InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ashes and Dust ❯ A New Day ( Chapter 6 )

I do not own Inuyasha and Co.

Chapter 6

A New Day

Inuyasha's alarm dinged loudly. His eyes opened slowly. He tapped his alarm off with a grunt. He rolled out of bed and turned open he wooden blinds to look up to Kagome's window. It was open, and the curtains were flapping in the breeze. He opened his blinds and his window as well. He heard something. It sounded like singing. It was Kagome.

"When they ask me, if I'm in love, there is only one answer I will give. My knight is clad in muscles, he has a lot to give, and his long silver hair flows beautifully in the wind. His eyes of gold captivate my soul, and his heart is one so bold. If my love be returned, my life would be forever richer than gold..."

'She's singing about me.' He thought to himself as a smile graced his lips. He silently listened as he sat on the edge of his bed. Her song continued, and the lyrics were tender, sweet, and full of love for each quality he held. Suddenly, she stood from her bed with her crutches, and looked down out her window to see him sitting on his bed, looking up at her.

"AHHH!" She exclaimed and fell over.

"Kagome!" He went to the window. "Are you OK?"

"Help!" She yelled from her room.

"I'll be right there! Just sit tight!" He ran about his room, gathered up some clothes and crossed the hall into the bathroom, slamming the door in Kaede's face.

"Inuyasha, what's going on?"

"Sorry, Kaede, I have an emergency. I'll be right out."

"I sure hope so, this old woman's bladder isn't so kind anymore."

He rushed at brushing his teeth, putting on deodorant, and slipping on his new clothes. He didn't bother brushing his hair. He just slipped the bandana on and ran from the bathroom, and out the front door to the Higurashi's.

He tried the door, but it was locked. He knocked, but there was no answer. He leapt from the porch onto the grass and to the side of the house. "Kagome, the front door is locked. I can't get in!"

"Oh, that's right, mom went to the doctor this morning." He heard her say through the window.

He looked at the siding, and along the side toward the back of the house. He looked at the tree between the houses. It was an old tree, and the branches spread out widely. He went to the tree and climbed the trunk.

Kagome moved herself closer to the window as she heard rustling in the tree, and grunting. "Inuyasha, what are you doing?"

"I'm climbing the tree."

"Don't! You'll fall!" She lifted her upper body to look out the window, bracing herself up by her arms. She watched him scale the tree with a look of fear on her face. He navigated the branches carefully, one by one, making his way to her. She bit her lip.

Once he got up to the longest branch that was level with her window, he steadied himself and looked at her; he was going to jump the rest of the way. She held her breath as he swung his arms, bent his knees and launched himself at the house. She backed away from the window as he latched onto the siding with a thud.

She opened her eyes to see his left hand gripping the trim at the left side of her window. He grunted and panted as he tried to keep his grip. She scooted closer again and saw him fight to get a grip with his feet. She got up on her knees and slid up the screen.

"Here, Inu, put your foot here." She reached out and grabbed his nearest foot and set it in the sill. He felt his way, and slid onto the sill. His face came within inches of hers.

He had a determined look on his face. She reached up to his shoulders and pulled him through the window, atop of her onto the floor. He slid his arms under her body as he panted away his fear. "Thank you, Kagome."

"You're crazy..." She whispered as he continued to hold her as he calmed down.

"I know. This is where my training is taking me. I couldn't have done this without that training."

"Well, I guess if my house ever catches on fire, I'll call you first."

He then lifted his face from her unbrushed, black hair to look in her eyes. She didn't move as he laid there, his body covering hers. He sat up and moved aside to see her ankle. She remained laying before him as he lifted her ankle to examine it. It was still badly swollen after the night before.

"We need to ice your ankle." He got to his feet, and put his hands under her knees, and shoulders. He held her to him and stood tall, effortlessly making his way out the door, down the stairs, and to the living room where he set her down by the pillows. He went into the kitchen, grabbed an icepack and set her ankle on the pillow. He gently propped her back up on a couple other pillows.

He was about to get up when she grabbed his wrist. He stopped and looked at her. "I have a strange request."

He settled beside her. "What do you need?"

"Can you lay here, beside me?"

He looked at her oddly for a moment, and then quietly slid his body down, and settled down beside her.

"Hold me, please."

