Deceitful Time
Chapter Fifteen: Divulge
"Mushon Spring Inn," Kagome mused as they lingered in front of a secluded, ancient looking traditional building. "This seems inappropriate, Shiro."
"It is very," he sighed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder to pull her closer, "I really shouldn't have brought you here but…"
"Wait, what's that mean?" She jeered as she elbowed him in the gut but he wouldn't let her wiggle her way out of his grip. It was New Years day and she had finally agreed to that date that would supposedly make everything alright. She was under the impression they were going to go to temple for the day so she wore a peach colored cotton yukata with an elaborate series of deep pink colored flowers and green leaves with her hair pinned up with beaded pendants.
He just took another breath; never did his auburn-amber gaze leave the inn before them, "Kagome…"
"What's going on," she pestered on while she kept trying to get away, "Shiro!"
"Look, I'm bringing you to a de," he pressed his lip before finally bothering to look over to her, "this is going to sound crazy to you."
"I go back and forth between time periods, what could you possibly say that would shock me?"
That was a valid point but he still bit his bottom lip some before finally managing to work his vocal cords again, "every year each country holds a conference where all the demons—well, a great majority—that are left attend. You aren't really supposed to bring a human but… It would probably be a very bad idea if I left you unattended for a day."
"Wait, I'm going to that thing with you?" The only human in an inn full of demons? Why did that not sound like fun to her? "What happens at these things? Why can't you just leave me be for a day?"
"Questions, questions, questions," he grunted, "remember that whole Ohachi's list nonsense? If you come with me today there is a…" he paused to debate to himself for a while, "maybe a third of a chance we'll be able to sort this whole matter out."
"I still don't get what that's all about," she murmured with a pout but she did give up on trying to get his arm away from her, instead she leaned into his embrace. "What'll happen today?"
"It'll boring as hell but just stay near me and everything will be fine," he assured before taking his first step towards the inn, "don't worry you won't be the only human… there will be maybe two or three others."
"How many demons?" She pondered but as soon as they got to the door it hit her, as if they transcended through a barrier that blocked the auras. She almost fell to the ground from the intense amount of demons, "what? A hundred?"
"About that much," he muttered before opening the door for her. There was only one person in the lobby hidden behind the desk. An old hunched man with thick glasses who Shiro went to right away, "hi, I'm Inuyasha checking in for the summit."
"And that?" the man grumbled as he nodded towards Kagome.
"She's with me," he stated firmly.
The man grumbled something along the lines of 'if it was anyone else his pet wouldn't be allowed' as he went to get the key and hand it to him. "Third floor."
"Thank you," he mumbled back before taking one of Kagome's hands and leading her to the stairs.
"Oh my," she gasped while they entered what appeared to be his room. It was a traditional room yet… splendid, there was a perfect view of the forest behind the Inn and even of the steaming hot spring. The futon was spacious, the table was large, and the décor was epic. "Wow… wait, are we staying here for a night?"
"I am, I don't know about you," he retorted after he finished checking about the room for something, "so… I suppose we have to go downstairs now."
"I'm still confused at what we are doing here," she complained.
"It'll be boring; you could say that the demon way has become something close to a democracy." He began to explain as they went back down the stairs, "we've split up every country into districts and each district has a… mayor, so to say, to watch over it. Each country has a primary… ruler, I suppose. Each of these things expire at different times, this year the bid for ruling Japan and half of its districts are up so there'll just be a few people giving stupid speeches saying why they should have which post. It's nothing to worry about; it just keeps everything in order for us."
"Oh," now, really, that was odd to her. Demons voting? Weren't they supposed to be creatures of chaos? "Have you ever had one of these posts?"
"Uh, yes, one," he confessed meekly before they went into the theater sized room that was only half full. "Let's sit in the back," he nodded for her to take the final row but only allowed her to go five seats in.
"What post?" she had to admit, she was a bit excited to see this even if it was supposed to be boring. After all, how many could say they have seen demons voting on something?
