AN: I've been WAITING for this chapter! I don't think I'll be able to get the next chapter up tomorrow. So sorry, but life happens. Look for it Monday at the latest!
Inuyasha had no clue what I had in mind. There was no doubt the only reason he wasn't back in his lamp was due to the promise of fulfilling a wish. I knew that if I told him my plans, he'd be back in there in a heartbeat. Could a jinni refuse a wish? I hoped they couldn't because if Inuyasha didn't perform this one, we'd be stuck again…forever.
I had his hand in mine when we walked back through the house. Mom gasped, and gramps freaked out about manners. Then everyone freaked out about Inuyasha's ears.
"Guys! Chill! I'll…call you later!" I screamed over them while shaking my head.
We were near the bus stop when Inuyasha said a word, threading his fingers with mine out of nerves. This had to be the first time he'd be around so many humans at once in an enclosed space. It made me wonder how uncomfortable the other day on the street had made him?
"Why did you do that?" I gave him a confused look and smiled softly. "Why did you walk through the house and let your family see me?"
"What choice did I have? They would have wondered where I went."
"Couldn't you tell them on that thing you talk into?"
I laughed, "you mean my cell? Yeah, sure, but that was more effective. If I'd called to say I left to help a friend, my mom and gramps would have thrown a fit…actually, no matter what I did, the end would have been the same."
"At least, this way, Hojo got to see you with another man."
"Who?"
"Hojo? The guy you were having your Miai with?!"
Inuyasha had an incredulous look on his face, and all I could do was look back at him sheepishly, "honestly, I blanked out after 'dentist'."
He huffed, "I wish I had. The guy was a drag and clearly had issues with your career."
"That's normal. Good thing I don't have a career to give up since I'm sure that's what my future husband will expect."
The bus pulled up, and there was a lot of noise and movement, so I was sure I heard him wrong, but it sounded like Inuyasha said something like, "I wouldn't", but that was crazy.
It was standing room only on the bus, and Inuyasha's nerves were showing. It ate at my insides. Here he was, a powerful creature, and he was scared of weak humans? I knew it was more than him being scared of what he would do to us; the scars on his back may not have been from humans, but they were left untreated by them. And it wasn't demons he was forced to serve for over a century.
If there was any doubt that the hanyou had a fear of humans (irrational or not), it was washed away as he stood as close as possible to me. I considered myself lucky that he trusted me, tucking into my side as much as he could with his taller form. Then, I wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him even closer than Inuyasha's old-fashioned mindset allowed. I was flushed, too; stealing moments like this from Inuyasha had me feverish with guilt and shame, but the pink cheeks on Inuyasha's face were adorable. It made it worth it, even the irregular beats of my heart that would only pain me later.
Even with him on top of me, Inuyasha was still on edge, mumbling to me through clenched teeth. "So, what's the wish?"
He wanted a distraction, but I couldn't give him one. Not that one anyway, "Did you ever go on a Miai before?"
My question worked, distracting Inuyasha from his and his surroundings. "No, why would I? I never had anything to offer, and no one wanted a hanyou."
"Hanyou or not, you're a good-looking guy." A smirk grew on his face, and mine threatened to melt off. "That's not a big deal, don't give me that look! Friends can tell the other that they're attractive!"
"None of my friends ever did."
"You had friends before?"
I bit my tongue because that was mean. However, it didn't seem to bother Inuyasha. Who now had his arms around me, similar to how mine was around him. "Nope. Just you. I guess you'll have to teach me. How do friends treat one another?"
His hands were rubbing circles into my lower back, pressing and gently pushing, so I arched back. Of course, I was already doing so, looking up at him as he towered over me. But it was like he wanted to make sure I didn't look away—probably because this was not how friends held one another, and he wanted to see if I lied. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. Not with his brilliant halcyon innocently asking me, to be honest.