He closed his eyes a moment, heat rising in his cheeks. "I haven't..." He sighed. "Hold on."

He rolled over and placed his face beside hers, as she watched him. He turned onto his left side, and draped his arm over her waist. His eyes never left hers as she put her hand over his.

"You OK, Inu?"

"Yeah, it's just..."

"What?"

"The last time I laid down beside a woman was a long time ago."

"I'm nervous too. I just need to be held. What just happened shook me up. I guess I need to feel your arms around me. I need to be comforted."

She slid her body against his, and he put his arm around her back. She breathed in his scent. There was a hint of sweat over the sweet scent of nature from when he was hanging off the side of her house. His heart beat strong, and steady. His hard peck was comforting and warm. His chin rested on her head. His nose reveled in the scent of her shampoo. He closed his eyes and calmed his energy to relax. Serenity fell over his features.  They remained like that for an unknown amount of time. Neither one felt like moving. After a bit, they both drifted off.

Ms. Higurashi arrived at the front door. She unlocked the lock, and slid the door off to the side. The house was silent. "Hello, Kagome?"

Inuyasha's ear twitched, but he did not rouse. She went toward the kitchen and stopped at the site in the living room. There was Kagome, lying in Inuyasha's arms, and he looked to be asleep.

His eyes slowly opened a moment later, and she gasped. His eyes shot open, and he started to let go of Kagome.

"Oh, no, no, it's OK, Inu. I didn't mean to wake you. You put ice on her ankle. Did she reinjure it?"

"Yeah, though it was ultimately my fault."

"Oh, my. Have you eaten yet?"

"No, had a bit of an interesting time getting in, Kagome hurt herself in her room earlier, and you were gone, so..."

"Oh, no! How did you get in? Did you use the key under the porch plank?"

He slapped his free hand on the floor. "No, I climbed the tree."

Her eyes shot open. "You, what?"

"I climbed the tree, and leapt in through her window, she slid the screen open for me."

Her expression did not change.

"You OK? Ms. H?"

"Oh, uh, yes, I just can't fathom you leaping into my daughter's bedroom window. I'm glad you're safe. Next time, you can find the key under the board. Here, I'll show you where it is."

He got out from under Kagome's grip and left the room, following after her mom. Kagome's eyes opened slightly after she noticed the sensation of warmth left her body. She lifted her upper body onto her elbows and saw the room was empty. Suddenly, the door slid open and her mother and Inuyasha entered, talking about his adventure earlier with the tree. They both chuckled as they entered the living room to see Kagome awake.

He knelt down beside her. "Are you OK, now?"

"Yeah, I feel a lot calmer, thank you. Your heartbeat help me calm down."

"Good."

"Inu?"

"Hmm?" 

"You didn't mind holding me, did you?"

"No, it was fine."

"I guess this is really starting to take a toll on me. I'm starting to get used to needing help, and I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable."

"I fell asleep too." 

"Oh, okay." She smiled, and he smiled back.

"I'm here for you, in any way you need me. Just ask."

"Thanks, Inu."

"You're welcome," he smirked.

Several minutes later, her mother came into the room with a pot of hot water and tea cups with leaves.

"You OK, dear?" her mother asked.

"Yes, mom, I'm alright now."

"That's good, dear. I'll have lunch ready soon."

"Lunch?" Kagome and Inuyasha asked simultaneously.

"Yes, it's after noon." She pointed at the clock on the wall across the hall.

They looked at each other wide-eyed.

"So, we..." Kagome started.

"Slept together..." He finished.

Their cheeks grew red, and they looked down to see their hands close in proximity. They made eye contact, and their hearts began to race.

Kagome leaned close and whispered, "Can you take me outside for a minute?"

"Sure," he whispered and lifted her into his arms.

"Mom, Inu's taking me outside. Can you let us know when to come in?"

"Sure, dear."

He carried her out the front door and onto the porch. He set her down on the first step down, and sat down beside her. "Something wrong?"

"No, I just wanted some time alone for a bit with you."

"Time alone?"

She turned toward him and touched his hand. She turned his palm up and ran her fingers over the lines in his palm. He let her feel his palm without a word. Her touch was tender, and soft. She lifted his other hand the same way. One ability she had was palm reading. His hands were calloused, rough, and the lines were deeply defined; he had the hands of a warrior.

