked even more confused, "I've never heard of such a thing. Should it have?"
"No, no, I was just trying to place the memory," Kagome smoothly lied as Inuyasha continued to stare at her with somewhat hurt and confused eyes, "We're merely passing by and need a place to sleep tonight."
As frustrated as he was that the miko seemed to be playing twenty random questions, the hurt that someone had been granted the luxury of remembering her while he'd been stuck in the dark stung more than words could express. That someone knew while he was forced to forget. And why the hell could he not have come by here before hand? Would that have made a difference? Given him some answers in advance? The man gave him an appraising look that had his gut falling and the scent said the rest. This asshole knew their relationship dynamic had...
Sniffing once, Inuyasha's face relaxed and his amber eyes grew wide.
Had not changed. Their relationship hadn't changed and the man was pleasantly surprised it hadn't.
This son of a bitch knew they'd been together. Not as friends but romantically. Maybe it wasn't his memories the jewel had changed but Kagome's. Maybe...maybe things were the way Inuyasha had known them to be and Kagome was just as much a victim as he had been. The jewel messing with her to trip them up. To keep her from returning! That had to be it. It was the only thing that made sense. Kagome didn't remember the truth because the jewel changed her memories of him and replaced the feelings he'd had for her by convincing her that...
A smile played on the half-demon's lips as the man turned towards the village.
"We do have a spare hut available," the headman informed them as they followed behind, "It appears you are in need of clothes, priestess. I can arrange for someone to bring some later, if you want. We are much indebted to you both. If you need anything during your stay here, please let us know."
"That would be appreciated," Kagome hummed before jumping slightly when Inuyasha suddenly gripped her hand . Staring down at their joined hands with disbelieving eyes and back up at his weirdly relaxed face, she couldn't understand this reaction at all.
"What are you doing?" she hissed and he snorted.
"Bastard knows we're married. Knew we were married and he's actually happy we're still together," Inuyasha informed her barely above a whisper as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "See? I told you that's how things were."
"He didn't say…oh. Right. Scent powers or whatever," Kagome muttered with a roll of the eyes. Inuyasha snickered 'scent powers' under his breath before giving her an adoring side-eyed glance as she continued, "Seriously do you know how useful that could've been if you had just admitted you could do that earlier?"
"Not my fault you guys don't listen when I talk. I don't know how you never noticed before anyway," he teased happily, "What made you think I wasn't smart enough to figure out what scent meant what?"
Rolling her eyes, Kagome gently squeezed his hand back by means of apology before she made a soft confused sound.
"Does Koga know who I am?" she asked curiously and Inuyasha gave her a strange look before he answered, "I doubt it. I've seen him a few times and he never even mentioned you. He thinks Miroku and I saved his tribe way back. Teams up with us on occasion. Why do you ask?"
"But all the wolves that were killed are back?" she clarified and Inuyasha nodded.
For a moment, they continued walking through the village in silence before Kagome gasped softly.
"I think…I think I figured it out. The jewel could only affect people who knew someone who died," she whispered and Inuyasha furrowed his brow, "That's why this village remembers us. No one died. No one had to be brought back. And no jewel shards were even involved and neither was Naraku."
Inuyasha had to admit that made sense that someone had to die for the jewel to have power over them. Like a certain someone thinking he'd hated her or some shit. Inuyasha was totally on board with this theory.
"That makes sense."
"It played word games," Kagome admitted, "But it saidspecifically no one brought back would remember me and that it'd replace me with someone else. Koga must think you and Miroku saved his tribe from the birds of paradise. You all replaced me with Kikyo. I wonder who replaced us in Shiori's village."
Yup, checked all the boxes. Her impression of him was altered so she thought he was in love with Kikyo instead. Replacing her with someone else. Made perfect sense. Oh, this was such a relief.
"Probably Shiori," Inuyasha snickered, "Who else would've been able to take her grandfather on?"
