Hola, hello, hallo, hey, hi, etc. etc. Seems I'm back on the scene again. And I'm sorry for those of you that lost interest in my story and stopped reviewing! I really didn't mean to keep you waiting so long you lost hope. I feel saddened! I miss my traditional-original reviewers back from the good old days when I used to update like crazy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha & crew or "duck and run" by 3 doors down. I also don't claim Patrick and Kat from 10 Things I Hate About You.
Duck & Run
Night Terrors and Puzzles
In the dark of the night Kagome woke up to the fairly barren room in Inuyasha's house and confused it for her old house. After waking up from a terrible dream she couldn't breath, and felt as if his presence was within the room by her side and all she could do to keep pulling in short breaths was to claw at her throat. Suddenly the feeling of hands around her throat increased and she panicked.
Her eyes gazed around the room wildly, looking for the source of the choking hands but nobody was there. She was all alone and dying, there was nothing she could do. Her mind was circling around things to do until her body took control and thrashed against the unseen presence and she tore herself from the bed, practically crawling across the floor to get away.
For a moment the feeling disappeared and she scrambled to her feet, running into the hallway of the house and realizing it was Inuyasha's home, but something was deadly wrong about it... She looked around wildly and rushed first to Souta's room to find another boy his age hunched over him, an odd blade and chain held in his hand.
Her heart stopped momentarily and the world held on pause as she let out a blood crazed scream and the other boy turned to her and stared at her momentarily, and a woman walked into the room with blood red eyes and feathers. The boy resembled somebody she knew, a friend. He resembled Sango.
But suddenly both of them disappeared as if they had never been there to begin with and Souta was by her side, asking her what was wrong. Her hands reached out frantically and pulled him to her, smelling him and touching him to make sure he was really alive and well.
Moments later Inuyasha rushed into the room, his claws out and fangs bared. When he looked down to find Kagome panicking and Souta trying to comfort her he came forward as well and tried to calm her down, "What happened Kagome? Are you alright? Calm down…"
She thrashed rather violently to escape their holds and rushed out of the room, frantically looking for an open window, something that would prove that they had been there. The windows were slightly cracked, but no other sign had been left of the intruders. She slowly slid down to the ground, gazing around bleary eyed and confused, "But how…"
Her breath pulled in unsteadily and she stood up again, gazing out the window as if it would answer her questions. She finally turned her solemn midnight gaze upon them and said lamely, "It was a nightmare."
And with that all she did was turn and walk back towards her room to return to sleep, confused and dazed. She did not give them the satisfaction of any other response as she plopped herself down on her bed and squeezed her eyes shut in silent consideration. She knew what was going to happen, and unfortunately there would be nothing she could do about it. She would lose Souta somehow.
Inuyasha turned to the younger boy for an answer but all he did was shake his head in disbelief. A growl emitted from his throat as he gently picked the boy up and put him in his bed, tucking him in and saying gruffly, "Go back to bed, I'll look after her."
When Souta was in his bed Inuyasha stalked towards the window sill where she had been just moments before, gazing for the life out of it, as if there had been something terrible and fearsome out the window. Hatred and a violent rage had also settled into those midnight blue eyes that he knew so well, an emotion he had yet to see in that intensity. His eyes scoured the window sill and outside and noticed with confusion that the window was slightly cracked.
He didn't remember opening the window, nor did he remember it ever being able to open. Most of the windows on this floor of his house refused to budge whenever he'd attempted to open them to allow fresh air in. The next thing he happened to do was lean over and sniff at the window sill accusingly. Never before in his life had he actually used his senses as he'd been using them in the last few days.
He'd always been told that the demon strain was weakening, ever since the old times. His family had told him that demons in his time were basically demons by only their looks, and slightly better senses. Nothing special. But here he was, able to scent out enemies and evil and such, see opponents far away, and hear the sound of a grasshopper from at least a mile off.