"Ruler of Japan," he muttered so low that she didn't catch it the first time so he said it only slightly louder. Right away, like he thought, her eyes widened and she gawked at him, "look, I was bored, it seemed like a good idea at the time but it's only gotten boring, too."
"Wait," she gawked, "you have that post now?"
He just shrugged lightly.
"Shouldn't you be a bigger part of this ceremony, then?"
"No, there's this council of demons that really deal with all of this stuff for us. They are like… the UN for us, three go to each of the conference worldwide today to monitor it. That way whoever the current ruler is doesn't make things bias and whatnot."
"Wow, I'm impressed," she awed while she tapped his shoulder lightly, "that's really grand Shi—"
"You must call me Inuyasha today, that's how everyone knows me," he stated sternly with a firm glance to her, "please, Kagome."
Call him… Inuyasha… all day? She bit her bottom lip but nodded nevertheless, "at least I don't feel over dressed anymore." Plenty of other people wore fine traditional outfits, some silk kimonos, others flawless kariginus, and others in western styled clothes. Really, if anything, she felt under dressed all of a sudden. Expect for Shi—Inuyasha, she shook her head lightly. He wore a fine pair of jeans, a blue suit jacket and a brown graphic-T below it. It was rather dashing on him.
"I was pretty happy when I saw you dressed up like that," he grinned while his auburn almost amber wondered about her yukata.
"Is that a perverse comment?" She inquired with narrowed eyes, "because—"
"No," he assured, "you look beautiful today, I'm proud to have you by my side."
Her cheeks reddened at that so much that she turned away from him, pretending to just examine the elaborate design of the theater. She had to inquire, though, "even though I'm a human?"
"Even though," he whispered back before leaning his head against her shoulder, "wake me if anyone bothers you."
"Hey," she whispered—since he was—with a small jiggle of her shoulder, "is this what Kouga's son was talking about? Takeo? That whole competition thing, does it have to do with this?"
"Yeah," he nodded as he folded his arms and closed his eyes, "he wants to have my post and I've beaten him for the past hundred and fifty—"
"Oh my lord, you've had that position for that long?"
"I've been very bored, it's not that daunting a deed as it seems. There aren't more than a hundred to a hundred and twenty demons in Japan at all time. It's really a breeze; I bestow most of my work off to the mayors of districts. It's pretty easy."
"Lazy bum," she jabbed.
"Lazy, tired, bum," he yawned, "like I said, wake me if someone bothers you, otherwise leave me be."
"Is it really OK for the ruler of Japan to sleep during this?" she mocked.
"I'm giving up the post so it doesn't matter. If it wasn't for this whole Ohachi's list thing I wouldn't even bother with being here."
"Will you tell me what that means?"
"Will you let me sleep?" He bickered back.
"Hey, look it's Akiko!" Kagome nudged his head but didn't get him to open his eyes, "is that why she's returned to Japan?"
"She wants district five, it's pretty much all of Hokkaido, it's weird how she enjoys the cold climate when she's a fire demon but whatever… now, let me sleep."
"Fine, fine…"
{xoxoxoxoxo}
It was interesting for the first three or so speeches, each of them having less to do with the 'peace and prosperity' they could bring to the area—like most politicians preached about—but instead about their demonic powers, their heritage, their accomplishments and their ages. There were at least five for each district and one of the nine even had ten people. Each speech lasted between ten to twenty minutes, too. She even almost fell asleep before she noticed a man had sat down next to her sometime ago yet she hadn't even sensed him. She jumped some but didn't stir the still slumbering Shiro.
"I am sorry," he replied in a soothing voice before a charismatic smile creased his face. He had long flowing golden locks and bright, piercing, blue eyes. He appeared to be maybe twenty-five but who knew when it came to demons? She smiled lightly back to him and nodded but wasn't able to greet the feminine looking man back, "you are Higurashi Kagome? You must be since you are here with Inuyasha."