Then, his thumbs pressed up against my spine, and his fingers hooked the front of my ribs. His eyes changed, darkening and dancing to my mouth. I looked away with that, feeling played. "You know the answer to that more than you're letting on."
He chuckled in my ear, his lips dancing on my lobe. "Yeah, you caught me. I do know a little…like how a friend wouldn't ask you to…not go on anymore Miai." I turned unconsciously with that, his mouth now pressing to my cheek as he kept me from looking at him as he spoke. "If I have to watch another…I'll break my lamp with my malice."
"Then," I felt out of breath, "I won't take you to the next one…."
"I'll still know."
"You won't be in the lamp by then…."
"Kagome."
We said nothing else; Inuyasha and I were holding each other like…more than friends. The distraction had worked since not long after we shut up, the bus arrived at our stop. Miroku and Sango met us at my lobby, and the four of us shifted on uneasy feet in the elevator. I was shaking with my keys, and Miroku kept looking between Inuyasha and me.
Once inside, with the doors locked, Sango and Miroku sat on my couch, facing me, while Inuyasha stood off to the side, already indignant to my plan without hearing it yet.
"Alright, Kagome, what's the wish?"
This was the part I dreaded the most because I had to betray Inuyasha's trust yet again. "Inuyasha wants to die because he thinks he's a murderer."
I said it all as fast as possible, but I was still surprised I got it out before Inuyasha could stop me. He got as far as to loom over me. It was completely different from how he had on the bus; the red of his eyes was not as charming as the red on his cheeks had been. Miroku and Sango had jumped to their feet like they planned to protect me, but there was never a need. Inuyasha would never hurt me.
"A murderer?" Sango squeaked.
"He thinks he is…."
"Kagome," Inuyasha warned, and I ignored.
"But he doesn't remember what happened!"
Pacing away, Inuyasha growled louder than I'd ever heard him before and ranted. "It's all so easy for you, isn't it? Telling my story for me and not giving me a choice. How lovely it is to be a carefree human!"
There it was—jealousy. But Inuyasha didn't need to have it, not with me. "There is nothing carefree about being a human!"
"Yeah! There's pain and suffering, just like you!" Miroku screamed after the storming hanyou. "And you should know, you're half-human! So quit with the dramatics and tell us what the fuck happened!"
Inuyasha froze, a shocked look on his face. I was a little surprised too, but I knew my brother better than Inuyasha. The D'jinni's shock was from his master asking him a genuine question about himself. "I…I don't know. But I killed people."
"If you don't know," Sango asked, "then how do you know you killed anyone?"
"I was the one covered in their blood. That's how."
"Look," Miroku grabbed Inuyasha and got him to look at his master, "would the cops arrest you? Sure. But they would need more evidence to convict you."
Inuyasha shook Miroku off, unconvinced. "This is what Miroku does, Yash. He's a lawyer, so he knows what he's talking about."
"Lawyer?"
Oh god, he didn't even know about that?! "Yes, I help those wrongly convicted—like you."
"I don't know what any of that means…."
Sango got restless, "he finds the truth. So let's do it for you!"
Inuyasha shook his head, "I don't remember anything. It was years ago, and I…wasn't myself."
"Tell us everything you do remember then."
Inuyasha told them what he told me, and just like me, Miroku and Sango were unconvinced. "It doesn't matter what you think, you didn't curse me, and you weren't there!"
"Were you there?" Sango asked glibly, "cause it sounds like you know as much as we do."
"Yes, I was fucking there!"
They all fell silent, and Miroku slowly looked up to me. "Kagome? The wish."
Everyone's attention was on me, but I looked at Inuyasha. "The wish is…to go back and see the night Inuyasha thinks he killed people."
"No."
I had barely gotten the words out before Inuyasha interjected. But I wasn't surprised and was ready for the fight. "It's the only way we'll ever know. Think about it; whether you killed them or not, we will see the truth."
"You already think you're a murderer. So what is there to lose?"
