InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Not the Only One ❯ The unravelling.... ( Chapter 35 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Hey, minna-san. Kawaii-Keke-Chan here! It's been so long, ne? I'm so, so, soooo very sorry it has taken me this long to update. There are many reasons, but I'm sure you want to read the chapter first, so I'll explain after! Enjoy!
P.s. Please not the teaser I gave you last time has changed a little in this chapter. It has been over a year after all!
Last time on Not the Only One....
The rain continued to pour throughout the night. Hiei had finally made it to his Sakura tree. The pink blossoms had long vanished in the spring, and the many branches hung thick with leaves, yet flowerless. Yet the tree still provided shelter, and Hiei settled in to the centre, and began pondering the images he had seen flash through Kagome's mind.
That hanyou...was the only thing standing between the kitsune and the miko starting a relationship, kuh?
Hiei was about to close his eyes and sleep when a flash of red and white blurred through his almost closed lids. The hybrid youkai immediately jumped up, tearing the white bandanna from his Jagan. The breeze caught it, and it twirled away in the wind, tangling in a higher branch. Hiei's mouth grimaced as his third eye flashed green through the sheet of rain.
'Kuso! It's him!
Chapter 36
The unravelling
Hiei launched himself into the night rain, his third eye guiding him through the cold silver needles that pierced the air. His sense of smell had never been keen, and it was impossible for him to track even the simplest scent in this weather; the water cleansed everything. However, he knew the Inu, even though only hanyou, would still be able to pick up the miko's scent. The small youkai clenched his teeth, and became a black vibration against the night sky, bouncing from rooftop to rooftop.
Inuyasha had the sense of smell to his advantage, but Hiei was much, much faster than the hanyou. He soon caught up with him, a block or two away from Kurama's apartment.
Hiei saw the half demon pause, sensing his presence. His usually thick white hair was plastered to his back, and it was clear his water logged robes were weighing him down. He turned slowly to face the threat, and Hiei was in front of him in seconds.
“It is unwise to proceed...” The hybrid youkai knew Inuyasha could hear him over the rain by the prick of his ears.
“Why the fuck should I listen to you? Last time we met, you tried to kill Kagome! And now...that damn kitsune!”
Hiei's eyes flickered to Inuyasha's face. “That was out of my control. Just as this situation is. You know Kurama is not going to kill Kagome. He intends to mate with her.”
“Over my fucking dead body!” the hanyou roared, and he made to jump off the rooftop to the next. Hiei swished around him, blocking his exit.
"I will not let you pass without a fight, hanyou..." whispered the red eyed youkai, as he drew his katana.
Inuyasha glared at the smaller youkai with contempt. He had almost forgiven the runt for trying to kill Kagome, because it had been explained to him that Hiei had been under a certain condition. Well, Inuyasha knew what that was like...hadn't he almost killed Kagome himself, when he had turned full youkai?
But this...this was unforgivable. He couldn't let Kagome....do such a thing, just because there had been a misunderstanding.
“You're wasting my time, bastard. I need to get to Kagome NOW, and if you wanna stand in my way, it'll be the last thing you do!”
Hiei smirked at the hanyou as he raised the huge curved blade above his head. It reminded him of Bui's axe- it had also been big, but was no match for the hybrid's agility. Still, killing Inuyasha wasn't exactly on Hiei's top to do list.
“It's too late for you, hanyou. The miko and the avatar are in love. Everyone knows it but yourself. Why not let them be, and return to your own time?”
Inuyasha's reply was a shouted attack- “KAZE NO KIZU!”
xoxoxox
Kagome awoke with a shiver, and huddled closer to the ball of heat that was Kurama. He responded though still asleep, pulling the miko further into his embrace, tucking her head under his chin, his nose resting on her hair.
She opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the darkness and unfamiliarity of the room. A lot had happened in the last few days, and her body felt tired and heavy. But she felt safe in Kurama's arms, and her fingertips touched his skin sleepily, tracing his beautifully toned chest. She kissed the exposed part of his neck, inhaling the sweet scent of roses that always perfumed his skin. Kurama made a noise in the back of his throat as she kissed his chest, and his arms enfolded her close to his body.
The miko shivered again, and realised although the sheet was tangled around their bodies, a gentle breeze was playing over her skin. She couldn't remember the window being open, but now she was fully awake and could hear the rain outside.
Kagome was about to ease herself from Kurama's arms to shut the window when she felt another presence in the room. She froze, her eyes still accustoming to the pitch blackness. Suddenly, she locked eyes with a red glare from across the room.
Kurama was half asleep, semi-conscious that Kagome had woken up and was caressing him. He pulled her closer, infinitely happy to finally be able to claim her as his. He didn't want to awake fully- he was enjoying this state of bliss, the borderline of dreaming and sleeping. As he held Kagome closer, he could smell the scent of his shampoo from her hair. His hands wrapped around her back, and he could feel the beat of her heart.
The avatar was about to fall back into sleep when he felt the miko move away from him. A fresh breeze swirled through the room, clearing the kitsune's nose which had only held Kagome's scent.
Instantly, he awoke, sitting upright in bed. Kagome was sitting up also, opened mouthed, looking at the corner of the room. Kurama pulled the miko into his arms, shielding her naked body from sight. He growled at the intruder, who immediately snarled in reply.
Kagome was shaking with fright. How long Inuyasha had been in the room for, she had no idea. But the hanyou was without Tetsusaiga, and she didn't need to be able to see in the dark to know that there would be jagged purple lines along his cheeks.
Kurama had awoken suddenly, and she was now in his lap, mainly shielded from Inuyasha's view. The avatar was also shaking, but Kagome could tell it was not for the same reason as her. The kitsune emitted a low growl, and it was the scariest noise she had ever heard Kurama make. She couldn't believe Inuyasha had remained silent until now, having seen Kurama and herself naked in bed, but as her vision improved she could tell from the hanyou's posture that he was struggling to control his emotions, and his youkai side.
But at the kitsune's growl, Inuyasha seemed to explode. A guttural snarl formed from his lips, like a rabid dog, and for the first time since they had met, Kagome was scared of her best friend. The tension in the room was palpable, and the miko feared what would happen next.
“Get out of here!” Kurama was the first to speak, and his voice was threatening. “How dare you show your face after what you have done to Kagome?”
“Kurama-kun...” The miko whispered, and she touched the avatar's chest softly, “Be careful. Inuyasha is not in control right now...”
“I can see that...” Kurama replied, “All the more reason why he should leave. Now!”
Inuyasha didn't move, but simply glared at the kitsune. His fists were clenched at his sides.
“Kagome.” He finally spoke, and his voice was harsh like the lines on his face.
“Let's go. Now.”
“She's not going anywhere with you.” Kurama retorted. Kagome simply blinked at Inuyasha's request.
“I think you should go, Inuyasha...” she said gently, even though it broke her heart again to see him, though she was confused why he was here.
“I'm not leaving without you.” The inu hanyou stated, and he moved forward. Kurama moved quickly, tipping Kagome out of his lap, so he could stand in front of his bed, blocking Inuyasha from the miko. He grabbed the sheet, and wrapped it quickly around his lower body.
“One more move, hanyou, and you are dead...” whispered Kurama silkily, a red rose in his outstretched hand. Kagome covered her body with the quilt as she watched helplessly as Inuyasha flexed his elongated claws.
“I already had to fight that little youkai to get here. I'll happily get rid of a weakling like yourself.” Inuyasha goaded.
Kurama's eyes flashed at the mention of Hiei, and he transformed his rose into a whip, swiping at the hanyou viciously. Inuyasha cursed and ducked out of the way, but in the small space he struggled to evade the whip. It sliced through the wooden bookcase to the right of him, and then caught him on his shoulder.
