Blanket Disclaimer: The writer does not own any characters created by Rumiko Takahashi but like everyone else wishes she did. All original characters or concepts are the author's Inuma Asahi De's (with the exception of historical figures).
Chapter Thirty-Five
His Secrets
Naraku slowly lowered the smoking gun, even his eyes wide as the room grew silent, shadows slowly seeping into the room as dust set over New Orleans. The long arms of those shadows, those snaking black voids of light, reached across the room, their dim delusional fingers clawing towards Kaede reaching for her, pulling towards her, wanting to help her—not realizing that she didn't need any help at all.
The old woman hadn't moved from her position, she still stood with her back uncharacteristically straight, her one good eye still focused on Naraku, still daring him even though he had already fired the gun. She smirked, her hand coming up to touch her chest, the place where a bullet should have entered her, should have killed her. She glanced behind her, her eye focusing on the wall that rested at her back, a bullet hole stood out from the old and chipping paint, a black spot on a cream colored surface. She chuckled, the sound filling the empty room, vibrating within it, a devastating mocking hum.
"How?" Mr. Dresmont whispered into the silence, his voice like nails on a chalkboard adding to Naraku's slowly fraying nerves.
"You," Naraku growled his voice tight, his eyes shining with rage. "You didn't even flinch." He hissed between clenched teeth, the hand still holding the gun gripping it tighter until the mechanism began to groan under his fingertips. "How! How did you know, how?"
"I searched your feelings," Kaede told him with a sad smile, the chuckle stopping in her throat as her expression turned serious, wise, and learned. "I knew that you would not aim your bullet to kill me." Her voice was sensible and strong as she spoke, not hesitant but instead reassured. It spoke volumes to the other people in the room: Kaede was not afraid of Naraku, she did not fear anything he could possibly do, and she was more than willing to let him see that first hand.
The gun actually dropped from Naraku's hand as he took in her words, his mouth hanging open with a certain level of shock. Even his own father had found him horrifying, his own siblings had called him a freak, called him ruthless, a terror, he had instilled fear in the most hardened of men, he had made Hiten (a feared pirate) bow to his very will and yet this woman, this old decrepit hag was staring him in the eye. She was calm her expression sardonic, it was easy to see that she didn't fear him, she didn't see him as anything more than a small harmless child. For the first time in his life, Naraku felt a sense of fear overcome him, it was an odd sensation that started in the pit of his stomach, pushing up his neck, lodging itself in his throat. He tried to take a deep breath but the lump of fear stopped the oxygen for entering his lungs, instead pushing it back up his throat causing him to choke on the unwanted air.
"What is this?" He questioned a certain sense of panic filling him. "This feeling," His eyes looked at her, wide, his pupils dilated, he gritted his teeth. "Is this fear?"
Kaede took a step forward, her eyes determined, wide and condemning. "You're nothing more than a confused child, aren't you Naraku." She told him as she took another small step forward, her voice turning soft and placating as if she was indeed talking to a frightened child. "You've been hurt, you've been abused—you're in pain."
Involuntarily Naraku found himself stepping backwards, away from her, his heart pounding in his chest. There was something about her words that resonated in him, something that drew him away from his current hatred and back—back to things he had once felt fear, neglect, being unwanted, being unneeded, being unloved.
To his right, Hiten's jaw unhinged, he stared completely and utterly amazed as Naraku seemed to shrink for just a moment, sweat glistening from the side of his cheek as he stepped away from the little old woman. Hiten glanced at her, trying to discern what was causing Naraku so much fear. It couldn't be her words, her words were simply that—words, no man should be this terrified of words and yet, Naraku looked as if he had just seen the ultimate predator and he was the most delicious of prey.
"You doubt yourself as your father taught you to doubt," Kaede continued her voice stern, changing from gentle to hard, the sound of it causing Hiten's skin to crawl (he could almost understand Naraku's reaction to the old woman's commanding voice.) "You hate yourself just as your brothers taught you to hate." She continued coming to stand right in front of the now seemingly tiny man, her hunched form towering over him, firm and unsympathetic. "You are nothing more than a boy who has lost his way while trying to become a man."
"Shut the fuck up!" Naraku roared, the fear and the cowardice leaving his posture instantly as he stood straight upright once again his eyes blazing, the black of his irises and pupils transforming into a seemingly red hue as he grew, standing back to his full height, tall and intimidating. The feelings of his childhood pushed from him, shoved back into the bleak corner of his mind they occupied.
"You only wish not to hear," Kaede fired back just as strong, forcing herself to stand even taller than she was capable, matching his height, "Because you know that it's the truth!" Her old voice cracked with the wisdom of a million elders. "Stop this nonsense, cease your young insolence, it's not too late, Naraku, you could redeem yourself with tim—,"
Naraku rushed her, his hands coming up to grab the front of her blouse, his eyes blazing with such fury that Hiten and Mr. Morgan slowly started to back away towards the door of the tavern, both highly considering becoming flight risks. "That's enough," He growled his voice dipping low, acquiring a bass quality that wasn't seen in boys his age. "Tell me what the fuck I want to know and you'll live but keep up with this bullshit and I—will—kill—you." He punctured each word with a shake of his wrist.
Kaede gasped as her old body protested under the pressure, pain exploding through her back. Naraku smirked with triumph and once again shoved her, forcing her to the ground, her old bones popping audibly as she fell.
Mr. Dresmont restrained himself from rushing towards her, he wanted nothing more than to grab her and help her to her feet, protect her from the evil that was his commanding officer but he refrained. Instead, he simply lowered his head in shame, shame over his own cowardice and his own weakness. He felt insignificant, he felt helpless—he couldn't even help her, couldn't even protect her. Slowly, he raised his eyes, taking in the sight of Naraku's back. He bit his lip, a feeling of utter self hatred hitting him in the pit of his stomach.
He had wanted his daughter, his only daughter to marry this man—this bastard who would sooner beat an old woman and threaten her with smoking guns than treat her with the courtesy that was to be directed towards one's elders. If this was how he treated the elderly, then how would he have treated Kagome, the delicate and small Kagome? Anger welled in Mr. Dresmont at the very thought, he wanted to do something, he wanted to step forward, to stop the evil in front of him but—
"You there!"
"Yes ser!" His head snapped up, his body shaking as he watched Naraku point at him signaling him harshly with one large clawed finger.
—he was far too small a man to do such a large deed.
"Collect the old woman," Naraku told him as he turned away from her, his footsteps harsh as he walked towards the tavern's doors. "She's coming with us," He growled as he reached the door yanking down on the handle before throwing it opened, the hinges giving way as he did so. The door falling instantly, clattering to the ground loudly as Naraku disappeared through it, unaffected by the terrible noise.
