InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Life in Your Eyes ❯ "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" ( Chapter 3 )

Third chapter of the story. Hopefully no one had a problem with the last chapter. I got some complaints on mediaminer.org I guess. If you aren't comfortable with violence or some rude language then I wouldn't suggest reading this story. I've tried to keep it to a minimum but apparently some people have had a problem with what's already been written. Please make wise choices about your own maturity level and don't read something you're uncomfortable with.

 

Enjoy the story

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha or The Raging Quiet.

 

 

 

The morning light brought Kagome out of her heavy slumber and for a moment she was disoriented. She sat up, looking around to take in her surroundings. A slightly shabby futon padded her from the floor where she lay and she was covered in a warm blanket. The walls of the room were bare and there was little else in it beside herself. A small chest sat along one wall and a broom leaned in one corner. Kagome silently slipped from the bed and adjusted her rumpled clothing. She knew this was the temple, remembered what had happened the night before yet felt more than a little detached from the situation. For some reason her mind decided that if she didn't think it was real, it wouldn't be. But that idea came crashing down as soon as she saw Miroku rise from his meditation and approach her. “Houshi-sama,” she whispered, her voice cracking in fear.

 

“Kagome-sama… Ohayo,” he greeted, hoping to keep the mood light until he could explain what he had discovered the night before. Kagome looked confused and fearful, unsure of how he could greet her so casually after what had happened. He motioned for her to sit at his table and made her sip a cup of tea. She complied in silence. He then explained to the young woman what he had felt when he entered her house the night before. She listened with rapt attention as he told her that her husband had been a demon. “I can only assume by the surname that he was a wolf youkai. By the strength of his remaining youki I'd say he was a fairly high level demon. They can appear as human as you or I if one doesn't know what to look for.” When asked Kagome responded that he was covered by no markings so it was clear that he was not youkai royalty. “Thank Buddha for that at least. You have enough stress as it is.” Kagome was still in shock when Inuyasha came striding in like he owned the place. He dug around looking for something until Miroku stood with a sigh and made the young man move. “I really wish you would just ask for breakfast instead of trying to take it yourself,” he told the other raven-haired man with a shake of his head.

 

Without anymore fuss Inuyasha sat down beside Kagome and stared patiently at the monk, waiting to be given food. He barely acknowledged the young woman next to him, too intent on the food coming to notice the way she cringed away from him. He did notice when Miroku glanced at her worriedly while setting a cup of tea and a bit of rice before him. Looking at her he saw how she had physically curled in on herself and looked to the monk for answers. When he simply shook his head at him Inuyasha shrugged and went about eating his meal. Once he had finished he strode back out without a backward glance. “Does he always do that?” Kagome questioned, finally finding her voice.

 

Miroku sighed and gave a soft laugh. “No. He doesn't usually come around much at all. I think he stays out in the hills and forest most of the time, away from the village. He doesn't like to be inside.” He stared out of the front door for a few moments with a tiny smile on his lips. “He's freer than anyone I've ever known but so very troubled. I think the wilderness is the only place he truly feels comfortable. With the way the villagers treat him, it's no wonder.” Kagome followed his gaze out of the doorway to where they could see Inuyasha sitting idly on the wall once more. “I think perhaps he feels protective of you. He would never hang around for this long after a free meal if it were just me,” he told her with a chuckle, his indigo eyes laughing. Kagome let a little twist come to her mouth. `Protective of me… How sweet.'

 

 

Miroku finally convinced Kagome to go back to her house but offered to come with her. Grateful for the monk's presence, the young woman entered her front door and felt the absence of her husband's aura. She hadn't realized how quickly she had become accustomed to it until it was gone. Everything looked just as it had when she left except for the fire having gone out. She slowly knelt beside it and encouraged it back to life before looking around the little house that was now hers. She was a widow after only two days. “What am I going to do?” she whispered.

 

“Why not return to your family?” Miroku responded from where he stood by the door. Kagome shook her head slowly. “I don't understand Kagome-sama.”

 

“I married Koga to keep them from starving… if his family finds out that he's dead, they'll probably take back what they've already given them.” With a sigh she stood and went about tidying the room even though it didn't need it.