Kagome couldn't watch, and she fumbled about in the dark finding the fox t-shirt and boxers Kurama had leant her. She pulled them on, seeing from the corner of her eye as Inuyasha swiped at Kurama's chest; the avatar just managed to bend backwards to avoid it, but still was scratched.
“Stop, both of you!” The miko gasped, as Kurama's whip caused mayhem in the room, hitting off the roof and carpet, and cutting Inuyasha in several places. Likewise, Inuyasha's jumping around caused things to crash around him, and a punch missed Kurama, crumbling part of the wall.
Kagome was ignored, so she clambered over the bed and did what she did best- she ran into the fray. Kurama immediately stalled his whip, and Inuyasha stilled his claws, both of them staring at her as she held out both hands in the air.
“Just stop!” she cried, glancing at both of them. “This fighting is doing nothing! Kurama, have you forgotten about the neighbours?”
The avatar looked like the neighbours were the last thing on his mind. Red cuts peppered his skin, and his make shift cover up was stained with blood. His green eyes were predatory and glinting. He saw what Kagome had dressed in, and relaxed his stance a little.
“You are quite right, Kagome. Inuyasha, if you wish to continue this fight, I suggest we move somewhere more suitable.”
The hanyou ignored the kitsune, and stared at Kagome. “I'm not leaving here without you.” he repeated, and he was deadly serious.
The miko bit her lip, and felt Kurama's eyes on the back of her head.
If I leave with Inuyasha, I can calm him down somewhere. If I refuse, he will just keep fighting here, harming Kurama and probably destroying the whole apartment block...
“Fine. Inuyasha, let's go.”
Kurama grabbed her arm, his eyes wide and shocked. “Kagome, what are you saying?”
“Didn't you hear her, fox? She's coming with me!” Inuyasha growled.
Kagome turned to the avatar, and held his head in her hands. “Don't worry, Kurama. I'm not leaving you. But you two can't fight like this, it's too dangerous. And I couldn't stand it if you got hurt. I'll come back, I promise.”
Kurama closed his eyes, and touched his forehead to hers. “Kitsune promise?” he whispered.
“Kitsune promise...” Kagome repeated.
“We're leaving, now!” Inuyasha growled, pulling at Kagome's arm.
“Alright...” The miko sighed, and she could tell Kurama was not happy. His hair covered his eyes, and he didn't move as Kagome followed Inuyasha to the open window. The miko glanced back at Kurama as the hanyou scooped her into his arms, but he remained with his back turned to them, in the middle of the floor.
Inuyasha was just about to jump when Kagome heard Kurama shout, “Wait!”
The hanyou growled, but he paused. The miko turned to look back, and saw Kurama approach them with a determined look in his eyes.
“Kagome...I love you...” he whispered, and held her face to kiss her. Kagome felt Inuyasha growl, but as he was holding her, he was powerless to stop the kitsune. The miko kissed him back, and could felt the edge of urgency in Kurama's kiss.
“I love you too, Kurama. And I will come back, I promise...”
xoxoxox
Kurama watched them bound into the night, until the red and white shape dissolved into the darkness. His fingertips gripped his windowsill, and it wasn't until he heard a splintering noise that he looked down. His human nails had turned into kitsune claws. The kitsune thought he was unable to move, fixated as he was to the spot, seeing his love disappear into the distance. It was only when a faint humming noise registered in his ears that the avatar moved swiftly from the window. Hiei dived in through the window, sniffed the room, then looked outside the window he had just entered.
“Damn, missed him.” He growled, and sat with a thump on Kurama's bed. He expected the avatar to be immediately fishing in his hair for seeds to tend to his friend's wounds, but instead Kurama just stood. Hiei glared at him, then sniffed the room again.
“Where is the miko?” he asked.
Kurama's eyes were olive as he inclined his head to the window. “She left with him.”
