Title: A Chance Encounter
Author: inuyashagirl5
Rating: T for Teen, Not suitable for children under the age of 13.
Genre: Action, Romance and some Angst at times
Pairing: Kyo/Kagome Yuki/Tohru
Warnings: Violence and some light swearing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Fruits Basket. Inuyasha is owned by Rumiko Takahashi and Fruits Basket is owned by Natsuki Takaya. I just use their characters for my own amusement and the amusement of my readers.
Chapter Five: The Encounter that Made Her Cry
The following morning had Kagome waking up in tears yet again. Another nightmare causing her to remember the horrible events in the past...and the possible events of the future. This time she saw them. Kyo, Momiji, Yuki and Tohru. It had been awful. Naraku had been torturing all of them while she looked on. She couldn't move. She couldn't do anything to save them and it had pained her to hear them cry out for her. Naraku had laughed in his usual sinister way seconds before he slaughtered them all. Then he turned on her. Crimson eyes staring deep into her soul, promising death. She had awoken with a sob to a dark and empty room.
"Fucking nightmare..." She cried to herself. This was not how she wanted to start her day off. She glanced over at the night stand holding her alarm clock to check the time and let out a frustrated groan. The machine's bright red numbers read four-thirty seven. "Dammit!"
It was far too early for her to be up and she knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. Which meant she was going to have a really, really long day at school and she knew there was no way she could skip another day.
After a shower, Kagome puttered around her kitchen preparing herself a small breakfast of coffee and toast. It was a slight change of routine, but she knew she'd need the extra kick from the coffee to get her through the long day ahead of her. As she enjoyed her breakfast she watched the sun rise through the kitchen's window. To see that it was a cloudless, sunny day perked her emotions up a little. There would be no rain today and for that alone she was grateful.
Images from the nightmare still played through her mind. It wasn't unheard of for a priestess to get premonitions. At least, that was what Kaede had said to her once on the other side of the well. But she wasn't even sure if it was a premonition and there was no one she could ask about it. She squashed the sudden pang of loneliness that arose. It wouldn't do her any good to become depressed over it when she still had much to do and she knew she wouldn't be alone once Naraku was defeated for good.
She set out for school earlier than usual and froze as she reached the bottom step of her shrine. There was something there. She could feel it. Something was watching her and she let her eyes gaze about the surroundings. She found nothing, but that feeling followed her as she continued walking to school.
She was surprised as she turned the corner to go up the main street leading towards the school, when she noticed that slightly ahead of her walked one of the Sohma family, the one she had nearly collided with on her way to Ayame's shop. She studied his aura as she walked, noting that it was similar to Kyo's, but different. Kyo's aura was far more conflicted and dark than this one.
She glanced away as the man looked over his shoulder and at her. His eyes widened upon recognizing her and he stopped to face her, much to Kagome's discomfort.
"Good morning, Sohma-san." She waved; she couldn't recall learning his name.
"Good morning, Kagome-san." He replied while waiting for her to catch up, "I didn't know you lived nearby." Something is his eyes lead her to believe he was lying about that fact, but she ignored it.
"I live at the shrine up the street." Kagome answered and continued walking. The man took to walking alongside her. "I am the priestess for the Moonlight Shrine."
"I heard that old place was haunted." He frowned and she laughed a little.
"I assure you it's not, Sohma-san."
"Shigure." He grinned at her, which made her slightly nervous. She brushed the creepiness aside and continued the small talk with him.
"Got it." She nodded. "May I ask where you are heading so early this morning?"
"I am heading to Aya's shop. He called in a frantic state this morning, crying about a disaster and needing me to come over immediately."
"Is he alright?" Kagome questioned with concern, and some curiosity. She had only met Ayame that one time, but she had seen how over-flamboyant he could be. Shigure's face darkened slightly, making Kagome frown.
"I don't know. He didn't sound like himself."
