InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Dream's Worth ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter One

~~~~~

Darkness

That's all that her mind could register, a nothingness that wrapped around her so completely, it robbed her of all her physical senses. She tried to focus, to force her body to move, to respond to her orders but her body would not obey.

She wanted to rub her fingers or move her eyes in order to feel, lick her lips in order to taste, speak in order to hear, but it was impossible, her body and her mind were separate and in this void there was nothing she could have in order to define herself or the place that she now found herself in.

Kagome...

A name, spoken with joy and affection surged forth and a smiling face of a young woman flashed through her soul.

Who…

She wondered for but a second until she felt the sensations, the emotions that accompanied that precious picture and realized that surely it was a memory.

Memories…

That was how she could define herself, in her memories her senses were alive, telling her that at some time taste, touch, sight, sound and scent had all been hers to enjoy. In her memories perhaps she could relive and understand how she had come to this place. Her memories however, were shaken and distorted as if someone had scattered them to the winds, like one spreads ashes of the dead to release the soul.

NO!

Every part of her being seemed to recoil at the idea of her own demise, and the chaos that it threw her into caused her to shrink in and shy away from it all. A few moments or maybe many hours passed before the maelstrom of her mind settled and once more clear thoughts came to her, but what was she?

A Soul…

Was that all? Was there no body, no home? Another image surged forward, a young girl dressed in a high school uniform, her raven locks hanging loosely below her shoulders, the vague hint of a smile curving her lips. Even as she acknowledged this new image she could tell it was somehow wrong, as if she wasn't looking directly at this person. A mirror? Yes, that was it! This was herself, shown to her soul by the memory of a mirror.

She paused as a new realization struck. How could she understand such things as high school uniforms and mirrors but couldn't remember herself? It did not matter, these things, this knowledge, would aid her in defining herself; the memories she would resurrect and the sensations that they gave would separate her from the void. The image of the young woman's joyful face came to her again.

Mama...

She knew this woman, this was her mother, this image that her soul had first latched onto, and would hold forever. She had nothing but vague impressions and discordant feelings before this; therefore, this would be her starting point. She cradled the memory to herself, and the sensations it gave once more filled her, and the name spoken came to her.

Kagome…

Untold voices, with indecipherable emotions suddenly raised that name within her and she knew, with a certainty that she almost wished to shy away from, that it was her own. Within this name and within those voices who had uttered it, she would find herself. Slowly, she began to rebuild her life within her memories, adding pieces together, feeling the emotions of those times as they made fresh impressions upon her; the nervousness of her first day of school, the joy at meeting her new baby brother, the grief of losing her father. At some points, she did not wish to continue, the pain held within some thoughts making her want to shut down, to retreat inside her soul and be content with this void as long as she could avoid the heartache that lay within the next breath of remembrance. But another part just as stubbornly refused to let her, so she would blunder through and use the joys to help heal the sorrows, until she arrived at the day of her fifteenth birthday.

Once again she paused, for somehow, she knew that once she lived this day there would be no turning back, that on this day everything of the world she had rebuilt and defined herself with would be changed forever. That after this day her memories would flood to her as if released from a Pandora's box and reliving them would not be an option, they would be a part of her once more. Did she want that? Kagome had no way of knowing.

Memories…

Kagome opened the box; and in an instant all of herself was there, and she remembered that day that seemed so long ago when she had met Inuyasha and a fate she hadn't even known she carried inside herself.

Inuyasha

Oh, how she wished he was here now. He made everything alright, even in the worst of times his confidence convinced her that no matter what happened they would always figure a way out of whatever mess they had landed, a mess usually caused by that damn jewel.

Even as she thought it something snapped across her soul.

Kagome froze.

What the hell was that? She concentrated on the feeling. For she had actually felt whatever had just happened and was not about to let any sort of feeling escape her attention. It had felt like the stern voice and disappointed glare of an elder. How those things could feel like anything she didn't know but it was the best way she could describe it. She waited but she felt nothing more and decided that if delving into memories had gotten her the response hopefully continuing were get her more and, better yet, maybe some damn answers.

As she looked at her most recent memories she realized they remained unclear. Perhaps I did die? But once again the rest of her cried out against such thoughts and Kagome came to the conclusion that she wouldn't find her answers in death.

Kagome felt something shift outside of herself; as if there was something within the void positioning itself, but for what purpose she could not begin to guess at. Perhaps that had been the thing before? She reasoned, waiting for something, anything else to happen. When nothing else was forthcoming she gave a mental sigh and shifted her focus away from the disturbance outside, and once more focused in on herself. Her soul stirred and suddenly an odd vibration, or perhaps a pulse, thundered through her. She froze again, feeling as if she had just shouted in a library, and then the something reflected the pulse back to her, sending with it the knowledge that she was surrounded by the `other.'

Panic was her first instinct, but reason helped to squash it rather quickly and the two simply shared the darkness for untold time. It was doubtful that this presence was out to harm her, for it had ample opportunity when her soul had been in chaos and Kagome held a small hope that perhaps it was even guarding her; not revealing itself until she had asserted her awareness. Once more a pulse was sent from the other, but within it came the feeling of comfort, of being cherished, the feeling that comes from a mother wrapping their arms around their child.

Kagome let the feeling sink into her soul and wished she had a mouth with which to sigh in relief. The void became less menacing as the presence began to send soft, subtle waves and Kagome took them as encouragement to continue her soul searching. She refocused on the past, starting at the point where things within her memory seemed to start to unravel or waver, hoping that within this confusion she would find answers.

Shikon no Tama…

