I stayed within the forest, I could already hear the bustling of the villages just a few miles ahead of me. I knew this was Edo, where Inuyasha was. However, I found myself hesitating to continue my journey. I was nervous, to say the least. I just wasn't sure how Inuyasha would take me waltzing into his life.
Yet, I was eager to meet him. I was standing around trying to gather my courage when the decision was suddenly made for me. I heard the sound of the trees overhead rustling. Snapping my head up, I was just in time to catch a red-clad figure dropping down from up high. A mighty fang, one so painfully familiar, caught the sun's rays. It caught me off guard so much that I almost forgot to dodge the attack.
Landing in the spot I had just been in before was a man. More correctly, a Hanyou. Two silver dog ears peeked out from a mop of silver hair. Narrowed amber eyes pinned me. Their coloration and shape were a perfect blend of Izayoi and Toga.
"What'ya doing here? Huh?" He spat suspiously.
"Is that Inuyasha?" I asked, needing to confirm that I wasn't seeing things. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I was almost shaking.
"Yeah, so you've hear of me. What of it?" He huffed stepping further into his fighting stance. "You after Kagome for unsealing your sorry ass or something?"
"Kagome? Who is that."
"Don't play that game with me. I saw the way you looked at her. She ain't like the one who captured you. So just leave or I'll do more than just seal ya!" He yelled out passionately. I blinked rapidly, reeling as I tried desperately to connect the dots.
"That was...your mate?" I questioned for clarification.
"Not that its any of your business, yeah!"
"I'm not here to hurt your mate. I didn't know she was your mate. If I had known, I wouldn't have fled like I did. You were there when I was unsealed? Geez, how did I not notice you? I guess I was too disoriented. Still, your likeness to both your parents is astounding." I exclaimed, slapping my forehead.
"Yeah, yeah, I know you were buddies with my old man. That doesn't mean squat, though. I don't believe for a moment you just so happened to come to my village without some kind of ill intention." He argued back.
"Inuyasha!" A woman voice called. Keeping a close eye on me Inuasha turned towards a woman with waving curly hair flutter behind her as he ran. She wore a mikos uniform and had a bow and quiver full of arrows on her back.
"Get back, Kagome!" He yelled back. Unphased, she kept closing the distance between us until she was standing off to the side just behind him.
"Oh! It's the demoness that was sealed. What is she doing here?" She pointed out lightly.
"She's here for you, ya idiot. Get away!" He berated.
"I am not! I came here for you!" I defended pointed at the enraged hanyou.
"Inuyasha? Why?" Confused she looked between the both of us.
"Are you serious right now!?" Inuyasha exclaimed looking at her as though she was crazy.
"I was friends with both his parents. upon being unsealed, I fled to a being I call Grandpa, who informed me about some of the things that happened while was scealed. Things such as both Toga and Izayoi's death. I had always talked to Izayoi, stating that I would be there for her and her pup, I obviously wasn't." I said, looking to my boots.
"My mother...How do I know you aint just making that stuff up. Everyone knows about my old and having an affair with my mother." I could tell I caught him off guard, but it seemed like his life had led him to edge on the side of caution. I couldn't blame him, and yet it hurt all the same.
"Inuyasha, why would she lie about such a thing? Can't you see how devastated she is? Think about how she feels. You were only sealed for fifty years. She was sealed your whole life, it appears. She had to learn that your parents died while she was gone. She says they were her friends and I believe her. Otherwise, why would your father write about her in one of his journals!" Kagome thoroughly chastised him.
"Keh..." He huffed, folding his ears down. "So...whatcha want with me? I'm all grown now and dont need no protection or pity."
"You're so insensitive! I am so sorry about him; he can be a jerk sometimes. I'm sure you won't hold it against him. He's secretly a softie once you gain his trust." Kagome beamed at me.
"Don't worry about it. I understand I have no right to come here now and just disturb his life. I should've left it alone, but I just needed to see him with my own eyes. It was selfish of me." I felt awkward all of a sudden.
"No, no! You're not selfish. You just care a lot. It's unfortunate what happened. We can't change the past. We should instead feel pleased with the present and look forward to the future." She insisted wisely.