She saw his vitality line was unusually long, showing a long life. "Please, answer this question for me." She looked into his eyes. "How old are you?"

He looked down at their hands and sighed. "Why do you want to know that?"

"Because you don't act like the atypical man my age. And you have these otherworldly features."

"So?"

"Well, can you be honest with me? I will keep any secrets you ask me to keep."

He pulled his hands from hers and stood. He went down the steps to gain some distance. He turned to her a moment later and said, "OK, you really want to know? Because I assure you, once you gain this information, there's no going back."

"Going back to where?"

"I mean, you will learn everything you know about the world is fake. That's what. This information isn't for the faint at heart."

She looked into his eyes and saw a harsh look. Her heartbeat quickened. She nodded for him to go ahead.

"I am much older than the average human. I've even surpassed the oldest living person at 116 years old."

"No way. How far past?"

"By about 385 years."

Her eyes shot open. No words were spoken in reaction. He stood there, his gaze not moving from hers. He stood his ground silently, confidently. He wasn't bluffing.

"You sure you'd like to learn more?"

She couldn't respond; she was in shock.

"I believe I've successfully blown your mind." He walked up the steps and sat beside her.

She was slack jawed, and continued to stare at him like she was a deer in his headlights.

"Stop staring, you're making me feel uncomfortable."

"So, you were born in the 1,400s, then?"

"Yes."

"And you've been around since then?"

"Yes."

"How did you..."

"I'm half human, half spirit. I am immortal."

"How did this happen?"

"My father, the Dog Spirit General, fell in love with my mother, a human princess."

"Oh, wow..."

"Are you willing to continue down that rabbit hole?"

"So, let me get this straight. Your father is an incubus?"

"No, he was the guardian spirit of the dogs. He was the protector of men."

"I see."

"There's a lot more, if you're interested."

"Yes, but I think I need to process what you've said so far..."

"I understand." He looked away.

She looked at him from the side, and put her hand on his. He looked down at their hands when Kagome's mom called them inside to eat. Later that day, Inuyasha and Kagome snuggled up to watch TV, and enjoyed some snacks

Kagome couldn't get over what Inuyasha had told her. She wondered what he'd been doing all those years, and what he had planned after what seemed like his retirement ended. She asked him to take her outside again some time later.

"Does anyone else know your age?" She asked him.

"Only Kaede, but she's going senile, so it's unlikely that she remembers the numbers."

"Who is she, really?"

"She's a descendent of one of the villagers related to the great Priestess Kikyo. She was named after Kikyo's younger sister, Kaede."

"Kikyo? The Kikyo?"

"Yes. I've been looking after the Priestesses for centuries now."

"And Kaede is the latest in that line?"

"Yes, and sadly, the last. She never married, nor did she have children."

"I see. How old is she?"

"Seventy."

"Ah. So. What's going to happen when she passes?"

"I will lose any connection I had to Kikyo."

"I remember the story of the Priestess and her outcast lover. Was that you?"

"Yes."

"Wow!"

He nodded. "So, you were the one pinned to the tree at my family's old shrine?"

"Your family's old..."

"Yes, my grandfather is the priest who runs the Shinto Shrine on the other side of town dedicated to the story of the great Priestess and her lover."

"I never knew what the priests name was. Are you all descendants?"

"Yes, we're distant family, but we're on the family tree. Through a sister of Kikyo's mother, I believe."

"I see, so you're branches run alongside hers."

"Essentially, yes."

He turned to look at her closely. An inquisitive look formed on her face as he looked at her features. He sat back and put his hand to his chin. "There's a faint resemblance, but only if you know what she looked like."

"What features are close?"

"Your eyes are similar in shape, just a little brighter, and your nose is close in shape. Your mouth is slightly larger, but similar in shape. You share the same hair color, aside from the fact that your hair is wavy while hers was straight. You're both about the same height, and your energy feels similar."

"My energy?"

"Yes. You have an aura about you that's pure, and strong."

"Huh... I see. I never got into the Shrine stuff, so I never did anything with the faith."

"You could be another one for me to watch over."

"The next Priestess you mean?"

"You have found yourself at an impasse, haven't you?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Maybe you've been ignoring your true purpose."

"I highly doubt it."

"How come?"