"Yes ser." Mr. Dresmont whispered and bowed slightly hiding his face as he moved towards Kaede, reaching down with tender hands to help her to her feet.
Kaede smiled at him happy for the helping hand and groaned as he pulled her back to her feet. She heaved a large sigh as her body groaned as well, popping and snapping as she turned herself this way and that, trying to get the pain in her joints to lesson. Finally with one last loud moan of pain as her hip popped back into place she sighed and dusted herself off briefly before reaching up to fix her bun which had come undone in the commotion.
"You could run." Mr. Dresmont suggested softly as he eyed Hiten who was still within the tavern.
Kaede smirked, her face half hidden by somewhat disheveled hair. "You act as if I am afraid of such a powerless boy." She whispered back before coming to stand to her full height, popping her old bones with a large tenured sigh. "Soon you will learn Mr. Dresmont," She told him as she took a step forward, Hiten eyeing her as he too took in her words. "There is no reason to fear a field mouse, no matter how hard he might bite for his teeth are still just that of a field mouse."
Mr. Dresmont narrowed his eyes, taking in her words for what they were. She acted as if Naraku Morgan was an easy going man, as if he wasn't a murder, a cold hearted irate dictator. She spoke as if he really was just a lost teenage boy in need of nothing more than a good kick in the pants and a stern lecture. Did she not see his eyes, did she not feel his hatred, did she not realize he could have killed her today, that it was a pure possibility that he could and would have pulled the trigger? Was she senile? Was she crazy? Or was she something else entirely.
"Let's go damn it!"
Hiten and Mr. Dresmont flinched at the shouted command both men responding to the yell quickly. As Mr. Dresmont offered his arm to the old Kagome, he eyed her slightly, taking in her hunched form, his mind going over everything she had said about Naraku, to Naraku—was she right, he wondered.
"Soon you will learn Mr. Dresmont." Kaede repeated suddenly causing Kagome's father to blink rapidly. "He is a field mouse."
Mr. Dresmont blinked in response but nodded as his thoughts drifted towards her, towards the fact that she had known his name. "No one ever said it and I didn't tell her." He reminded himself vaguely as another, entirely strange but realistic thought struck him. "Can she read my mind?" He questioned watching as she smiled, as if, she knew exactly what he was thinking.
-break-
Kagome continued to stare at Inuyasha, her ill fated admission hanging in the air like a pink elephant standing in the middle of a room—awkward and best ignored. She bit her lip, her eyes searching his face trying desperately to determine what he could possibly be thinking but alas she couldn't see his expression, he had hidden it as he always did with his large and choppy bangs.
"If I ever get the chance," She thought as she tried to still her stampeding heart. "I'm cutting those off." She closed her eyes at the thought, missing just by milliseconds Inuyasha glancing to look at her through his thick curtain of hair.
He stared at her, his gold eyes taking in her shaking form, he could hear her heart beating from his spot a couple dozen feet away, it was loud and deafening, the only thing he could actually hear right now. "She knows." The thought slipped in and out of his conscious mind. "She knows the truth—she knows." He took a shaky breath and gulped. "She knows." He felt an odd sense of relief wash over him, a sensation that he in all honesty, didn't know why he had felt.
He lifted a shaking hand to his head and touched his silver bangs, an anomalous confused smile vaguely forming as he did.
"She knows and she—she didn't freak out and yell at me." He narrowed his eyes. "Maybe she just didn't want to say anything. Maybe she didn't know what to say." He reasoned before the thoughts deteriorated, filling with anxiety. "Maybe she—she didn't say anything because she didn't want to hurt me?" He clutched his fists with paranoia. "She's too nice, that's it," He reasoned as he lowered his head again slowly. "She's just too nice to tell me what she really feels."
The old woman looked between the two of them, an eyebrow raised as she tilted her head to the side, sensing the unnatural tension between the odd couple: the cross dressing girl and the so called half demon. She snorted as she looked Inuyasha over, taking in his handsome features with skepticism. "You're really a half demon boy?" She questioned not caring if she was interfering with whatever strange misunderstanding was arising between the two.
Inuyasha and Kagome both shot their heads up in surprise, broken out of their individual thoughts. Glancing over at Kagome, Inuyasha cleared his throat waiting to see if she would look at him. She didn't, her eyes were too focused on the old woman to give him a second glance or perhaps, she was simply too embarrassed or in a state of too much shock to even think to look at him right now.
He licked his lips, if that was the case then he couldn't blame her. "Yeah," He answered the old woman shortly admitting his heritage to her and her alone as he crossed his arms over his chest, squaring his shoulders till they were taunt, reverting back to the badass inside of him in order to protect the scared little half demon boy that lay even deeper within. "What of it?"
The old woman gave him a dry look but didn't directly comment on his attitude. "You just don't look like a half demon is all." She stuck her thumb out towards her son who was still cowering behind her. "Most of 'em I've ever seen aren't, well—" She glanced at her son. "No offence," She shrugged when her son didn't respond. "They ain't the best thing to look at."
The boy grumbled behind her at her words but didn't say anything in either retaliation or agreement, so she continued.
"You on the other hand." She eyed him slowly. "Look pretty good for a half blood. Got more demon features than human and the human ones you do got are nice 'uns."
Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably at the roundabout compliment bringing one claw up to scratch his nose. "Well, um—," He stuttered uncomfortably. "I look like my father more than my mother."
"Ah," The old woman nodded squarely. "So your father was the demon of the pairing?"
"Yeah." Inuyasha confirmed with a shrug trying to seem in control of the conversation but failing. It was painful, the whole of the conversation, thinking about his mother, thinking about his father. Thinking about both who were now buried in the ground. Their deaths were something he had spent the better part of his adult life suppressing, forgetting—but no matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to be able to forget. Deep down he knew, he wasn't meant to ever forget.
"Jinenji's father was the demon too." She smiled at the word father, her eyes becoming distant, as if she was remembering him. "He was a horse demon—god was he beautiful."
Inuyasha raised his eyebrows all the way into his hairline feeling slightly disturbed as the old woman blushed, both her hands coming to her cheeks as she reminisced.
To his right Kagome stood, her fears and anxieties leaving her as the old woman's sweet look of pure love took over all her thoughts. "You must have really loved him." She smiled fondly as she spoke, her grey eyes misting with romance induced tears.
"Oh yes." The woman concluded for her. "You know what they say about half demons," She flushed even brighter. "For one to be born there has to be love."
Inuyasha blanched visibly but didn't say a word.
"My name's Haniyama." The old woman told them with a smile.