Inuyasha stared at me with Sango's question. Then, Miroku popped up from his spot on the couch again. "Regardless of the truth, I think we can all agree that you've reformed, right guys?" We all nodded, me the hardest, "You'll never have any closer if you never see what you did. And how can those families have closer if you don't know what to apologize for? They may be dead, but you know their spirits aren't restful knowing you don't remember them."
Miroku was at his finest. It was just like being in the courtroom with him—my big brother knew how to work a crowd. Or a single person, as it was clear, Inuyasha was giving in. "If my master wishes it…I can't refuse."
That was good to know, even if it made my stomach threaten to purge. What else had Inuyasha been asked to do by a master that he couldn't refute? We weren't much different as Inuyasha still hesitated and sweated. His eyes danced to me constantly while Miroku determined the best wording for the wish. The jinni was unsure about his wish, but at least he had agreed with Mirkou's logic. I wasn't sure what he was worried about if it wasn't fear over his possible deeds.
"Alright, I think I have it."
Inuyasha shuttered and looked at me once more. "I don't sup'ose I could ask you to sit this wish out?"
"Why?" He shrugged, and I stepped up, taking his hand and letting the world around us drop away to nothing. "It won't change what I think. Even if we see you tearing people apart…you weren't yourself. I will never fear you, Inuyasha."
Just like so many times before, Inuyasha threaded his fingers with mine. Then leaned over and kissed the tip of my nose. I must have looked bewildered because he suddenly got nervous again. "In case…you don't want me close after. So I don't miss the chance…."
I was too shocked to say anything. That, and Inuyasha's hot breath was wafting across my lips. It was hard to think and move. It didn't matter that Sango was giggling or that Miroku cleared his throat a few times. I couldn't look away from Inuyasha; I was stuck in his honey like a bee.
"Anyway…let's get this wish going. I have no clue how this is going to work. Any advice?"
Inuyasha finally looked away, and I breathed, holding my breath so long I was dizzy when I inhaled. "Not sure anyone's asked me that before," he answered with a slight chuckle, trying to lighten the mood, "wording's important. So you want to make sure you say shit like 'us' if you want everyone and not just me to see."
"Good to know. Okay, here goes."
It was apparent that Miroku was more nervous than either of his other wishes. But this one was more important, and we knew the costs now. My hand was still in Inuyasha's grip, and I silently wished it would allow him to take some of my life force (or whatever) so it didn't drain on his anymore. He'd given too much already.
"Inuyasha, I wish for us to be shown the crime committed that got you cursed."
He was still, and we waited. But then, he released my hand and walked like in a trance to my tv. His fingers glowed as he touched it, lighting it up with his magic. The screen flickered and glowed, acting like it was turned to a channel with a weak signal until it cleared.
There, before us, on my screen, was Inuyasha.
He was jumping from tree to tree in a thick forest—carefree. It was nice watching him before he was so haunted. I didn't take my eyes off it as I wandered to my couch and fell to it. I was joined shortly, and my eyes only left for a second to make sure Inuyasha was watching too. His eyes were glued, so I put mine back on the show too.
Past Inuyasha neared a village and steered clear. He was going around the outskirts of the settlement until he reached a small river. There wasn't another soul in sight, so the hanyou in the past knelt and began to drink. I giggled when he drank like a dog, his tongue going out of his mouth to lap. But I stopped when a person appeared on the screen with him.
It was a man, older than Inuyasha, and shaking. His fear of Inuyasha was apparent, but he still approached. Inuyasha bent at his knees to run, but the man called out. "Wait! Please! I need your help!"
Inuyasha huffed, "I ain't a helper."
"I…remember this…." Inuyasha of the present said softly, gazing at the screen with us.
I turned back, watching the memory play out before us. Past Inuyasha tried to leave again, but the man cried. "Please! Only you can help me, help my family!" The old Inuyasha grimaced but stayed put, "it doesn't bring me joy, coming to you, but I have no choice! A demon has…fixated on my eldest. We've tried to escape him…."