No, his senses were uncannily at his disposal. Strength, speed, sight, smell, hearing, everything. And as his nose sniffed delicately at the window sill and the air around it he picked up the acrid smell of another demon. That and a human boy. He could smell the true power of the other demon and realized that the female demon was indeed like the old demons as he was.
How else would she have gotten in and out of his home so easily, so undetected? Except for Kagome. She'd known the demon was here and the boy as well and must have come into the room just in time to save her little brother. His growl was feral and low as he quickly closed the window and locked it tightly.
His bare feet padded quickly along the floor until he reached Kagome's room and spotted her lying on her bed with her eyes squeezed shut and her hands resting about her throat. He flicked the light on and stalked over to her, hauling her up to a sitting position as she whimpered, unexpectedly jerking away from him and opening her eyes up, a wild primal fear in them.
Her whole body shook as she curled in on herself, preparing for some beating but only realizing it was Inuyasha and she relaxed slightly. Her hands remained about her throat for a while and she steeled her jaw, "I'm not crazy."
"Of course you aren't." His callused hands slowly approached hers, as if he were trying to pet a wild horse. When his hands touched hers there was a sharp intake of breath from her and an electric jolt struck through them suddenly. Eyes flung wider as they looked at each other and Kagome's mouth softened. She could trust him, the deep and unsullied thought reached her mind and calmed her quailing heart. If anybody could be trusted, it was him.
He gently removed her hands from her throat and lowered them before he began to caress her throat where visible bruises were appearing, "I can't believe I didn't hear them. I should have been there for you."
That wasn't what her mind was focusing on. All she could get past herself was the feeling of his hands gently caressing the skin of her neck and how he was unbelievably gentle for such a harsh man. She shyly reached out her own hands and slowly drew her small hand over his throat, feeling him gulp slightly as it passed over his esophagus. The excitement trilled through both of their bodies as the thought of forbidden love rang through their heads.
However forbidden it might be, neither wished to stop and both wished to continue further. To taste the others lips seemed taboo to both of them, though. Slowly Inuyasha drew back his hands and cleared his throat, "I want Souta and you in my room tonight."
A disappointed look crossed her face as he withdrew his hands and she simply nodded, "I'll go get him." She stood up hurriedly and walked quickly to the door, pausing briefly to look over her shoulder at him. Then she continued down the hallway to retrieve her brother.
For a few moments Inuyasha just sat still and considered the look of her and the feel of her delicate skin. His skin rippled slightly as he shivered and smiled, standing up and going into his room to lock up every window so he'd be sure there was only one entrance for the intruders to return to.
When Kagome and Souta entered his room her perched himself on the headboard of his bed and said seriously, "You both sleep and I'll keep watch tonight."
Concern shone in her eyes as she tucked Souta into the bed, "But you need to sleep, too Inuyasha! Why don't we switch on and off throughout the night. I can handle it."
"Go to sleep Kagome. I don't need to sleep. Feh, stupid human wench." The words escaped his mouth as easily as if he'd been using them for ages. Never before had he looked down to humans. But things were changing for him, and quickly.
A glare shone through the dark at him from Kagome as she settled herself into his bed and soon fell asleep. The night seemed restless and he had the sudden urge to run and sleep in a tree. His golden eyes peered out the window in alertness as he stretched out himself and paced the room, looking every once in a while back at the sleeping girl in his bed.
He paced even faster as his attraction added fire to his restlessness. His legs burned and something within the pit of his stomach throbbed, painfully warm. He panted as he resumed stalking through the room, but felt the unease rise within him even further. Every time he'd look over to the girl his need seemed to increase and he of nothing to aid it.
Eventually he refused to gaze in her direction, positioning himself so he could keep his eyes on all entrances and exits for signs of interlopers. This is how he kept his watch until morning came around and they awoke, groggily and unaware of how he craved all night for her.
