InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Shards Of Hope ❯ A Past Best Forgotten ( Chapter 19 )

Disclaimer: Since I obviously don't own the copyright to Teen Titans or Inuyasha, I'm taking advantage of the Fair Use Clause of the Copyright laws to write a story with them in it. Who knew the government would protect the little guys? Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

 

Author's Note: Full Author's Note at bottom.

 

Chapter 18: A Past Best Forgotten

 

“Starfire?” Robin asked in confusion, “What are you doing?”

“Robin,” Starfire murmured without looking at him, “you would not understand. I can not let them experiment on him.”

“I know Starfire…”

Robin took a step forward, but halted as Starfire looked up at him, eyes beginning to tear up. “No,” She said shakily, “You do not.”

Robin furrowed his brow in concentration. There was something very wrong. She was on the verge of tears; he had never seen her get this upset before.

Kagome looked between Robin and Starfire. Even though she couldn't see Starfire's face, she could see the concern on Robin's. `Why didn't I study English harder when I was in the feudal era? Maybe I'd be able to understand some of what they're saying… GAH! I hate foreign languages! It's not like I was good at English or anything, but I can barely understand a word of what they're saying…'

As if on cue, Inuyasha chose that moment to lean over to her with a hand cupped over his mouth, “Kagome, what are they saying?”

“I don't know,” She murmured.

“Well what's the floating demon standing in front of me for?”

“I don't know, ok?” Kagome answered, heatedly.

Inuyasha frowned, and then turned back to Starfire, tapping her on the shoulder, “What are you doing?”

Starfire turned around, tears trickling down her cheeks, “I will not let them take you to be experimented on.”

Inuyasha nodded sagely and turned to Kagome, “Kagome, what does experimented mean?”

Kagome nearly fell over in shock; he didn't even know what the word meant! She tried to form a way to explain it to him, barely opening up her mouth before being cut off as Starfire's hollow voice answered for her.

“Experiments are bad things where strange people poke and prod and hurt you, and keep you from your friends and family, and cut you and… and…” Starfire's voice gave out in a choked gasp as she was bombarded by images of her past. Every moment of her time with the Psions and their experiments on her and her sister flashed into her mind. In an instant her trembling knees buckled beneath her and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

The initial shock of her collapse wore off in seconds, Robin and Raven reaching her side almost immediately. Kagome could only look on in stunned silence as they helped her to a chair and sitting her down. Inuyasha frowned, his shoulders falling slightly as he watched them try to comfort her, `She was trying to protect me?' Starfire's choked sobs reached his ears far too easily, and for a moment he wanted to help her the same way her friends were. Kagome leaned against him slightly and his attention drifted from Starfire to Kagome, who also watching Starfire.

Inuyasha gnawed on his lip, looking around to find the entire room was watching them. His frown turned into an angry scowl, “HEY! What are you all looking at?” He shouted, drawing everyone's attention to him and away from Starfire, “Get out of here all ready!” He growled, looking around to find only a few people getting up to leave. He pointed to the door emphatically, “You heard me! Get out!” There was a brief pause, and then everyone started to leave.

“Thanks Inuyasha…” Kagome murmured with a weak smile, watching as the last of the people file out, leaving only herself, the Titans, and her family.

He nodded and folded his arms back into sleeves, nodding towards Starfire, “Is she going to be all right?”

Raven looked up from Starfire, “She'll need some time to rest.”

Robin grabbed a napkin from the table and handed it to her, watching her wipe the tears from her cheeks and then blowing her nose before handing it back to him. He took it gingerly, placing it aside before grabbing another. “Robin…” Starfire looked at him pleadingly, “I am sorry, I…” She sniffled and lowered her head.

“Starfire, there's nothing for you to be sorry about… I didn't know.” Robin said comfortingly.

Starfire crushed a napkin in her hand, trying to retain composure, “I do not wish to dwell on the past…”

Robin nodded, “I understand.”

Starfire looked up at him and forced a smile, but she quickly looked away, turning to look at Inuyasha, “Robin, please, promise me you will not let them experiment on him.” She looked back at him hopefully, “Please?”

Robin blinked behind his mask, then nodded, grabbing her hand and squeezing softly, “I promise.”

Inuyasha looked away, “Keh. Like I'd actually let anyone do that stuff to me.”