For a moment she struggled to find her breath before she nodded, he had told a lot of people that he was looking for her, after all. It wasn't that weird that the man put two and two together—she was a female, human, and with Inuyasha, obviously she was the Kagome he was looking for. "Yes, yes that's me."
"I am Ohachi Hiroyuki," he bowed his head ever so slightly, his voice was sweet and coated with candor, his smile was almost angelic, yet the name struck fear in the depth of her chest. "From that expression I'm guessing you know of me?"
"Just… something about a list of yours?" She surmised, never letting her smile fade fully.
"You are a lovely lady, no wonder Inuyasha is so enchanted but… you see," he pondered as he leaned closer to her, "it does become a bit of a problem for us once a human gets so close to a demon. It's one thing to have so many one night stands and produce an illegitimate heir by mistake. Usually, that problem is taken care of with ease and the half-demon child is taken into our society. It often does not become a problem but when… a human learns so much about us and ensnares one of the best of us that becomes… something to show concern towards. Do you understand? Since our numbers plummeted we try to conduct ourselves behind closed doors… discretely, that is how we run things. Only some humans are in on our secret. Only very prestigious ones at that," it took some time for that to sink in. Behind his sweet tone was a rather rude implications—you aren't prestigious.
"I… see," she smiled with a nod, "is there… something wrong?"
"Do you know what it means to be on my list? I'm assuming from the ease in which you use to talk to me then Inuyasha has held true to our laws and didn't tell you."
She simply shook her head, only a few strands that her aunt had calculatedly left hanging out of her hairdo swayed.
"Ah," he sat up straight once more as he folded his hand in his lap, "it means I am to evaluate you, to decide if you should be allowed our secrets."
"And what if you… decide that I am not fit?"
His smile didn't fault a bit, "you'll disappear from this world."
She didn't have a chance to reply before he was gone, just like that, her eyes scanned about the room but she couldn't find the pretty man anywhere. Did he just threaten her?
"Kagome, I won't let anything happen to you," she heard the apparently no longer sleeping man assure as he sat up, "the only reason I'm here is to reason with Ohachi and prove you'll be fine."
"What type of people does he usually approve?"
He rubbed his eyes free of sleep before looking over at her, "honestly? Usually only high-society, rich, affluent people that can help us with long term investments, politics, and excreta."
"Well… I'm none of those things," she sighed before leaning back in the comfortable red cushioned seat some more.
"Don't worry, I have my own power of persuasion," he bragged some, "I have been the ruler of Japan for over a hundred and fifty years. Remember how I told you about that council? The one like the UN?"
"Yes," she dragged out dismally.
"He's one of the three that's here today."
"Does that mean he outranks you or something?"
Inuyasha nodded, "but don't worry, I really will never let anything happen to you," he stated as his eyes locked with her. In that moment… she believed him completely.
She knew that she was as safe as could be, even if she was in the midst of over a hundred demons.
How strange, hm?
{xoxoxoxoxo}
"You really ain't going to go up there?" Takeo taunted as he rested his elbow on the back of Inuyasha's chair and leaned over to grin widely.
"Hello, Takeo," Kagome greeted as she leaned forward some to see him, he smiled, nodded to her, and winked.
"Fuck off," Inuyasha growled, "I'm not."
"I suppose I have you to thank for that, huh? Miss Kagome," without effort he jumped over to sit in the empty seat beside her, "you convinced him not to run, right? You are a very hot—"
"Hit on her and I will kill you," Inuyasha warned as he leaned forward to glare deeply at Takeo.
Déjà vu, Kagome sighed slightly as she sunk into her seat, how come even after Kouga was long gone Inuyasha had to find a way to argue with one of his heirs? Over her, nonetheless… though, it was still nice to know he got jealous of her.
"You have some mighty big balls to bring her here," Takeo jested, "she might be a little hottie but she's still a human. They really aren't supposed to come here."
"Like I'd leave her alone," Inuyasha scoffed.
"What? Do you got someone out for your girl?" Takeo questioned with a smirk, "it would be the perfect day to attack if you were locked away in this inn, huh?"
