Hello Everyone and Anybody reading FEUDAL ERA!
I want to thank all of you reading and reviewing my fanfic. I hope that you can continue to enjoy the story.
Disclaimer: I may wish I owned this, but alas I do not. *Dramatic sigh*
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Chapter 2: A Fated Game
Inuyasha huffed as he walked down one of the main streets in town. He was in full brooding mode, his clawed hands stuffed in his jean pockets, sneakers taking slow measured steps, black baseball cap pulled down enough to shield his glaring eyes from passer-bys.
Today sucked.
Plain and simple.
And it would suck even more so that night; the night he became a weak human.
Inuyasha knew he should head home soon, but he didn't really want to go back yet. He didn't want to talk to his father. He didn't want to hear anything more about stupid Tokyo.
Why couldn't he just stay here?
'It doesn't matter what dad says, I ain't going to live with some wrinkled, bossy bitch' he thought firmly. His steps becoming confident as he made his decision. He was an adult and his father couldn't force him to do anything!
*DumDum DumDum*
Inuyasha looked up from the concrete of the sidewalk, as his ears perked up at the foreign sound, even when under his hat. He listened closely, trying to define where the noise was coming from.
*DumDum DumDum*
Before he knew it, Inuyasha followed the sound all the way down the street to a small and dark alleyway. Sneakers squeaked on the damp stone of the ground.
*DumDum DumDum*
'Sounds like... drums?' he pondered aloud. He stopped walking when he came in front of a tiny shop that looked very much run down. If it were not for the flickering lights hanging in the grime encrusted windows, the half demon would have thought the place deserted.
There was a sign seen anywhere on the building and Inuyasha's interest increased. Raising a hand to knock, Inuyasha was creeped out when the door slowly creaked open.
"Hello?" he called in, carefully taking a step inside.
No one answered.
'Creepy'
The place looked like one of those antique stores, little old ladies liked to go to. The shelves were layered with various objects of unknown use, some more ancient looking than others.
Books ranging from tattered to freshly bound filled a whole section at the back, behind a round clothed table and two wooden chairs.
"Must be one of those kooky people places" he scoffed. He was just about to leave when he heard another beat of drums.
*DumDum DumDum*
The tempo became louder and faster as Inuyasha scanned the room, removing his cap, he continued to try and locate the source of the sound. White dog ears trained on a pile of flat wooden boxes. Curiously, Inuyasha put a hand on one of the boxes, which silenced the strange drumming.
Facial features scrunching up in confession, Inuyasha gently picked up the item to examine it. Etched on the dark wood were words that he couldn't make out. He decided to disregard them since it wasn't something he was thinking to buy.
Someone who was really into that mystical stuff must have carved them to attract attention to his product. The box rattled when he shook it lightly indicating that there were small objects inside.
"What is this? A board game?"
"Yes and no" replied an older female voice.
Startled Inuyasha almost dropped the box, but thanks to his amazing reflexes he caught before it could hit the floor.
A short old woman dressed in robes of red and white stood next to Inuyasha, staring amusingly up at the youth with one brown eye, her other covered by an eye patch.
"Sorry" he apologized though he wasn't sure why he did so, "I was just looking"
The wrinkles on the woman's face deepened when she smiled and easily said, "What can I do for ye today, young man? What is it ye are searching for?"
"Nothing. Just looking"
"Everyone has something they're looking for, whether they know it or not. The purpose of my shop is to assist people in their search"
"Keh, every store has that purpose. That's how they make money" Inuyasha snorted, still holding onto the strange box.
"Yes and no" shrugged the shop keeper, "Come, let me read your palm young one. No charge"
Without waiting for an answer, she shuffled stiffly to the round table. Deciding to humor her and her free offer, Inuyasha put the box back and sat in the chair opposite hers.
"I am Lady Keade, just so ye know, and I am well trained in the ways of fortune telling so ye would do well to listen" she began, alighting a few more candles so that she could see better.
Inuyasha discreetly rolled his eyes.