Kagome glared at him, “Inuyasha…”

“That doesn't change the fact that they could want to experiment on you.” Raven said flatly, “And neither does your promise to Starfire.” She said, looking at Robin.

“So, what, are we supposed to do? We can't just let them take Inuyasha.” Kagome argued in frustration, taking a moment to look at Inuyasha, “Who knows what they would do to him.”

Inuyasha huffed, “What did I just say? It doesn't matter what they want to do to me.”

Robin nodded in agreement, “And I'm not about to break my promise.”

“I understand that, Raven said, looking between them, “but it doesn't change the situation.”

There was a tense silence as Raven's frustratingly honest logic finally sank in.

“Why would they want to experiment on Inuyasha?” Sota finally asked, “If it's so bad…” With all eyes on him he shrunk in his seat, trying to go back to his long forgotten meal.

Kagome winced; everyone had been so silent that she had completely forgotten her little brother was still here. Her mother smiled at Sota, patting him on the head, “It's okay, I'm sure they're just exaggerating…” She continued to smile although her own worried eyes met Kagome's.

“Sota… why don't you come with me, I'm certain we can find someone to tell us the history of this building.” Grandfather added, smiling as well as he could.

Sota's jaw dropped perceptibly, but Grandpa grabbed his hand lightly and led him to a door, Kagome's mother in tow. They turned and smiled, except Sota who had a look of utter horror on his face, then opened the door, nearly smashing it into Cyborg.

“Uh… hey.” Cyborg said, smiling and waving as he blocked their way out of the room, “I hope you enjoyed breakfast…” They stared at him for a moment longer and he suddenly realized he was in their way, blushing, he stepped to the side, “Sorry, didn't know you guys were leaving all ready.” He continued to smile as they walked away from him, `Why am I talking? They can't understand a word I'm saying…'

Beast Boy frowned as he watched them “They could have at least said excuse me or something…”

“They don't speak English.”

“Oh, yeah,” He gave a toothy grin, scratching the back of his head, “Sorry… I sorta forgot.”

Cyborg frowned as he watched them walk away then grabbed the still open door and walked inside, “I woke BB up…” He stopped, Beast Boy bumping into him, “Star… is everything ok?”

Starfire's eyes widened and she turned away, “I am fine.”

Cyborg took a few steps forward, “Your cheeks are red.” He paused, looking to Robin, “Has she been crying? What's wrong? Is everything ok?”

“I am fine, but Inuyasha may not be safe…” Starfire murmured, looking back at Cyborg.

Cyborg scratched his head, looking over to Inuyasha, “Uh…”

Beast Boy scowled, looking away. “Like he wants our help…”

Cyborg frowned, looking at him, “Man, are you still angry about yesterday?”

“DUDE!” Beast Boy pointed to Inuyasha emphatically, “He tried to kill her! I was right there! I saw it!”

Robin tensed, he had nearly forgotten about that after what had happened between him and Raven. He turned to Kagome and Inuyasha, “Who was that, yesterday? You knew her.”

Kagome frowned, “Her name is Kagura, she's an incarnation of Naraku.”

“Naraku?” Robin raised an eyebrow, “And he is?”

“Dead meat as soon as I get to him…” Inuyasha said, looking away.

Kagome clasped her hands together at her waist, “He's a demon from the feudal era, and he's after the Jewel so he can become a full demon.”

 

18181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181 8181818

 

Naraku stood in silence, his eyes hidden behind the baboon skin, “Why should I trust you?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Slade asked, his single eye squinting at Naraku, “You shouldn't.”

Naraku paused, then slowly paced towards Slade stopping at his side, “If you attempt to betray me, I will destroy you.”

Slade jerked his head to the side, “You'd be free to try if you survived.” Naraku scowled beneath the baboon skin, but remained silent. Slade tipped his head back to look at Naraku, then slowly waved an arm towards the well, “The future awaits you, as do the Jewel Shards.”

Naraku narrowed his eyes at Slade, but took the final step, and entered the sacred well.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. A friend's birthday was the week before last and I had it ready before thanksgiving, but chose not to put it up until after the holiday (It's supposed to be spent with the family, not at the computer after all...). Sorry for the lateness, but I'm going to try to go on that two week schedule.