~~~~~

Shippo's panicked scream barely gave Kagome the time to avoid the new opponent's sudden appearance, scrambling away as it swung around for a new attack.

This is not how I wanted to start my day, Kagome thought to herself, as she readied an arrow.

It had been in the predawn hours that the attack had come. The sun had barely begun to lighten the sky and the only noises that could be heard were from the annoying early birds, the ones any true night owl wants to maim upon hearing. Most within the campsite had still been fast asleep and would have preferred to remain that way, but a warning shout from their ever watchful guardian tumbled them into wakefulness, clutching their weapons as they rose to their feet.

The first few youkai had easily been dispatched, but as the fighters dealt with these forerunners the rest immersed themselves in the trees surrounding the grove where the group had set camp. And to add annoyance to a rude awakening these youkai didn't come in one large strike to be mowed down by a Kaze no Kizu. No, instead they came from all directions pecking at the group and driving them in opposite directions.

That was how she found herself in her current state, with Shippo clinging to her shoulder as she tried to figure out where her friends were and at the same time avoid whatever these youkai would throw next. She swung her bow up, but lost her grip on her arrow as a snake youkai revealed itself and raced towards her, she changed her hold on her bow and, using it as a miko's weapon, brought it down in a swift arc that sliced easily through the creature.

Even as she completed the arc, pain lanced through her arm as a neko youkai raked its claws along her forearm and hand, darting away from her to avoid retaliation. It was a she demon, and her glowing eyes and drooling mouth told Kagome exactly what the youkai regarded her as. Kagome's bow slipped from her blood soaked and nervous less fingers, as she crashed down to one knee. Fear crept through her, a shudder she barely suppressed, wanting to wrack her frame and show her weakness. She tried desperately to contrive a defense against this new form of death, snatching up the forgotten arrow and in that instant Shippo jumped down to face the youkai, trying to put on a brave face as he faced the youkai in front of them.

The youkai smirked at the pathetic picture they must have presented, before launching herself at them. Kagome reached out with her empty and injured hand to throw Shippo behind, her only thoughts were to give him a few spare moments in order to make his escape, and the wish that Inuyasha would burst through the underbrush in that moment.

“Shippo, run!” she cried, still facing the oncoming attack, letting desperation leach into her voice in the hopes that it would spur him into flight. Suddenly the youkai's momentum vanished and it hung in the air, like a puppet on strings, before a gurgled gasp escaped its mouth and it was dropped into a boneless heap mere meters from her. Kagome slowly raised her brown depths to the blue eyes of the youkai who had just saved her, shock freezing her in place. As the two remained locked in their staring match, Shippo crawled cautiously up to her uninjured side, patting her arm to get her attention.

“Kagome, you're hurt we gotta stop the bleeding,” but his voice went unheeded as Kagome tried to come up with a reason, any reason, a strange youkai would save her.

Finally she was able get question past the locked jaw that had overcome her since this youkai's appearance, “But…you're a youkai,” she inwardly winced at the incredulity that she couldn't keep from her voice. The youkai continued to gaze at her not uttering a response before it turned its head to the brush off to the left, from whence Inuyasha came crashing out of, skidding to a halt in front of Kagome, Tessaiga already poised in front of him.