Settling down in the chair, Keade reached out for Inuyasha's hand and exposed the palm to the light. Stumpy, but strong fingers traced the lines indented in the skin, pausing in their trail every so often as a single brown eye furrowed in understanding.
"This is interesting and very peculiar. It seems as if the Fates have a very special plan for you" she said with a small amount of awe.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Ye will go on a journey to a far off place. It will be filled with many trails and obstacles that will shape ye into the man ye will need to be when you return" stated Kaede, moving slowly and stiffly room her cushioned chair.
'The University in Tokyo. Keh. Kinda wished I came here earlier' Inuyasha mentally snorted.
"I know that ye did not come into my shop because ye were an interested passerby. Ye were brought here by a force that ye could not comprehend. Take this with ye when ye leave. No charge" a smile was once again apparent on her ancient face as she handed over the same box that Inuyasha had been looking at previously.
"Why are you just giving it to me? Do I have to return it or something cause I'm not so good with remembering stuff like that" the half demon protested. Honestly he was just looking, he didn't want to buy anything.
"It is yers until ye return it to me or finish with the contents of the box. All I have to say to ye is good luck, child. Oh and the sun is setting, ye better get home quickly"
It seemed like one moment she was there and the next she vanished. However, that thought was shaken off when Inuyasha heard shuffling feet walking behind a closed door. Noticing how dark it was getting outside, Inuyasha stood and started heading for the shop entrance.
*DumDum* came a single beat.
Glancing back, Inuyasha eyed the wooden container on the table. Kaede did say it was free.
"Ah, what the hell"
The sun was nearly set as Inuyasha exited the dim shop, a box tucked under his arm as he made his way back home.
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Izyoai giggled as she watched Inutashio struggle to adjust his tie. Despite all his years of somewhat formal wear at the university, ties had always been his downfall. Taking pity on him as she usually did before he went to work, she gently slapped his hands away and expertly knotted it to fit properly.
"It's good to know that you don't need a university degree to a good wife" Izyoai smiled, smoothing out her husband's collared shirt. It was a light hearted joke between the couple that had once been a petty argument between them when they first started dating.
Inutashio smiled down upon his caring wife, thanking whatever gods were listening for the woman who had married him. Without her, he wasn't even sure if he could leave the house without forgiving fifty different things.
"I'm so happy for Sesshomaru and Kagura. Tonight is going to be wonderful" she continued, turning back to the mirror to finish putting up her hair.
"Where did they say we were going?" Inutashio inquired, putting on his black jacket.
"To that new sushi buffet place they just opened in town. Sesshomaru made reservations for seven forty-five, so we need to be there for at least seven thirty" she replied.
"Hmmmm, we'll need to stop by a bank before we go" the full dog demon mentioned almost off-handly.
"Then we should leave now, just in case it's busy. Can you go start the car, dear?"
As Inutashio walked down the stairs, his dress shoes clicking with every step, the front door swung open. His son, Inuyasha, stepped inside closing the door cautiously behind him. Upon seeing Inutashio, Inuyasha became stiff, his face serious and unreadable. Inutashio's expression was very much the same.
"I see you decided to come home-"
"Keh, I live here don't I? At least til I graduate" interrupted Inuyasha angrily.
"Ah, there are Inuyasha. Welcome back honey. Your father and I are going now, are you sure you don't want to come? You can wear your hat to hide your hair when it changes" Izyoai suggested as she descended down the steps.
"No. I only have so much time before I'm forced to leave"
"Stop acting like a spoiled pup! We are sending you to Tokyo for a good reason! Start acting like an adult and we won't have to force you to do anything!" Inutashio roared, snapping at his son's tone of voice.
"Some parent you are! What? Life to difficult for the full demon Inutashio Takahashi with a half breed son?" exploded Inuyasha, shoving past his stunned father to go upstairs, stomping almost childishly on the steps.
Izyoai bit her lip and wanted to comfort her upset husband, but she could tell that now was not the time. Inutashio needed to process his son's anger and he would welcome that distraction in that moment.
