InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Sealed Fate ❯ Chapter 20

Inuyasha sat in the branches of a high tree, watching as the group below bunkered down for the night. He had noticed a change in his friends these last six months; they all seemed to be in better spirits and for some reason, more closely bonded. Shippo strutted around in joy and contentment, the monk seemed to breathe easier, and Sangos mood seemed to have improved drastically. Although she did become moody in the middle of the month, she always seemed to become anxious with glee right before the new moon.

He had noticed that his friends no longer kept him company on his human nights, leaving him alone in the clutches of Kikyou. They would always find some excuse or another as to why they would have to leave. At first he thought that they were trying to give him privacy with the miko, but he dismissed that idea. Although they never out right said that they detested Kikyou, they certainly only dealt with her presence for his sake.

That, and she could see the shards.

Still, Inuyasha had a feeling they would rather take their chances and blindly fight for the jewel than put up with his dead ex-girlfriend.

Or whatever the hell she was.

When he had finally worked up the nerve to face her squarely, and tell her once and for all that Kagome was the one he wanted, she had laughed at him.

He flinched back from the shock of her icy hands as they tried to caress his face. She had told him then that it didn't matter.

In the end, he supposed it didn't.

`You're life is mine, Inuyasha. You are bound to me by those very words you had spoken. It was you, who said my name and recalled me from the grave. I am your responsibility. I am in your care. And you think to abandon me for a child who is my reincarnation? A mere shadow of me?

…Do you love me so little, so weakly that you cannot be the man I need you to be?'

`Kikyou, I swore I would protect you. And I still will. I will avenge you by killing Naraku, and then your soul can be at peace, but-`

`You dare tell me what will ease the pain of my soul? It cries not because of that villain, but because of you! The man that I love, that I followed in death, so easily passes me over for another. For a silly girl who is not even here. I compete with a memory! Why am I not good enough for you? What is it about that girl that you cannot let go of?'

`…I…I love her. It's not like this is exactly easy to say to you, because I know this hurts you. And I don't want to do that. But I can't forget Kagome. She is my mate.'

`Mate? Spoken like the dog you are! Had you fulfilled your wish and become human, we would have been wed. Only animals mate. I detest that side of your personality.'

`It's not like everything about you is fucking sunshine Kikyou!' he had growled out at her. It took him aback. This was the first time he had said a cross word to her since she had looked at him as a friend instead of a foe. He had always been so careful to guard his temper. After all, she was precious and delicate, not someone you could raise your voice to.

How had he ever thought he could live a life like that? Censoring his words and actions every day and night. Biting his tongue and constantly making apologies. Never to be good enough.

He was often on the offending end of conversations with Kagome. He had a knack for saying the wrong things and mouthing off with his quick temper. But she accepted him that way. She saw who he was, outbursts, gruffness, stubbornness and all, and she loved him. If he had shown that side to Kikyou, would she still desire him?

`Kikyou, I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. It's just that, I am half demon. I can't change that. And to be honest, I'm glad that I didn't get to make that wish to lose this side of me. It hasn't been fucking easy living life as a hanyou, but it's who I am. I'm sorry that you can't accept that this is me.'

`No, it is I who am sorry Inuyasha. My jealousy got the better of me. I understand that you no longer desire me. But my soul is unable to move on. I still love you, just as much as the day I left this world. To be brought back into it, and to see you… it is hard to determine if I am happy or saddened.'

Inuyasha bowed his head.

`But, as I said before, it does not matter.' His eyes snapped up to meet her icy gaze. `I will not leave your side. I am sure that this girl is a distraction, and that in time your infatuation with her shall pass. It is hard to blame you. She flaunted herself in front of you in those shameless clothes, with her loose tongue. One can only imagine her morals were just as slack and impure. Although I am angered by your betrayal, I can't blame you. You are, as you said, a hanyou after all. You cannot help that lustful side in your nature.'

Inuyasha bit back a growl. `Kikyou, don't talk about Kagome that way! You don't know her at all. She is not like that in the least. I won't stand here and let-`

`You do not have a choice. I could easily drag you to hell. I could use my powers and purify you, rendering you human and to my liking. But, as I have said before I do not wish to do you harm. However, there is something I am able to do. I could end my own life, out of spite and misery due to your cold heart, leaving this bit of my soul enraged at you forever, unable to enter Nirvana. Would you have me do that? Would you have that on your conscious?'

`You wouldn't really do that!' His eyes widened.

`What do you know about what lengths I would go to, Inuyasha?'

So he had allowed her to stay. What else could he do? He couldn't bare it if she took her life because of him. Because he was such an asshole that he couldn't love her the way she deserved.

