InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Awaken ❯ Meeting Kaede ( Chapter 29 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does.

Awaken

Chapter 29

Meeting Kaede

 

The next morning everyone was gathered at the dining room table for breakfast. They had already finished eating. “So how did it go with Rin?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“That is none of your business.” Sesshomaru snapped.

 

“What happened to Rin?” Kagome asked. “Is she alright?”

 

“She temperamental.” Sesshomaru said. “Last night I said something I shouldn't have and she overheard.”

 

“What happened?” Miroku asked.

 

“I finally coaxed her out of the room and apologized. I ended up going hunting in the middle of the night. She was having a craving.” Sesshomaru explained. “By the time I got back she was sleeping and still is. I hope this pregnancy gets over with soon.”

 

“Rin's pregnant?” Kagome asked. She turned to Inuyasha. “And you knew and didn't tell me?”

 

“I thought it should be his announcement not mine.” Inuyasha defended himself.

 

“I think that if you want to get an early start you should leave now and not talk about my personal life.” Sesshomaru warned.

 

“He's right.” Inuyasha stood. “Let's get going.”

 

“There is a bag of things you might need by the door. I'd see you out but I hear Rin waking.” Sesshomaru nodded and left the room.

 

“Guess we should get going then.” Kagome said.

 

“We can all see the excitement in you.” Miroku said.

 

“Huh?” Kagome said.

 

“We all know you're excited to meet this Kaede person and find out more of your past.” Inuyasha said. “Quit trying to hide it.”

 

Kagome smiled. “I can't help it. I didn't think you guys were so observant.” She said. “How long will it take us to get there?”

 

“If Miroku and Sango ride on Kirara and you ride on my back and Shippo can go wherever the hell he wants then we can get there by tonight. We can camp outside of the village and go first thing in the morning.” Inuyasha said.

 

“Sounds like a plan.” Miroku said.

 

-------------------

 

Later that night everyone had eaten and was sitting around the fire. Inuyasha had hunted with Shippo while Miroku gathered firewood and the girls had gotten water to cook. The night was warm and everyone sat comfortably.

 

“Where is everyone going to sleep? There are only three traveling futons.” Miroku said as he started to unpack them.

 

“You, Sango, and Shippo can have them, Kagome's sleeping with me.” Inuyasha said.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome blushed.

 

Inuyasha ignored her embarrassment and picked her up, leaping into a nearby tree. “You guys better get to sleep! We've got to get an early start tomorrow.” Inuyasha yelled down to them.

 

Miroku and Sango did as they were told and began getting ready for bed. They both had smiles on their faces and were trying not to laugh. They could see Kagome in the tree, her face still red. Inuyasha of course just had a smug look on his face.

 

Kagome saw her friends down below smiling, wanting to laugh. She groaned and buried her face into Inuyasha's chest, even though he was the source of the problem, anything to hide herself from the embarrassment. Did he have to say it like it was the most natural thing in the world?

 

“Good night.” Miroku said in an amusing tone as he laid down to sleep. Sango said nothing but did the same.

 

Inuyasha settled himself against the tree and shifted Kagome so that she was straddling him. She blushed at their position and opened her mouth to protest. Inuyasha just pointed at the two below and she closed her mouth. She just groaned and leaned her head on his chest. He smirked at getting his way.

 

“Okaa-san, can I sleep with you?” Shippo asked as he slowly crawled up the tree.

 

“Hell no!” Inuyasha yelled.

 

“Of course you can Shippo.” Kagome smiled and held out her arms for him.

 

He smiled, ignoring Inuyasha's answer he ran up the tree and jumped into Kagome's arms. She cuddled him and held him against her stomach. “Oi!” Inuyasha protested.

 

“Please Inuyasha?” Kagome asked.

 

Inuyasha sighed. “Whatever.” He gave in. Before Kagome could thank him, he leaned towards her and pressed his lips against hers. He coaxed her lips apart and slipped his tongue in for a quick taste. He pulled back and put his hands on her waist, moving her so that her back was to his chest, he wrapped a leg around hers to keep her from falling out of the tree.

