InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ After-effects ❯ Homecoming ( Chapter 17 )

Disclaimer: Well, I don't own Inuyasha and the gang :)

 

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Chapter 16: Homecoming

 

"How about this one?" asked Shippo, pointing to yet another cloud.

 

"Hmmm, it looks like Kagura-sama," answered Yuna after a few seconds of reflection.

 

Narrowing his eyes slightly, the kitsune observed the cloud more attentively. "You know, you're right, it does look like her," he agreed.

 

"I don't see the resemblance," countered the wind sorceress. "The shape is too twisted and the ears are too pointy to be me," she argued critically, prompting the two youth perched on Kirara's back to burst out laughing.

 

It had been a few hours since the group had left the abandoned miner settlement where the fated battle with Akkimaru had taken place. They had been progressing at a more than leasury pace, thanks to a certain hanyou couple. It was understandable, in a way, the two had been literally running around for days in order to foil the panther youkai's evil plans and now that everything was over, they simply wanted to slow down a little. After about an hour of this, Shippo, bored out of his mind had suggested going a little faster. This had only prompted a 'go on ahead if you want, we'll catch up' from Kagome, effectively closing the discussion.

 

That reminded him that the said girl had not answered any of their numerous questions. They still did not know how she had turned into a hanyou, nor where her skills with a sword had come from. She promised she would explain once they had reached Kaede's village, claiming that she didn't want to repeat herself needlessly. So, finally, the kitsune had resorted to watch the clouds with Yuna, trying to find out what they looked like. But even that was getting boring now, even with Kagura's occasional intervention.

 

Shifting his gaze to the hanyou couple walking a small distance ahead of them, he frowned a little. "What's up with them?" he asked.

 

Two additional pair of eyes were suddenly trained on Inuyasha and Kagome, watching curiously as the male hanyou suddenly missed a step and turned to the girl by his side, a look of utter disbelief on his face. They exchanged a few words and surprise was replaced by understanding on the red-clad hanyou's face. He then smiled warmly and draped his arm around Kagome's shoulder and in return, the girl encircled his waist with her own arm, leaning her head against him in the process. The three couldn't do anything but stare in astonishment at the romantic display. Before any of them could think of something to say though, Inuyasha turned his head in their direction and glared at them.

 

Instantly, they all looked away, pretending like they hadn't been staring in the first place. The hanyou merely snorted at them before returning his gaze to the front, totally ignoring them. As soon as he stopped looking though, the three eyed each other mischievously before returning to their observation.

 

******

 

To anyone looking at the couple walking hand in hand in the forest, they would have appeared to be lost in the secret universe shared only between lovers. Things couldn't have been further from the truth.

 

For her part, Kagome was a little nervous. While she didn't doubt that Miroku, Sango and Kaede, once over the surprise of her transformation, would accept her, she had more reservations about the rest of the villagers. And then there was also Inuyasha. After being so warm on the battle field, he had locked himself up in his own little world, hardly paying her any mind at all. She could deal with the whole world rejecting her, but if Inuyasha were to ever push her away... she wasn't sure she could bear it.

 

Ironically, while outwardly ignoring the girl beside him, the male hanyou's thoughts, were all centered on her. He couldn't stop his mind from replaying the scenes where Kagome had battled Akkimaru. Things he had been too concerned to notice suddenly appearing as clear as day in his mind's eyes. The grace of her movements as she lowered herself in a fighting stance. Her agility as she dodged the furious onslaughts of the youkai. The fluidity of her movements. Everything mixed together, bringing him to one conclusion that made his stomach churn: He found Kagome more attractive now than she was as a human.

 

And so, it had gone on for hours, the silence between them growing to deafening proportions, while on the outside, they appeared to be the perfect couple. Finally, after hours of sulking, Inuyasha couldn't take it anymore and spoke up.

 

"How's your injury?" he asked softly, referring to the slash she had received across the chest.

 

"It's fine, it's already starting to heal," answered the girl, equally softly.