"My name's Kagome." Kagome said swiftly as she took a step forward motioning towards Inuyasha her expression one of discomfort. She felt awkward, she felt timid and unsure of herself, she just didn't know how she was supposed to react but the manners that had been instilled in her since the moment she had been born would not allow her to ignore the importance of the proper introduction. "And this is Inuyasha."
"Inuyasha, huh?" The old woman gave him a strange look. "That's an odd name."
Inuyasha shrugged in response. "I'm an odd person."
Kagome gulped down a giggle at the witty remark.
The old woman simply smiled. "What manner of half demon are you, son?"
Inuyasha frowned at the term of endearment but didn't press the issue. "I'm a dog demon." He informed her plainly, his ears twitching with irritation as he absently sniffed the air glancing in the direction of the burning house. Normally, he would have rushed to try to save the burning building but it was already well beyond repair. The roof had caved well before he had arrived and the windows had already been busted by the sheer heat of the flames. It was a lost cause.
"Well," The old woman grumbled as she eyed both of them sharply her expression contemplative but reassuring. "If that handsome thing is a half demon," She said interrupting Inuyasha's thoughts. "Then I guess you can come to our home."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at the offer, drawing himself completely out of his current musings. "Your home's on fire." He told her as he pointed with one claw at the burning shack.
The old woman waved her hand dryly, her hunched skinny body moving awkwardly with the gesture. "That ain't no home of ours, that's just a decoy."
"Smart." Kagome mumbled as she brought her arms around herself glancing around uneasily. She wasn't sure what kind of reaction she had been expecting out of the Captain but this was not one that had been on her list. "Maybe it's an act for Haniyama and her son?" She reasoned with a gulp. "Or he just really doesn't care." Kagome frowned at the thought knowing that he had to care, otherwise he wouldn't have hidden the information. She huffed faintly while nodding. "Nope, he cares, he just doesn't want to create a scene. He's not one to draw attention to himself." She shivered slightly, "If that's the case, though—," She stole a quick glance at him out of the corner of her eye. "It's not going to be fun once we're alone again."
"Well come on," The old woman motioned them as she turned towards her son, laying a hand on his back gently, encouraging him to uncoil from his tight ball. "Jinenji," She coaxed softly. "Let's show these kind people to our home."
The boy slowly moved his hands out of the way of his face, revealing a rather large beautiful blue eye, the other still hidden by a scarred arm. "Mama?" He whispered and the old woman smiled, petting what little hair he had on his head reassuringly. He uncoiled further revealing long limps and another perfect blue eye that blinked a few times not used to the grueling sun light that hit it. Gingerly he turned, taking in the sight of Inuyasha first, his expression one of fear and worry. "You—," He spoke softly with little confidence. "You made the men leave."
Inuyasha flattened his ears to his head, looking away from the large timid man, shrugging as he pointed one of his fingers towards Kagome without really looking at her. "I only did it because of her." He lied to the other half demon not liking the attention; just as Kagome had known he would. "Thank her if you're gon'na gavel in front of someone, I'm not one for shit like that."
Jinenji cowered at Inuyasha's rough tone, ducking his head, appearing like a turtle that was about to hide within its shell.
"Ignore him." Kagome coaxed, pushing her own fears aside in order to help the rather feeble looking half demon. She stepped forward, placing a gentle and soft smile on her face as she extended her hand. "My name's Kagome." She addressed him warmly her eyes closing and her head tilting to the side.
Jinenji stared at her hand for a second a bright blush coming over his whole face as he watched the small appendage reach for him. He knew he was supposed to kiss it, he had seen gentlemen kiss ladies hands before but he had never dreamed in a million years that any lady would ever give him the opportunity.
Seeing his hesitation Kagome grinned reaching for him, taking his hand before he could even think to protest. "Don't worry you don't have to kiss it." She told him her smile so wide that it covered her whole face. "I'm dressed like a man anyway so we can just behave like two men." She accompanied her words with a firm shake of their hands. Action complete she dropped the large clawed hand and backed a few steps away, her smile still wide and gentle, a picture of accepting non judgmental innocence.
Jinenji stared at his hand, the appendage shaking as he gulped. He could still feel her warmth, still feel the sensation of her delicate hands touching his scarred and callused skin. "Um," He whispered shyly as he stood reaching his full height (a striking seven or eight feet), one of his large hands going to the back of his head to rub his neck. "I'm Jinenji." He whispered bowing his head slightly the blush on his face growing to reach his cute rounded ears. "Thank you for your—," He paused his eyes focusing on her, his expression screaming with a foreign happiness. "Words—no one has ever," He tried to smile but the action looked as foreign as the happiness in his eyes. "Said something so kind to me before."
Kagome smiled even wider, if it were at all possible. She glanced towards Inuyasha but he wasn't looking at her, he was looking away towards the burning house. She frowned only slightly before she spoke, her words directed just as much towards the Captain as they were towards Jinenji. "I meant them, every single one." She said her eyes moving between the gentle giant and the formidable Captain. She smiled once again when she noticed one of his dog ears flicker, indicating he had in fact heard her. Turning her eyes back to Jinenji she grinned, happiness filling her. "Still all the same, you're welcome," She finished politely. "Mr. Jinenji."
The large half demon gasped and blinked quickly looking in all directions as he brought his large hands in front of himself worrying the clawed fingers together as he stuttered, not believing she had dared to use a honorific for a half demon such as himself. "You—um—don't—a—there's no need to—you shouldn't bother—."
Inuyasha frowned dryly rolling his eyes as he uncrossed his arms, pity for the abused half demon outweighing his current shock from Kagome's words. "Don't bother, I know it's weird as shit but that's just how she is." He jerked one clawed thumb in Kagome's direction a slight blush mounting on his cheeks as he complemented her. "You get used to her—nic—ah, strange nature."
Kagome bit her lip at the somewhat kind words, hearing the subtext easily. Slowly she smiled, a faint flush tinting her features once again. She wanted to tell him thank you, she wanted to tell him how sweet the sentiment behind his words had been but she couldn't. She felt her heart compress in her torso. "I can't take this much longer." She thought to herself as she brought a hand up to hold against her aching chest. "My heart's going to give out if I have to deal with this—this unknown for another second." She sighed and hunched her shoulders—she knew she would have to wait, now was not the time to think about this. Not with Jinenji and his mother present anyway.
"Well that's enough introductions." Haniyama commented drawing the attention of the youth's around her. "Let's get going before that mob comes back." She turned as she spoke, walking towards the burning house with her hands held firmly behind her back as if supporting her. "Come one young'ins get the horse and let's go."
