Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Inuyasha, I only own my own characters and story line.
Chapter 3:
Kasumi sat in Sango and Miroku's house, since they were the heads of the village they had a larger house than the rest. She wore one of Sango's yukata in front of the fire. The boys has gone to a different area of the house.
"Are you comfortable?" Akane asked as she brought a tea tray in.
"Very, first actual house I've ever been in," Kasumi smiled as she took a cup. "Where is Sango?"
"Trying to keep dad from peeping," Akane said her tone flat, she rolled her eyes. "He's very lecherous."
"And you guys are leaving him here to run the village?" Kasumi giggled, it was very easy to talk to Akane.
"Mom will have the hardest time, but he's always been like this so he's so used to mom he probably will be too scared." They laughed.
"So I noticed the way you look at Shippo," Kasumi wiggled her eyebrows.
Akane's face flushed prettily. "Oh...well I've known him my whole life, he probably thinks of me like a sister."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure." Kasumi smiled. "I mean he does follow you around quite a bit."
"He's just helping me out," Akane said sipping from her tea. "Are you sure you can do this?"
"Do what?"
"This journey, it will be a lot." Akane stared at Kasumi. "Plus, we all have history…"
"And I'm the outsider," Kasumi finished.
"I didn't mean-"
"No, it's true," Kasumi shook her head. "I mean, I'm kind of taking advantage of the situation. I've never had anyone other than Kyoshi, so I'm not even sure how to have friends."
"Well you're doing a great job so far," a voice from the door startled them. Sango came and sat next to Akane, taking a cup of tea. "I haven't seen Inuyasha in years, but he's actually relaxed around you. He wasn't even that way with Kagome right away."
"I just-I know what he's been through," Kasumi looked into her cup. "As a half demon it's hard, we're neither human nor demon, so no one accepts us. I've tried making friends in the past, but it never works out. I've hopped from place to place, never settling."
"Well you have one friend here," Akane said brightly.
"And here," Sango smiled.
Kasumi felt a pricking behind her eyes, but she refused to let the tears come. She was taught emotions weaken you, they make you unable to fight. "Thanks."
She heard a mewl, then a cream colored twin tail jumped into Sango's lap. She curled up and stared at Kasumi momentarily, it made the half demon uneasy. "She's very pretty."
"I've had her since I was thirteen." Sango stroked her back. "Kirara has been our companion for a long time."
Kasumi couldn't shake the strange feeling the twin tail gave her.
"Mama, I'm tired." A little boy walked in rubbing his eye. "Can you tell me a story?"
"Sure Kai, go to your room I'll be there soon," he nodded and trudged off.
"Are you sure you want to come with?" Kasumi asked, her eyes straying to where Kai had disappeared.
"I do, because I can't let my daughter and little brother do this alone."
"Mom, I keep telling you that we'll be fine, we are both trained in our arts." Akane said. "Plus Shippo, Inuyasha and Kasumi would be there."
"It would make more sense to keep you here," Kasumi said. "Not that I want to offend you."
Sango sat there quietly, looking between the two younger girls. The did have a point, she would be able to stay with Kai and keep an eye on her lech husband. Akane's face brightened up.
"I think we're getting to her," she murmured to Kasumi.
"I would like you to try and keep in touch as often as you can." Sango said, finally being worn down. "And I would feel better if you took Kirara with you."
"So you mean you're not coming?" Akane asked, eyes wide. Sango nodded as she began to stand up. Akane jumped to her feet. "I will miss you, and I'll keep everything I've learned in mind." She bowed to her mother. Sango pulled her into her arms.
"I am so proud of you," she kissed the top of her daughter's head. "It's just hard to watch you growing up and becoming your own person."
Kasumi watched the exchange, she felt a sense of emptiness never having known either of her parents. Soon Sango disappeared to put Kai to bed.
"I can't believe she trusts me enough to let me go like this," Akane was still awestruck.
Kasumi let out a yawn, she wasn't really tired but knew she needed to get some time alone. "I'm gonna go to bed, can you show me my room?"
Once Akane disappeared, Kasumi slipped out her window, using her demon strength to pull herself onto the roof. She climbed up to the top and laid down. She stared up at the sky, it was slowly fading from pinks and oranges to purples and inky black. She could feel her senses dulling, but couldn't find it in herself to go back in.
"Nice night," she turned her head to see Inuyasha. He sat down a little ways from where she lay.
"Yeah," she looked back to the stars. "It's gonna be a full moon tonight."
It was silent for awhile, just the soft breeze flowing around them.
"Have you ever wondered about the stars?" she wondered quietly.
"They're balls of light, what's so special about them?" Inuyasha asked skeptical.
"I've always believed that they're the one's who've left this earth, watching over us." She sighed. "Kyoshi says I'm too soft, but I would hope that maybe my parents are up there watching me. I just hope I'm not too disappointing."
"Your parents are gone too?" He was quiet as he said this.
"I never got to meet them, Kyoshi said they died the night I was born." She sighed. "He refuses to tell me about them."
Finally the sky turned completely inky, and the moon began to rise. Kasumi felt the familiar transformation, she closed her eyes at the warm feeling that tingled through her body. She heard a sharp intake of breath. She opened her eyes and looked at Inuyasha, he was staring at her as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Yeah, this is my human night, if you couldn't already tell."
"You look exactly like her," he said quietly, he had to control his emotions. She could see in his eyes, that it was hurting inside. He never thought he'd get to see those eyes again.