 

Silence fell on the couple once more, heavier and thicker than ever after that small exchange. "I have to tell her... Even if she hates me for it... I just can't keep it from her," he thought as he braced himself for the revelation he was about to make.

 

"Kagome..." he began hesitantly, instantly capturing the girl hanyou's attention. "How do you like it, being a hanyou?" he asked slowly, his eyes trained ahead, not daring to look at the girl.

 

"Well... I can hear, see and smell better. I'm also stronger and faster than I was as a human. I suppose that I'll also have to deal with quite a bit of rejection from people around me, like any other hanyou, but I don't really mind. I can deal with strangers pushing me back, just as long as the ones I love keep standing by me," she answered while tightening her hold on Inuyasha's hand.

 

The hanyou never once so much as glanced at her, but Kagome thought she could see a spark of surprise dancing in his eyes, quickly drowned by fear and uncertainty. "He probably wants to tell me that he doesn't love me anymore," she thought upon noticing his expression.

 

But then, why was he still holding her hand like this? Why wasn't he pushing her away? Was this some sort of sick joke on his part? She was on the verge of anger when everything abruptly slammed into place.

 

"How do you like it, being a hanyou?" he had asked. "Like it," she repeated mentally, voluntarily emphasizing the word. "How do I like it," she continued, truth shining brightly in front of her.

 

"Inuyasha... you want me to stay a hanyou do you?" she asked gently.

 

If she had needed any confirmation that she was right, the stiffening of his body and the widening of his eyes were all the proof she needed. "I'm sorry," he said, his gaze lowering to the ground and his ears drooping slightly in shame. "I know you probably hate me for having such a thought but..." he blurted out before Kagome interrupted him.

 

"I don't hate you Inuyasha," she smiled reassuringly.

 

"You... You don't?" he stammered in surprise.

 

"No, because I don't want to turn back into a human either," she answered back.

 

This revelation was so highly unexpected that the hanyou let out a strangled choke of surprise as he missed a step. "W... What?" he blurted out, while staring at the girl in complete and utter disbelief.

 

"Inuyasha, when I met you three years ago, I thought you were nothing more than a conceited jerk. I couldn't understand why you were so aggressive toward me at first, but as I got to know you, I began to see how deeply wounded your heart really was. I took it upon myself to try and heal it, but as time went by, I realized that no matter how much I tried, there would always be a gap between us... because I was human and you were hanyou," she explained.

 

"Kagome..." murmured the hanyou, not sure what to answer to that.

 

"I then started to entertain some fantasies about me becoming a hanyou. I sometimes found myself wondering what it would be like to have fangs, dog ears and an acute sense of smell like yours," she continued, ignoring the hanyou's interruption. "Of course, I never really acknowledged these as more than childish dreams. But then, a twist of fate has now turned me into the very thing I dreamed to be turned into," she finished.

 

"So basically Inuyasha, even if I could turn back into a human, I don't think I would. I want to experience all that it means to be a hanyou. The pain, the rejection, the joy, the happiness, I want to experience it all... with you by my side. That is... if you'll have me," she added softly.

 

The red-clad hanyou stared at Kagome for the longest time, not believing what he had just heard. "This has got to be a dream," he kept repeating to himself expecting the girl in front of him to vanish or tell him it had all been a joke. But as the seconds passed, she continued to stare at him with gorgeous golden-brown eyes filled with love and worry. Her black dog ears were slightly drooped, a testimony of the amount of emotions coursing through her.

 

It was a picture of cuteness that would have melted all but the coldest of hearts and Inuyasha was far from heartless. It was no surprise then when a warm and tender smile started appearing on his lips in response to the girl's plea. "If you'll have me?" he mentally repeated Kagome's question. "God Kagome, who in their right mind wouldn't have you?" he asked himself again.

 

"Idiot," he answered as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He could feel her stiffen slightly in surprise at his gesture, but he paid it no mind. "Did you really think I would push you away?" he asked softly.