He wondered what it would be like to be with her. She felt human emotions such as anger and jealousy, but, had she ever shown happiness? She did not eat, nor drink. Her body never requiring the nutrients that the others did. She feasted on souls.

He had enjoyed hunting for Kagome, showing her that he could provide. After staying so long by Kikyou, he even liked that he had to clean it before presenting it to her. She was sensitive to all walks of life.

He wondered if the dead miko felt lust? He certainly did. He had had enough wet dreams and fantasies of Kagome stored away in his memory bank that he would need another lifetime just to act them all out with her. And who knows what else his perverted mind would come up with while he waited those 499 years left to go?

Although the miko did have a flattering body, it was a cold one, made of clay and earth. It smelled of death and worst of all, it had the face of the woman that he loved.

People always assumed that it was because Kagome looked so much like Kikyou that he had fallen for her. They couldn't be more wrong. To him, they were completely different people, and although their faces had similarities, they appeared totally different to him.

But, that does not mean that from the corner of his eye he would catch a glimpse of Kikyous profile and his heart would skip a beat, thinking it as Kagome. Every time, he felt a heavy sadness when he realized his mistake.

Just even the thought of betraying Kagome set him on edge. How had he endured it before, when he so easily left her to seek out Kikyou? He recalled in shame all the times he would see her soul collecters ushering him, and the way she would look at him... her eyes focusing on something far away, her voice small, telling him to go.

How had he ever been able to do that?

'Because you never thought she would go. You were able to leave her because you're a damn coward and too afraid to face your own feelings. You would leave her in the dust. No wonder she made the decision she did.'

Not for the first time, he cursed his luck. He was a hanyou. His main problem should be managing to stay alive. He should not have two very powerful, beautiful woman who love him. He shouldn't have a mate at all, let alone a choice in who he wanted. He shouldn't have a love from the future and an undead ex girlfriend from the past.

She had told him that her life was in his hands. He didn't want it.

But until Naraku was finished, he had no choice. There were bigger, more important things going on that required his attention. He would deal with Kikyou after that. For now, he would have to just let her continue this mess.

`Avoiding the situation. Typical.'

He yearned for a moment to be by himself, so that he could continue his routine of checking the well. Kikyou had always seemed to know what he was up to, thwarting his attempts whenever she could. After a while, unable to shake the miko off, he simply went, in full view and to her displeasure, and attempted to break through the barrier. It was his own subtle way to remind her who it was he really loved. He felt rebellious, as if taking a small stand for his woman. His demon scoffed at him. He was such a fucking coward.

He feared that she would kill herself. She would die again, and it truly would be his fault. She would be unable to be at rest for eternity. The dog demon did not know what to do. Having such a large threat hanging over his head pissed him off. He would just have to convince her to let him go. Why did everything have to be so damn complicated? He dug his claws into the branch as he ground his teeth. Just then, he caught the smell of something unpleasant.

“Inuyasha, there are two shards making their way at a fast pace.”

“Keh, I know. I can smell that wimpy wolf from here.”

~.~

Kagome walked up the step to her room, throwing her bag on the floor. She was exhausted. The weather was so hot today and the train ride was brutal. People had squished against her, their sweaty skin rubbing her, the weight of the masses piling against her. She chuckled to herself. If only Inuyasha could get a whiff of her now.

`Stop that Kagome. You know you shouldn't be thinking about him. It's been a year. He's moved on.' She ran her hands through her hair. No, she couldn't ever forget him. Not matter how hard she tried, she would never find a man to compete with Inuyasha.

She made her way to her bed; she needed a nap. As she grabbed a pillow to fluff it she noticed it- a single flower hidden from view. She grabbed it and marched outside.

“Jiro!” She called as she looked around frantically. “Jiro!”

“Ah, welcome home Kagome! I didn't see you get in.”

“What is this?”

“A daisy. Arn't you a girl? Shouldn't you know the variations of flowers?” He asked with a sly smile.

“Im not asking what kind of flower, I'm asking why you were in my room!” He put a hand over her mouth to stop her shouting. He brought her up against the side of the well house, out of view from the patrons.

“So damn noisy! I had to put it in a place that you would find it. Its not like I can just give it to you anywhere idiot.”

“I don't understand what's gotten into you Jiro!”

“I told you I was serious Kagome. I intend to pursue you. Right now, there is still a year before you are of a legal consenting age, so I won't try anything until then.”

“Eh?!” He leaned in to her, their lips a breath away.

“But in that time, I fully intend to have you look at me as a man, Kagome.” Her face reddened and she bit her lip, turning her head to avert his gaze.

“As a man? Jiro!”

He grabbed her chin in his hands.

“And when that time comes, you're going to beg me to touch you.” His voice was silky, seductive. Had he always spoken like this?!