"Would you like for me to go with you?" She wasn't sure why she asked him if he wanted her to go too. The question had slipped out without her thinking first. He had paused at her question and chuckled, patting her head in an affectionate manner.
"While I'm sure Aya would love your company, and believe me, he would, you do have school and that's more important. I'm sure things will be fine, little kitten." Shigure chuckled more when Kagome glared at him, "Oh! Look at that! This is the street! Have a good day, Kagome-chan!"
Kagome watched the older man slip off down the side street. As she began walking again, she concluded that Shigure Sohma was very, very odd and very likely a pervert too. She'd ask Kyo about it sometime if she remembered. She had only moved forward a few steps when she noticed that the sensation of being watched was no longer there and that unnerved her. She contemplated following Shigure anyways just to make sure he was safe.
"Kagome-chan!" The happy, bubbly voice of Momiji met her ears and she turned to where it came from. She scowled at the boy and crossed her arms over her chest. He wasn't supposed to be going to school for at least another day.
"Hello, Kagome-chan. You're early today." Haru smiled at her, which quickly defused her scowling. His smile had to be one of the most perfect smiles she had ever seen.
"Oh, yes, I guess I am going to be early today." She answered his question and reached out to ruffle Momiji's hair, "Things well, Momiji-kun?"
"Yup!" He winked at her and gave her a playful grin. The grin vanished quickly when he noticed Kagome's blank stare and how the color had drained from her face, "Ne, Kagome-chan? What is it? What's wrong?"
Neither boy liked it when tears gathered in her eyes for no reason or when her petite frame shook with silent sobs. Haru grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a few short shakes and when nothing came from that, he and Momiji exchanged worried glances before leading her to a nearby bench and sat her down.
"Come on, Kagome-chan. Snap out of it." Haru's gentle voice poked its way into her hearing and Kagome blinked a few times before gazing into Haru's gray eyes. She nearly launched herself into him, but stopped herself part way. Haru's eyes widened a little at her actions, and at the startled gasp that Momiji emitted. He watched the looks that passed between his cousin and Kagome. He may be slow at times, but he knew something was off.
"Eh...heh." Kagome used the back of her hand to wipe the tears away. "I'm sorry. I...had an awful nightmare and parts of it seem to be haunting me still." She wouldn't tell them that it was Momiji's grin that had triggered it, nor that what she had seen hadn't been a part of her nightmare.
"As long as you're alright, Kagome-chan." Haru offered his hand to her and she accepted it. He pulled her back onto her feet and motioned for his cousin to take her other hand, "Well then, we really should get to school."
Things in school were rather uneventful, much to Kagome's pleasure. She had had a pleasant lunch with her new friends, even though hearing them laugh or bicker pained her inside. Only Saki had given her a worried glance and Kagome had smiled at her. It wasn't until towards the end of the day that she got an unsettling feeling and felt something watching her again. It was settled. She was walking home alone. She couldn't take the risk of putting her friends in danger and she believed this time they would be in danger.
When school was let out, Kagome did all she could to avoid them and exited the school unnoticed. She broke into a run towards her own home, knowing something was stalking her all the while. Her eyes were scanning all around her frantically searching for what ever it was, but there was no one there. No demonic auras, no sign of life and no birds chirping. Kagome hesitated in her steps, another image flashing in her mind forcing her to come to a stop.
It was the same images she had had earlier. Kyo was being hurt by Naraku and Naraku was taunting him, telling him that he was the bait to lure the priestess to him and as much as Kyo tried to fight back, he was no match for the dark, half-demon.
A strong pulse from the jewel pulled her from the images forcefully and Kagome almost fell over from the intensity. Bag dropped and forgotten for the moment, Kagome followed the jewel's urgent instructions and she was lead into the nearby woods. The scenery around her as she ran began becoming familiar to Kagome which caused her to quicken her steps. Fear set in as she heard his voice, his laughter and then she saw them. Naraku and Kyo.