"Right. Well, I guess I should start over and introduce myself properly." I stated, taking a deep breath. Turning back towards Inuyasha, I bowed at the waist. "My name is Aerials. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Inuyasha." I rose, getting out of the bow. "If you would allow me to be a part of your life, I would greatly appreciate it. If it is too difficult for me to speak about your mother or father for you, I will try my best to censor myself. I understand how it can feel, growing up without parents."
"I..." He stuttered, blushing slightly. "Keh, do what you want. As long as you don't go trying to harm anyone in the village or go after my sword, we're good." He said after taking a second to compose himself. He put away his sword, then turned his back to me, heading towards the village.
"Would you like to come with us for a bit of tea?" Kagome offered.
"Thank you, I hope I don't seem intrusive, but can you tell me the story of how you two got together? I have heard it's quite the tale!" I exclaimed. Together, we followed Inuyasha as Kagome gushed about her meeting and travels with Inuyasha.
I was so enthralled by her tale. As she led me into a humble hut situated at the edge of the village, I took a seat on a cushion. Even though the motions of preparing us tea, she was animated in her storytelling. Amusingly, she would halt her task to level me with an exasperated look when talking of her now mate's stubbornness. Said mate sat against a wall, his sword resting on his shoulder, and his arms crossed.
He would chime in, defending his actions or throwing out accusations here and there. As I watched the two interact, I smiled. They definitely were good for one another. Already bickering like an elderly couple. Their children were sure to give them hell, but they would be well loved as long as nothing happened to their parents. 'I won't allow it.' I mentally promised, hearing approaching footsteps.
"Hello!?" A young womans voice cut off another agrument between the two about a time where she had been kidnapped.
"Come in, Rin!" Kagome called out. Swiping away the curtain that hung in the doorway, she entered. Although she wore a fine purple kimono, her hair was a wild mess, save for a bit of hair gathered into a ponytail to the side. Her skin was sun-kissed, and she smelled of people, medicine, and flowers. She didn't have any spiritual power, but when she walked in, she brought with her a warm glow.
"Oh? I didn't know you had a visitor. I can return later if it's more convenient." She looking me up and down.
"Don't leave on my account, unless you had something personal you wanted to discuss with them!" I quickly blurted, not wanting to be a disruption to their lives.
"It's okay, I just wanted to tell Kagome that Yuzuki is looking like she's going to pop at any moment. I've told her and her husband that she should take it easy until her water breaks. Kaeda isn't feeling so good. She was hoping that you would take her place in helping deliver this baby," Rin relayed.
"That's not a problem at all, has she fallen ill?" Kagome accepted but quickly frowned in concern.
"Yes. It is nothing too serious, just feeling under the weather due to the changing season is all. I've been making sure she is getting plenty of rest and medicine." Rin quickly assured coming to sit timidly beside me.
"Old goat has been getting more and more rest here lately." Inuyasha jabbed.
"That is what happens when you get so old. You need more rest, especially if you are sick. Maybe one day you'll learn the hard way just how that feels. When you do I only hope someone makes jabs at you too!" Kagome hissed. "Anyways, Rin met Aerials. She's the Demoness I was telling you about."
"Hello, my name is Rin. I'm glad Lord Sesshomaru came for Kagomes help in freeing you!" She beamed.
"I'm glad he did too, even if he was a bit of an ass about it." I muttered.
"You know that bas-" Inuyasha stopped mid sentence noticing the angry look on his mates face. "HIM...I ment him."
"Yeah...I heard a lot about him growing up from your guys' father. I also had a run-in with him at my grandfather's forest. Toga had asked me to wait for Sesshomaru there in case he ever passed away. I had originally gone there after being unsealed because it was the first place I thought of that was safe."
After he told me about your parents I knew I had to keep my word. Not that I had wanted to go anywhere anyways. I think I went into shock for a moment there. i just couldn't believe they were gone. Unfortunately, Sesshomaru had read enough of Toga's journal to know that I would be waiting for him there. He tried, as his father before, to convince me to join the pack." I scoffed.