 

She relaxed then, melting against him as she encircled his waist with her own arm. "No," she answered equally softly. "But I couldn't help how I felt."

 

"Are you sure you're okay about us being all over each other like this?" she asked suddenly, earning her a confused look from the red-clad hanyou. "I mean, we're not exactly alone are we?" she continued when he didn't understand.

 

Turning his head slightly, Inuyasha was rewarded by an array of innocent looks from the people following them. He snorted once in amusement before gazing ahead once more. "I don't mind Kagome, the whole world can see us for all I care. Right now, you're in my arms and it's all that matters," he said firmly.

 

"You're right," murmured the hanyou girl after a second of silence. "It's all that matters," she finished and after that, no other words were exchanged between the two.

 

******

 

Miroku wasn't sure exactly what was worse. Worrying about his friend's wellbeing or having a totally helpless Sango worrying about those same friends, right beside him. The demon slayer's mood had began as slightly tense when Inuyasha and the other had left. It had transformed into uncontrolled anger and frustration around lunch time and after that, the woman had not said a word. While her earlier outburst had rater grated on Miroku's nerves, he quickly found that her silence was a lot scarier than her anger.

 

The woman was sitting there with a look that would have melted iron if that had been possible. Her good hand was clenched so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Her jaw was clenched tight and every once in a while, her eyebrows would twitch nervously. In short, Sango looked like a volcano ready to explode at any moment. Unwittingly, Miroku found himself praying for his friends to come back, not because he was worried about them, but because it would be the only thing that would diffuse the demon slayer's explosive mood.

 

Oddly enough, his prayers were answered when a kid suddenly burst through the door excitedly. "They're... back! I... saw them!" he panted, visibly out of breath.

 

"Are you sure?" asked Sango, suddenly eager to hear more.

 

"Yes," answered the kid. "There was Kirara with Shippo and..." he trailed off, frowning as he searched for a name. Coming up empty, he continued nonetheless. "... a girl on his back. There was also that red-eyed youkai with a fan and Inuyasha too and... a miko with black dog ears like Inuyasha's. She looked like Kagome-sama, but..." he stopped short at a gesture from Miroku.

 

"Thank you young man, here is what we promised," said the monk while handing the kid a few coins.

 

The child immediately brightened up and grabbed them before bowing and running back outside. Once he was out of the hut, the monk and the demon slayer looked at each other in puzzlement. A miko with black dog ears? What could it all mean?

 

"Well the description fits... for the most part," said Miroku hesitantly.

 

"But what about Kagome?" asked Sango, voice filled with worry. "It had to be Kagome that kid was talking about. What do you suppose happened? Why does she have black dog ears?" she asked, almost accusingly at the monk.

 

"I do not know Sango, but I expect our questions will be answered soon enough," replied Miroku in a level tone of voice that seemed to tick the demon slayer off to no end.

 

"Dammit Miroku, how can you be so calm about all of this! It's Kagome we're talking about here KA.. GO... ME!" snapped the woman, finally letting out all the anger that had built up throughout the day.

 

"Yelling at me is not likely to accomplish anything Sango," argued the monk smoothly, though he was as concerned as the demon slayer.

 

That seemed to be the last straw holding the woman's patience in check because a deep growl started to emanate from her throat, foretelling of an explosion unlike any the monk had ever seen before. Bracing himself, Miroku closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable, but strangely, it never came. Instead, the growl died in a strangled choke as a familiar voice spoke from the door.

 

"Sango... Please calm down," Kagome said softly and instantly, the monk's eyes snapped open to stared at the apparition before him.

 

The said girl was standing in front of the door, the others filing in behind her slowly. Her hair was the same black shoulder length it had always been. The hazel of her eyes had changed to something in between gold and brown. Fangs were clearly visibly at the corner of her lips and two distinctly inhuman dog ears adorned the top of her head. All in all, it was still definitively Kagome, but with some unexpected changes.