"Because I'm not the type to believe in a calling. I'd like to have some control over who I am, not letting fate decide for me."

"Well, I've watched over generations of Shinto Priestesses over the past three hundred years, and I know what to sense regarding a woman who has the gifts bestowed. You have gifts all your own, but the energy level is on par with Kikyo's. It's up to you as to what about your abilities you'd like to explore, I can't force you into anything."

"You don't seem like the kind of guy who would. I guess a part of the problem is I want to prove my shrine-crazy grandpa wrong, as he's been trying to get my brother and me on the path of priest/priestess hood. Neither one of us is interested in the Shinto lifestyle. We used to get weird, superstitious trinkets from him for our birthdays. I mean, who wants the hand of a water imp? Eww!"

Inuyasha chuckled. "Oh, man..."

"So, yeah, he alienated us, and we rebelled."

"And you're still rebelling."

"I guess."

"Well, either way, I'm here to look after you. I now believe my bumping into you was no coincidence. We were destined to run into each other."

He stood and put his hands in his pockets. He descended the steps and looked out toward the trees across the street; a dense wall of green and brown. He knew those trees. Years ago, he slept in those trees. They kept him safe every night.

"I guess you're right. However, what would you be protecting me from?"

"Anything and anyone that could bring you harm."

"I don't follow you."

He lowered his gaze. "You see, I've been waiting for her return."

"Whose?" He said nothing, but turned to look at her. "You mean Kikyo?"

He nodded. "You see, I'm not the only one waiting for her."

"What do you mean?"

"You know the story, and how it not only includes our feud, but another entity who spurred our fight."

"I don't remember anything about that."

"I see, so the story was lost in history as I figured it would be."

"What do you mean?"

"You know about the Shikon jewel, and how we fought over it, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, the rest of the story was lost in time. The thing is, Kikyo died after we fought, although I wasn't the one who killed her. It was that other entity involved that killed her. His name was Naraku."

"Naraku? Who was Naraku?"

"A collection of demons and one human, Onigumo. He was a bandit who came into Kikyo's care, which I knew nothing about. Anyway, as she took care of him, as was her duty as a Priestess and healer, and he fell for her. He suffered dilapidating burns all over his body, and couldn't move. He wanted a body strong enough to claim her for himself, and the Shikon jewel as well. Needless to say, when our relationship became serious, and we became lovers, he sensed a change in her, and became jealous. He bonded with vengeful demons, and then posed as me. She then thought it was my claws that ripped through her right shoulder. I would never have harmed her. I loved her too much."

"I was going to say, something about the story didn't ring true. You don't seem like the kind of man who could kill his love over something so trivial."

"I loved her, and that was a detail that was left out."

"I can see it in your eyes." He looked her way. "There's a tenderness there when you talk about her."

"Aside from my mother, she was the only human I truly loved. When she died, I was truly alone. At least, until she was resurrected."

"What?"

"Yeah, necromancer, witch demon dug up the urn containing her ashes, and the jewel was then brought back into this world. You see, before her death, she made one last request—to have the jewel burned with her body. The ashes then melded with the dust of the jewel on the pyre. She released me from the spell she placed me under fifty years prior once she learned the truth about what really happened, and who was truly at the center of our fight."

"What happened after that?"

"We tried to destroy Naraku, but he was able to kill off Kikyo again."

"And then what?"

"Well, he's gone after each Shinto Priestess throughout time, and he's still looking for her."

"Do you know where he is now?"

"No. I believe he's in hiding, waiting for word on the next rise of a strong Priestess."

"So, what do you think will happen?"

He turned and looked her in the eye. "He'll find you and try to kill you."

She gasped. "So I will remain nearby. As long as you don't learn anything spiritual, you may very well escape him."

She looked down at her hands. 'I could be an epic Priestess? Me? How is that possible?' She found it hard to believe. Then again, the key words he said were 'possibly be.' Therefore, there was no guarantee that the Priestess was her. She decided she wasn't going to stress herself out over it all. She was going to focus on healing, and getting things going for school.

"How's your ankle?"

"It's okay, a bit of dull pain, but nothing major."

"Good, it's healing." He turned the ankle to the side to look at it. He unwrapped it to check the swelling.

"Still a slight bit swollen, but not badly. It's smaller than it was a couple days ago." He wrapped the ankle again.