"The pack?" Kagome questioned.
"Pack, clan...whatever you want to call it. But yes. Since Toga found me, he has been adamant about my following him to his home. I never gave in to him, but I did promise that I would be more...open to the idea after his passing. He was just looking out for my well-being." Sighing, I looked out the window, reminiscing.
"So...you sort of grew up similarly to Inuyasha." Kagome concluded.
"Keh, thats so stupid." Inuyasha cut through.
"From your point of view I can see why. However, for me I just can't. I'm too...different." I trailed off still staring off into the distance.
"Cause of your markings?" Rin asked.
"That is one thing that makes me different. However, it's not just that. I am just different from everyone." I tried to explain without giving away my secrets. Secrets that only Toga knew about and had taken to the grave. I know he wouldn't have betrayed my trust by writing about them in his journal; he was too honorable for that. Yet, knowing Sesshomaru skimmed through the journal and his mother had probably thoroughly combed through it had me paranoid.
"Oh...were your parents loners? Lord Sesshomaru has said something about having to deal with those of his kind that are loners." Rin continued to question.
"They died. My father befoe I was born and my mother died pretty much the moment I was old enough to start coming into my powers. I was able to take care of myself and met Toga after a few decades." I shrugged.
"I'm sorry for your loss. I'm also an orphan. Well, that was before I met Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin gushed. I snapped my focus from the window to the beaming young girl beside me.
"Really?" I exclaimed. If he had taken in this human girl, then maybe he wasn't as insufferable as he acted. Toga had always said that he wished for him to learn a little compassion and the true role of a leader. Could he have managed to find a way to finally teach that lesson from beyond the grave? Somehow, it wouldn't surprise me.
"Yeah, it was quite the shock when we all learned about it." Kagome nodded.
The tale of the hunt for the Shikon Jewel and their subsequent love story continued. Now, whenever something popped up in the story involving Sesshomaru, Rin was there to put in her perspective. I couldn't help but marvel at the growth they all had obtained on their journey. Most of all, I was proud of Inuyasha and maybe a little bit surprised at Sesshomaru's apparent increase in compassion.
"Anyways, I defeated the jewel, but it forced me away from everyone for three years. I've been back for a little over a year now." Kagome wrapped up vaguely. Not that I mind, it was probably a sore topic for her. If I had a lover before I was sealed, I would think I would be a little miffed about all the time I was forced away from them.
"Don't you just love happy endings?" I smiled, looking towards Rin.
"I think they're the best endings!" She enthused.
"It's getting rather late, don't you think you should spend the night here? It wouldn't be an issue." Kagome offered, looking towards the window.
"SAYS YOU!" Inuyasha blurted.
"No, thank you. I'd rather not impose more than I have." I declined.
"Okay then, I'm going to go over to Sango's and help her prepare dinner. I'll call for you when it's done," she announced, getting up.
"I think I will go check on Kaede."
"So..." Inuyasha began awkwardly now that we were alone.
"You've come so far and made some great friends along the way. I'm sure your parents would be proud." I smiled.
"Keh, I guess I didn't do so bad," he admitted, blushing.
"Did you ever find Sesshomaru's severed arm?" I whispered conspiratorially.
"No." He scoffed.
"Dang it. You could've slapped him with his own arm. You know, gave him the old 'Stop hitting yourself' routine." I sighed at the lost opportunity. Inuyasha stared at me for a moment, I could almost see the gears in his head going. It didn't take him long to start busting up laughing.
"Could you imagine the look on his fucking face! *wheeze*" He howled.
"This one is not hitting oneself you fool." I said doing my best impression of Sesshomaru's voice and face. Inuyasha rolled to his side, face going red from the amount of laughing he was doing. I couldn't help but to join him. As we both caught our breath I couldn't help but feel like a small weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It was a rocky start but I believed this would be the start of a wonderful friendship. Maybe one day, he might be comfortable enough to consider me family.
"He resurrected me with his sword. I had been killed by a pack of wolf demons attacking my village. I had already been orphaned before that, though. Once I was alive again, I chose to follow Lord Sesshomaru wherever he would let me!" She explained.