"Shiori could do barriers. Not fight. She was a child," Kagome groaned before startling slightly when the headman came to a sudden stop and gestured towards the hut next to him.
"Doesn't matter. At least you've figured it out," he sighed before acknowledging the headman with a slight bow that had Kagome's eyes bugging out of her head.
"Thank you. We appreciate the accommodation on such short notice."
"Its no burden," the headman laughed softly, "It's empty right now but I'll have someone bring a futon by a little later and a change of clothes."
Inuyasha gave Kagome a knowing look that clearly said 'yeah, you hear that? One futon bitch. One. Told you he knows.'
"Thank you," Inuyasha replied as he preened a little and entered the hut with his usual cocky stride – literally dragging Kagome with him before spinning her around and kissing her.
"See I'm not crazy or messed up," he hummed happily as he pressed another chaste kiss on her lips, "That guy knew."
"That guy never said anything," Kagome insisted, "You're just wanting to see what you want to see. All he said was that he appreciated us defending the village back then."
"You just don't want to admit you were wrong," he accused happily and again, Kagome felt like she was in the Twilight Zone. This version of Inuyasha was….was just weird. Still Inuyasha but also just not.
"I think I figured out why you're so confused about how I feel," he continued happily as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "The jewel messed with your mind too. Replaced your memories."
"Wait, what? Inuyasha I don't think..."
"No, no it makes all the sense in the world," he interrupted as he cupped her cheeks, "Just...just try to see if there's a shard in your forehead. Focus really, really hard."
He looked so hopeful and excited it broke her heart.
"Inuyasha there's not a shard in my forehead," she began slowly and he huffed in frustration.
"You didn't even try," he accused as anger seeped into his tone, "Kagome you had to know we were at least engaged. You had to. You let me hold you and care for you and sometimes we cuddled and you kissed me and...and you just had to know. It...it just doesn't make any sense that you didn't! The jewel messed with your mind, okay? That's all there is to it and so...so once it's out it'll be fine. You'll see."
"Believe me when I say I didn't know back then. But I know now and that's what matters," Kagome soothed and Inuyasha looked even more upset.
"I just..." he pleaded miserably, "I just...will you please try? Just once?"
Sighing heavily, Kagome let her aura flare and tried to sense any jewel shards as he watched on with hopeful optimism. Once the shard was out, she'd realize that she'd always known how much he loved her and the fact that she'd just left him would make so much sense and...and everything would be okay again. He'd have a wife. They'd be in love like they used to be. It wouldn't hurt anymore either because all of this had just been a jewel inflicted giant misunderstanding.
But his optimism faded when he realized that it couldn't all be explained away so easily. When Kagome opened her eyes and shook her head, he tried to call the bluff he knew was the truth by pressing a few fingertips gingerly along her forehead before releasing a shaky sigh.
"Oh, well...well okay then," Inuyasha stayed numbly as his heart absolutely shattered, "I'm...I'm going to go on a run, okay? I just...want to make sure that there's no demons nearby. Won't be long."
"Do you want me to come..."
Inuyasha closed his eyes and willed away the desire to cry. All his life he'd stored all of his tears inside him. Pride and courage never letting him break down and shed them. But maybe that was the problem right now. He wanted to cry, not because he was weak, but because he had been strong for far too long.
"No, no I'll be fine," he replied as the stinging in the back of his eyes grew more pronounced, "Won't be more than an hour anyway. Besides someone needs to be here when they bring the stuff so...so it's better if you stay."
Cringing at the way his voice cracked slightly, Inuyasha quickly exited the hut and took off - not bothering to wipe away the tear that slid down his cheek as the reality of the situation finally crashed down on him. He'd hoped that she'd realize she'd been stupid. Held onto that misguided belief that maybe there was an explanation for why she seemed so confused. If he just explained, she'd smack herself upside the head for not seeing it sooner. If she really, really thought about it, she'd understand. But the truth was far, far worse.