"I'll get you some ice."

He set her ankle down, and went in the house, to the kitchen, to see her mom. "Hey, need some ice for her ankle."

"How's it looking?" She asked as she opened the freezer and pulled out the ice tray.

"It's still a little swollen, but much better than before."

"Good to hear. Thank you for taking such great care of Kagome, Inuyasha. We really would have been in a pickle if you hadn't come along."

"Well, it was my fault she fell and hurt herself, even though it wasn't intentional."

"Think about it this way, Hun. If you weren't there, it would have been someone else, and she would have been all alone there, without you to help her. So, yes, thanks are in order. I honestly doubt a stranger on the street would have cared as you do."

He looked at her in awe as she set the cold pack in his hands. "Now go, lay this on her ankle, and stay by her side."

"I take it you believe in fate, Mrs. H?"

"What else would you call something so perfect?" She smiled.

He nodded and left the room. He set the ice pack down on the table and made his way to the front door. After he arrived on the porch, he lifted Kagome into his arms and brought her into the living room.

He set her ankle on a pillow and then said, "Here's the ice." He gently laid the compress on her ankle. He settled down beside her and put his arm around her.

"What were you guys talking about?" Kagome asked.

"About fate," he turned a looked at her with a relaxed expression.

"Fate?"

"Yes, about how my being there the day you fell was fate, as it was too perfect. She brought up a good point."

"What's that?"

"That this was meant to happen to you, whether I was there or not. Though she said she is glad I was there."

"I see."

The two were quiet for a while, watching the TV. Later, her mom brought out some dinner, and tea. Not long after, however, Kagome felt groggy, and started to nod off. Soon after, Inuyasha picked her up into his strong arms, and her mom started washing the dishes. He set her down on the floor and turned down her bed, setting the spare pillow where her leg would be. She moaned as she shifted on the floor. He turned and knelt down to lift her into the bed. She barely complained when he lifted her into the bed. He spread the covers over her, and settled on the floor beside her to watch her for a few moments.

The energy she was emitting was not strong compared to Kikyo, but it was a similar enough energy that he couldn't help but believe that she was the one. He was worried for her, and wondered if they were being watched by anyone.

He got up to leave when she breathily said his name. He turned toward her.

"Don't leave me. Please stay with me."

He moved back toward the bed. "Where do you want me?"

"Can you hold me a bit longer? You're warmth is so comforting."

He wasn't sure how to react. She wanted him in bed with her. He sat down beside her and she snuggled into his side. He held her to him, and rested his head against her headrest. He closed his eyes, and memories of the years he shared with Kikyo ran through his head.

Not long after, her mother went up the stairs to see Kagome's bedroom door open. She stopped at the landing, and peeked in to see Inuyasha holding Kagome in bed. He was over the covers, and he seemed to be asleep as well until his ear moved, and he turned to look at her. He made to get up, but she held up her hands.

"No, stay there, it's ok. She's sleeping, don't wake her." She whispered.

"You sure?" he whispered back.

She nodded and he rested his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes. She smiled and snuck past the door to her own room and settled in for the night.

Kagome moaned a bit, and shifted to lay her left leg over his. He lowered himself and held her against his body, as her ear rested against his chest to hear his heartbeat. She wrapped her left arm around his torso, her hips close to his. His left hand held her head to his chest, as his chin rested beside the crown of her head. He was surrounded by her scent. It calmed him. He closed his eyes, and kept his breaths steady.

She lost herself in his warmth, her mind running a mile a minute in twilight dreaming. She saw them as if from the outside. They were both embracing intimately, only in her dream, she looked at him and he kissed her. His kiss was tender, soft, chaste and kind. She felt his arms hold her closer, almost melting into his body as the kiss deepened to open mouth.

Inuyasha was thinking about how this was so familiar during his times with Kikyo. He'd been there before, and he wasn't afraid. Then `he' crossed his mind. That vile Naraku. He thought about staying with her at night to make sure to keep her safe from him, but the question of whether her mother would approve it. He was surprised her mother didn't have an issue with him lying in bed with her daughter. Then again, her daughter is in her thirties. He just slapped the thought of her chasing him out of the house out of his mind, as she would have done so already. He let out a long sigh, and held her tenderly as sleep began to take hold of him.