 

“Do you intend to lie to his family?” the monk asked with a distinct frown. Kagome laughed bitterly.

 

“Lie to his family who lied to me? If I tell them I know Koga was youkai and that they are as well, they'll likely kill me. They govern that village fairly enough and I can only hope they continue to do so. If they have reason to believe the rest of us know about them, they may not remain so kind.” Nodding at her assessment, Miroku sighed deeply. The poor girl would be left alone, away from the village with no man in the house. He tried to think if there were any unoccupied houses in the village proper but came up empty. There was no way around it.

 

“Perhaps you should come live in the temple Kagome-sama. It is much too dangerous for you to live out here on your own.”

 

His suggestion was met with a soft laugh and a small smile. “No Miroku-sama, there's no need for that. If I can get something to keep the door locked from inside and you bless this house to keep the evil spirits out, I should be more than fine.” The monk was skeptical and couldn't imagine leaving the young woman to live in this place by herself. She was right though, there wasn't much that anyone could do to harm her if she had the things she asked for. The two turned when there was a loud crash just outside and the frightened whinny of the horses. Miroku motioned for Kagome to stay back but she wasn't one to cower.

 

“Argh! Inuyasha you oaf!” Miroku shouted, shaking his fist, when he found the dark-haired young man digging through the shed where the wagon was kept. “Get out of there, those aren't your things.” The houshi was ignored until Kagome came up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder. He cast her a small smile and continued digging until he found what it seemed he was looking for. A wide wood plank, a few inches thick, was held out in his hands for Kagome to inspect. She laughed softly, knowing he had heard her earlier request. The poor boy looked so hopeful that even if it hadn't been what she needed she would have taken it without complaint.

 

“See now Miroku-sama, he doesn't ignore everything we say.” Inuyasha carried the plank over to the house, setting it inside the door before going back out to the shed, presumably in search of something to attach it to the doorframe with. Finding a few chunks of smaller wood he and the monk managed to construct a set of brackets so she could set the heavy plank in them and keep the door from swinging open. She practiced hefting it a few times, glad of her long hours of work before she left her village. “Thank you both so much. I feel better already,” Kagome told the two dark-haired men with a grin. Inuyasha stood by the doorway, not quite coming in and the young woman offered him a cup with water. He stared at her a little strangely, as though he didn't quite believe that she was offering him anything. After a few more moments of coaxing she managed to get him inside and at the table next to Miroku and both men drank from their cups in silence. Kagome couldn't help smiling at the two as she swept up the mess they had left behind. She felt so blessed to have found friends so quickly, especially with all the strange goings on with her now deceased husband. She was lucky, and she knew it.

 

 

Her third night in her home by herself was nearly as frightening as the two previous. She had told Miroku that he didn't need to come check on her every day since he had more important things to take care of in the village and she swore she didn't need to be coddled. He had looked worried but had finally agreed with a sigh. Now she almost wished she'd asked him to come by. The night sounds were always soft and soothing at first but once she tried to drift off to sleep in her bed alone they distorted into the whispers of evil spirits, the scratch of demon claws on her door. She had found a way to cover the windows but even with Miroku's and her own blessing on every one she feared that something would try to come in. That night there was a storm and all the noises of the night were overpowered by the rain and wind. Kagome huddled down in her futon to wait it out since she knew she wouldn't sleep. The wind whistled in through the windows and under the door, making a frightening racket. Rain pelted the roof and the walls so that the imagined scratching of demons became tapping then pounding.

 