Hiei blinked, impressed. “Brave.” He began to lick the laceration on his arm. “She'll be back.”
xoxoxox
Inuyasha seemed to calm down as he held Kagome. Her scent was soothing, though the kitsune stench that clung to her was not. But the deed was done now; he had been too late to stop it. He had learnt his lesson now; he had been given a wake up call, and it was time to tell Kagome he was serious.
Kagome had her arms folded the entire ride home. She was determined not to cry again, but every time she wanted to question Inuyasha about the conversation she had overheard with Kikyo, her throat throbbed and her eyes stung. She only spoke once, to ask if Hiei was ok, and after the hanyou nodded, she returned to silence.
When they touched down at the Higarashi shrine the rain had eased off, but Kagome was only wearing a tshirt and boxers, and the loss of heat from the hanyou meant she was shivering again.
“The well house.” Inuyasha nodded, and his eyes had turned golden, but the purple stripes were still there.
“No,” Kagome replied, her arms still folded. “I'm in no mood to go back to the past. We can talk in the kitchen, but quietly. I don't want everyone waking up.”
“Well house.” Inuyasha repeated, and when Kagome protested, he simply picked her up.
“Baka!” Kagome fumed, and she hit him, which was as much use as blowing a raspberry. She did consider using the Osuwari command, but then decided against it, as Inuyasha's demon side seemed to be fighting with his hanyou side, and she didn't want to tip the scales the wrong way.
The hanyou placed her down gently in the well house, and shut the door. He gave her a look, then shrugged out of his haori, and held it out to her. It was damp, but Kagome knew thanks to the powers of the fire rat fur, she would still feel warm wearing it. But Kagome also knew this wasn't the reason the hanyou offered it too her. He wanted his scent to mask the kitsune's.
The miko didn't move their arms from their folded state, and Inuyasha sighed. He pulled the haori back on grumpily, and gave a “Keh!”.
Kagome made no effort to begin the conversation, so Inuyasha spoke first.
“I know you're angry with me, Kagome. And I guess that's why you rushed into things with that...avatar. But you have to understand, about what you saw...”
The miko glared at the hanyou opposite her, and it was not a look he was used to seeing from her. He had seen Kagome angry a bunch of times before, sure. But this look was different.
“Let me be clear, Inuyasha. I wasn't on the rebound with Kurama-kun. You just happened to give me a wake up call that I've need for a long time.”
“Kagome!” The hanyou strode towards her, gripping her shoulders. “You can't say that after everything...everything we've been through...you are just going to walk away?”
The miko nodded. “Yes. And I should have done it the first time around...I should never have came back through the well, the first time you made me cry.”
The stripes on Inuyasha's cheeks began to disappear as anger began to transform into sadness.
“Please, Kagome. At least just hear me out.”
The miko sighed. “I will hear you out, because I don't want to spend the rest of my life hating you. But it doesn't change anything, Inuyasha. I'm not leaving Kurama.”
The hanyou let his hands fall by his sides. He contemplated the miko for a few seconds before beginning his story.
“Kikyo gave me a deadline...for when the tama should be complete.” Inuyasha began. Hanyou didn't tend to get headaches, but he could feel the beginnings of one blossoming behind his eyes. “Do you remember after our fight with the Scorpion clan? You were injured, and I left the cave...”
Kagome nodded, and felt the stab of pain, as an emotional wound re-opened.
“I told you later that I had met Kikyo. But it wasn't for the reason you thought. Kikyo had been calling to me to check our progress...and that day, she was angry we were still behind.”
Kagome pursued her lips, but still remained silent.
“She said that if we didn't complete the tama, she was going to do something about it.” Inuyasha recalled, his fingers curling. He was finding it hard to look Kagome in the eyes.
“You remember, after the time we thought we had completed the tama, I sent you home.” The hanyou continued. He wished she would speak; her silence was making a knot twist in his gut.