With hurried movements she leapt the shrubbery in front of her, successfully encased Kyo in a barrier and landed in front of him with her bow of energy already formed and flaring. Naraku held his ground as she landed, his crimson eyes glinting as he took in the form of the priestess before him.
"Kagome." He sneered at her, cautious of the glowing weapon in her hand, "So the rumors are true. You have passed Kikyo in power, but I wonder. Is the power your own or that of the Shikon no Tama?"
"Why don't I show you, coward!" She released an arrow, the wave of energy following it was larger than normal. He dodged it with minimal damage.
"You've improved, but you're still nothing but a weak, pathetic human. I'll enjoy breaking you and the I'll break him for the fun of it."
"This ends here, Naraku!" Kagome leapt forth, her bow taking on a form more like a sword. Naraku dodged the blow by floating back and away from her, tentacles bursting from where his legs had been.
"I was right in choosing then? This boy is important to you?"
She ignored his taunts, not wanting him to know that Kyo was in fact her friend at least. Her lack of response annoyed Naraku. He was expecting her to be brash and jump right in as Inuyasha often had. Instead she was calculating his movements. He lashed out at her with tentacles, some splitting open to spew deadly miasma. Kagome stumbled back to avoid the toxin, her ankle connecting with a root causing her to fall backwards. She heard Kyo call out her name as she scrambled back onto her feet. She was struck squarely across the chest and flung back, her body breaking a few small trees before slamming into a much larger one. She knew then she wasn't strong enough for this fight. She hadn't been ready. In the back of her mind she vaguely noted that something else was approaching, but she had no energy to decipher it.
Her energy was tapped. The last of it settled into the barrier surrounding Kyo. At least he was safe. At least she could protect him. She just prayed that what ever was coming, that it was an ally and not a foe.
One of Naraku's tentacles rushed forward, she didn't have time to dodge it. The extra appendage broke through her chest with a sickening crack. Kagome's eyes went wide, the only sounds she could hear were Naraku's laughter and Kyo's anguished screams. She landed against something hard, but comforting and familiar. Her eyes barely focuses as a streak of bright purple energy zoomed overhead and then all was lost. Kagome breathed her last breath and fell limp.
"The Shikon no Tama is still with her. Naraku has yet to get it." The one holding Kagome close looked up as his friend came closer, "However, Kagome is currently dead and we can't have that now that we found her, can we, Sesshomaru?"
He narrowed his eyes at the darkened woods before him and sheathed his mighty Tokijin. His eyes scanned the priestess' barrier containing the lone and injured boy, before turning to face the dead priestess and the demon holding her.
"Set her down and step away, Kouga." He withdrew the Tensaiga with ease and grace. It released a soft hum as it realized it was about to be used again after so long. With one stroke, the special blade revived and healed the fallen priestess. Kagome sat up with a start and coughed while trying to breathe.
"Relax, Kagome. You're alright." Koga ran his hand across her back. Kagome jumped at the contact and at the voice. She turned wide eyes upon the wolf demon next to her.
"Kouga?"
"Hello, Kagome." He grinned. Kagome shook her head trying to dispel the confusion that was setting in. The pink barrier off to the side caught her attention and she jumped to her feet.
"Foolish girl." Sesshomaru put his hand out to steady the girl. She jumped again.
"Sesshomaru? Okay, I am very confused, but there is something I have to do first." She pulled away from the demon lord. She had to check on Kyo. Nothing seemed more important to her than him.
'He could have died. I can't lose him. I have to protect him.'
"Kagome?" Kyo raised his tear filled maroon eyes as she knelt beside the barrier. She released the barrier and he fell forward, his head falling onto her knees.
"Kyo, hang in there please. I'll heal you." She was tired. She didn't have much energy left, if any, but she drew all her power into her hands and placed them above Kyo's battered body.
"Kagome, you can't do that. Kouga knelt next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" she cried. She was saving Kyo no matter what.
"You don't have the energy for this! You could get hurt!"
"Stop it, Kouga! He is more important! I have to save him!" her glow brightened and Kouga knew to back away now or face a painful death.