"Go to a priestess; I ain't an exorcist."
"They all blame my daughter. They claim she provoked the demon. And that she is the one to put him to rest, not them. But we have no power!"
The man's frustration could be felt through the screen; I felt sad and worried for both men on the tv.
The Inuyasha on the screen slowly bowed his head, "Even if I wanted to…tonight is a moonless night…." I was confused, and so was the man on the screen, past Inuyasha looking up and catching it, "I'll be weak; a human. Tonight."
I jumped to my feet but still didn't look away, watching as the truth came out at last. Because if Inuyasha was a human…
"I have one night a month where I'm completely human. The demon drains out on moonless nights. I haven't had it since I entered the bottle, but…if it was a moonless night…." Current Inuyasha thought aloud.
If he took his eyes away from the screen, I didn't know, waiting to see what the man said next. It wasn't the night of the murders, and there was no indication of when it all happened. My heart was in my throat -pounding- as I waited to see what happened next.
The man shifted on his feet with his worry. "Your presence alone would be enough. He will be back tonight, and whether you're there or not, he will take my daughter. Maybe…if we had more manpower? We are desperate. Otherwise, I would not be speaking with you!"
I lost a bit of respect for the man with that. But past Inuyasha was unphased, sighing deeply and rising from his fleeing position. "I can…keep watch from outside. Warn you when he is coming, and…hold him off until you can get away. That is the best I can do."
The vision didn't end there, watching on as Inuyasha sat alone in a tree close to the family's home. Then, a girl walked up, trying to sneak up on the hanyou. "What do you want, little girl?"
She said nothing, giggling before running away. The girl was small and innocent; it had my heart clenching in my chest because we were watching people that would die soon.
Another girl walked up without fear and a tray in her hands. She wasn't much older than the first one, a young and innocent girl around fourteen (I was guessing). She set the tray down, and it was full of food. Then bowed her head to Inuyasha. "Thank you, Hanyou-san, for your protection."
Inuyasha huffed, "I ain't doing shit but sitting. And it's Inuyasha."
The girl remained bowed, "Thank you, Inuyasha-san."
He growled and dropped from the tree, sitting before the bowed girl and inspecting the tray. "This ain't poisoned, is it? 'Cause, that's only going to piss me off, little girl."
"No." She rose and smiled. "My name is Kikyo."
"Alright, Kikyo. If this is poisoned, I'm gonna rip you and your family…."
"Apart. I know. I already have one demon after me. Why would I entice another?"
"Your father said you didn't entice the first?"
Inuyasha began to eat, settling in and conversing with the young girl, Kikyo. "I didn't. He says I did with my looks…."
"You look like a child to me."
He was going for offensive, I think. But Kikyo just smiled. "I am already married; my husband is away currently, and he knows nothing about this. I fear for his safety if he were to return. This demon wants me to be his bride while I have never made such an indication or request. I love my husband…."
"I get it. The demon is crazy," Kikyo nodded, "happens more than you think. I can't say I'll be any help."
"I understand." Kikyo rose with that and bowed once more. "Thank you for caring."
He did. It was clear, Inuyasha cared about these people. He had just met them, but he wasn't lazying about and taking it like a joke. His eyes swept the house constantly, looking for any signs of trouble—until night fell.
We watched as the color drained from Inuyasha's eyes on the screen and his hair darkened like magic. The Inuyasha in my living room was panting so loud, we all heard it. "I was human…I didn't lose control…why don't I remember this?!"
It was hard to see, and the past Inuyasha struggled too, jumping down from his perch and searching the grounds by foot. He had made it inside the house when a voice growled behind him. "You shouldn't be here."
Inuyasha's body fell to the ground—unconscious. The images continued, a dark shadow like smoke moving around the halls and into rooms. It got to the first victim, the father, and I covered my eyes as he started to scream. He was being torn in half.