“What?” she whispered, her head coming off her pillow to look at the door. That wasn't the rain. Slipping out of bed, Kagome grabbed her robe to wrap it tightly around herself before making her way to the door. She could hear scrabbling at the doorstep and the tapping again at the door. Was someone out there? Who on earth would venture out on a night like this and not have somewhere to go? “Hello?” she called tentatively, hoping it was all her imagination and that there wasn't really anyone there to answer her. Kagome squeaked when the pounding returned to be followed by someone rattling the door. Rushing over to the window the young widow glanced out into the dark. A slumped figure leaned weakly against her door, a familiar dark head of long hair resting there. “Inuyasha!” Rushing to the door she lifted the plank and swung the door open, barely catching him when he fell forward. Confused and frightened she dragged him into the room and managed to shut the door before the rain could blow in and soak the floor. Inuyasha was weak and couldn't help her carry his weight much. “Inuyasha,” she called to him, hoping to rouse him from his stupor. He let out a ragged breath, his face tilting slightly toward her. Now with his help she got him to the futon and lay him down. Her hands were slick with the rain and something else… “Blood,” she gasped, “Oh Kami-sama Inuyasha. What happened?” Obviously unable to answer her, the young man simply lay on his front and rested. Kagome got a few candles lit before she could find rags so she could clean the wounds she could now see all along his back. “They whipped you again. Where was Miroku-sama?” Inuyasha made no move to acknowledge her and Kagome sighed in frustration. She hated that she couldn't communicate with him because she had a feeling he would have a lot to say if he could speak. She convinced him to let her help him out of his torn shirt, winces and hisses of breath the only indication he made of his pain. The young widow winced in sympathy as she cleaned the gashes in his back, slicing across those that had probably barely healed from the week before. They were deeper than the last time as far as she could tell and his wrists were even more bruised, as though he'd been tied up for much longer.

 

It took her a long time to get him cleaned up and bandaged and he was already half asleep by the time she finished. Having nowhere else to put him and hardly the strength to lift the bar onto the door, Kagome left him where he lay and took a blanket from one of the chests so she could at least be warm as she slept on the floor. Despite the uncomfortable position she found sleep much more inviting. The soft sounds of rustling sheets and Inuyasha's breathing were lulling and Kagome found herself asleep much sooner than she would have expected with a strange man in her house.

 

 

“Inuyasha! Stop this nonsense and come back inside,” Kagome hollered. He only cast her a mischievous look and continued to stand out in the rain, enjoying the feeling of the drops pelting him everywhere. He so rarely got to enjoy the weather because most of the time he was trying to survive in it. Now that he had someplace to go to get out of it, he wanted to live in it. Kagome on the other hand was not enjoying much of anything if her shouts and growls of frustration were any indication. She was still concerned over his wounds from the week before and while he appreciated her worrying about him, he wasn't ready to let her see them yet. She would probably cast him out just like the other villagers had. But Kagome was so different from anyone he had ever met. Even Miroku tended to think he was more than a little stupid and that he perhaps had something wrong with him. The young woman standing in the doorway of her home simply wanted him to come in from the rain.

 

Another slightly evil thought entered his head and Inuyasha stalked over to the door. Without warning he swept Kagome over his shoulder, amid her shrieks of protest, and brought her out into the rain with him. She was yelling things about how undignified it was, how her clothes would be ruined but Inuyasha ignored her, setting her on her feet and forcing her to stand in the deluge pouring from the skies. Closing his eyes the dark-haired young man tilted his face up and made no other move.

 

She wanted to be furious with him for dragging her out of the house and into the downpour but she just couldn't find it in her. Kagome watched him through hooded eyes as he let the raindrops fall on his face, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Inuyasha…” He didn't acknowledge her so she continued to watch him. His dark hair hung in limp waves around his shoulders, unrestrained and gleaming. Water slipped down the sides of his smooth face to his neck and down his chest. Kagome didn't dare watch it past there. The shirt he wore was one of Koga's that was a little big on the much leaner boy and the rain had rendered it opaque. Even looking slightly like a drowned rat he was beautiful and Kagome feared for herself. `What is he doing to me?' she wondered. His gaze finally returned to her and Kagome turned away, blushing at the strange light in his violet eyes.

 

The whole week he'd been staying with her Inuyasha had been giving her little looks like that. They were almost always fleeting and she rarely knew what they implied but there were times it was quite obvious what he meant with those looks. She was terrified of him at moments like those. Why would a man look at a woman like that unless he very well meant to back it up with some action? But Inuyasha never got too close, never made her fear for her safety. In fact, she'd never felt so safe in her entire life. Something about his presence made her feel like nothing in the world could harm her so long as he stood by her side. At night he slept on a set of blankets near the fire pit while she now took the futon but it always seemed that he moved a bit closer every night. What Kagome feared more than anything was her lack of objection. `I'm a newly widowed woman, I can't be…' But there was nothing to be done for it. She had never really loved Koga like a wife was supposed to love a husband and Inuyasha invoked both protective and unexpected feelings in her. She begged him not to go near the village anymore and so far he seemed to have listened though he usually left to wander during the day. He often returned in time for meals but sometimes she didn't see him until long after dusk. Never having any idea where he went, she didn't ask even though she was curious to know. She wanted him to have his freedom.