Without a second thought, Kagome moved to stand next to Jinenji, walking beside him trying to look cheerful as she did so but her false sentiment (although enough to fool the blushing Jinenji) was easy from Inuyasha to see. He made his way to the horse slowly, gripping the bridle in his clawed hands before gently rubbing the animal's nose. It whined in response and nudged him back. "You sense it too," He whispered for only the horse's ears. Its deep brown eyes seemed to nod in response as it turned its great head to look towards Kagome and Jinenji. Inuyasha followed its line of vision with a frown. "Yeah, she's—a good faker." With a sigh he stepped forward, the intelligent horse following before he could even yank upon the bridle.
Within seconds they managed to catch up to Kagome, falling into step beside her nearly silently in dark contrast to Jineji. The horse demon's every movement was highlighted by a loud sort of stomping sound as his weight slammed all the way to the ground before he picked up his foot, revealing a huge foot print. The tall man stopped when he noticed and frowned reaching towards a nearby tree with one long arm. With an amazing amount of strength he seemingly ripped a branch from the tree, bringing it back towards him as if it was nothing more than a simple twig.
He glanced at Kagome and Inuyasha who had stopped to watch his odd demonstration, another faint blush dusting his cheeks as he used the branch to erase the foot prints he had left. "The villagers must not track me." He told them in a small voice that didn't match his size. "No footprints can be found."
"That's very wise of you Mr. Jinenji." Kagome told him with a firm nod.
Jinenji's eyes went wide at the kind words and he looked away starting to walk once again, unable to look Kagome in the eye as he whispered a faint but easily heard, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Kagome replied again with an innocent smile that finally reached her eyes as she continued to follow the large half demon and his mother, her eyes studying the branch as Jinenji easily maneuvered it to cover up his tracks.
Behind them both Inuyasha still stood, the reins of the horse held tightly in his hands, his eyes trained on Kagome and the giant man. He frowned deeply, his earlier doubts about her coming back only to disintegrate as he saw her interact with the half horse.
"She's an accepting woman."
He sighed at Myoga's old words before a faint smile lit his face. "I know." He said it out loud even though it was only for his ears and his ears alone. "Maybe," He thought as he tilted his head and watched her in wonder as she continued to talk to the gentle giant who responded in stuttered words and faint blushes. "Maybe she didn't say anything because she doesn't care—it doesn't bother her—so she figured: why even bring it up?"
He exhaled deeply through his mouth and closed his eyes. He would know soon enough, he only hoped that he was right and she really didn't care.
"Oi!"
His eyes snapped opened and he looked up quickly only to see Kagome cupping a hand to her mouth, the other above her head waving as she yelled to him.
"Hurry up Inuyasha or we'll leave you behind!"
He found himself smiling, his thoughts mirroring ones Kagome had also had recently. "Kagome," He smiled gently, his golden orbs softening as he watched her continuing to wave at him, her face kind and almost—loving. "You'd never leave me behind."
With a shake of his head, he started to walk pulling the horse along, hoof prints trailing behind them as they followed Jinenji and Kagome.
-break-
"So you grow your own medicinal herbs here?" Kagome questioned as they set in the small living room of Jinenji's and his mother's house. It really wasn't much to look at it was a small one story cabin, located on the edge of a forest almost half a mile away from the decoy house that had burned to the ground.
It had only two rooms, one serving as a bedroom for Jinenji and his mother and the other (the room they were currently in) as living room, kitchen, and dining room. A large hearth stood next to a makeshift dining table, a cupboard beside it and a small counter for cooking on its other side. A fire was burning in the hearth currently with a dark charcoal grey Dutch-oven sitting in the coals, from the smell of it wafting in the air, Kagome guessed it had to be a stew of some sort. Her stomach growled as the aroma hit her full force, they hadn't eaten since that morning (a little over seven hours ago now) and she was beginning to grow exceedingly hungry.
She shifted in her chair, wincing as her bottom began to ache from the hardness of the stole. She frowned, she had been raised in a 'rich-man's' household, where her furniture had been upholstered and stuffed with down and feathers. Here, in this small cabin, there was no such thing as fancy furniture. There were no couches in this house or sofas or plush sitting chairs just the single hard wood table and the four small matching wooden chairs.
Feeling curious, Kagome looked towards the walls, noting that there were no curtains or paintings, not even a family portrait. The walls were bear and looked exactly like the outside of the house—logs and mortar. It was simple, so different from the elaborate lifestyle she had lived at home but in a way, she liked it. It was straightforward, it was uncomplicated and a little plain but—she glanced at Jinenji and his mother—it was their home and it felt like a home.
She could feel it in every corner, in every crevice, in every log that made the walls, in each plank that made the table, in the bricks that made the hearth, and in the dirt that made the floor—in all these places she could feel the love.
"Jinenji's father owned these fields." The old woman answered Kagome's question. "He bequeathed them in his will to Jinenji in hopes of giving him a chance at some prosperity."
"Was he a wealthy man?" Kagome inquired.
"Moderately," Haniyama answered with a shrug. "He kept us well feed and housed," She glanced around at her meager surroundings. "We didn't always live here." She motioned with one wrinkled hand. "There used to be a nice house—back where we met you. It had four bedrooms, a separate living room and kitchen," She grinned at the memory. "We even had servants but—," The grin turned into a deep frown, her old eyes pained as some unsaid memory took hold of her. Carefully she stood from the chair moving as if she was a shadow, going from the table to the small cupboard that stood in the corner of the room. "Would you like some tea?"
Kagome opened her mouth to ask the old woman why she had stopped speaking but was met with Inuyasha's clawed hand raising to stop her. She looked at him angrily about to tell him off only to stop when she encountered his pained golden eyes. He shook his head slowly back and forth, telling her not to pursue the question further. Feeling foolish she nodded in return and looked away from him at the table with a frown.
"We'd love some tea." She whispered even though Haniyama had already set to preparing the kettle with some water she had in a jug by the hearth. Kagome watched sadly as the old woman finished filling the kettle, setting the water jug down slowly before she placed the old dinged silver tea pot onto the ashes, warming the water within.
Haniyama then stepped away from the hearth, her old bones creaking as she moved back to the cupboard, opening the door with visibly worn out hands. She reached inside producing a small almost matchbox looking container that she held against her chest, her eyes distant as she opened it revealing the leaves of what appeared to be dried Camellia, a rather common yet pricy black tea leaf.
The woman fingered one leaf gently before going back to the pot, using her apron to lift the lid and dump three rather large leaves within. Instantly she replaced the lid, standing back up to her full height, her back popping from the action. She stood there for a moment, her eyes focused on the old tea pot, tears shinning in them as she watched the kettle brew.