She'd never known that he loved her. Never realized they were together. He really had been that stupid. That ignorant. That arrogant. And...and as much as he wanted to deny it, to make the misunderstanding her problem, all of the reasons it was so hard to believe he loved her were completely understandable. He had chased after Kikyo and never even apologized. Never explained. Always treated her poorly. Made her feel second best. He never should have pretended they weren't together - even if he thought it was the easiest way to protect her. Should have at least told her something! What was he even thinking?! Of course she didn't know. He didn't use words. He just assumed.
A few more tears fell as he entered the tree line and increased his speed.
And now...now she thought he only loved her because she'd made a wish she thought would make him happy. Thought the jewel had broken him somehow. Planted false memories of the happiest he'd ever fucking been because she honestly didn't think he needed her or loved her. Because him being crazy made more sense than him actually loving her. It was all he could do not to puke.
Coming to a full halt, he tried to contain his spiraling depression but failed miserably.
What was he supposed to do now? Why would anyonewant to be with someone as awful as he'd been to her? He couldn't fix this. Couldn't take it back. Not now. Not ever. She'd never agree to be his wife. Was probably just going along with this train wreck out of pity. To get back home and leave him again. After all, why would she love him? Sure...sure she...she wasn't lying when she said she loved him but...
It was becoming harder to breathe as his heart struggled to beat.
He was back to square one and would have to court her - which how does one court - and hope that it would work out. Which it wouldn't because he apparently never courted her before and she'd assume he was broken or crazy or...or...just fuck!
It was all uncertain. It was all a crapshoot. He didn't know what would work and what wouldn't. She would always think this was a trick anyway. She'd never really believe him no matter what he did. There was no way this could ever work if she didn't trust him. And what if he was too different now? What if she discovered she didn't like him like this? Should he try to go back to how he used to be? Did he even really remember how to act like he did during the quest? He'd changed too much. Too much time had passed. This was a problem. Such a huge problem. An insurmountable problem.
God what he wouldn't give to go back and do things differently. Do everything differently. Do all the things he'd needed to do way back before this mess so this exact situation never happened. She would've known...should've known...
But he couldn't go back. He couldn't fix the past.
All he could do was cry.
"So running, huh?" Kagome not-so-distant voice rang out in his ears and a softly whispered 'fuck' escaped his lips as he realized she must've seen this humiliating lack of control. Quickly wiping the tears away with his hand, he got to his feet and faced her. Well, kinda. He sure as hell couldn't meet her eyes and chose instead to look at the ground.
"I wasn't crying. Just had something in my eye. I...I ran into a branch," he lied like that made a convincing argument and he heard Kagome hum.
"Pesky trees," she offered as she began moving closer and he instinctively took a step back before realizing what he was doing. Running away from the hurtful female was all he wanted to do but...but he was never going to leave her again if he could help it and he could fight against the instinct. He wasn't an animal.
"So..." Kagome began and Inuyasha tensed, "They brought the futon."
"And that warranted following me?" he hissed as a stray, traitorous tear slid down his cheek and he rubbed his face against his shoulder to remove it.
"Do you..."
"What?! It itched! I can't itch my face now?! Even that'swrong? That makes me crazy?!" he interrupted defensively, "I ran into a tree and it messed up my face dammit. That's all there is to it."
"Well it's not that messed up," Kagome teased awkwardly, "And even it was, I'd still like looking at it."
Inuyasha glanced at the miko before sighing and shaking his head.
"Just go back. I'll be there soon," he ordered hoarsely as he turned and began storming away, "Need to finish my run."
"You know I still can't believe you thought we were married," Kagome hummed like she wasn't twisting the knife in his heart, "I never even acted like your girlfriend."
Groaning, Inuyasha started to head off before he got a whiff of something that had him pausing mid-step. She was being playful. Flirty. And...and was that...what wasthat?
"I mean, all I was doing was just being your friend," she continued coyly as she began walking towards him again, "If I knew we were in a relationship, you would've known the difference."