 

Just the day before Miroku had braved the rain to pay her a visit since she hadn't left her house in over a week. He seemed both troubled and pleased by her decision to take Inuyasha into her home. “The villagers will think poorly of you Kagome-sama,” he warned in a soft voice, the two of them alone at the table because Inuyasha was out somewhere or another, traipsing through the countryside. “I for one commend you but they don't trust him and with you newly widowed…”

 

“I don't care what they think of me. If those people think that whipping that poor sweet man is alright then I want nothing to do with them,” she'd argued vehemently.

 

“How will you get food, materials to fix your house should the need arise?” Miroku begged to know. “Kagome-sama, I just don't think it's a good idea.”

 

“Well thank you for your concern but I don't think that it's any of your business.” She hadn't meant to sound like she was shutting him out but the faint anger on his face alerted her to the fact that the monk felt that was exactly what she was doing. “Miroku-sama, I know you worry, and I do thank you. But I know that Inuyasha needs someone to look after him as much as any of us do. He deserves to have a warm place to sleep at night and to not have to worry about getting beaten if he gets too close to the village. I want him to stay here with me so that he doesn't have to be afraid.” The monk knew that it wasn't Inuyasha who was afraid but said nothing to the contrary. Kagome's wide brown eyes made him melt and he had a feeling they would have the same affect for years to come. He let out a soft sigh.

 

“Alright Kagome-sama. Just don't let him do anything untoward. And don't be afraid to use force. I told you he's a strong lad and he doesn't always understand no.” Kagome hadn't wanted to think about it then but later she had seen the point of Miroku's argument. Inuyasha wouldn't try anything, she was sure, but if he did she would be just about helpless to stop him. What she was struggling with at that moment was whether or not she would even try to stop him.

 

A tentative touch on her hand drew her attention back to the raven-haired young man who had hauled her out into the rain to enjoy it and seemed to have noticed her preoccupation. His eyes were telling enough and Kagome shivered at the intensity of his gaze. The fingertips that had brushed the back of her hand gently brushed it again as he slowly gripped her much smaller hand in his own. Kagome looked up at him with silent awe. He very rarely touched her like that and it was times like this when she felt herself falling into a deep feeling she could hardly wrap her head around. As she stared into his eyes, something changed within them, a tinge of color she had never seen in his irises before. While the change startled her, she wasn't afraid. A soft sound made its way to her ears and Kagome realized that Inuyasha was making it. It wasn't a normal human noise making her fear that he was indeed possessed like the villagers thought he was. But that wasn't right at all. It was a soft sound, like… like a growl. Inuyasha was purring! Thrown off by the realization, Kagome barely noticed the way his body was now closer than it had been a few minutes before.

 

Inuyasha wasn't sure how he'd been able to make himself growl again but it felt good to do it. Kagome looked fascinated, completely drawn into the vibration and soft sound of his rumbling. He pulled her slightly closer, wanting her near enough to feel the heat of her body. She was so small in comparison to him. He'd noticed it before but it never ceased to amaze him. He was not large by any means but his height made him tower over her. Kagome was much more delicate and petite than any of the women in the village who were all rugged and weathered from years of hard work. They were all built for life on the sea's edge. Kagome on the other hand was not rail thin but neither was she hardy like the women he had grown up seeing. “Inuyasha,” she softly whispered, the sound barely making it above the rain to reach his ears. The delicious thrum in his blood that he had felt that first time he touched her returned full force and his eyelids drooped in contentment. Kagome bit her lip in a nervous gesture bringing more rosy color to it. Inuyasha's eyes followed the rise and fall of her chest against him and simply breathed with her for several moments. He was struggling with his newfound feelings and wasn't sure how he could make Kagome understand.

