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Disclaimer: No own InuYasha et cetera et cetera.

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Jizen Kaerizaku

Before I Can Return

Chapter 4 - Truth: A Funny Thing, Really…

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When Kagome awoke, Mattaki was nowhere around. She figured he had gone off to explore a bit, and smiled slightly as she cooked a light breakfast. Rin would be coming over any minute now, as she always did in the early mornings, begging for breakfast. Though the young woman lived with Kaede, she preferred to spend her mornings with her friend and her afternoon with the other village children. The evenings were spent in chores, then sleep.

A few minutes later Rin walked in, much less exuberant than usual, "What is it, Rin-chan?"

The girl grimaced, "I broke a pot last night and now I must help Kaede-baba all day to pay her back."

Kagome hid a grimace of her own - Kaede was a hard task manager when she wanted to be, "Well, let's get you fed then to start the day, hmm?"

"It's okay," the girl said with a sudden smile, "Kohaku-kun will be helping as well, so I won't be lonely at least!"

Conversation was light, Rin focusing more on how much she missed living in the House of the Moon in comparison to the human village. Kagome felt for her, it was a rather steep change in lifestyle for the girl.

After the meal Kagome sent the teen off and walked to the river alone to wash her bowls and utensils, some of the few reusable items she still had from her own time. She had very little of anything left, since most of her items had all been perishable or useable. After she finished and put her things away she picked up her bow and wandered into the forest to hunt. It was the end of summer already, and she planned to start storing and drying meat now to make sure she was satisfied through winter.

Four rabbits later and she was relaxing in a secluded and thick grove and stopped to rest, pulling an old schoolbook from her bag. She had read them all a few times, but it was the only source of reading material she had anymore, so she looked them over as often as she could.

"What do you have there?" a voice startled her, making her jump before recognition settled in.

"Mattaki, you scared me!" she huffed, looking over at the ghost and blinking in surprise. He was suddenly much more like the other spirits she had encountered, formed very much like what he must have been in life…just see through. She smiled brightly, "I don't know how aware of yourself you are, but its quite nice to actually see you and not a mass of foggy stuff. You were a very handsome youkai," she said with a grin, faintly pink.

He was tall, that was for sure, and broad across the chest. He had a wide jaw line and mouth, set off by high cheekbones and expressive eyes. His hair was long…very long, and in life it must have only stayed off the floor by the high ponytail he kept it in. She wished she could see his coloring.

The man smiled, a very nice sight, "Why thank you, my miko. I was not aware I was not clear to begin with, but it is good that you can see me now."

He sat in front of her in the same position he had the night before, crosslegged and propping his chin on his hand, "We need to talk."

Kagome's eyes went wide at the serious tone, "Is something wrong, Mattaki-sama?"

He sighed and pushed a hand through his shaggy bangs, "I'm not sure. I was wandering the forest earlier, and listened to a conversation between a group of youkai. Is it true that Neikanhi has been made Western Lord?"

Again her surprise was evident, but it quickly changed to an annoyed frown, "Unfortunately, yes. Sesshoumaru was very specific in wanting one of his men to be his successor if he passed before the war with Naraku was over, but those idiots on his advisory council wouldn't have it. I purified several of them to try and make sure Sesshoumaru's will was done, but I just couldn't stand up to them all."

Mattaki shook his head sadly, "Neikanhi is a plague, if I know him he's already destroying the lands."

"He is, according to the guard I was speaking to yesterday. You knew this Neikanhi then? In life?"

Mattaki grimaced and smiled softly at her, "I meant to tell you the truth anyway, but I suppose this is as good of a time as any. He was my brother."

"Oh, really?" Kagome said placidly, before halting mid page turn and gaping, "Wait," her eyes widened, "That would make you…"

His smile was sad, "Most often known as the Inu-no-Taisho."

She stared for a few minutes, the turned fluorescent red and buried her face in her hands, "Oh man…"

"What is wrong, little miko?" he asked in concern, not for the first time wishing he could touch things to he could force her head up.

"I made a total ass out of myself yesterday," came the muffled response, "Whining about your son, for gods sake…oh man…"

Mattaki laughed and touched her shoulder before remembering her couldn't; he saw the chill it sent through her. She looked up with a still red face and he grinned at her, "Honestly, I wish I could take that boy over my knee like I never could in life. You did not make a fool of yourself at all. You have a very hard situation, young Kagome."

She laughed a little and the mental imagery that much have wrought, smiling thankfully at him, "Thank you for not making me feel stupid, my lord."

He waved a hand, "Stop with the Lord and honorifics. I am no longer Lord and I wish to be your friend not your superior. So, now I know Neikanhi is destroying my lands…" he growled deep in his throat and Kagome shivered again, but this time not from cold, "What I wouldn't give to be corporeal sometimes."

Kagome agreed with the sentiment before checking herself and shaking herself mentally. It had been less than twenty four hours in his company and she was already being a total hentai over him. She wanted to hit herself.

"Well, there is nothing to be done about it at this moment, so I will return to my original question, of 'What do you have there?'"

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A/N: I'm upset today….my laptop is finally back up and running, but my HPHPTF epilogue was corrupted. I'll have to write it again this week… sigh