“Prepare to die,” he snarled, already noting the scent of Kagome's blood and the ragged, crimson mess of her right arm, coming to the conclusion that the creature in front of him was the culprit.

Inuyasha's words, however, shocked Kagome out of her stupefied silence and she jumped up, latching onto his arm stopping him from throwing himself at this youkai in a rage. “No…no, Inuyasha that…that youkai saved me,” her voice a whispered awe. The youkai this whole time had not moved a muscle, had simply stared at them, remaining stock still as if it was allowing them time to discuss its existence.

Inuyasha glanced down at Kagome as he tried to understand what was going on. “You mean to say,” Disbelief ringing clear in his voice, “that this yo...” But here he stopped and turned to regard the being in front of him, raising his nose and scenting the air. A look of shock overtook his features as he uttered, “Hanyou,” revealing the creature's identity as if it was something that had stepped out of the legends. The being gave a slight nod of acknowledgement at this, glancing around before rolling its shoulders and relaxing its stance. Kagome stepped up beside Inuyasha, as he sheathed Tessaiga, deciding that perhaps the hanyou would be more open to conversation if received in a more thankful manner.

“Ano, Thanks for your help, I thought I was in real trouble back there.” Kagome waited on pins and needles for the being's response, and it finally came in the form of an exasperated sigh, as it reached up to place a forefinger to its temple, seemingly to banish a new forming headache. Suddenly, Kagome was able to take in everything and a thousand questions tumbled through her mind as a result. First off it was a woman, appearing to be in her late teens, early twenties; though being a hanyou who was to say how old she was. Her hair was white with a highlight of blue steel laced throughout and was bound in a braid that fell just past her shoulders. Long bangs, parted to the side, framed a neutral expression and pointed ears; each with intricately wired silver swirls running the length, black stones woven into one and white stones on the other, sat on either side of her head. Her clothes were where most of Kagome's confusion resided. There was no other explanation, they were definitely modern clothes. The woman wore a tan, button down, collared shirt with a pair of jeans and black, soft soled boots.

The others had also taken in her appearance, both looking to her for answers, particularly Inuyasha, from whom Kagome felt a good helping of suspicion directed towards her, as if she had somehow brought this hanyou here. Kagome clamped down her anger at Inuyasha's suspicions and spoke up again to see if she could at least get the woman's name. “Um,” ugh how does one begin, she railed silently, “I really can't thank you enough, if there's anything we can do to repay you, just name it. By the way my name's Kagome, this is Inuyasha and this is Shippo,” indicating each in turn. “We're traveling with some friends,” here she stopped her rush of speech as she was unsure of what to say. She couldn't very well tell this stranger about Naraku or the Shikon no Tama or anything else about their mission.

But at this pause the woman finally deemed it time to speak, “My name is Kaida, and I wish to journey with you.” Her voice came out calm and steady, a lulling hush chasing after and mingling with her words. Of course, what she'd said didn't go over too well with Inuyasha.

“Why the fuck would we let you travel with us,” he demanded his hand once more flying to the hilt of Tessaiga, growling to make his threat more palpable. Kaida calmly waited, her measured gaze never leaving their figures, until Inuyasha's growls quieted somewhat.

Once more Kaida spoke in smooth, unhurried tones. “As Kagome pointed out, you have an honor debt to me and I believe this is sufficient compensation for my actions.” Inuyasha didn't bat an eye at the idea of the debt, his mind almost visibly working out some other form of repayment, so Kaida decided to add a little more information to try to get them to budge. “Furthermore, I have been traveling with you for over two years, you simply did not know it. Now, I would merely like to travel with you in the open, the company of you and your friends seem to be most entertaining.” She concluded in the same neutral tones, but now she was facing three stunned expression that were more than taken aback by the revelation of their unknown companion.

As Inuyasha tried to gather a reply to that little gem Kagome beat him to it. Leveling an accusing finger she yelled, “You've been spying on us all this time and you expect us to welcome you.” The look she gave Kaida told her exactly what Kagome thought of that, but she was not about to be dissuaded. Her instincts had forced her, after all this time, to reveal herself to the group and she knew she was going to have to at least get them to allow her this. She realized that playing on their trust would get her nowhere, so she decided to play on their mistrust.