 

With a gentle hand Inuyasha brushed the backs of his knuckles against Kagome's cheek, remembering a couple he'd spied on once many years before. They never knew he was there and he learned a lot of what he knew about men and women through watching them interact. They were young people, very much in love and idealistic. Inuyasha saw the woman years later with three children and no husband. He'd heard the villagers say the sea had taken him. But their depth of feeling had been true from what he could tell and he assumed that they must have felt a lot like he did with Kagome in that moment. Her eyes had closed at his touch and she made no sign of protest toward his holding her. Slowly he leaned down and made to press his lips to hers as he'd seen the man do. Again Kagome made no move to stop him but the sound of footsteps along the dirt road that lead to the cove had him pulling away.

 

“Inuyasha…” she whispered, hurt entering her voice. Why had he stopped? Kagome's eyes blinked open and she turned to see what had grabbed his attention away from their intimate moment. While the rain had not lessened, it hadn't kept someone from traveling as she could now hear what Inuyasha seemed to have. The trees that lined the property kept the road from view so it gave them time to move apart slightly as a stranger came around the bend. Inuyasha huffed and scowled, already on edge. “Do you know who it is?” Kagome questioned quietly. The raven-haired man at her side didn't move as the traveler approached them until he gently pushed her behind his back, hiding her from the man's view.

 

The man came to a stop and lifted his head slightly, revealing himself from under his wide hat. Kagome gasped as she recognized the face of her late husband's cousin, a man she had never had any affinity for. He was dark of eye and hair and had an ominous presence that always made her shudder on the inside. Back in her own village she had avoided him when she could which was easy most of the time. He had lived on another estate of his uncle's but moved back when the old man died. Kagome wasn't ever sure what exactly it was about him that made her so uncomfortable but now that she knew he had to be youkai, it made sense to be fearful of him. “I am assuming that is my dear cousin you are hiding behind you,” he stated in a voice that made Kagome cringe farther behind Inuyasha's tall frame. Naraku did not looked pleased by the way she was hiding but Kagome couldn't help the fear that had taken hold of her. His aura seemed to smother her even at a distance, the anger only adding to it. “Kagome-san, please allow me to properly introduce myself…”

 

“I know who you are sir,” she squeaked. “P-please, come in out of the rain.” She motioned toward the still open door and allowed him to walk ahead of her as she glanced over her shoulder at Inuyasha. He had a scowl on his face and it was very obviously directed at the man who had just stepped over the threshold of the house. Kagome was slightly startled by his upset but she knew that Miroku had been right about the wild young man that day. He was very protective of her. She gave him a tiny smile, hoping to reassure him but couldn't conceal the fact that she was shaking slightly. Naraku had gone into the house without any trouble and the fact that her constant blessings on the house hadn't affected him bothered her more than she wanted to admit. “Here, a towel to dry off with,” Kagome offered after digging in one of the chests. The dark man turned down the offer and she instead gave it to Inuyasha as he stepped in. His eyes never left their unwelcome guest even as he rung out his hair. “To what do I owe this pleasure sir?”

 

A soft and malicious chuckle bubbled up in her deceased husband's relative. “I hope you do not intend to try and fool me girl. That boy is not my cousin and there is no way you can convince me that he has not died. I only wish to come and claim what resides here.” Kagome looked at him in fear and confusion, a glance at Inuyasha her silent plea for help she knew he couldn't give.

 

“B-but this is my house now, is it not? Koga-sama is gone, I will not deny that. But I am his widow and I thought that meant…”

 

Naraku's laugh was much more forthright and mocking. “His widow? You were hardly married three days woman. That hardly makes you entitled to anything. The house is not yours and neither is the property. In fact, you are not even your own,” he replied cryptically. Kagome certainly didn't like the sound of that, no matter that she didn't entirely understand his meaning. “So you see dear cousin,” he continued just as mockingly, “you are required to do as I say any way you look at it. If you would prefer I can have the monk in the village perform a marriage ceremony or you may do without and simply comply quietly.” Now that she did understand and she knew that she wouldn't like it.

 

“I won't marry you Naraku-sama,” she said in a whisper, “nor will I be your plaything.”