"That house burned many years ago." The old woman suddenly spoke, her crackling voice mimicking the fire. "When Jinenji's father died, the villagers—," She paused for only a moment as she put the lid back on the small wooden container, turning to the cupboard to replace it on the shelf. "Burned it to the ground with us inside."
Kagome's eyes went huge, her mouth opening slightly as her tears formed. "They—they tried to kill you." She easily deduced, her voice sounding small as she posed the rhetorical question.
"Yes," The woman answered easily as she brought a few cracked teacups out of the cupboard placing them directly on the table, along with some exceedingly expensive sugar in a porcelain bowl. She set down in her chair then, one of her fingers dangling to touch the china that she had laid out.
Kagome watched as she traced a beautiful imperial blue bird that rested on one of the cups. It was a stunning collection, one that had at one time been rather pricy to get a hold of.
"They're Worcester, dear." The old woman admitted in a small voice as she watched the younger girl eye the cups. "It was my wedding gift, from my mother."
Kagome felt her heart drop all the way to her stomach as she put everything together. "You saved them from the fire?"
Haniyama nodded vaguely her old finger now tracing a little fox on another one of the cups. "It was all I could save." She whispered as a whistle hit the air, the kettle telling them it was ready. Haniyama stood quickly walking over to the hearth, using her skirt to pick up the tea kettle before walking the few paces she needed to get to the table. She poured a bit of tea into each small tea cup before hastily placing the tea pot back down on the dirt floor where it would not scar the wooden table. "Would you like some sugar?"
"No thank you." Kagome replied politely not willing to take expensive sugar from the woman.
"What about you, son?" Haniyama asked Inuyasha the pet name causing his ears to tweak.
He shook his head slowly 'no' but did give her a crooked smile. "I'm not one for sweet things." He told her and watched as Kagome frowned taking a sip of her tea, her eyes actually going to look at him as some distant memory of a time long past came to her.
"Besides, this is my dessert." He added indicating the wine. "I'm not one for chocolate."
She blinked a few times, the memory of that first dinner together, the memory of that chocolate dessert, strange to her. "What a funny thing to remember." She mused as she played with the rim of her cup with her lip before taking another sip, her mind drifting away from that dinner table and restaurant, to the sands of the beach that had been outside it. The sands, where he had quite literally, swept her off her feet. A blush mounted her cheeks and she set her tea cup down, her hands actually shaking from the memory of his hands on her waist as he brought her feet off the ground as he twirled her as she laughed.
"Jinenji dear," The old woman's voice broke up her thoughts. "Take your tea."
The large man who had been sitting silently the whole time nodded his head; it just missed the roof of the small house it seemed. He reached one clawed hand for the cup, picking it up with two long fingers. Kagome thought he might break it for just a second but watched amazed as Jinenji brought it to his mouth with such delicate precision that he looked the part of a socialite at high tea in the palaces of England or France.
"He's so gentle." She thought as she watched him place the cup back on the table, his eyes downcast, large and sad. "Why would anyone want to hurt you?" Kagome found herself whispering out loud catching the mother and son both off guard. "You're so sweet Mr. Jinenji," She spoke a little louder now, realizing she needed to be heard. "You wouldn't hurt a fly, would you?"
Jinenji visibly worried his lip but shook his head 'no' none the less. "I—um—," He stared at the table, his hands shaking slightly as he tried to answer. "I like to heal things—," His voice echoed in the room, a soft bass that reminded Kagome of her grandfather. "I like to heal people."
Kagome smiled sweetly, her expression one of admiration. "With the herbs you grow?" She inquired.
"Yes," The gentle man said softly a faint smile on his lips. "Papa taught me to make remedies for all sorts of things."
"That's really amazing Mr. Jinenji," Kagome told him honestly. "—I wish I was as talented as you." She admitted equally as honest, her voice timid but truthful, her eyes filled with a certain certainty that caused Haniyama pause.
The old woman watched as this beautiful albeit odd cross dressing girl spoke such loving words to her son, such honest words. It was truly amazing to see someone speak with eyes completely free of hate. She glanced at the boy who traveled with her watching as his expression mirrored her own, he was looking at her as if she was a miracle, as if she wasn't real. Haniyama couldn't blame him—she hardly believed this young girl was real. "Girl," Her voice was commanding. "Your talent is by far the greatest aptitude and most prized gift, I've ever seen."
Kagome blinked in confusion, her eyebrows knitting causing her forehead to wrinkle. "My talent?" She gave the mother an odd look and shifted uncomfortable. "I have no talents, I can't even dance or sing or really—," She cleared her throat. "—you know play an instrument or paint or draw." She fumbled for more things she couldn't do but in her haste came up empty. Huffing she blew a stray strand of hair out of her eyes and grasped for anything she could say in her defense. "The only thing I'm good at is—reading and that's not a talent."
Inuyasha bit his lip as he listened to her words, he wanted to tell her that she was talented, talented in ways she couldn't possibly understand but he couldn't, he couldn't even bring himself to dare.
The old woman shook her head, sipping at her tea. "My dear," She mumbled around the cup before setting it down as gently as her son had. "Your talent is not in the trivial things such as painting and music making." She told Kagome firmly, looking the much younger girl in the eye. "Your talent is in your heart."
"My heart?"
"Yes," Haniyama whispered faintly as she smiled, a genuine true smile. "I've never seen a heart more talented than yours, more pure than yours, more opened than yours in the whole of my fifty-nine years of life."
Kagome flushed deeply the words haunting her in more ways than one.
"The one who opens me is pure of heart and mind."
She flinched for a second, the memory of the box plaguing her, "Pure." She mumbled to herself a sudden rush of emotions overtaking her. She felt her heart tighten, felt pain build up within it tense and constricting. "My heart, my difference—her and me, me and her." She felt the tears begin to build, she felt everything suddenly, unwarranted, start to overflow. It was as if in one quick rush everything finally hit home.
As if she wasn't even aware of what she was doing she stood, her chair falling backwards from the action banging to the floor.
"Excuse me—I'm sorry." She fumbled with her words as she gave all of them a slight bow of her head. "I—need some air." She promptly turned and practically ran out of the house disappearing into the pre-dusk world.
Inuyasha instantly stood from the table, his eyes focused on her as she moved. Without saying a single word he went after her, the old woman smiling in his wake.
"Miss Kagome." Jinenji mumbled as he too went to stand but stopped when his mother flashed him a halting hand. "Mama?"
"Worry not my boy." She told him sweetly as she reached for her teacup, placing it to her lips slowly, savoring the rich blend. Moving it away she looked into the water, watching as a liquid version of her own reflection looked back. "He will take care of her." She set the cup on the table her eyes wise with understanding that only comes with age. "And she will take care of him."
