THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Kagome. These characters belong solely to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz.
Oh, and the SVU characters belong to Dick Wolf's company!
I do however own my own creations.
Chapter 18
Inuyasha paced the grounds of the shrine. The years had tempered his impatience somewhat, but his anxiety over his missing children was threatening his resolve,
"DAMMIT!" he cursed, to no one in particular, "When is that old hag gonna tell us when to go through the well?"
"Be patient, Inuyasha." came a commanding voice from behind, "It shouldn't be too much longer."
Inuyasha turned around. He knew the voice well. Sesshoumaru. They had been in Tokyo for two weeks now and there had been no word from Haiti or the old Voodoo Priestess. At Shippou's urging (and knowing he would be safer doing so), he had called his brother and informed him of the latest developments with Sousson-Pannan. His brother had a huge desire to see this beast dead as well, seeing as the deity had been responsible for the initial death of Sesshoumaru's sons. Only because of Tenseiga did his sons still live.
"You tell me to be patient but, my pups' lives are in danger! How am I supposed to be patient? And I still don't understand what the hell I'm supposed to be doing with this … this stupid blue crystal! It reeks too much of the fucking Shikon No Tama! I don't like it!"
"Inuyasha … do you know nothing of the phases of the moon and other things related to astronomy?" asked Sesshoumaru, slightly annoyed at his brother's lack of education.
Inuyasha sighed. He didn't understand all the talk of how the moon phases affected the tides and other areas of the earth nor did he understand how the moon could affect humans and their emotions. Two of his pups, Shinobu and Fujita, were astronomers, and had attempted to explain to their father about all things celestial, but Inuyasha could never grasp what they were saying.
"When I called Fujita last week, he said something about the phases of the moon and electromagnetic fields from the sun play a huge role in Voodoo." Inuyasha said, trying to sound knowledgeable.
"Correct, Inuyasha." agreed Sesshoumaru, who knew his brother was faking his knowledge, "The priestess is waiting for a certain phase of the moon to ensure that you and Kagome end up at the right time in the past with her spell."
Inuyasha shook his head and was about to bitch some more when Kagome appeared, looking very elated,
"I just received a call from Kohana. All the pups are in place and ready to be dispatched. And she spoke with Lucita today. Tomorrow is the night of the Waning Gibbous moon. Her spell will be in place and we will be able to travel through the well, Inuyasha."
"About goddamn time!" Inuyasha spat, but inside he was relieved. Finally, this will happen.
The Next Night,
Inuyasha and Kagome finished their dinner early. Kagome had picked up a yellow knapsack, similar to the one she used to carry around in the Feudal Era, and packed it full of supplies. Alone in her old bedroom, Inuyasha pulled his old Fire-Rat robe and hakama pants out of her closet, where her mother had kept them for protection. Kagome, also, pulled out and old school uniform,
"This feels weird." she commented, as she dressed.
"500 years and 123 pups and it still fits beautifully." commented her mate.
Kagome slapped Inuyasha's arm,
"WHAT?" he cried out, "What did I say?"
"Nothing! I guess I just feel old when I see this." she said.
"How do I look?" he asked, after donning his old-style clothes.
Kagome stared. Her mind drifted back to when they were first traveling around Feudal Japan. Before they had become lovers and mates. He didn't look much different,
"HMPH!" she huffed, "I prefer you in your muscle shirt and low riding sweatpants." she smiled.
"Now who's the hentai, hmmm?"he grinned, taking her in his arms and licking her neck. Her low moan of approval as she relaxed into him made him smile broadly, 'Still got my touch!' he thought.
"C'mon." she said, as she pulled away from him, "You're the one who has been so impatient. Let's go get this evil thing!"
"Right behind you." said Inuyasha.
Before heading out of the house, Inuyasha phoned Yasha,
"Yasha Kateitenma." he heard.
"Yasha, it's me. It's time. At 11:15 pm Tokyo time we will head down the well. I expect all of you to be hunting the sewers. Don't let anyone go off on their own … always make sure that at least two are together. And if any of you happen to come across the specter, do not try to fight it, got it?"
"Right, Otou-san. We're all ready on this side."
"I don't know what this jewel is supposed to be used for, but we'll find this Rumi person and give it to her. Apparently, she'll give it to the beast and … well, I don't know what happens then." Inuyasha told his oldest.
"Ok. You'll be coming through the portal?"
"No. We can't."
"I thought that was the plan …"
"It was …but Lucita forgot one thing that your mother reminded me of … we have to return the Tenseiga to your Uncle and Rin. So we will be unable to return to the border between this world and the next. But, you still should be able to find the portal when Sousson-Pannan comes through."
"Roger. Got it. Oh, and dad, good luck. Tell mama I, I mean, we, all love her. And you too, dad."
"Geez, you make it sound like we won't return." Inuyasha replied gruffly, but inside was grateful for the sentiments, "Bye, son." He finished, as he hung up.
He passed Yasha's sentiments onto to Kagome as she finished saying goodbye to her family. Wishing them luck, the two walked outside to the well. Inuyasha seated Tessaiga on his hip as Kagome looked at her watch,
"11:10. 5 more minutes." she said softly.
Inuyasha gently cupped his wife's face and kissed her,
"I love you, mate." he spoke, almost reverently.
"I love you too, my love." she responded.
The five minutes seemed to pass to slow, but, finally, the time came. Grabbing Kagome around the waist, the two hopped into the well as the time-traveling light engulfed them. As they fell through time, the blue jewel in Kagome's hands glowed brighter, a signal to Kagome of the Priestess' spell. As their feet touched down on the other side, Kagome secretly thanked the gods for delivering them here.