 

"Kagome-sama... are you... I mean... How... I mean..." stammered the monk, unable to formulate even one clear question.

 

"What on earth is going on here?" asked Kaede's voice, coming from outside.

 

Questioning looks were suddenly directed at Kagome, not for her appearance this time though. "My new looks attracted... a few stares," she answered sheepishly, right before the old miko finally burst through the door, looking positively peeved.

 

She instantly froze when she took in Kagome's transformation. Her good eye blinked once before she recovered from her surprise. "I see, this is a rather remarkable development," she said simply. "But clearly not one that requires the whole village to stand outside my door," she added a bit louder, though she was clearly not addressing the people present in the room.

 

Immediately, countless shuffling sounds were heard as whoever had been standing outside got the message and left. Once things had settled down, Kaede turned back to Kagome and spoke again. "As difficult as it may be for you child, I'm afraid some explanations are in order, this is just too much to brush off," she said softly.

 

The girl hanyou merely nodded in response before taking a deep breath and proceeded with telling her story. From her unusual burst of speed when she had gotten home to her display of strength when she had carried Inuyasha on her back all the way to her fight against Akkimaru. She told them all that had transpired, not forgetting a single detail. When she was done, everyone sported somber looks on their faces.

 

"So that's it, you all know what happened," she concluded. "I just hope my new appearance isn't too much for you to handle," she added worriedly.

 

"Nonsense Kagome-sama, though I have to admit it was a bit surprising at first," immediately replied the monk.

 

"I agree with Miroku Kagome-chan, besides, if we can handle Inuyasha, I don't see why we wouldn't be able to handle you as well," continued Sango playfully.

 

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean," cut in the said hanyou, prompting laughter to erupt from the other people present.

 

"Whether hanyou or human, you're still Kagome... Kagome," added Shippo, hesitating slightly at how strange his sentence sounded.

 

"You accepted me as a youkai, I don't see why I wouldn't accept you as a hanyou," continued Kagura, looking positively bored with the whole process.

 

"Maybe I'll create another set of prayer beads, that way we would be able to keep you both in check," joked the old miko, prompting a sinister smile to appear on Inuyasha's face.

 

"That's a good idea. Then I'd finally be able to get even for all the 'sit' I've been given me in the past," agreed the hanyou, earning himself yet another bout of laughter.

 

That left only one person to give her opinion: Yuna and as such, all eyes turned on her, prompting the child to shrink a little under the combined gaze of all the people present. But nonetheless, her voice was clear, if a little embarrassed when she spoke.

 

"I hum... I like your ears Kagome-sama," she muttered, blushing profusely with her admission.

 

A dumbfounded silence fell on the hut as they all took in what Yuna had said. It was broken when Kagome chuckled softly, followed almost immediately by Shippo and pretty soon, everyone was shaking with mirth.

 

"In any case I believe that this calls for a celebration, regardless of our current state," said Miroku once everything had settled down.

 

"I agree Miroku, but there's one last thing to do before we can enjoy ourselves," answered Kagome in a serious tone, instantly catching everyone's attention.

 

Turning around, she started rummaging trough her big yellow backpack and extracted a sort of pouch made out of a blanked filled with what appeared to be dirt. She then turned to Kaede and solemnly handed it to the old woman.

 

"Those are Kikyo's remains Kaede. Everything we could gather has been put in this pouch. We wanted her to be buried here, where people loved her," she said in a low and respectful tone.

 

The old miko closed her good eye as she took the pouch from Kagome's grasp. "Sister," she whispered almost inaudibly. "Was she..." she trailed off, unable to continue.

 

"She is happy," said Kagome, emphasizing the present tense.

 

"I see," answered Kaede quietly.

 

"Well then, she shall be properly buried, I'll make sure of that," she continued after a second of silence. "But I doubt she would want us all to look so depressed on a day such as this, so off with the long faces," admonished the old miko sternly.

 

"Now that is probably the wisest thing I've heard all day," shot a bubbly voice coming from the door.