-break-
Inuyasha followed her scent diligently, his eyes scanning the tree line for her expectantly. He was well aware of the reason she had left so abruptly, he had (he believed) made the same connection she had possibly made, between Haniyama's choice statement and recent events.
"I've never seen a heart more talented than yours, more pure than yours in the whole of my fifty-nine years of life."
Inuyasha slowed as her words took up all his thoughts, his mind carefully mulling over what even an outsider had seen.
"Even a stranger knows that she—that Kagome," He thought to himself as he continued to move leisurely down an invisible path, his nose able to follow Kagome's direction subconsciously. "She's—pure, her heart sees without any preconceived notions, she just—," He froze before he continued, his steps halting as he caught sight of her. She had run into the woods only slightly, but had managed to dart a good five or six hundred yards away from the cabin.
Now she stood still, her hands braced on a tree, holding herself up as she leaned her head against the bark, panting from the endurance it had taken her to reach that very spot. The sound of her ragged breathing filled him, his heart clenching at the husky sound. He watched as she turned herself around, placing her back to the old tree her cheeks flushed a bright red from her sprint. She slid down the bark her eyes closed one hand guiding her to the floor while the other braced her head digging into her hair as if she was pained; her breathing still coming in gulps, her cheeks still filled with red as sweat settled upon her brow.
She bit her lip, she let out a strangled pained noise and then—the tears came.
He licked his lips, clutched his jaw and fist, his eyes unable to leave her, his feet unable to move towards her as he watched her cry. He didn't know how long he stood there, watching as big tears dripped down her cheeks, as her hands pushed them away from her skin adamantly. A pain built in his chest as she hiccupped as she lost her self control and loudly sobbed. Maybe it all was hitting her at once, maybe she just couldn't hold it back anymore but her tears, her loud cries, they were full of every pain she had been feeling since their journey had began.
The pain of thinking she was in love with a married man, the pain of her engagement to Naraku, the pain of being marked, the pain of not understanding why she had been, the pain of their lies, the pain of treachery, the pain of uncertainty, the pain that Hiten had caused, the pain she felt for Shippo, the pain of Manten attempting to rape her, the pain of finding out she had killed a man (even if it was justified), the pain of finding out she was someone else, the pain of finding out that he had an attachment to that person, the pain of finding out she had to find the jewel, the pain of finding out she had a power that could kill, the pain of finding out he was hiding things from her—
It seemed like all of it, everything was crashing into her at once and here he was standing outside that circle of misunderstanding watching it and he couldn't even move. "I have to—I have to do something." He thought to himself but was frozen, completely frozen. "Just move damn-it!"
But he couldn't because despite everything, despite every truth he knew to be true—he was still afraid, still racked with self doubt, an unnecessary doubt in her.
"Why can't I move?" He growled as he felt an unfamiliar sensation touch the back of his eyes. "I have to talk to her, I have to tell her the tru—," He managed to take a step forward, managed to force himself to move in her direction his boot snapping a twig in the process.
It was in that moment that Kagome turned, wiping at her eyes, raising them and gasping as she noticed him standing there staring at her. "Inuyasha?" She flushed with embarrassment turning away so he couldn't see her face.
He watched her as she tried to hide her tears, her hands moving just outside of his line of vision, pushing them away from her hidden face—she didn't want him to see, he knew she didn't want him to think she had lost herself for a moment. Kagome Dresmont didn't want him to think she was weak. Inuyasha closed his eyes for a second, giving her some time to clear her eyes before (with eyes stilled closed) he whispered her name. "Kagome?" He tried to make his voice sound gentle, it came out more annoyed.
"I'm sorry."
He opened his eyes quickly, taking her back in, staring at her, feeling ashamed that she had apologized to him. "Don't be." He told her hastily as he tried to force himself to move again, his feet still mysteriously firmly held to the ground. "It's okay—."
"No!" She interrupted him. "That was—I was—that was completely inappropriate of me." She admitted with a sniffle as she drew her legs to her chest. "I just ran out of their house completely ungrateful, I barely even said excuse me—I—I feel awful. I'm so rud—."
"Kagome stop," He was the one to interrupt this time, his voice quiet yet firm and commanding, if not a little harsh. He shifted uncomfortably as she looked at him, her eyes shining with the tears that had glazed them. He licked his lips, "Don't feel sorry or bad about—what happened back at the cabin—sometimes you just—you feel—," He looked away from her and took a deep breath, the words hanging timidly on his tongue. "Overwhelmed and you can't think straight and all this shit is building up in you and you just—," He looked at her, hoping his eyes didn't betray how vulnerable he felt right now. "Need to be alone."
She eyed him for a moment before nodding her head, agreeing with him seamlessly. "I'm still sorry." She added as an afterthought looking away from him, missing his smile.
"It's no big deal." He whispered softly, for once his voice sounding softer than he intended as the conversation ended. Feeling less awkward he finally forced his feet to step towards her, the sound of crunching leaves and underbrush causing his ears to twitch involuntarily as he came to stand in front of her, that same sort of tongue-tied school boy feeling filling him. "Um—," He started off, his voice actually cracking. Gruffly he cleared his throat and tried again. "You mind if I sit with you?" He asked sounding more like himself.
She shook her head 'no' slightly but didn't look at him as he smiled and turned, using the tree as leverage as he lowered himself beside her, crossing his legs, his hands bracing themselves on his knees.
Kagome glanced at him through her eyelashes, studying him as he looked away from her, out into the distance, watching the sun as it started towards it final destination for the night. It would be dark soon, very soon. The sunset was already encompassing the sky in beautiful pinks and oranges, in hazy lavender's and daring deep blood reds. It was a medley of colors that would soon fade into night.
"I think we should stay with the old woman tonight." Inuyasha's voice interrupted the silence gently, the baritone that bubbled in his chest soothing yet gruff.
"Do you think they'll let us?" Kagome replied calmly while her heart started to race as if just now realizing that he was sitting next to her, that the possibility of him bringing up her slip up from earlier had just increased substantially.
"Yeah," he confirmed with a nod as he leaned back into the tree calmly. "She wouldn't turn us away."
Kagome nodded in agreement the conversation once again coming to a standstill as she shifted uncomfortably, one of her hands coming up to grab a strand of hair that now almost reached her chin, fingering it nonchalantly. She glanced at him uncomfortably, wondering what he could possibly be thinking about as he gazed away from her at that setting sun. She bit her lip, worrying at it with her top teeth, she half hoped he was thinking about earlier—she half hoped he had forgotten the event ever occurred. She wasn't ready to face it just yet, at least not like this. Deciding to keep the subject to something safe, she spoke softly into the cooling air. "Jinenji is really timid isn't he?"