One his ears twitched as she moved and stood in front of him with a small smirk.
"I'm just saying you weren't getting the full Kagome experience," she hummed, "I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised how things go in a relationship I actually know about."
"I don't..."
Inuyasha legitimately forgot to breathe when she suddenly stepped forward and very aggressively pushed him up against the nearest tree. Eyes wide, Inuyasha went into even more shock when her hips were tightly cradling his own and then he really couldn't remember how to breathe.
"Listen, after thinking about it, I do understand why you thought what you did," Kagome explained as her fingers lightly traced his jaw, "Even in my time, it's not really normal to be touching someone all the time. But I held your hand, sat close to you, hugged you and was all around affectionate no matter where we were. And I was only that way to you. Exclusively."
It was so hard to hear her over his heartbeat in his ears. So hard to concentrate when she was essentially grinding into him. So hard in so many ways.
"I know you're not an affectionate person but you werealways affectionate with me. As much as you felt confident to be," she continued and he gasped softly when she pressed her body against him further still, "But where you lose me is what we did in private."
Breathing heavily, Inuyasha found himself nodding even though he had no idea why. It just seemed like the thing to do for some reason and his mind was growing increasingly fuzzy.
"I know you're upset," she cooed, "And I've been...I haven't done anything except act like it's easier to believe you're wrong about how you feel rather than accept what you're saying."
The mindless nodding continued as his eyes fluttered closed and his nostrils flared.
"But maybe I can show you how it would've gone and then you'll understand why I'm confused."
When her lips suddenly descended on his neck, Inuyasha shuddered and his knees almost buckled. A soft moan escaping followed by a sharp intake of breath. Holy shit this was a thing people did? He'd never even heard of this thing much less seen it. Tilting his chin up to give her more access, he gently rocked his hips against hers before suddenly those lips were gone along with her body warmth.
Panting softly, Inuyasha tried to find his voice as amber eyes stared at her with newfound understanding.
"After you finish your run, maybe I can show you what I..."
"No, no, no," Inuyasha breathed desperately, "No. I'll...Ill come with you now. Who needs running? I.."
"Good," Kagome hummed - her face doing a good imitation of a ripe tomato as she cleared her throat, "Like I said. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to find out you were wrong."
Inuyasha nodded eagerly and followed when she turned back towards the village.
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Deep within the cavernous mountain, a giant white chicken-like creature sat amidst a torrent of blue flames. As her daughter continued to report her findings, the creature's green beak strangely pursed into a small scowl.
"So another is seeking shards," the elderly fowl crooned as her daughter nodded affirmatively, "This may present a problem."
"It's merely that weak half-demon and his human companion," Abi reassured her mother as she pet one of the flaming birds which had landed on her shoulder, "Even if they seek the shards once more, it is no matter. The more shards they collect, the less work my birds must do."
"Perhaps," her mother crooned as she cracked open one giant yellow eye, "We will merely need to tread carefully. Not bring attention to ourselves. Our brethren are worth the inconvenience."
"So you're proposing to ignore the boy and his pet?" the black haired red eyed woman asked skeptically.
"Not remotely. Merely that I doubt they remember we exist. I imagine they are arrogant enough to consider our lives of the lowest priority and will not seek us out for quite some time - if ever. What I am saying is that every man has a weakness and that pet is his," Tekkei mused, "Use your network and fetch her for me once they have collected their fair share of shards. The boy will exchange the shards collected for her life."
"Will he now? What makes you so sure?" Abi snorted softly before rolling her eyes and sighing, "All I'm saying is that from my very limited experience in dealing with these two, he value shards above lives. I would place my bet on the pet handing over the shards long before I expect the same of the half-breed."
"You are young my daughter. You are ignorant of the weakness of males," Tekkei hummed knowingly, "For the time being, we shall wait. When the time comes, we will take the human girl, the boy will come and the jewel shards will be ours."