"Let's go Izyoai. We don't want to keep Sesshomaru and his wife waiting"
Izyoai watched Inutashio as she grabbed her light cream colored coat to put it on. Inutashio was the first in the car, closely followed by Izyoai on the passenger side. However, just as they were about to back out, a blue car pulled into the driveway beside the Takahashi's vehicle.
Kagome rolled down her window and smiled happily at the parents of her best friend. Izyoai returned the gesture with equal radiance and greeted the younger woman.
"Hello, Kagome. Coming over to see Inuyasha?"
"If that's alright. I know how much it bothers him not to go out on these nights so we rented a movie to watch" Kagome said.
"You're always welcome here sweetheart, but whose we? Is Miroku with you?"
Miroku bend down and waved at Mrs. Takahashi, from beside Kagome.
"Hey Missus T. Got a hot date with Prof T?" Miroku chuckled.
Izyoai looked over and shook her head, "No Sesshomaru and Kagura invited us out to celebrate Kagura's pregnancy"
"Oh my goodness! That's wonderful! Please tell them congrats for us!" Kagome squealed making Izyoai laugh and even putting a smile on Inutashio's face.
"We will. See you when we get back. Just remember that it's a school night, so nothing too wild" Izyoai chuckled as the car continued to pull away.
"Okay goodbye you guys"
Putting the car into park and turning the engine off. The two teenagers grabbed their stuff that consisted of junk food, root beer and the blockbuster video they rented to bring to the house. They dumped their heavy load on the island counter in the kitchen and began to sort through it.
"I'll go get Inuyasha while you put in the movie" Kagome offered, handing the case to Miroku, who took it into the living room.
Walking upstairs, Kagome stopped in front of what was Inuyasha's room and trapped her knuckles on the door.
"Inuyasha? It's Kagome. Miroku and I come bearing many sugary and salty gifts for movie night" Kagome waited for an answer and she grew a little nervous when there was no sound. Opening the down timidly, Kagome turned on the light to look around.
No one was in the room.
'Must be in the bathroom' she concluded and as if to prove her right, the toilet down the hall flushed.
*DumDum*
Caught off guard Kagome nearly jumped a foot in the air. Whirling around to see where it had come from her brown eyes fell on a bar thrown onto the messy bed. It looked so out of place that Kagome's curiosity rose like a wave. Delicately she picked up the odd object to inspect it.
It looked like the kind of thing that would belong in her grandfather's storage room. Grandpa Higurashi owned the family shrine and was crazy for anything mystical or religious.
"You're not going to make my bed are you?"
Kagome turned to give Inuyasha a glare that was more playful than anything. She tossed the box to him none to gently.
"I would be too scared of finding some creatures of unknown origins... or fleas" she teased, Inuyasha's scowl looked more like a pout, as his now violet eyes looked away.
"I don't have fleas" he argued.
Kagome smiled safety as she studied her friend. No matter how many times she had seen Inuyasha change from a half demon to a full human, she could never completely get over it. Gone were his cute dog ears and white hair, fangs and claws to be replaced with black hair and normal human features.
'I wonder. If he could be full human for a short time, could he be full demon too?' she pondered at the back of her mind.
"Movie's starting! Hurry up!" Miroku called from the living room.
"Come on Inuyasha" urged Kagome, instinctively grabbing his hand as she walked, to hurry him along. Inuyasha curled his fingers around hers and followed without much insistence.
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Kagome grimaced at the disgusting antics of her two friends. Currently Miroku and Inuyasha were engaged in a burping contest.
"Bet you five bucks you can't get louder than that, Houshi" challenged Inuyasha, eyes glinting.
"You're on Takahashi!" answered the eager teenager as he popped open another can of root beer.
"How about no" Kagome interjected, wanting to put an end to this madness.
Both males turned to her, eyebrows raised expectantly.
"Why don't we do something else?" she continued.
"Like what?"
*DumDum DumDum*
Three sets of eyes peered up at the ceiling.
"What was that?" Miroku inquired, appearing a little freaked out.
"I heard that a while ago in Inuyasha's room"
The weirded out expression on Miroku's face twisted into a sly one.