Arms wrapped around me, and I pressed my face into Inuyasha's chest instead. The screams continued, going from male to female…to child. The last was Kikyo. I didn't look, but I could hear her speak to the monster. "Please…kill me too. I do not wish to live with you or without my family."
"As you wish."
The screams came and left while my apartment was stuffy with silence. I peeked around Inuyasha's biceps at the sound of his voice from the screen. He was waking up in the morning after everything was already over. Somehow, he'd been covered in blood. He was no longer in the hallway he was knocked out in. Instead, he was in Kikyo's bedroom with her body in his lap…in pieces.
"Wha…wha…."
His hands were stained, especially his claws. If I hadn't seen the events before this, I would have thought he was guilty too. But, looking away from the screen to Inuyasha, the one that held me in his arms, I could see the realization clouding his face.
Past Inuyasha went to grip his head but stopped at the sight of the blood on his hands. He shook his head instead, looking around with confusion. A shadow fell over Inuyasha, but the person in the image was blurred. None of us could make out a single feature of the creature that stood before Inuyasha now.
"That's the husband. The one that cursed me." Current Inuyasha explained.
"Why can't we see him?"
He shrugged at Miroku, "I guess because I already know him. I remember this part clearly."
"You…you killed them!" The shadow cried. Past and current Inuyasha bowed their heads in shame. "You murdered them! Why?!"
"I don't…remember…."
Past Inuyasha tried to understand along with the husband. But there was nothing, so the shadow shook and grew in size. "I curse you, Inuyasha, to a life of servitude. You shall grant the wishes of others. Of humans. Until there is nothing left of you to give."
The screen went black as Inuyasha began to scream. I was glad; I didn't think I could stand to watch as Inuyasha was turned into a D'jinn, even if it was the past. The Inuyasha was now shaking in my arms, and I looked to Sango and Miroku. They were pale; they probably watched the murders in full.
Miroku recovered first, rubbing one of Sango's arms to try and get her back to normal. "Well…now we know you were framed."
"You can say that again," Inuyasha growled, "still…I let that family down."
"You were a human against a demon! You had as much of a chance as they did. It's a wonder you're still alive!" I cried, grabbing Inuyasha's face in my hands to make sure he was listening.
"Why are you still alive?"
"And who really killed those people?"
I let Inuyasha go to look at the two couch detectives. "It doesn't matter now. We can figure that out later," I focus back on Inuyasha. More importantly, his tattoo as it grew up his arm. "What matters now is getting Inuyasha out of this alive."
"Kagome…"
I stopped him with a glare, "you can't seriously tell me you still think you deserve this?"
"I...I don't know. I spent a long time thinking I did it…I'm going to need a minute to…figure it all out."
I looked to his tattoo, breathing in deeply when it finally stopped growing. But then Inuyasha started to fade. His arm was turning into a see-through smoke. I looked up at him with all the fear I felt on my face.
"Looks like that first wish counted after all."
He was returning to his lamp; Inuyasha no longer had a master. I tried to hold on, but it was pointless as he shifted to ethereal mist and was sucked back inside. For a moment, we were all silent. Then I went for the lamp, ready to rub it and get Inuyasha back. But Miroku stopped me, grabbing it up before I could reach it.
"Miroku!"
"Give him some time, Kagome. He needs to figure out what he wants, and we need to figure out how to give it to him."
"Yeah, Kags, things don't add up. And we have no clue how to get him out of the lamp for good safely."
They both had good points, but I still didn't want him stuck inside that lamp for another second. But I knew one thing for sure, Inuyasha could hear us inside there. "Inuyasha…knock if you want out?" The lamp didn't move in Miroku's hands. I had my answer. "Fine. But, I won't allow you to stay in there for long. I'm going to find a way to set you free forever."
I had no clue how but I knew I meant it more than anything I'd ever set myself out to do before.