"Fuck off," Inuyasha repeated with a bit of a roar.
"Wait, is someone out to get me?" Kagome complained, "why don't you tell me when my life is in danger! You can't keep handling it by yourself, you should have the common curtsy to tell me if my association with you is deadly!"
"Yeah, dog boy," Takeo agreed, winning a nod from Kagome and even a smile. "You know, I'd treat you—"
"Go away now, Takeo or I'll get up there and say I'm running again," he snarled and with quiet the glare Takeo reluctantly got up and moved out of the row with a simple human speed.
"Inuyasha—" she stopped when she saw the smile it got out of him to just hear her call him by his true name, it almost made her heart flutter but, no, no, she's supposed to be upset with him, "you—"
"I swear there's nothing else going on besides Ohachi. If he wants to take you out he'd do it today while I'm distracted, he knows you obviously matter a great deal to me if I'm willing to take you in and let you know everything. I'm making a statement by bring you here today, too. I trust you. Completely, fully, utterly, with my deepest secret. Demons would be hunted and killed by any human, there are still demon hunters out there that know about us but I trust you. I know you'd never do anything to hurt me or my kind. You are a good person, Kagome, I just need them to see that."
He… looked so serious and spoke with such candor that it… really struck at her core to have him leaning so close to her and praising her so… she never thought about how she could hurt him by knowing he was a demon… she never even really considered it a secret up until that point. Obviously, she wouldn't go around telling people or anything but…
"Inuyasha…" she whispered. "I trust you, too."
"Good," he smiled softly before leaning in just enough for their lips to meet. "Kagome," he whispered as he pulled away, "I might not remember everything that transpired between us but that doesn't mean that you haven't…" enchanted him, but he pressed his lips and rephrased it, "that I don't care about you."
"Inu…" but she couldn't. She couldn't say the same thing back… she wasn't sure. Inuyasha—the past version—still held the strongest hold on her heart but… he was starting to come in as a very close second.
"Stay here, don't wonder from that spot, OK?" He requested as he stood, "I have to go give Akiko my endorsement."
"Enjoy," she smiled briefly. Now, actually seeing Inuyasha give a speech might be of some interest.
{xoxoxoxoxo}
"Thank god for food," Kagome wistfully whispered as she glanced about the restaurant within the inn after all was said and done. It took all day for the speeches to get over with. "I'm so hungry."
"I know, they really drag that thing out, huh?" Inuyasha sighed as he glanced over the meal they had ordered.
"This is expensive stuff," she awed, "I bet this is a really expensive place to stay, too, huh?"
"It's demon run, we always have the summits at a demon owned place."
"Oh," she coaxed, "so… do you guys vote on stuff tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but don't worry, I'm talking to Ohachi later tonight so I hope that you'll be able to leave."
"Wait, wait, wait, am I going to have to stay here over night?"
"No," he shook his head, "if Ohachi and I sort everything out tonight I'll take you home."
"You make it sound like everything is alright but you've been freaking out forever about this," she muttered.
"It'll be alright," and even if he was fearful of a private chit-chat with Ohachi he'd never tell her.
"You finish your meal," he requested as he got up, "stay here, OK? Takeo is across the room with Akiko," he pointed to them, "if anything happens they'll jump in."
"Where are you going?"
"I have to go talk to Ohachi, it shouldn't take too long," he smiled briefly to her, grasping her shoulder as he walked by to the lingering, grinning, man on the opposite side of the room. He waited for Ohachi to head out of the room first before following him and closing the door thin rice paper door to the private party room.
"How is she of use to our kind?" Ohachi started right away with a slight nod towards the door, his arms loosely folded. He wore a crème colored Italian tailored suit that fit his slim figure flawlessly, "she's not from an affluent family, she's not well off, she's—"
"A powerful priestess," Inuyasha interrupted. Somehow that just came to him…
"Inuyasha!" Her darling voice shouted through the purple mist, stopping him dead in his track. Just barely did he dodge a tentacle that shot out from the hidden fog.