Something simply had to be done about it. Not only was the girl the only thing on his mind while he was with her, it was also while she was away from him. He'd never been afflicted with such a burning ache for a female.
He watched them eat before he cleared his throat to erase the thoughts from his mind and also so he could end the silence, "I think my half-brother is visiting today, unfortunately."
Her eyes sparked as she finished chewing a piece of egg, "OH! Really? I can't wait to meet him! When is he coming?"
"You CAN wait to meet him, he's an ass. And probably around lunch time." He glared out the window, already trying to play out the events that would obviously ensue as soon as Sesshomaru arrived. His brother would lecture him and probably belittle Kagome as well for her just being there.
"So I have a little time to clean the place up, then! Great. Alright, you two will have to help as well." She leapt up from her unfinished meal and started dealing out tasks to the two as she whistled. For once she felt like she belonged in a house enough to want to take care of it. Heck, maybe in the spring she'd even start growing a garden.
Inuyasha settled in to his chores grudgingly since he had gotten stuck with the grunt work of the house. Lifting and moving things of course, but occasionally he'd look over his shoulder to see Kagome scrubbing madly away at some spot on the floor, her bangs falling into her eyes occasionally only to be batted away, and felt like he could go on.
Around eleven they all finished cleaning up the house, and he had to admit that he'd never seen it look so clean and put together. Admittedly, the house he'd lived in for years was slowly becoming a home under her knowing hands. They showered and were sitting around the table talking when he heard the front door open and smelt his brother enter.
The sudden realization that he could SMELL his brother's individual scent from such a distance made him grin in pride. At last, he had one up on his brother, something that HE could lecture his brother on. For some reason though, he didn't want to anymore especially with Kagome around. With her around, he had no reason to try and prove himself.
He simply sat there and waited for Sesshomaru to enter the kitchen while Kagome stood up and went to the door to greet them. He heard her exclaim merrily and cringed, praying that Sesshomaru wasn't going to say something to upset her.
Kagome had gotten up from her chair to greet Inuyasha's brother since he didn't seem to want to and when she met him in the hallway she smiled brightly as him and extended her hand, "Hello! You must be Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's brother. I'm Kagome Higurashi, Inuyasha's friend."
His cold golden gaze looked down on her and she gaze in amazement at his hair. The locks of hair flowed down his back, longer and more white than silver. Even if Inuyasha's hair was more silver, she could easily find the family resemblance between the two gorgeous-men. Two creatures of this beauty only could come from one package.
After a moment of waiting for him to respond a girl pushed her wait out in front of him, griping. She stopped in front of Kagome and smiled broadly as she nearly bellowed, "HI THERE! I'm Rin, Mr. Sesshomaru's assistant!"
Kagome immediately smiled back at the girl, who looked to be around nine years old and then said kindly, "Really? He's a very lucky man then, because you're pretty enough to blind the moon. I tell you what, why don't you come into the kitchen with me and I'll fix you a snack and get you something to drink." She looked then to his brother and instantly became more formal, changing herself so she wouldn't offend him further, "Would you like a drink or something to eat?"
He slowly regarded the girl, surprised at her quick change in character and then gave a slight nod, "It would be greatly appreciated. A glass of water for myself, and something non-caffeinated for my assistant here. I'll warrant that my half-brother has not seen feet to greet me."
Midnight blue eyes wrinkled in momentary dismay before she answered, "He was busy cleaning up the kitchen from our snack. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you both." Whatever problems the two siblings had with one another, she'd attempt to mend for the sake of their family.
Inuyasha was surprised to watch Sesshomaru walking in calmly behind Kagome who was holding the hand of his brother's "assistant". His half brother looked completely calm and collected as always, but he couldn't catch a hint of irritation coming from him, which was surprising after he'd encountered Kagome.