Again, Kagome inclined her head. This time, there seemed to be a gleam of understanding filtering through her eyes.
“Six days had passed then, and I knew we wouldn't be able to get the remaining shards in time. I told you not to return until I came to get you.”
The miko regarded him carefully as continued.
“On the seventh day, I met Kikyo. She was...very angry, and said we had three more days. She told me to fetch you from the well, which I no intention of doing. She said...” the hanyou was talking in a rush, as if speaking fast would make his words seem less realistic and hurtful.
“She said if we didn't get the shards, she would take the rest of your soul, so she could find them...”
Kagome blinked at the onslaught of information Inuyasha was telling her. She could feel the jigsaw of information coming together, to form a bigger picture, like the shards of the shikon when they became fused together.
“She..would have killed me...” The miko realised. “If she had taken my soul...my body...would have been an empty shell.”
“I know,” Inuyasha replied bitterly. “That's why I didn't want you to return...”
“But I did...even though you didn't come to get me...”
Inuyasha touched Kagome's cheek with his hand. “Please believe me, Kagome. I was always trying to protect you. When you overheard us in the forest...I was going along with Kikyo, because I didn't want her to know my true intentions. I wanted to complete the jewel, and keep you safe in your own time.”
“So you would have left me here forever?” Kagome whispered, tears forming in her eyes, “Wouldn't even give me the chance to say goodbye to the others? To you?”
Inuyasha closed his eyes. “Of course not. Once the jewel was complete, of course I would have brought you back. You would have been in no danger then...”
The miko sniffed, removing the hanyou's hand. “But can't you see, Inuyasha? I know you love Kikyo, but that she would do such a thing...just to get the shikon-no-tama...”
“I know,” Inuyasha sighed, and he clung onto the miko's hand. “But don't worry, Kagome. Once the shikon is complete, Kikyo has promised to return to hell.”
Kagome bit back a retort about trusting the dead miko.
“So, do you believe me?” Inuyasha asked, his honey eyes hopeful.
The miko sighed. “Of course I believe you, Inuyasha. But you have to stop protecting me like this...it only hurts me in the end.”
“I realise that now,” Inuyasha nodded. He took Kagome's small hand in both of his. “And I understand when you went to the kitsune, because you felt betrayed. But believe me Kagome...I will always be here for you.”
“Inuyasha...” The miko swallowed, “It's too late. Too much is happened, and I can't go back to who we were before. I have Kurama now. And now, you can have Kikyo without worrying about me.”
“No!” Inuyasha gasped, and he pulled Kagome into a firm embrace, “I can't lose you! Don't you understand...how much you mean to me?”
The miko felt the tears began to trickle, and at the scent, the hanyou pulled away. His eyes were shimmering, and he delicately pressed his lips to hers.
This made Kagome cry even more, and she softly pushed the hanyou away.
“It's too late, Inuyasha,” She sobbed, the tears flowing freely. “It's too late!”
The hanyou shook his head, and tried to hold the miko again. “No, Kagome! It's never too late!”
Still weeping, Kagome untangled his fingers from her arms. Then she fled, into her house, up the stairs, and in her bed. She cast a ward around her room, locked the window, and pulled the covers over her head for good long cry.
xoxoxox
The miko's night was a long and uncomfortable one. Her body and mind exhausted, she would fall into fits of deep sleep, peppered with dark yet vibrant dreams. She would wake up in a sheen of sweat, take a drink of water, and the process would begin again.
Why did it have to work out like this? She wondered, as she tried different positions in order to sleep better. A dull pain throbbed at the back of her head, and her neck and shoulders were stiff with tension.
I don't regret sleeping with Kurama...or our relationship at all. But why did Inuyasha take so long to realise he felt that way for me? All those years I loved him for...
Kagome knew a part of her still loved the hanyou. She knew a long love, built on so much hardship and experience, couldn't be turned off like a tap. It made it harder for her, but she knew one day she feel better. She just didn't know how long it would take.