"Is that your bitch, Inuyasha?" An malice filled chuckle echoed about, "shall I kill her like the last?"
"Fuck you," he barked back before sprinting forward only to see a burst of pink flashing from his left. A shrill cry almost made his ear bleed. The scent of half-demon blood flowed about before he turned around to try and find Kagome's scent that mixed far too much the poison in the air. Why? Why? Did he have such a pulsing need to get her away from the miasma? He couldn't be sure why but he really, really, really needed to get far, far away.
"Kagome!"
"Inuyasha?" She called out, he could hear the pitter patter of her feet against the barren ground. "Where are you!?"
"Why did you come back you goddamn moron!?"
"You as—" then there was another scream and a new scent of fresh… fresh human blood in the air. No, no, no, no…
"Kagome!?"
"I told you, Inuyasha," that menacing male mocked. "Now I'll just take—"
"Inuyasha," Ohachi questioned again, "what did you just say?"
"She's a very powerful priestess; you know a few of those are left."
Ohachi rolled his coffee colored eyes before sighing, "is that so?"
"I am completely serious, can't you tell form her aura she's special?"
"I did notice a strange tinge to it," he mused while his eyes wondered to the paper thin door. His smile flickered to a smirk, "what can she do?"
"You should see what she can do with a bow and arrow," he let his cocky grin arise, "I swear, Ohachi, I'll vouch for her."
"Priestess tend to go against our kind."
"Kagome would never go against me," he assured.
"Don't tell me you're in love with a priestess," Ohachi mocked, "you have never been the sentimental time type. I can't recall you ever staying with a girl for long."
"I adore her," he murmured, "Ohachi… I won't let anything happen to Kagome."
"Is that a threat?" Ohachi hummed, "how sweet."
"Ohachi… I need Kagome to be approved, for her to be fine."
"You gave up running for your usual post for her, to stay near her, right? She's still just a human; she'll die in what seems like a blink of an eye."
"I know," he whispered as he took a step back, "that's why I have to… make sure she's OK now and that I can be here with her for as natural life allows."
"Inuyasha," Ohachi chuckled, "you'd be with her when she's old and wrinkled?"
"Yes," his serious tone stopped Ohachi's good cheer right away.
"Fine," he sighed, "you take all the fun out of everything. Fine, fine, I'll allow it. She's safe."
"I have your guarantee?"
"You have my word and my word is gold, Inuyasha, you know that. You're little priestess will be safe."
{xoxoxoxoxo}
"Seriously, Kagome, I can take you home," Inuyasha assured as she closed the door to his rented room, "it's not midnight yet, you can still be with your family—"
"I want to be with you tonight," Kagome protested meekly as she spun around midway in to the room with a smile, "I want to spend New Years with you."
She looked surreal to him at the moment as if she radiated with an ancient, rare and natural beauty that only appeared in a human once in a blue moon. Usually, she looked childish when she smiled or something… something but right at that moment she looked divine and far older than she was—as if the age of her soul showed.
Curiosity killed the cat, she knew that, but she couldn't help but devour down whatever was left on her plate before she sped across the room to linger at the paper thin door. It didn't even take much effort to hear their conversation… to hear all he said, to hear how he cared, how he'd risk himself for her, what he gave up. She thought she was the only one that had lost anything but he… she wanted to be with him now. Past-Inuyasha wasn't even a blimp on her raider as they walked towards each other to meet. Their eyes locked squarely together.
Was it wrong? She didn't care.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned in to kiss him, his hands wondered around her waist. Fumbled steps led them to the area with the futon so he could gently set her down on it, discarding his suit jacket along the way and the pendants from her hair so an array of ebony waves could frame her pretty face.
"Tell me when to stop," he whispered.
"I don't want you to," she sincerely replied as she grabbed one of his free hands to in both of hers. Her alluring eyes outlining his hand before her fingers did, "not tonight, Inuyasha."