 

"Mattemaru," sighed Inuyasha in total discouragement, not even bothering to get up this time.

 

"What are you here for this time? The Tessaiga?" asked the hanyou.

 

"A good idea, I hadn't thought of that," joked the kitsune. "But... Seeing as I'm a youkai, I wouldn't be able to handle it anyway, so you can keep it," he added in a falsely disappointed tone.

 

"So then what? There's nothing here that you could possibly want," shot Kagome, growing impatient with the whole process.

 

"Well actually, I came to bid you all farewell," he said and he couldn't repress a light chuckle at seeing their surprised expressions.

 

"F... Farewell," stuttered Inuyasha in disbelief.

 

"Why of course, the jewel is gone, so there's no reason for me to tag along any longer," he answered as petulantly as ever.

 

Before he could say anymore though, a bee suddenly flew off the wall and started flying in front of him, looking distinctly angry. After about a second of that, the kitsune shook his head in amusement.

 

"Of course I didn't forget, here, you can go now and thanks for your help," he said and threw a little round object that the bee deftly caught before flying away.

 

"You're a bug-talker!" exclaimed Sango in complete disbelief. "That's how you've been spying on us!"

 

"My my, give this girl a prize!" mocked Mattemaru.

 

"Bug-talker?" asked Inuyasha, not really understanding.

 

"Some youkai have the ability to talk to other creatures and this one here..." said Sango, pointing at Mattemaru for emphasis. "... can talk to insects. So the reason why he was aware of our slightest moves was because he..."

 

"... Bugged us," cut in Kagome, voice filled with astonishment. Of course, being 500 years in the past, no one but her even remotely understood the pun.

 

"Well, I suppose you could say that," continued the demon slayer, realizing she had just missed something, but not knowing what.

 

Mattemaru on the other hand simply burst out laughing at the whole display. "You really are an interesting bunch, I'm really going to miss you," he said with mirth before turning around to leave.

 

"Hold it wise guy, there's still one thing I want to know," interrupted Inuyasha.

 

"Really, and what might that be?" questioned the youkai in good humor.

 

"Why on earth did Sesshomaru want the jewel?" asked the hanyou.

 

A small chuckle escaped the kitsune at that question. "Well it's not really that he wanted it, it's just that he couldn't really afford to have someone else have it," answered the kitsune in a mischievous tone.

 

"Anyway, I have to get going now. So if you can't puzzle out the rest, you can still go and ask the guy himself," laughed Mattemaru before the air around him shimmered and he disappeared into thin air.

 

"Now what on earth was that supposed to mean?" asked Kagura to the empty air.

 

"Sesshomaru... could he have done all this to actually... prevent the jewel from falling into the wrong hands?" asked Miroku a little incredulously.

 

"But why would he do something like this?" questioned Kagome.

 

"To protect the western lands," spat Inuyasha before falling in his traditional sulking position, hands in the sleeves of his haori and feet joined together.

 

He looked up a second later when he felt the eyes of the entire room on him. "Well he's the ruler, so he has to do at least something to ensure his kingdom's safety," he added before returning to his sulking.

 

It was obvious that there was more to it than what Inuyasha had let on, but everyone knew the hanyou too well to try and pry anything out of him. Wisely deciding to let the subject drop, Kagome turned to her other friends and spoke up.

 

"Well, I don't know about all of you, but I'm starving. So what do you say we fix ourselves some lunch," she launched cheerfully.

 

"An excellent idea Kagome-sama. But may I suggest that you enlist the help of a particular someone," agreed Miroku, turning to Yuna with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

 

"You want Yuna to help me?" asked the hanyou girl in confusion.

 

"Not exactly Kagome-chan... not exactly," replied Sango, winking playfully at Yuna who smiled back even as a faint blush started appearing on her cheeks.

 

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Author's note: Well, that went relatively well. Kagome's insecurities have been calmed down and all her friends accepted her and her new appearance... even Inuyasha. So now only a few more loose ends to tie up and it's over :).