When Kagome awoke early in the morning, she thought she was still dreaming. Hiei was standing above her, watching with cloudy ruby eyes and holding a sword. She had never seen the hybrid youkai so tormented before, and all she could think of was please, not again...
“You're awake, miko?” he asked, and she realised she was.
“H-h-hai...” Kagome nodded, rising up in bed. She felt disgusting and sweaty, and a shower was the first thing on her mind. Then she noticed Hiei's sword was in his belt- the one he was holding was- “ Tetsusaiga?”
“The hanyou's sword,” Hiei acknowledged. It was in its smaller, battered form. He placed it against the wall, and Kagome strained her eyes to look at it.
“But how...and why have you got it, Hiei?”
The little youkai looked uncomfortable. “During our...fight. I happened to knock it out his hands. It fell below us- we were high up on the roof top of a building- and I assumed he would go after it. But he took the chance to run. I thought I had better retrieve it, so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands...”
“Thank you...” Kagome said, though confused. Inuyasha had never abandoned his sword before. And he didn't seem to be bothered about finding it the night before, when they were fighting.
Was he really that worried about me?
“Kagome,” the youkai said, snapping the miko out her daydream. Wow, he used my name!
“There's something else...”
“What is it, Hiei?” Kagome asked, her stomach churning. She had visions of Inuyasha returning and killing Kurama, or vise versa.
“Kurama's mother...” Hiei spoke seriously. “She's been taken back into hospital...”
The miko started, as though an electric volt was trapped in her veins.
"Kurama's mother..." the words seemed to drop out of the air, and Kagome felt the world spin on its axis as she took in their meaning.
xoxoxox
Not a long update I know. I've got four more chapters planned for this fic before the end. I will get it finished eventually!
Now, to explain my long absence!
There are many reasons, and I could write another 5000 words explaining, but here are the basic reasons.
1- the first time I wrote this chapter, my laptop died, and I lost everything. For those of you who can remember, I have experienced this before (with a different computer) and it was most annoying! It took me a long time to tackle this chapter again, simply because it is the chapter the whole story has been leading up to.
2- I got a brand new Toshiba laptop, and within a month, it died. Luckily I had saved the part of this chapter I had completed to my USB, but I lost lots of uni work and other important files.
3- Not wanting to tempt fate, I didn't write fan fiction for quite a while when I got the next new laptop. As I've mentioned previously, I have a car now, and to keep it running (petrol is very expensive here just now) I've been tutoring students for English exams. This means I've been working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, plus Thursday nights and Sundays for my part time job, on top of being a full time joint honours student in third year at University. And it's been the hardest year so far, with three novels to read per week, and endless essays. Therefore, any spare minute I have had in the last year has been used to prep for my tutor sessions or uni work. To be honest, I haven't had much of a life (ask my boyfriend and best friend, who I still see as little as I did last time I updated)
I'm on Easter Break now, though my first week is nearly over, and I allowed myself to rest a little (I'm off uni, but still tutoring and working). Next week I will be spending studying, and my final exam is in May (along with my three students plus my little brother's English exams) so I don't think I will be updating before then. Hopefully I will update in June (I know, I know, you've heard this before!)
Thanks again for everyone who has taken the time to read this story. All your reviews have been wonderful, and for those who have waited so long, I am sorry. I hate it when authors take ages to update, yet I do it myself! For those who have reviewed, telling me they have re-read this story- thank you. That means a lot to me, even though I cringe because my writing style has drastically (I hope!) changed in these few years.
Once again, thank for sticking with me.
Finally, my thoughts are with the people of Japan at this difficult time.
It would take me hours to reply to all the reviews of last year, and I'm sorry I don't have the time! Thank you all so much, every one of you! Your reviews mean the world to me! I will reply to all replies for this chapter, kitsune promise! ^^
Until next time,
Kawaii-Keke-Chan
!xox!
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