"Still," he murmured before kissing her neck, "tell me when."
"Er, Inuyasha!" Kagome shrieked as she stormed towards the well, "that's all you want!"
"What are you talking about?!" He shouted back as he jumped in front of her to block her from her path home, "why are you going!? You said it was summer break or whatever!"
"Why should I stay!?" She stepped to the side but, of course, he did to, "Kagome let's do it here! Kagome what about here!? Let's separate from the group tonight! Ever since we became intimate that's all you care about!"
"Th-that's not true," he stuttered as he looked away.
"Yes. It. Is. I'm going home for the weekend, leave me alone," she demanded before pushing him out of her way and jumping down the well.
She would tell him when but… she still allowed him to discard her yukata piece by piece, she still shuffled to help undo his pants the best she could. It was all awkward for her, all a first, and that only enchanted him more. She was unskilled in the area they were venturing into but he was still positive he'd never felt such anticipation.
"Kagome," he whispered once they were finally bare. She bit her bottom lip lightly as she looked away, "do you want to stop?"
"No, be… really gentle, please," she murmured before looking back at him and lifting her hands to cup his face.
"I will," he promised as he leaned forward to kiss her again as he pulled her thighs open lightly and letting his hand wonder down to her nether regions.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered in a sweet lull that trigged his eyes to look up into hers. She was truly beautiful and finally would be his…
"You… you," he choked on his words as he walked about the sacred tree wide-eyed and waiting for the air to find its way back to his lungs, "you… you?"
"Inuyasha," Kagome mumbled, he could hear her shuffle her feet about on the ground, "I… don't know what to do… I mean, we knew that this could happen."
"You," he couldn't find a way passed that word as his hand wondered up to his forehead and he finally turned around to see the usually strong minded girl staring aimlessly at the ground, fear etched into her. Then he could breathe again before he could clench his fists together, "I…"
"Inuyasha," she repeated and looked up to him, "what should we do?"
"I can't," he shook his head and took a step away, "no, I don't want this…"
"I… Inuyasha," it was almost like a croak, he could smell the tears, "you… don't mean that. There's nothing we can… do you want me to…?"
"To what?" He scoffed, "leave?"
"How could you be so cruel!?" She sobbed before sprinting off, he let her have a head start before he finally followed her just in time to see her grasp the well and fall to her knees to cry freely some more. "I… you were the one that always wanted to… to…"
"Keh, don't blame me."
"You're an asshole! I love you… I just wanted to be close to you," she managed to pull herself up enough to turn around and look him straight in the eye, "if… if I leave I'm not coming back and I don't want you coming after me. If you let me leave… I don't ever want to see you again."
His eyes scanned her stern façade, he knew she was telling him the truth, "I can't be a father, Kagome. I don't want that. I've never wanted that."
She looked away and pressed her lips together before raising the back of her hand to her mouth and tried her best to keep from breaking out in tears ago. "How could you say you didn't know this could happen?"
He couldn't…
"I hope the well seals up! I hope I never see you again!" Those were the final words she cried before turning about and jumping down the well, but he could still hear her whisper, "I hate you."
"Inuyasha…?" Kagome hummed as her fingers poked at his face, "what's wrong? Are you OK?"
Just like that, he snapped away from her and grabbed one of the night-time white yukatas and wrapped it on before he stumbled towards the door, his breath caught in his throat.
He… he… they… how, how, how could he forget that? No, there's no way he could ever forget that. No, he shook his head fervently before he left the hotel room and a very confused girl there, too.
A/N: Finally I've returned to DT! I've gone through all the chapters and fixed errors and small things, nothing huge. Now that Confound is done I got my muse back for this story. As you can tell, I've written a pretty big chapter to make up for my weak, short, one before this. Thank you everyone for putting up with my lack of updates. I'm not going to lie but I just glanced over this, I probably will come back to it tomorrow and notice a ton of errors and fix it but... until then...
I hope you enjoy, I hope you review, and thank you for reading!