She turned away from him, his stare becoming too intense. She brushed some hair behind one ear, letting the side closest to him fall into a curtain hiding her face. "No one but Kyoshi knows about this night being my human night."
"I know the feeling, I won't tell." He assured her, his posture finally relaxing now that she wasn't looking directly at him.
"I should get back," she made her way slowly back the way she'd come. As she got nearer to the edge, Inuyasha had a bad feeling so he followed her. Sure enough as soon as she reached the edge, her foot slipped and she began to fall.
He caught her before it was too late, she hung in midair for a few seconds, before she was pulled back onto the roof. He didn't quite calculate the unbalance as she landed on top of him. Before either of them quite realized what had happened, their lips were pressed together. Her eyes flew wide open and she pushed herself off too quickly and she fell again. This time he didn't catch her in time, there was a thud, followed by an, "owwww."
"You're more trouble than either Kikyo or Kagome," he muttered to himself as he jumped down next to her. "You ok klutz?" He snickered at her.
"Ugh, I'm fine," she grumbled sitting up. "Why does this keep happening around you?" She scowled at him, but was having a hard time not smiling.
"Because you can't help but fall for me," he smirked at her, her cheeks flushed slightly as she rolled her eyes.
"Help me through my window please," she crossed her arms. "And no peeking."
"Like I wanna look," his cheeks had a hint of pink as he boosted her through her window.
The next morning everyone gathered in the main room of the house, to get things ready so they could leave.
"So you're really not coming?" Kohaku asked as he packed the lunch Miroku had prepared for them.
"I had my eyes opened that I'm needed here," she swatted Miroku's hand away from her backside.
"Has anyone seen Kyoshi?" Kasumi yawned as she came into the room. She had tousled hair, and her clothes were slightly wrinkly. "Why is everyone in here?" The whole room sweat dropped.
"You're not ready yet?" Akane asked.
"Was I supposed to be?" Kasumi wondered stretching lightly.
"Wow," Shippo sighed.
"Um, Kasumi where are your regular clothes?" Sango asked, realizing that Kasumi was partially exposed. She unconsciously pinched Miroku's side.
Kasumi glanced down and blushed. "Oh right, I, um, didn't know where you put it to dry."
"Come with me, before mom kills dad," Akane dragged the female hanyou from the room.
Kasumi was very pink by the time they made it to the changing room. In the room sat Kyoshi. "I have some things for you." There was a sword with a golden hilt in a black sheath. Alongside it was an outfit.
"A new outfit!" Kasumi squealed. "Akane would you mind helping me?"
"Ok, please wait outside." Akane motioned the male cat outside.
The outfit turned out to be a black happi with pink cherry blossom and black arm warmers, made of some animal pelt, that connected on her middle fingers.
"Ooh, it's very nice," Kasumi stared into the looking glass. "Feels more geared toward combat." Kyoshi came back in.
"Please pick up the sword." It was a short sword. "Unsheath it."
As she drew it, both girls admired the ivory colored blade. It had a couple teal gems along the blade.
"It's beautiful," Kasumi re sheathed it. "Why do I need this?"
"With each new move you learn in the art of the black cat, it can drive you to the madness of your inner demon. This will help channel your power better. It is called Seishin."
There was a loud crash followed by cursing, it drew their attention so they hurried to see what was going on.
What Kasumi saw was very strange, Shippo, Kohaku and Miroku were holding Inuyasha back, while Sango had her blade held to the throat of a male wolf demon.
"What's going on?" Kasumi asked confused. "Who are you?"
"Ka-Kagome?" The wolf asked, his blue eyes wide. His face quickly formed into a scowl. "You said she was dead! What have you done to her!?"
"I haven't-"
"I'm not Kagome!" Kasumi yelled exasperated. She stomped her foot. "I am Kasumi, Ka-Su-Mi!"
"Tell this bastard to leave!" Inuyasha growled, he was straining against the three holding him back. "Better yet, let me finally end his feeble little life!"
"So Kagome really is gone?" The wolf asked, his arms fell limply to his side. Sango dropped her sword.
"Yes, but this is her reincarnation," Sango said softly, now that the wolf decided to calm down.
"I can't believe you let her die, mutt." He spat at Inuyasha.
"I didn't let her-it wasn't my fault-" Inuyasha stopped struggling, his head falling to the point his bangs hid his eyes. "If you think I would intentionally let the woman I loved die, then you should leave now, before I decide to rip your throat out."
Kasumi felt a slight ringing in her ears.
"I would have died a thousand deaths to keep her safe," the wolf said lowly. "But you didn't even die protecting her."
A dark aura surrounded Inuyasha, he threw the other three off him, drawing his sword. He raised it above his head.
"Kasumi-" she could barely hear anything over the ringing, but she looked at Sango. She couldn't hear what she was telling her, she read her lips.
"Inuyasha-" there was dead silence, he froze mid swing. He glanced back, she gave him a deadly look.
"W-Wait-!"
"Sit!"
Bang! Inuyasha face planted into the floor, the tension was released as the others broke out into relieved laughter.
"I can't believe that actually worked!" Sango said, she wiped some tears that came free.
Kasumi glanced around the room, for some reason the statement Inuyasha made had hit a spot in her heart. Without another word she flew out of the room.
AN: Well that happened, LOL! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter as much as the rest. Remember to leave a review, follow or favorite. And as always, I will see you, in the next chapter! Buh-Bye!