 

“Then you will be cast out,” he said in a careless manner though the anger in his eyes was there to see. Inuyasha moved closer to where Kagome knelt across from the man, knowing that this was not looking good for Kagome. He had no power here. With no voice and no home of his own, he couldn't protect Kagome. If it came down to it, she could live with the monk in the temple or even with him in one of his many caves and hideaways. But Kagome deserved to live in a home of her own, a place she could come and go as she pleased and still feel safe. “Already you've found someone to fill my cousin's place between your thighs,” Naraku sneered with a glance in Inuyasha's direction, “You have no right to complain.” The accusation was not lost on either Kagome or Inuyasha and the two glanced at one another in slight embarrassment. The violet-eyed man knew how much shame such a thing could bring upon her but he refused to leave her alone. She needed his protection.

 

Kagome was seething inside, rage boiling in her gut. “Not that it is any of your business, sir, but Inuyasha and I are merely friends. Nothing is going on between us and I resent your claim otherwise.” Naraku's eyes shot to the man standing warily behind Kagome, recognition lighting his eyes.

 

“Inuyasha… Is that so? Well my dear cousin, it seems you have found a very famous bed companion,” the man said with a dark chuckle. While Inuyasha froze, Kagome turned to look up at him with confusion. `Famous?' Naraku's lips quirked into a smirk and he stood to use his height to his advantage. “Know you not who he is?” When Kagome's face did not change he laughed. “You are in for quite the troublesome time from what I've heard. Becomes a demon at night because of a curse placed on him nearly half a century ago by his lover, a miko no less. Oh, and one who looked so startlingly like you Kagome my dear. Perhaps he hopes to rekindle his lost love,” Naraku ridiculed the two. Kagome found her heart clenching in uncomfortable fear. Was what Naraku said true? Seeing the pair sufficiently upset he decided to take his leave. Knowing his cousin was dead and that the boy was in the area meant he would soon be able to retrieve what he had come for. Getting Kagome would simply be an additional benefit. With a flourish of movement Naraku was gone and the remaining people in the house felt the way his menacing presence seemed to linger after him.

 

Kagome found herself trembling. It was obvious to her that her husband's cousin didn't intend to leave the issue of the house alone and would likely be back to drive her out soon enough. And added to that was her newfound wariness of Inuyasha. Had Naraku told the truth, was there something Inuyasha hadn't been able to tell her that she really should have known? “Does Miroku know?” she asked softly. She waited for Inuyasha to crouch down beside her, his eyes turned away. For the first time since they had met he responded directly. A tiny nod. “Is it true?” This time he paused. She could see in the way he fidgeted that there was more to it than a simple yes or no. “I've never seen you become a demon.” He shook his head. With a tentative hand Inuyasha reached out to touch her, grimacing when she flinched away from him. He let out a sigh and stood, beckoning her to follow. He dug out her cloak and held it out to her until she took it, leading her into the rain until they reached the temple gate. He didn't bother knocking, pushing it open and motioning Kagome inside. She did as asked but found herself still watching him warily. Miroku greeted them at the doorway to the temple itself, a worried look on his face. “My husband's cousin came to the house,” she explained stonily, “He wants me out but he left for now.” Miroku's indigo eyes widened and he moved aside to let them in and make some tea.

 

“Are you alright Kagome-sama?” Kagome nodded numbly and he could tell that she was not fine at all. She sat in silence and Inuyasha stood near the door with a surly expression contorting his face. “What happened?” Kagome explained how Naraku had told her he wanted the house and that he would either kick her out or she would be forced to marry him. Miroku scowled at the barely hidden threat in the man's words. Inuyasha was now pacing and the monk could tell that something else had happened that Kagome didn't want to talk about and which made the young man agitated. “What else Kagome-sama?” His voice was gentle and she responded better than he would have guessed, spilling the information the dark visitor had told her out of spite. She kept tossing fearful glances over at Inuyasha and the pacing boy seemed to notice every one of them though he did nothing to indicate it. Miroku knew him too well to think he wasn't afraid.

 

“He didn't say anything more than that but Inuyasha seemed to… well he didn't deny it.” Miroku raised an eyebrow. If he hadn't denied it that meant he had to have been communicating with Kagome on some level for a little while now.