"Please, Kyo." Kagome whispered quietly.
Kyo laid there. The gentle warmth that was Kagome surrounding him, healing him. He couldn't believe that she had spoken so strongly about protecting him about him being more important than her own health. He struggled into a kneeling position before her and grasped her wrists. He couldn't let her continue.
"Kagome, that's enough." He spoke gently. She opened her eyes.
"You're not healed."
"I'm fine."
"Kyo, please…let me help you."
"You have done enough, Kagome." He pulled her forward, without caring about the two guys watching, and hugged her for the brief moment he had a chance to.
Kagome's eyes went wide first and then filled with tears as the little orange cat laid across her lap. She collected his clothing and snuggled him against her chest. She turned to face the two demons standing behind them.
"I'm sorry." She whispered softly to them, "I'm a mess. I was never expecting to see either of you."
"It's alright, Kagome. It took us many years to find you." Kouga smiled and more tears flooded her eyes. At least part of the past had managed to survive.
"What happened to Naraku?" She looked around. He was nowhere to be seen.
"He ran like a coward." Kouga growled and Kagome released a soft sigh.
"I see."
"Priestess, we need to go." Sesshomaru spoke as he always had, though Kagome was sure his features seemed a bit softer when he looked at her. Perhaps five hundred years could melt an icy heart.
'Yeah right.' Kagome mused.
"We will be safe at my home." Kagome nodded.
They had just reached the top of the steps when Kagome noticed she had company. She cursed quietly and glanced down at the sleeping cat in her arms. Yuki and Tohru knew now. Yuki's eyes proved that when Kagome looked at him.
"Friends of yours, Kagome?" Kouga eyed the pair.
"Yes." Kagome hurried forward. She wanted to get Kyo to bed and recover her own energy so she could finish healing him, "Yuki-kun, Tohru-chan…I wasn't expecting you."
"Kagome-san…"Yuki looked at her then down at Kyo in her arms.
"It's alright, Yuki-kun. He's hurt, but I'm going to fix that when I recover." Kagome glanced over her shoulder, "Sesshomaru, Kouga, you are both more than welcomed to come inside.
"You go on in, Kagome. Sesshomaru and I have some things to discuss. We'll be in shortly." Kouga waved her off and Kagome turned to go inside. She motioned for the other two to follow her into the house and pointed them in the direction of the living room.
"I'll be with you in a moment." She left them alone and brought Kyo into her bedroom. Pulling back the covers she slid Kyo in and then tucked him in. She frowned at how mangled he looked and cursed again. He was hurt because of her. He had been put into danger because of her. She couldn't do anything about it now. Naraku knew and he'd use it to his advantage.
With heavy, tired steps she made her was back to where she had left the others and was surprised to see Kouga socializing with them while Sesshomaru stood in the doorway.
"This is unacceptable." He stopped her from entering the room, "Why would you endanger those you do not have to?"
"I can't do this right now. Scold me later, okay?" She pushed past the demon and slid into the closest seat. "I would ask why all of you are here, but I assume you have questions that are more important?"
She ignored the heated glare she received from Sesshomaru and focused her attention mostly on Yuki.
"You know then?" He asked softly, his violet eyes meeting hers.
"Yes and I have seen it twice now. Once with Kyo-kun and yesterday with Momiji-kun." She readily replied, watching as both he and Tohru absorbed in the information.
"Are you the only one who knows?"
"No, Kouga and Sesshomaru witnessed it not too long ago."
Yuki slapped a hand to his forehead and leaned forward. His expression was a mix of anger and worry and Kagome was curious if she could learn more about the Sohma's secret from him.
"Stupid cat." He muttered quietly, "He's going to ruin everything. If Akito hears of this..." He let his head slump into both of his hands and groaned.
"Does this Akito person have to know? I already promised Kyo-kun and Momiji-kun I would remain quiet, as long as they remained quiet. I don't intend on telling anyone and I doubt that Kouga and Sesshomaru even care." Kagome leaned back in her chair with a smile, " They're both demons, so I'm sure the affairs of us humans means very little to them."
