When a Lie Leads to Truth:
An Inuyasha Fanfic by Inudaughter
(Chapter four)
"You really messed up this time, Inuyasha."
"Shut up, monk, I know that already!"
In the center of a peaceable seeming, nearly idyllic wild-flower meadow, an irritated hanyou peered down into the shadows of a vine-strewn well. Contrary to his current mindset, the robust sunshine was almost mockingly friendly today, with an inviting shaft of light striping down from the late afternoon sun to illumine the well he so nervously hovered over. No, Inuyasha scoffed with an audible, "tch," as much as the dry well seemed to hum with warmth and vitality, and even harmlessness as the butterflies flitting nearby seemed to attest, the hanyou had lived long enough in a demon-filled world to know not to believe in appearances. In this case, he knew on better authority than any other, that the peaceful qualities of this well's false face were by no means to be trusted. With a despairing frown, Inuyasha slumped against the solid beams that formed a welcome boundary between him and the well's interior. Half-demon though he was, even Inuyasha had his taste of fear every now and again. He felt it now, prickling up the back of his neck with electrifying tingles. For he knew, by the process of self-drawn conclusion, that if he were to go down the well at this moment, it would mean meeting certain death at the hands of his angry miko; and even he, Inuyasha, a half-demon notorious for his temper, knew better than to live so recklessly!
With a disgruntled huff, Inuyasha shrank into a clump of vermillion cloth, his hands and feet tucked neatly in the overhanging sleeves and cuffs of his robes. He drew into himself with an ample brooding, and his brows set up in a furious knit as if to discourage anyone from speaking to him, which in fact he probably did. But Miroku was a monk known for his courage. Equally, he possessed a firm dedication toward helping others even if for not completely altruistic reasons. So it was an inevitable and forgone conclusion, drawn by both men present, that Miroku was going to meddle in Inuyasha's current predicament.
"Inuyasha..." the monk prompted softly, using his gods-blessed tongue.
"What?" then hanyou answered as gruffly as he could manage. The monk was not deterred.
"You should go to her and apologize. Kagome-sama seemed truly offended by what you said."
"Hmn."
"What I mean Inuyasha is that you're going to have to take responsibility for this in order to convince her to come back."
"Stuff it monk. Does it even occur to you that I'm not wearing that damn rosary anymore? I could leap over there and shred you all in all heartbeat if I wanted to."
"But you haven't," Miroku pointed out, as if being helpful by saying it.
"Look, if you want to go bug someone go find Sango or even Shippo. That runt could use a good kicking after what he did to my ears yesterday."
"Um-hum," Miroku muttered. He leant over on his staff to take a studious, side-long glance at the hanyou, or more specifically the ears which still bore holes in them. Slowly, he straightened.
"Well, if you would like, Inuyasha, I could lend you a few of my spare gold ear-rings. If I might add, they might look very good on you, with one on the left side and two on the right, perhaps." Inuyasha flustered.
"Shut up!" he barked forcefully.
"I am speaking seriously."
"Keh.! I'm not about to join any monastery!"
"True, my friend, but it would satisfy a curiosity of mine."
"Something tells me I've heard too much already."
"Ooo. You wound me, Inuyasha."
"Tell it to someone who cares," Inuyasha said rising, his arms folded defensively in front of him. "Look, Miroku, if you're going to do nothing but harass me then I'm going elsewhere. Tell the hag I'll be back for supper."
"Wait, Inuyasha!" Miroku shouted with his staff rings jangling for added effect. "I know you are angry but you know how dire the situation is with Kagome-sama. If she does not comply with the spell's terms, perhaps she herself will bring about the curse portion of the enchantment. If you truly care for Kagome-sama, you will get over your hostility and take action in what is best for her. Do you understand me, Inuyasha?"
"Keh. I hear you monk."
"Well. If you need some advice when it comes to properly flattering a woman, you can always come to me. I would only be too glad to help."
"Keh. I don't need any help from YOU, monk." With a furious rustle, Inuyasha leapt up into the shelter of trees so that he might escape the prying eyes of all his friends, including the ones he knew to be evesdropping just outside of the clearing.
With a wearied breath nearly qualifying for a sigh, Inuyasha settled himself back in the branches of Goshinoboku. The sacred tree was cool and comfortable as usual, with just the right amount of dabbled light glittering across it to nap in. Inuyasha slouched and turned over so that he was comfortable on his branch and prepared to doze. He knew even before slumbering that his dreams would be of Kagome.
Far away across the well in the modern world, Kagome Higurashi lay in bed with a thermometer stuck in her mouth. She had already been to the hospital and after a few hours in the emergency ward, her wounds made by the giant demon pill bug had been disinfected, stitched, and she had been sent home a bottle full of antibiotic medicine. Right now, she was being watched over by Mama Higurashi and for this she couldn't be more grateful. The tears caused by her recent break with Inuyasha still coursed down her face at least once every hour and the pain in her heart far outweighed any made by the predacious youkai. She knew now, sorrowfully, that she would never have any place with Inuyasha. Kagome agonized herself with the thought that now she had nothing left but to go to school like an ordinary schoolgirl, and to hopefully go to a college someday so that she could marry an office worker. Perhaps Hojo.