"What were you two doin-"
"It came from this box an old hag gave me" Inuyasha said, cutting off his friend, "I'll get it"
When Inuyasha returned with the strange box, Miroku took it from him to check it out.
"What's inside?" wondered Kagome.
"Don't know"
Miroku's nimble fingers found a tiny catch on the side of the box and popped it open, a loosely rolled up paper fell out onto the carpet. Kagome reached down and picked up the paper, eyeing some of the other things in the box. There were a few small statues. The first one that caught her eye was a figurine of a remarkably detailed bow attached to a quiver of minuscule arrows, mounted upright on a block.
"Looks like an old fashioned board game. Hey, the playing board is a folded map" observed Miroku, pulling the stuff out of the container and setting them on the coffee table, "Some more playing pieces, dice and some...sorta...pink ball"
"Then this must be the instructions" Kagome nodded, putting down the figurine to read the paper. Thankfully the writing was in understandable Japanese.
"Welcome to the Feudal Era, a game where the experiences of the warring states are brought to the present. The objective of the game is to progress through the land of Japan and reach the Bone Eaters Well and call out the name of the game. However, there many obstacles along the path to the well, seeing as how you have the sacred jewel. Many powerful forces wish to attain it at any cost, but the shikon no Tama must not fall into their hands. Keep the jewel safe and take care on your quest" the young woman read.
"Sounds pretty cool, alright, I'll play" said Miroku, laying out the board and selecting a wooden staff as his piece, "You two playing?"
"Sure, I'm usually good at board games" agreed Kagome without much encouragement.
"Keh, yeah, whatever" gruffed Inuyasha, grabbing a piece without looking to put on the spot marked 'start'. Now three pieces were selected; the staff, the bow and a fanged shaped sword.
Kagome carefully read over the rules, while Miroku juggled the dice, waiting to begin.
"Ok, so we roll the dice and after we move, we'll get either a reward an obstacle or a punishment, which will appear in that pink ball. I think we should roll to see who goes first' she instructed.
"Highest number wins" declared Miroku as he threw both dice, landing a two and three.
"Nice one, Miroku" smirked Inuyasha. Kagome gave Miroku a consoling looked and reached out to pick up the discarded dice, but stopped.
The carved staff slid effortlessly five spaces without anyone touching it. No one moved.
"Must be some demonic energy that powers the board" Miroku said, trying to catch a possible answer from thin air.
"No one uses demonic energy for anything anymore, Houshi, not when we have electricity" Inuyasha pointed out.
"But this is an old game, so maybe he's right Inuyasha. Look Miroku, the 'Shikon Jewel" is glowing. What's it say?"
Miroku picked up the jewel and could see wards from inside, yep definitely demonic energy. The script glowed and became very clear.
"Ominous clouds hang over you and yet you will not know. Memories of this day will be lost when the moon reaches its peak until your next turn" recited the eighteen year old, eyebrows furrowed. "Ok so... what do I do?"
"Nothing, just wait till you go next" shrugged Kagome picking up the dice.
A six and a one.
Kagome's piece slid to the appointed place, while Miroku handed the 'jewel' over. The orb was smooth and seemed to glow with its own warmth. Brown eyes gazed patiently into its foggy depths.
"Young maidens should never travel alone. A demon, laying in wait for a meal will attack, but luckily it is only a minor predator who has it's sight on you"
"That's not stalkerish at all" put in Inuyasha.
Unexpectantly he heard a movement in the direction of the kitchen, "Did you hear that?"
"Nice try Inuyasha, but you are not going to scare me," chided Kagome and nudged him, "Your turn"
*Ring...Ring...*
Kagome yelped at the loud ringing of the phone, clutching Inuyasha's white T-shirt tightly.
"What's that about not being scared Kagome?" sniggered Miroku, greatly amused. Inuyasha shot a look from Kagome to Miroku, trying to silence him before he said something to embarrass Kagome.