"Them, yes. You, Kagome, is another story." Kouga growled, but Kagome waved him off.
"We, Kouga, can discuss my affairs later."
"Yuki-kun?" Tohru's soft, nervous voice spoke up and Yuki's eyes gazed up at her. "I think...um, I think we should trust Kagome-chan. I can't explain why, but she just seems so trustworthy."
"Kagome's always been like that. She's so likeable even he likes her." Kouga thrust a thumb in Sesshomaru's direction,"And getting him to like anything, especially a human, is difficult."
"Then you really are a demon?" Tohru's question was timid, and she let out a startled gasp when Kouga nodded and grinned, flashing off a set of very sharp fangs. Kagome chuckled a little before letting the seriousness of the situation back in to the front of the conversation.
"How many of you are there? Is it just the two of you, or are there others?" She questioned, her blue eyes turning to look up at Sesshomaru.
"There can be others. Why?" Sesshomaru replied and Kagome scoffed at his question.
"Do you think that Kyo is the only one of them he'll attack?" The question made Yuki's head snap to her. "I would feel a tad bit better if I knew someone were at least watching over them."
"That shouldn't be a problem, Kagome. Ginta, Hakkaku and Ayame are willing and ready to help. You just tell me where and I'll send them there. I can go as well seeing as Sesshomaru will be sticking close to you most of the time."
"Good grief...that'll be an experience." Kagome mumbled and again ignored Sesshomaru's glare. "Fine then. I trust your pack, Kouga, but please be warned that Kagura is around. That means its likely that Kanna is as well."
"I will be certain to pass that information on to my men."
"May I please ask what is going on?" Yuki cut in, "Are you saying that Kyo was attacked by a demon, that may attack us as well?"
"There is that possibility, yes." Kagome couldn't face Yuki and Tohru. She hadn't wanted them to be involved, especially after the horrible nightmare. It seemed almost unavoidable now. "I didn't want any of you involved. I tried to keep myself distant from you and your friends, but it seems we keep running into each other one way or another. All I can do now is protect you. Though I need more training...I failed today. I can never forgive myself for this."
Tears gathered in her azure eyes. She was deeply effected by today's encounter with Naraku. She had died, Kyo could have died as well.
"Worry about that a little later." Sesshomaru spoke up, "The other boy is awake and restless. Go and tend to him while Kouga and I talk more with these ones."
She didn't hesitate one second to go to Kyo. The orange-haired boy was struggling to push himself up into a sitting position in the middle of her bed. His eyes were clenched tightly shut and a few stray tears slid down his pale cheeks from the pain. Kagome nearly sobbed at the sight of him, but held back; choosing instead to get him to rest and relax.
"Please, don't do that, Kyo-kun!" Kagome put a hand on his shoulder and forced him to lie back again, her voice quiet and worried. "Don't force yourself to move yet. Please..."
Her soft, somber plea made his heart ache in a way he couldn't understand and he chalked it up to the fact his whole damned body ached. Even Yuki had never beaten him that badly before. Then again, Yuki was a human and clearly demons were far more stronger.
"It feels like I've been run over." He groaned, he couldn't even ball his hand into a fist without streaks of unimaginable pain shooting throughout every limb. His eyes opened slowly when he felt the feather light touches of Kagome's fingers running through his hair. Her face was full of sorrow as she looked at him and he knew she was blaming herself for everything that had happened. He couldn't deny that it wasn't her fault, but he couldn't bring himself to be angry at her for it either. She had come to his rescue, she had fought to protect him, and even after she had died, and was brought back to life by some weird guy, she still used what little energy she had to save him. "Why?"
"Huh?" Her blue eyes focused more at his question, confusion taking away a bit of the sadness.