She was fixing drinks and some food for him while his half brother sat himself down beside Inuyasha and Rin bounced around Kagome. For a few minutes absolute silence hung about the room like a bad humor before his half-brother broke it, "So, Inuyasha. I see you have yourself a regular house-mate. I suppose it's good to see you finally interacting with the opposite sex again and having a relationship."
The neutral words caused Inuyasha to gaze critically at his brother, for he was unused to any words other than criticizing ones coming from that stern mouth. Shifiting nervously in his chair he replied, "Kagome and her little brother have decided to live with me here since they lost their family. And I've interacted with the "opposite sex" since her, but just not in relationships. What is it to you?"
"No need to be defensive. For once, I've come to have a decent conversation with you, and a decent conversation I will get. Tell me, have you noticed anything unusual in your recent life? Any strange dreams?" For a moment he was going to leave those questions at that before he quickly added, "And do not try to lie to me brother. This is of the utmost importance."
Inuyasha glared at the floor as he growled out, "I suppose you could say I have."
Kagome gazed towards the two brothers and realized their conversation. She leaned down by Rin and smiled kindly at her, "Do you want to go meet my little brother and play video games with him? I'm sure he'd love to meet you."
A quick nod from her and Kagome ushered her into the room with Souta and then quickly returned to the kitchen and sat herself on the counter top, angled towards them so she could be involved with the conversation. Sesshomaru didn't look all too happy as he looked at her and said, "I've seen your woman in my dreams as well, along with her. Others have been there as well, and fights have been present. It seems that we have a shared enemy that neither of us knew of, one that originates from this "life" or whatever it is that we view in our dreams. I know exactly who it is, too. If you would like to know."
Kagome knew that Inuyasha was going to be too pig-headed to acquiesce that he wished to know so she spoke up, "I certainly would like to know. And any other details would be helpful as well, since I've had the dreams as well."
A nod from him showed that he agreed to give her the information as he sipped his water reflectively, "I fear that it is your current rival, Naraku." His cold eyes did not miss the look of pure fear in the girl's eyes as she gripped the corners of the counter that she sat on and took in a shaking breath.
She collected herself and furrowed her delicate eyebrows together before replying, "It would make sense, though. They're all fitting in, the puzzle pieces. If only I knew our complete roles, then we wouldn't have to worry about the consequences."
"Consequences?" Sesshomaru looked coolly at the girl, as if he didn't particularly care about the question he had just asked. But beneath it all his brain was working like clock work, attempting to straighten it all out and find out, indeed, all of their true places in the strange world that was beginning to conjure itself inside their heads.
Her head bobbed as she began to speak, "We talked with an old woman about it, who just happens to be the old wise priestess in the time from our dreams. She told us about how I needed to solve the puzzle of all our places in the time to be able to keep more pain and loss from coming to me. It seems every moment I waste not knowing what it is, the more loved ones I lose in my life."
"Must mean you're a pivotal piece to this curse. Our discovery depends on you, a mere human." He shifted and considered her coldly, "We're trapped in this disgusting universe until you figure it out."
Inuyasha butted in and growled angrily, "Don't talk to her like that. And do you have any idea how much she has lost in order to figure this out? Don't even question her ability, Sesshomaru. For I doubt you could do it any better, or at all."
For once her response was just a cool and collected as he as she countered, "Must feel awfully horrible to be stuck in a position where you're dependant on a 'mere human'. I apologize for having to put you in this uncomfortable position, your 'greatness'."
With that she stood up and stretched before idly waiting for him to answer. A slow anger boiled silently beneath his cool exterior, "You were a mere priestess in my dreams, a fairly poor one at that. All clumsy shots with your bow, always relying on my brother here to save your skin. My brother was a cheating half-demon, always going back to his dead woman, an even more powerful priestess than you called Kikyo. And if I am correct, you were just a reincarnation of that woman."