 

“I assume you would like me to explain what I know about our friend's past,” the houshi said with a sigh. Turning to the young man stalking back and forth near the door Miroku frowned. “Are you sure you want me to tell her this Inuyasha?” He stopped in his stride and nodded without shifting his gaze from the wall. Kagome watched the two men interact before Miroku returned his attention to her. “You must prepare yourself Kagome-sama, this is not a tale to be taken lightly.” Her eyes widened but she nodded her assent. “I was not entirely truthful with you before. Inuyasha is well… not human. I mean, now he is, but he didn't used to be.” He proceeded to tell her the history that brought them to where they were now.

 

Inuyasha's mother was a local beauty of a town a little distance from the one they now resided in. She was sweet and well liked by everyone. When she was little more than twenty she met a strange man in the forest outside her village, silently recovering from a battle. His wounds were not serious but Izayoi took it upon herself to care for him. Though it took some time for her to get him to trust her, the two became fast friends. Not long after, their friendship became more, much more. Soon enough Izayoi was carrying a child, a child of love that the world would cast out. Inuyasha was soon brought into the world and the sight of small triangular white ears on top of the baby's head and the shiny silver hair that adorned his head had marked his heritage. “Demon's whore,” she was called, “Mother of a monster.” They wanted to kill her and destroy the child but she wouldn't allow it. She ran to her youkai lover, the lord of the western lands and a powerful inuyoukai. For a few short years they were able to raise their son together but the world would not leave them to rest. Other demons saw the tainting of their bloodlines with that of human as unforgivable, the creation of a hanyou the essence of that unforgivable act.

 

In their flight from those that would destroy them, the great inuyoukai lord fell, too often injured in battle to recover fully. His last battle was his most extraordinary. A battle against an ancient dragon. It took his life but in that death he saved his mate and child for a time. Inuyasha's mother died soon after from a broken heart, a human sickness speeding the process. The poor little hanyou boy, a mere seven years old, was left on his own, surviving where he could in the world. He scavenged and begged but only found himself mocked and hated. More often than not, someone would try to kill him for even looking like he might be thinking about coming near their village. His life was lonely and full of prejudice. Until he was grown to a young adult he did not see a single friendly face.

 

A hand on his shoulder stopped Miroku in his story. Inuyasha's violet eyes were locked with Kagome's over his head. She stared back at him with sadness and pity in her eyes. He didn't want her to pity him, that was not the point of this story. He wanted her to understand the truth so that she would continue to trust him. So that one day… Well he didn't know what it was he hoped would happen but somewhere inside was this little fire, a flame of hope that wouldn't be extinguished. “Inuyasha,” she whispered to him. Still she couldn't stand or move. He had come to understand a lot of the things she didn't say in the last week and knowing she wanted to offer him comfort made him angry. He didn't want her to feel sorry for him! Unable to express his anger Inuyasha found himself flying into one of his rages. It was always like that. He didn't know where the anger had come from until it had completely taken him over. With a growl from deep in his chest the raven-haired man flipped the table against the far wall, barely missing Kagome's head in the process. She screamed and ducked to the floor as he took just about anything he could get his hands on and threw it. Miroku jumped up and snatched his staff, wielding it against the young man and managing to back him out of the door. It didn't matter to him anymore. Inuyasha took off in a sprint toward the woods, not looking back.

 

“Are you alright Kagome-sama?” Miroku asked the sobbing girl softly. She was terrified, and rightfully so. Inuyasha's temper was formidable and his tantrums worse. It was the first time she'd seen him like that and it was obviously a shock to the system. “He's gone now Kagome-sama, everything's fine.” She only shook her head and curled farther into herself. Miroku sighed and decided to give her a few moments to collect herself. The monk went about the room cleaning up the mess Inuyasha had made, mugs shattered against a wall, the flipped table with a crack that would have to be mended. Overall it was one of the wild boy's more mild fits but the houshi had a feeling the damage done to his home was far less than what Kagome's trust was going through. He only hoped that she would learn to have faith in the hanyou turned man again for both their sakes.

 

 

 

Uh oh! Drama, drama. Will Inuyasha come back? Will Kagome ever trust him again? Next chapter should be out in a few weeks. I hope those of you still reading are enjoying the story. Happy Fourth O' July to those of you who celebrate it! I'll be working! * blech! * See some fireworks, eat some pie, throw someone in a lake! That's how we do it up in Minnesota. Too bad I'm in Kansas where there are almost NO lakes at all. Takes some of the fun out of summer…