"Why did you do that? I don't understand." His eyes slipped closed again and fighting against the pain he turned his head to the side; glancing out the window towards the now setting sun. "Why would you risk your own life to save mine? Why would you do that for someone you barely know?"
She could have given him a simple answer of because I do it for anyone that needs my help, because that in fact was the truth. She had always, and would continue to put the lives of the innocent before her own, especially when Naraku was involved. But this situation seemed different to her, even if only in a small way. She couldn't deny that she had found him cute from the first day she met him on the bus, but that was hardly a good enough answer for his question.
"Because, Kyo-kun, we're friends and it was my fault that you got hurt." She tried to smile, pushing her previous thoughts of reasons behind her for now. She'd think on it more later when she had some quiet, alone time to think on it. For now she had to focus on the matters at hand. "I need you to rest for a little while longer. You won't be going home tonight, so just stay still and relax, Kyo-kun. Also, I have company at the moment. When I made it back here Yuki-kun and Tohru-chan were at my door. They saw you in my arms. They both know now."
"Shit!" Kyo cursed, his hands clenching quickly into fists. He cringed as pain flared down his right arm and a few more tears leaked out.
"It's alright, Kyo-kun. They're not going to say anything to anyone." Kagome's hand stopped moving and rested on his forehead, "I'm going to take care of you tonight, but I also have to sit down and discuss the current circumstances concerning Naraku with Kouga and Sesshomaru. I also have to take a nap at some point to get some of my strength and energy back so I can fully heal you. It's going to be a long night, so please try to get some more sleep, Kyo-kun. I'll go and make you some tea to help you fall back asleep."
Sesshomaru met her in the hallway and followed her as she walked towards her kitchen. His eyes caught on pictures from the past hanging in simple frames along the wall, pictures of familiar faces long since dead. His eyes stopped on a young girl. Her smile was full of happiness that met the sparkles in her big, brown eyes. Eyes he hadn't seen in almost five centuries. He realized Kagome had stopped and waited for him in the doorway of the kitchen. His golden eyes met her sad blue ones, ones that used to sparkle much like the girl in the photos always did. He pulled away from the sight of Rin and followed Kagome into the kitchen.
"I understand now what it was you did that day. The day you brought a camera with you through the well and took pictures of everyone." He watched Kagome busy herself with making tea and decided to continue. "I should be thankful you did. No artist could capture her the way I explained. They came close, but they never got her eyes right."
"I can make you a copy of that picture, and any others I have of her and Jaken." Kagome answered softly, setting a cup of tea on the table before him, "Or even pictures I took of you and Inuyasha while fighting. I didn't always use a flash. I knew how much it hurt the eyes of demons." She laughed a little at a memory of Inuyasha getting his first picture taken and how badly he had reacted to the flash. Shippo had been no different.
"I...would like that. Thank you."
"I am grateful that you and Kouga came when you did, Sesshomaru. Things here are slipping from my control. I don't know what it is I should do. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to protect everyone."
"You are tired." He answered calmly, stating the obvious fact that she was drained physically and emotionally. "Kouga has taken the pair home. He has already contacted Ginta and Hakkaku and they will be their guard for the time being. Naraku suffered some damage when I attacked him. He'll need time to recover before he returns for another attempt at the jewel. Until then, you will continue your schooling and you will train here with me."
"I understand." She gave him a short nod, "We will continue this conversation more tomorrow. Can you please wake me up in two hours? That should be a sufficient amount of time to get enough energy back to heal Kyo."
"Promise me something, Kagome?" Sesshomaru lifted his gaze to hers again and she waited for him to continue. He hesitated, not wanting for her to take what he was about to say the wrong way. "Promise me that you won't get too attached to him? Until Naraku is defeated, you should maintain your distance from him as much as possible."
She frowned at his words, but gave him a small nod anyways. He was right. She needed to do what she could to keep him safe, and the others too. It wasn't going to be easy, she knew that. They were in the same class at school. They would still see each other. Her only question was would he forgive her if she pretended he wasn't there? Would any of them forgive her?