As Kagome lay mired in these miserable thoughts, Mama Higurashi came in through the doorway with a new wetcloth and a bowl of oden. Gently, she set down the oden and removed the chilled cloth that was on Kagome's forehead to replace it with a new one. Then she smiled commiseratingly down at her daughter and sat nearby in her desk chair, pulled to the side of the sickbed.
"There you go, Kagome," said Mrs. Higurashi, "are you feeling any better?" With the wetcloth dangling in her face, Kagome had to settle for a clearing of her throat to answer.
"Yes, Mama," she choked out tearfully. "I'm fine." Mrs. Higurashi caught her tone and shook her head patiently.
"Now, now Kagome I think we both know you better than that. Now why don't you tell me what's troubling you." The tears came spilling out from Kagome's eyes instantly, and she turned away towards her windowsill so that Mama Higurashi had to strain to listen.
"Oh Mama, it was horrible! Inuyasha finally admitted that he wanted to be with me… well in the way that lovers would and it turned out he just wanted me to be a replacement for Kikyo! They were going to get married someday, you know, and have children together and Inuyasha lost all that when Kikyo died. And then he thought that... since I'm so like Kikyo… that I…" At this Kagome broke out into a series of inaudible sobs and Mama Higurashi stood up to run consoling circles along her daughter's shoulders.
"There, there, Kagome," she said sympathetically. "Now did something happen between you two?"
"No, Mama. I'm not like that. I told him to go find someone else to be his Kikyo but even if I said that... I still want it to be me! I love him Mama, so much it hurts. And it hurts even more knowing that he'll never love me, not the way that he loved her."
"Shh, shh, darling. Maybe this is all a great misunderstanding. I know from watching Inuyasha that he seems to care a great deal for you. Otherwise he wouldn't always be coming over fetch you, now would he?"
"He just wanted us to put the jewel back together," Kagome said miserably. "He wanted my help so that we could defeat Naraku. But it's over. I never want to see him again, Mama."
"Shh, shh, Kagome it's okay. Everything is going to be alright dear, you'll see." After listening to Kagome's hiccupping sobs for a few minutes, Mrs. Higurashi stood and tiptoed out of the room. She closed the door softly behind her.
"Oh my, my poor Kagome," the mother whispered with a small sigh, her back pressed against the door. A few, unspilled tears shone in her eyes for her daughter. "When that boy shows up I'm going to have to have a few words with him, I'm afraid."
Elsewhere in the modern era, Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi were mall-shopping and having a genuinely good time. There was so much to see and do at the many downtown Tokyo malls, such as admiring all the animals at the petshop, eating soft-serve icecream in the palm-ladden courtyards, riding the elevators for no particular reason, and bothering the bellboy. After running the gauntlet of all their favorite stores and stealthily sneaking a peek into the "forbidden ones"; Eri, Yumi, and Ayumi were just engaging in a lively discussion about their favorite sock brands when a red baseball cap swam into view atop a mass of glowing silver hair. Kagome's half-foreigner boyfriend came towards them, shuffling his feet and glancing away every now and then out of nervousness. Eventually, he stopped a few feet away from them.
"Hey, well if it isn't Kagome's boyfriend," Ayumi opened. "Inuyasha, right? Tell us, how is Kagome doing? She seemed to be a little down after the beach."
"Well," Inuyasha admitted embarrassedly, "that's what I have to talk to you about. Can you tell me how… I mean to say…" Inuyasha stuttered nervously then gulped.
"How do lovers these days tell a girl that they're interested in them? How do I get Kagome to marry me?" His announcement was met by a chorus of ecstatic squeals.
"Oh don't worry, Inuyasha!" said Yuka clapping him on the back loudly. "We'll get you and Kagome together in no time! We just have get the right amount of romantic atmosphere between you two and bam, she'll be falling right into your lap! Trust me on this!" Yuka winked and crossed her fingers as she did so.
"Well, I dunno."
"Huddle!" Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi knitted off to one side, confusing Inuyasha before abruptly rushing back.
"Ah-ha!" said Eri waving a finger at him. "The first thing we need to do is get you some clothes! You'll need something extra special to wear to those romantic dinners! And then of course you need to have daywear that says- I am just such an absolute hottie!" At this, all three girls giggled and did high-fives.
"Um, okay," said Inuyasha backing away slightly. Something told him that asking these three girls for advice was going to prove to be a very, very bad idea.
Author Notes: (Okay necessary stuff out of the way. Now it can get fun. But take a break and come back later, I will be busy myself for a while. If you have an account, you can use story alert to get the new installment of the chapter whenever that may be. It also lets me know if there is enough of an audience to merit continuing. But hey, this story is just so fun to write. Tee-hee.) Also: It's really interesting how the manga is continuing! Rumiko really surprised me in that it seems that the major plotline of the story isn't about Naraku or Kikyo- it's about what Inuyasha's father plotted for his sons, especially Inuyasha whom he predicted would rise to enormous power. Everything else- friends, foes, lovers, rivals, weaponry- is just a means to the ends. That's my take on it anyway. What does anyone else think of my theory? I also seriously think that sometimes Rumiko reacts to the guesses and wishes that her fans make, and that her hints mean that she is going to make Kagome choose between the past and present after the final battle, just as so many fanfiction writers do. Anyway, I was thinking that if anyone wants to talk about Inuyasha stuff I could eventually make a forum here on FFN and we could talk lit. Any takers?