“I haven't been reporting to anyone, so I would hardly consider myself a spy, but if you wish me to conceal myself once more and follow in that manner I have little choice but to accept. I cannot force my company upon you.” There was a brief moment of silence, before Kagome and Inuyasha turned to have a whispered conversation; Kaida tried not to eavesdrop.

~~~~~

“It's not like we've got a whole lot of options, and we do owe her,” Kagome pointed out. Inuyasha cast a brief glance at the invading hanyou, before turning his scowl back upon Kagome. He didn't like this one little bit, this could easily be another trap of Naraku's and the thought of putting Kagome in unknown danger caused a fierce knot of anxiety to form in his stomach. He just couldn't understand why the hell anyone in their right minds would wish to travel with them, unless, of course, they were under orders. He said as much as much to Kagome and though she looked slightly offended, she conceded his point. “What if we got her to prove that she can travel without being seen, like saying that she has to be within our next camp five minutes after we choose it?” Inuyasha mulled this possibility over, thinking it was a fair test of at least that part of her story. If it was true then he would prefer to have her traveling where he could at least keep her in sight.

“What about her clothes, they looked like the kind of stuff some women wear in your time.” At this, both cast another glance on the hanyou who had turned away from them slightly, seemingly trying to give them privacy.

Kagome's nod affirmed his suspicions, the woman wasn't from here. “Do you think she came through the well?” Inuyasha queried unsure which answer would make him happy, both presenting unpleasant possibilities. Kagome shrugged, there was no way to tell how the woman had arrived; it would just have to be added to the stack of quickly mounting questions. They both fell silent for a few more moments before Inuyasha gave a decisive nod and straightened his back, turning to face the invader once more.

“All right, here's the deal,” and he briefly outlined the conditions. “If you manage that, then you can join us, but don't think you'll be welcome and we expect some answers if you prove true.”

“Very well,” she agreed with a slight bow, “I shall see you at sunset then,” and with that she disappeared from view.

~~~~~

Kaida silently chuckled as she passed through the trees; her presence was really beginning to frustrate poor Inuyasha. He had been an agitated mess since rejoining the others and continuing onwards, darting away from the group to give a quick scan of the area before returning, only to bound away again a few minutes later.

`You're enjoying this,' a familiar and amused voice accused. She freely admitted it, feeling as if she was back home playing hide and go seek; she had always been rather good at that game. `The young one has returned again,' the voice remarked, its own laughter ringing in her mind. `Do you know what he reminds me of,' it chortled inviting her to share in its mounting amusement.

She did, `Hm, a worried mate,' they both burst out laughing.

`Exactly! Exactly!' the voice enthused. `Now why can't he see that for himself.'

`Things are never so easy, you know this,' she admonished; hearing Inuyasha break from the group once more.

An exasperated sigh, `I guess I should be glad, they wouldn't be nearly as entertaining if they were always honest.' Kaida rolled her eyes at that but made no comment and they fell into companionable silence.

~~~~~

Hours later her attention was caught by an argument that had blossomed in the group. It was nightfall by this time and with few stops that day most wished to call it a night, Inuyasha wished to press on and settle in a spot about five miles from their current location. The others, however, knew there was a perfect location about a half a mile off the main road, with hot springs located close-by. There were a few more moments of hushed argument, before she heard the sounds of several pairs of feet crunching underbrush and knew that the majority had won out. She continued her stealthy approach of the group before she finally came within site of the camp, moving with extra caution; she didn't want to lose now when she was so close.

The camp they had chosen was like most of their other ones, only the hint of spring minerals in the air revealing its truly enticing feature. The group however hadn't started to set up camp, instead they all scanned the tree lines no doubt counting down the seconds she had before the game was lost. She waited patiently and, right on cue, a rustle on the opposite side from her drew all their attentions, giving her the few seconds she needed to eliminate the distance between her and the camp, dropping down right next to the young kitsune. He squeaked and darted up to Sango's shoulder, while everyone turned to face her. She allowed a smug grin to appear on her face before quietly declaring, “I win.”

~~~~~

A/N: Thanks to RavenShadow for her review. I wanted to let you guys know that if you ever see a grammatical error in my work please let me know. I'm kinda obsessive on this point so I will be appreciative of all those who help out, I try to get most of them myself but I always seem to miss one or two. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Co. do not belong to me, that privilege is held by Rumiko Takehashi.