"Now let's see if we're at the right time." said Inuyasha.
Holding onto Kagome, Inuyasha hopped out of the well in on easy leap. As they surveyed the surroundings, Inuyasha sniffed the air deeply,
"It's definitely the Feudal Era," he commented, "Kaede is still alive." he said softly, wishing he could go see the old miko,
Reading his mind, Kagome commented, "We can't go to the village. Lucita was making sure we came back while our other selves and Miroku and Sango were out away from the village and away from Sesshoumaru and Rin."
"I know that." he retorted, "I'm not stupid."
Inuyasha looked up at the stars. Oh, how he missed this time. Very few worries. Just him, Kagome, and their friends. Kagome knocked him out of his memories,
"Let's go." she urged.
He agreed and knelt down for her to get on his back. As he took off through the trees, hunting for the scent of Rin, Jaken, and Sesshoumaru, he felt alive again. Wild, free, and alive. Jumping from tree to tree as he headed into the Western Lands, he wished he and Kagome could stay there forever, running free. The sensibility in his mind chastised him, however, as he recalled his pups back home and especially his two missing ones. As much as he would love to be wild and free once more, responsibilities awaited him. He decided he would enjoy this while he could.
His mind full of memories, he didn't realize how far he had traveled. Stopping on a tree branch, the scent of Sesshoumaru suddenly assaulted his nose.
"We're here." he said, as he stopped.
His sense of smell told him Sesshoumaru was leaving Rin, Jaken and Ah-Un behind.
'Perfect' he thought.
He found a comfortable branch on the tree so that he and Kagome could rest. He wanted to make sure Sesshoumaru was far enough away before talking to Rin. As the hours past, Kagome slept quietly in Inuyasha's lap. Realizing that Sesshoumaru's scent had finally dissipated, he woke Kagome and the two quietly jumped to the forest floor,
"It's up to you now, love." Inuyasha prodded his wife.
Rin would probably never give Tenseiga to Inuyasha, but to Kagome? She probably would have no doubts. Kagome walked towards where Rin was resting on Ah-Un. Jaken had walked off somewhere for she saw no sign of him. Approaching the dragon, who regarded her slightly and not as a threat, Kagome prodded Rin,
"Rin? Rin? It's me, Kagome." she said.
The little girl woke up. Kagome noticed that she held the Tenseiga fast in her hand.
"Kagome? Is it really you?" the little girl cried out happily, "I've missed you so much." said Rin, as she hugged Kagome.
Inuyasha watched from a safe distance as his wife and the little girl talked. He sniffed the air. Good. No sign of Jaken or Sesshoumaru. Soon, much sooner than he ever expected, he watched as Rin handed Kagome the Tenseiga. He watched as Kagome hugged the girl and they parted ways with a wave. He was amazed. As Kagome approached him, he asked,
"How did you get her to give it to you so fast?"
"Easy. More than anything, she wants Sesshoumaru to wield it again. I told her that I was going to put a spell on it so that it was powerful and Sesshoumaru would want to wield it." she smiled.
"Gullible kid." he huffed, then sniffed the air, "Shit! Jaken's on his way back. Let's go."
Inuyasha got Kagome on his back and the two flew through the trees, towards the Realm of Fire. As the sun rose in the sky, the ring of volcanoes came into Inuyasha's view. Quickly, they approached the proper volcano. Walking inside, the Guardian Sentinels came into view. As if on cue, the sentinels awoke,
"DO YOU WISH TO PASS?" the one asked.
Inuyasha brandished the Tenseiga as watched in amazement as the two guardians knelt before him,
"HE WHO CARRIES THE SWORD OF THE NETHERWORLD MAY PASS."
The two watched as the gates opened wide, allowing entrance. They walked carefully, both still hoping they would pass the light. As the light bathed them in all its glory, they were relieved nothing happened. Entering the border between this world and the netherworld, they fell through and landed safely on a skeletal bird.
As the couple collectively breathed a sigh of relief, Inuyasha voiced their next concern,
"Now where do we go?" he asked, as the skeletal remains of his father appeared before them.
Kagome searched the area hoping for a clue. She didn't have to wait long as, suddenly, from out of no where, an arrow pierced the bird they were riding on, destroying it. Instinctively, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome as the two tumbled to the bottom. Using his body to break Kagome's fall, they landed on one of the rocks below the mist, knocking them both unconscious for a few moments. Kagome awoke first, shaking her head as she tried to recall what had happened. As reality set in, she realized Inuyasha was next to her, still unconscious,
"INUYASHA!" she cried, "INUYASHA WAKE UP!"
Inuyasha moaned as he turned and rubbed his head,
"Thank goodness." Kagome whispered.
Inuyasha sat up slowly, remembering the turn of events,
"Dammit it all. Where did that fucking arrow come from?" he asked, looking around.
"I don't know." said Kagome, then, "From there …that light …see it?"
Inuyasha followed her finger, "I don't see nuthin'." he said.
'Oh no, am I the only one who can see it?' she thought.
As the light came closer, Kagome felt something move near her,
"The jewel." she said, as she pulled the blue crystal out of her pocket, "It's glowing and resonating."
"What?" said Inuyasha, "What does that mean?"
Before she could answer, a booming voice came from above them,
"YOU THERE. WHY ARE YOU HERE AND WHY DO YOU POSSESS THE DEVIL CRYSTAL?"