A frown flew across her face as she slowly sat back down on the counter. But after a few moments little feet pattered into the room and Rin looked from her lord to Kagome and spoke up, "But… Mr. Sesshomaru! In my dreams I remember her as a very strong priestess just learning her powers. And that Miss Kikyo only tried to drag Mr. Inuyasha to hell with her."
Kagome rested her head on her lap and tried to imagine herself as some sort of priestess, one who didn't have control over her powers yet. Her mind worked furiously as she tried to further solve the puzzle of her past before she suddenly caught her breath and felt faint. She gripped the edges of the counter, but to no avail and only fell off. Her body didn't even have time to anticipate the fall, for her mind was locked in more memories as she fell.
She watched herself arguing with Inuyasha in his feudal era clothes, both of them yelling at the top of their lunges as she ran towards what looked to be a well in the ground. She yelled 'sit' rather loudly before stomping towards the well, jumping up on the lip and then leaping down into its depths.
Moments later she watched herself emerge from the well, but in a different era. Her face was filled with fury as she stormed her way into her house and up into her room, slamming the door and ignoring her mother's quarries.
And before she knew it she came back around again and was looking into Inuyasha's face, suddenly with a rush of anger at him for no reason. She shoved him away and was about to voice the 's' command when she realized what just happened. Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes flickered to and fro furiously as more and more pieces continuously settled in.
"What Kagome? What is it? What did you learn this time?" Inuyasha grabbed her shoulders and gently shook the girl, only to watch her bite her lip harder in concentration. His brother was kneeling behind him with a cold glass of water which they'd used to bring her back around. They both waited a while for her to register the questions that had been asked.
"Inuyasha… I think I know what's happening. We're in MY time, yes, but in the WRONG place. Right now we're in America, when we're meant to be in some other country, I think Japan…" Her eyes were wide with recognition and worry.
Tada. Done! Until next time!
10 reviews?
TopazChick08- Thank you very much and sorry for the wait!
Kagome.Is.Better: I liked Darker Melody, good job! And also, question, if Jake isn't your boyfriend then umm… why is he the one that's by your side all the time and making sure you're ok and stuff? Seems like he's more of a boyfriend than the other guy.
SSJ04 Mewtwo: CLOSE! Very close. But I will reveal the rest later…
NasakeSuneku: Thank you!
Female Dog Deamon: I'd have to agree with you on the dog ears. OH yah, and I DID notice the whole 'pick souta up from souta's' think… WOOPS! Lol, I MEANT to say 'from Shippo's'… I may fix it later.
Jaguire demoness: Yup, I got the general outlay of your review! And thank you! I'm glad you had the patience to catch up with my story!
Whitetiger-isabella: Sorry it took so long for me to update! I'm glad you like my story!
Dark-Lady-Shippo: Thank you! And sorry for the wait!
Inuyasha-Lover513: It's fine and sorry for the wait!
Lillith the Masochist: Thank you and sorry for the wait! Also, may I ask where you got the idea for your name "lillith the masochist"?
To this world I'm unimportant Just because I have nothing to give. So you call this your free country, Tell me why it cost so much to live, Tell me why. This world can turn me down But I won't turn away, oh no I won't turn around. All my work and endless measures. Never seem to get me very far, Walk a mile just to move an inch Now even though I'm trying so damn hard I'm trying so hard. This world can turn me down but I Won't turn away, And I won't duck and run, cause I'm not built that way. When everything is gone there is Nothing there to fear. This world cannot bring me down, No cause I'm already here, oh no! I am already here, Down on my knees, I am already here, on no, I am Already here. I must have told you a thousand times, I am not running away. I won't duck and run I won't duck and run I won't duck and run No pass away. This world can turn me down but I Won't turn away And I won't duck and run, cause I'm not built that way. When everything is gone There is nothing there to fear. This world cannot bring me down No cause I'm already here. This world can turn me down. But I won't turn away, And I won't duck away Cause I'm not built that way. When everything is gone there Is nothing there to fear. This world cannot bring me down, No cause I'm already here.