She both wanted to shrink down to the ground and beat him into oblivion. She figured a slap was somewhere in the middle. He cupped his wounded cheek and smiled.

“Get off Jiro!” She said as she pushed him. “Why are you smiling? You're such a creep!”

“This slap here means I was victorious. You got flustered.” He leaned in close once more, his lip finding the shell of her ear. “That was because you're aware of me.”

Jiro found himself with a matching red cheek. He watched as Kagome stormed off, muttering things under her breath. He let out a small chuckle.

He didn't mind her abuse. If anything, he was happy for it. He had meant what he said. He would get Kagome to look at him. He had wanted her for so long. And a year was just enough time to turn her attentions from that bastard ex-boyfriend of hers. He didn't mind the wait.

~.~

“Hey dog shit! I thought I picked up your repulsive smell! Koga said, his few pack members trailing behind him. He had crashed into their campsite taking everyone off guard. It had been almost a year since they had seen the wolf prince.

“Woah, what the hell is that stench? It smells worse than you mutt!”

“That's not Inuyasha.” Shippo sputtered out in a low voice.

“Yeah I can tell. Who the hell is that? That's… that's not Kagome?”

“No. That's Kikyou.” Shippo said, crossing his arms and turning his nose up in the air. “Shes Inuyashas dead girlfriend.”

“Dead girlfriend? What happened mutt face, you finally realized Kagome was too good for you so you found this thing?”

This elicted a snarl from the hanyou.

“The story with Lady Kikyou is a complicated one. She too had been wronged by Naraku.” Miroku said.

“Koga, we thought you had died. It has been so long since anyone had heard from you.” Sango interjected, eager to move the conversation in a more neutral place.

“Ha, were you worried? I'll explain later, but first-where's my woman?”

The group looked at each other nervously.

“She… she's not here Koga.”

“Eh? Well where is she? Kagomes the only reason I followed that puppies scent.”

Miroku cleared his throat to speak.

“Lady Kagome has not been with us for about a year, Koga.”

“What the fuck?!” Koga ran to the tree in which Inuyasha was still perched. He had not moved since the wolf had made his appearance. Normally, he would have been the first to get into a confrontation. But now… now that Kagome wasn't here, he didn't care what that asshole did.

“Damn it Dog shit! How could you fucking do that! You let her get killed? I'll finish you off for not protecting her! Kagome was my mate!”

This made the dog demon stir.

“Kagome aint dead. Shes just not here. She went home. As if I would let anything happen to her. Don't make me laugh.” He took a step towards Koga and cracked his knuckles, a menacing smile on his lips. “And another thing, she aint your fucking mate!” He reached out to grab Koga by the throat. He growled at his opponent. “Kagome is mine. MINE. Don't talk about her. Don't even fucking think about her you bastard!”

The wolf shoved him off and bared his teeth.

“I really don't got time for this. Hey monk! How the hell do I get to Kagome?” He locked eyes with Inuyasha. “I don't know what the hell you did, but when I find her I'm going to mark her as my bitch, once and for all.”

“Calm down you two. You know Kagome couldn't stand it when you fought.” Sango interjected. Both dog and wolf demon seemed to back down. Still on guard, but not ready to pounce.

“Kagomes home… is not somewhere you can reach Koga.”

“Maybe not for you turtles, but for me, no matter where it is, it'll be a breeze.”

“You misunderstand. Perhaps you had noticed Kagomes odd clothing or customs? That is because Lady Kagome is from the future.”

Koga looked at them as if they had lost their minds. He barked out a loud laugh.

“You really expect me to believe that? Its fine. I don't need your damn help. I'll find my woman on my own.”

Kikyou drew her bow and knocked back an arrow.

“Kikyou! Do not shoot at Koga!”

The wolf prince readied himself for battle.

“Bring it woman. Your stench is unnatural. I'm not sure I even want to touch you, you reek so fucking bad. That stench will stick on me for days.”

“Enough with this chatter. He has two shards of the jewel and you speak to his casually as if you are friends?”

“He is an ally, Lady Kikyou. We have had many opportunities to-“

“I care not. This is what must be done.”

The arrow flew, and hit the mark.

A/N Thank you everyone who has reviewed and messaged! I'm super flattered! Every time someone mentions Jiro, I can't help but get excited! It's easy to write for the characters we already know. Jiro is purely out of my imagination. To hear some people are rooting for him instead of Inuyasha is kind of giving me a big head ;)

That being said, this has to be one of my least favorite chapters I've written. It was more of a filler to catch the readers up for the necessary time jump. There is probably only a handful of chapters left, so it should really start to get interesting! The long awaited reunion is drawing near!

As always thanks for reading!