"Um hm," Inuyasha agreed before he sighed deeply. "You can't blame him." He told her with a firm frown. "For a half demon there's really only two things you can do to protect yourself from people like that."
She blinked confused, "Protect yourself?"
He glanced at her and shrugged with a half nod. "Yeah, you can either become timid and hide like Jinenji has or," He gave her a meaningful look. "You can stand up and become strong, show those who hate you that you don't fear them, that you don't care about their hate. That you just—," He trailed off, looking away from her out at the waning light around him. "Don't give a damn what they or anyone else might think."
Kagome was quiet for a moment, collecting her thoughts, realizing that now might actually be the time to discuss this. He didn't seem angry, he wasn't yelling at her, instead he was talking to her, he was calm and collected—he was sharing. Licking her lips she decided that now was the time to sink or swim, "So I guess you're one of the ones who decided to fight back?" She deduced, careful to not plainly point out the fact that she knew he was a half demon (even thought she already had in fact done so), but still make it obvious that she did know.
Inuyasha was silent for a second, realizing that his answer was as much of an admission as anything he could have told her. He swallowed hard, this was it—his answer was admitting it to her, was telling her, that yes, he was a half demon and he was the kind that was supposed to not care what others thought. "Yeah." He said softly and closed his eyes, waiting for her response, caring about her opinion.
"I see." She said softly, the duel meaning behind her quick reply striking him deep.
She knew, it was certain, she knew. He cleared his throat, shrugging, continuing to speak. "It's just easier for me, you now?" He told her, mad that his voice didn't sound stronger. "If you're feared then nobody asks questions."
Kagome gave him an odd look, her mind feeling braver than her body as an peculiar thought struck her. "Then why do you need to keep it hidden," She whispered her voice far stronger than his. "Isn't hiding it behind a tuff mask the same as hiding it behind a gentle face? It seems to me that both methods have the same outcome, which means—they're the same, you're the same. You and Jinenji."
Inuyasha froze, his breath stopping in his throat as he slowly turned to look at her, her words haunting him. He had never thought of it like that before, never thought that maybe his mask, his strength, his attitude towards life was in a way similar to that of hiding. By being a bastard, by being strong, by building up his persona as one of the most dreaded pirates in the whole of the Atlantic he was unwittingly hiding himself just as Jinenji tried to do.
Interpreting his silence as anger, Kagome grew a little scared. Worried that he was fuming beneath those large bangs, worried that he was angry at her, worried that he was going to lash out any second. "I'm sorry!" She stated quickly actually scooting away from him a bit in her haste to prevent his fury. "I was—I—I didn't mean it—"
"You're right."
It was her turn to freeze and stare. She watched as he turned and looked at her, his golden eyes tinted with a different color, a deep impending black. She frowned perplexed by the changing color. She had never seen his eyes go black, they had gone red with blue but never black. Suddenly, those eyes grew wide, a look of terror forming on his face as she felt a pulsating sensation enter her, it was the same sensation she had gotten when she slipped into her Miko state but it was coming from him, not her.
Inuyasha scrambled to his feet moving away from her quickly.
"What's wrong?" She asked him concerned as his breathing started to change, coming out in pants.
He didn't reply his eyes focused on the setting sun. He felt the demon in him leaving, he gritted his teeth backing farther away from her, his eyes glued to the disappearing orb as it finally sunk below the horizon, no moon replacing it in the sky, instead there were only stars revealing the true nature of this moonless night as his demon finally left him, his hair going just as dark as his black eyes. "What the fuck! Why didn't I notice?" He ground out in shock but his thoughts were stopped when he heard her gasp.
Snapping his head around his eyes fell on Kagome who was staring at him as if he had just grown two heads. Her eyes round with surprise but no fear or taunting—just surprise. "You're human." Her voice whispered into the semi-darkness as the large Milky Way above their heads lit the clearing up, bringing it away from the realms of true darkness.
Inuyasha clutched his fist at his side, not sure how in the world to explain this to her or even if he should.
"Why are you human?" Her voice inquired softly and he felt compelled suddenly to answer.
"I'm half demon."
She frowned, he continued.
"We—um—once a month we have a—well," He took a deep breath, stopping his explanation for a moment, calming his raging nerves, focusing himself before opening his eyes ready to speak. "Once a month we turn human. I turn on moonless nights." He motioned towards the sky before he closed his eyes waiting for her to say something.
His human ears picked up the sound of her standing and for a second he thought she might walk away but she didn't. Her footsteps directed themselves towards him and he tensed longing to run away from her, longing to hide himself but something in him stopped him, something told him that there was nothing to fear so just stay put—so he did.
He could tell when she grew close, he could feel her through their clothes as she came to stand directly in front of him, her body heat causing him to flush as the cool night breeze swept around them. He heard her clothes rustle, he felt her hand brush against his arm, he felt his heart flutter in his chest, felt his breath hitch in his throat and then—he felt her fingers on his face.
Inuyasha blinked in surprise and found himself pulling backwards slightly as she frowned, tilting her head to the side, her hand reached for him again and he gulped. "What are you doing?" He asked fearfully, panic clear in those black eyes.
"Inuyasha," She said calmly her voice a gentle note in the night air as she lifted her hand. "Just stand still." She told him, a firm command made by a gentle voice.
He froze, his body not really relaxing but stilling to obey her anyway. He watched as she reached her hand out, her fingers timid at first clenching and unclenching slightly as if she was debating her own actions. He felt his heart beat quicken as she worried her bottom lip, her grey orbs giving him some unidentifiable yet intriguing look as she moved her hand forward this time coming into contact with one strand of his black hair.
He took a deep breath and held it, watching as her fingers caressed the black silk, allowing it to run through her hands, a look of surprise passing across her face. He narrowed his eyes, watching as she stared at each little strand as it sifted through her fingers a look of pleasant shock still visible.
"It's not as soft." She whispered to herself and he strained his ears to hear her, not used to listening to such quietly spoken words when he was human (he wasn't used to listening to anyone when he was human really). She glanced up at him just as a cloud moved across the sky casting the clearing back into almost total darkness. He cursed his human sight, in the darkness he wasn't really able to make out more than just some of her features. He could see the quirk of her lip, he could see a glow in her eyes, he could make out her surprise but that was it, all he could really do was feel her.
She brought her hand away from his forelock, her eyes looking at his bangs, studying them, taking notes. "Your bangs are different." She commented this time loud enough for him to hear easily.