"Hey, this is the Takahashi house" he greeted with a grunt, "Yeah, he's here Mrs. Houshi. Wanna talk to him? Oh ok. Yeah, I'll tell him. Yep, goodbye" Hanging up the cordless phone, Inuyasha addressed his male friend.
"Your mom wants you to go pick up your dad at the bar"
Miroku sighed, he hated going to the sleazy bar in town, not only were the waitress old and wrinkly, but he hated the fool his father became around the lazy, beer marinated men, who were sometimes too drunk to tell the genders of younger people.
"Can I borrow your car, Kagome?" he asked having tagged along with Kagome when coming here.
"Sure, but I would need a ride home after. I'll go with you and drop you guys off at your house"
"No, I'll go, get my dad and come back to get you. It's a free beer right and not a good thing for young girls to go in" Miroku declined, not wanting his best female friend to be subjected to the drunken old men.
"Ok here you go, just be careful with my baby" warned the raven-haired woman handing over her keys.
"Thanks. See you Inuyasha"
"Bye, Perv. Don't crash or nothing" waved off the half-demon-made-human.
"We could probably continue playing till he comes back" Kagome said after a moment of quiet.
"How long have we been friends, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked randomly. Surprised, Kagome took a second to think about it.
"Since the second grade when you stood up against Mayu when she was picking on me. Why do you ask?"
"Keh, just curious" he humphed, looking away, "I was just wondering if we could always be friends is all"
'Though I want to be something more with you, Kagome' he added mentally. As a way to avoid her penetrating gaze, he tossed the dice and watched as the piece moved to the fourth space from the start.
Kagome, sensing Inuyasha's unease, rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She knew of his insecurities, after all, she and Miroku were his only friends and she wanted to ease his fear of being left behind.
She had always cared for him and she even harbored a small crush on him, but seeing as how she was dating Koga she would never tell anyone. Besides she was scared of losing him as a friend if he knew and didn't return her feelings. Ah, the joy of teen drama.
"I will always be there for you just like how you've always been there for me. I'm not going anywhere" she assured him, sitting up to give him a heartwarming smile. A bright blush sprinkled the bridge of his nose, forcing him to find something to distract him from that beautiful and consuming smile. Snatching up the pink ball, Inuyasha read out loud.
"You are clearly not ready for this quest. Some extensive training is greatly needed. When the number three or six appear you may return to the present"
"I think this game is like that Dungeons and Dragons for little kids. There doesn't seem to be alot to it" Kagome said disappointingly.
"Yeah, I'm done with this" Inuyasha agreed.
Wind suddenly blew open the windows forcefully and flew around the room, stirring up everything that was not weighted. Kagome held onto Inuyahsa as the unnatural storm sweeped harshly against her, whipping her hair around.
She hated storms and this was like a hurricane!
"Oh my gods, Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, fear overcoming her lovely face, "What's happening!"
"Kagome!" was all Inuyasha shouted back, trying in vain to hold on to her. Kagome tried to get a grip on his arms, but couldn't.
Squinting her eyes, she saw something that made her heart stop and her lungs seize.
Inuyasha's arms were transparent!
Pushing Kagome away, he held up his hands screaming along with the petified woman as they looked like they were being sucked away.
Within seconds he was gone and the wind died as quickly as it had risen.
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Kagome curled up shaking horribly and clutching her hands of her ears, tears cascading down her cheeks. Evidently calming down she slowly opened her eyes to an undisturbed living room. With hesitation she sat up and glanced around the room.
'A dream?' was her immediate thought. She jumped off the couch when something knocked over the kitchen.
"In-Inu-Inuyasha?" she called out shakily.
Another crash.
"Hello?"
Kagome did the smart thing and stayed where she was. Entering a dark room was a bad idea, especially when it was making that much noise.
Staring at the open kitchen door, she waited breathlessly.
From the darkness emerged a giant reptilian bird that walked on razor taloned feet, beady black eyes trained on her. Kagome had never seen a demon so animalistic and the feeling she felt in his presence was dark, primal and hungry.
"Mmmmmmeeeeeeaaaaattttt" it rasped.
After hearing that one word, Kagome did the only thing she could do.
She ran.
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