"W—hat?" He stammered confused by her words, no one had ever commented on his bangs before, demon or human.
"Your bangs." She repeated gingerly as one of her hands reached up again just barely touching a strand of black that guarded his head, "They aren't choppy like when they're silver, they're like an English pond in winter normally they look like a rampant wave."
He wasn't sure what to feel as her words came to him. He had never noticed any difference between his human and demon hair other than color and yet, she had. He shuddered when she abandoned the use of just her fingers and buried her whole hand in his bangs, pushing them up away from his face, her grey eyes coming to meet his opaque ones as she dared to entreat even farther along his face.
As if sensing she needed light to see what she was looking for, the cloud moved, bathing them in twinkling starlight from above; allowing both to see the other once again. They stared at each other, both lost in the other's eyes for some time. Inuyasha entrapped by her utter look of curiosity and Kagome stunned by what she saw or more importantly what she recognized in his now black eyes.
"They're the same." She realized. "Regardless of color, his eyes still look the same; deep and wise but—," She smiled gently. "A little sad." Her smile slowly left her as she imagined where those eyes had come from, why they were black when he was in a human form. She grinned as the truth filled her, something undeniable. "Your eyes," She finally whispered her voice gentle, timid and sweet to his ears. "They must be your mother's eyes right now." Her hand moved down his forehead, a fingertip touching an eyebrow before moving to caress a cheek bone. "Normally they're your father's, aren't they?"
He took a strong intake of air, no one—not even Kikyo had ever put that together or perhaps, had ever cared too. He started to say something but stopped when he noticed a change in her expression. She was no longer gazing at his eyes but was looking slightly to the side, something having caught her attention. Without warning one of her hands reached for the side of his head, a gentle finger tracing the lobe of a new human ear.
Inuyasha felt a tingle start in his spine, pushing itself all the way up to his neck before plummeting into the pit of his stomach. He closed his eyes and stopped a moan as he realized no one had ever touched one of his human ears before. He pursed his lips, relishing in the sensation as she continued to trace his ear, her fingers a soft caress on untouched flesh.
"Strange." She whispered causing him to open his eyes and blink rapidly, his heart quickening as her words filled him, his heart nearly exploding in his chest when he realized just how close she was.
He watched fixated as she leaned towards him then, her expression unreadable in the dark as she leaned closer her eyes fixed on his. He licked his lips every fiber of his being wanting nothing more than to lean into her, wanting nothing more than to be encompassed by her, wanting nothing more than to give in and kiss her but he couldn't. An old fear started to creep into him as he stood frozen underneath her probing hands.
Kikyo had only ever kissed him when he was human. She had hated the half demon part of him. And he was terrified that Kagome would feel the same.
Lost in thought he didn't notice when the path of her hand changed, traveling upwards through his silky strands, caressing the spot where puppy dog ears had stood before the sun had set. She frowned deeply, slowly bringing her hands away, a certain amount of sadness crossing her face.
Inuyasha watched that look, watched as if formed. It was confused, it was distant, it was, he realized, a look of disappointment. Her lips parted, a hand reached for him, touching his cheek with just a finger nail, her palm facing away from him, opened towards herself. He leaned into her subconsciously, a lock of his black hair falling onto the back of her hand.
Her grey eyes moved to it, stared at it for a moment before she moved her hand away, reaching for the strands, holding them between her thumb and pointer finger as she carefully moved them behind a human ear.
"It's not the same." She whispered softly that look of disappointment leaving her momentarily. "But you're still you, right?"
He gulped but couldn't bring himself to respond.
She smiled, her eyes filling with things and emotions he had never seen on anyone's face before. They were misty with admiration, with love, with genuine pride, with acceptance, with—mischief. "That being said," Her voice was smooth, her expression a little devious. "I like your puppy ears better."
Inuyasha seriously considered hitting his head on a nearby tree as his jaw dropped and he stared at her. He blinked, his mouth visibly hung open. He started to speak but before he could protest her strange fetish a chilling scream caused them both to jump apart Inuyasha coming to full attention instantly as his eyes focused on the direction it had come from. They widen, he heard the scream again, he heard the panic in the voice, it chilled him to the bone.
"That's Jinenji," Kagome whispered hastily. "Isn't it?"
He was about to answer her but stopped when a loud feminine scream filled their world. The scream of a frightened and pained, Haniyama.
End of Chapter
Please Review
Congrats to InuKag77 for being reviewer 850!
**Edited for grammar and substantial content 10/12/11
A/N: Man, thanks for the reviews, it really got me in a writing mood so I decided to update right away instead of next week.
Anyway, there's some fluff for you. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. We're getting closer and closer to Kagome and Inuyasha just giving in and having some good old fashioned lemony goodness. And by closer I mean—within the next century…j/k. For now we need to worry about Kaede who is stuck with Naraku, Mr. Dresmont who is having some life changing experiences, and Jinenji and his mother who are suffering from god only knows what!
Bonus Point:
Name the episode where Kagome discovers the secret of Inuyasha's transformation from half demon to human.
Last Chapter's Bonus Point:
Inuyasha and Kagome met Jinenji because they were looking for herbs to help Kirara who had been recently poisoned by Naraku's samoshou/shouki or something like that (sp?). Congrats to the winners.
Warm-Amber92, Purple Dragon Ranger, AriaLuvsInu, InuKag77, HeavenlyEclipse, StrikerTheWolf, Miley4prez, Saria Forest14, glon morski, TheRealInuyasha, InuKag4eva, hedgewitch13
Notes:
In the anime Jineji's mother is not given a name, so I devised a name for her based on the name of her son. Jineji means, earth child or earth boy so I made her name Haniyama. It is derived from the name of the goddess of earth in Japanese culture, Haniyama-hime. The part I left off was hime, which means princess.
Worcester – It is a famous brand of Porcelain, which comes from England. The company itself was started in 1751, during the time of this fanfiction it was known for decent china but overall the factory would have been in poor repair. The set that Haniyama has, however, would have been from an earlier time when the factory was in better condition, making it more prized.
Camellia – Is a flowering plant native to north and east Asia and Korea. There are many different spices, the most famous in western culture being the tea plant or C. sinensis. It would have been easy to get a hold of in most industrialized nations at the time but in the budding United States it was considered a treat as it was heavily taxed in British Colonies and hard to find in other Colonies.
Chapter fun fact:
The title of this chapter has a duel meaning. The first is of course for Inuyasha, he has his secret which is now revealed to Kagome. The second is for Naraku—he has many secrets that have yet to be explored but that Kaede seems to be privy to.
Next Chapter:
Jinenji's Stand
See you then!
UNEDITED
POSTED 10/8/2011