 

“Quit being so embarrassed all the time.” He whispered in her ear.

 

Kagome nodded but still blushed.

 

-------------------H

 

The next morning after everyone had eaten they all walked into the village. As Sesshomaru said it was pretty small. They all looked around for someone who wasn't busy. They were always getting stares from the villagers. Most of them glanced at them, frowned, and then hurried to finish their task.

 

They saw a villager who was walking around. “Excuse me miss.” Miroku said as he walked towards her. “If you could be so kind as to answer my question.”

 

“Hai.” The lady said.

 

“We were wondering if you happened to know if a miko named Kaede lived in this village.” Miroku asked.

 

“Hai, she lives here. Did you need something?” She asked.

 

“We have some business with her. Do you mind showing us the way?” Miroku asked.

 

“Hai, follow me.” The lady said as she walked in the opposite direction she came from.

 

They walked to the end of the village and she stopped in front of a hut. “Kaede-sama lives in this hut.” The lady said.

 

“Thanks for your help.” Miroku bowed.

 

“Wow.” Kagome said.

 

“What?” Miroku asked.

 

“You didn't grope that woman or ask her to bear your children.” Kagome said. “That's a first.”

 

“I have my intentions elsewhere.” He said as he glanced at Sango. He knocked on the side of the hut.

 

“Come in.” An elderly woman said.

 

They all walked into the hut and saw an elderly woman wearing miko robes sitting in front of a fireplace. “Can I help you?” She asked. She gasped and stood. “Kagome?”

 

“Huh?” Kagome said. The woman walked up to her and studied her face.

 

“You are Kagome are you not?” The elderly woman asked.

 

“Hai, I am.” Kagome said.

 

“Child, I thought you were dead.” The woman said. “Do you not remember me? I'm Kaede.”

 

“Gomen, I don't remember anything.” Kagome's head lowered.

 

“Well why don't you all come in and sit down.” Kaede moved back to her seat. “Who are your friends?”

 

“I guess you didn't meet them when I was younger.” Kagome turned to her friends and pointed to each as she said their name. “That's Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Kirara, and Shippo.”

 

“Ah Inuyasha.” Kaede said.

 

“You know me?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“No, Kagome told me a lot about you. You're the stubborn hanyou who wouldn't stop teasing Kagome. I see you still have the rosary.” She chuckled before turning serious. “What happened to you since you've been gone?”

 

------H

 

“I see. So much has happened since that day you disappeared.” Kaede shook her head. “Unfortunate that it had to happen to you. You already had so many problems.”

 

“What kind of problems?” Kagome asked.

 

“Well for one Inuyasha.” Kaede sighed. “I can't even count how many times you came back crying. The only thing he did was help you get over your parent's death, although you didn't meet him until a year after they died.”

 

“My parent's died?” Kagome asked.

 

“Hai, a youkai was running wild and went after you. Instead your parents protected you, although they succeeded in killing the youkai they died in the process. They left you in my care so I could train you with your miko skills when they were to awaken. By the feel of your aura they have.” Kaede explained. “Until you met Inuyasha you would walk around aimlessly doing nothing, only speaking when there was a need, never playing with the other village children.”

 

“I see.” Kagome said sadly.

 

“You were also plagued by many youkai. It is a heavy burden for you but you must protect yourself. A miko of your strength is a threat to many of the youkai in the world. You also possess something of great power but I cannot say anymore of it.” Kaede said.

 

“Do you know of the accident I was in?” Kagome asked hopefully.

 

“No, the last time I saw you, you seemed bothered by something but wouldn't speak of it.” Kaede shook her head. “You left early that morning and haven't seen you until now.”

 

Kagome lowered her head once again and thought about it. “Have you stayed in the village all this time?” She asked.

 

“I have not left since I was born here.” Kaede said.

 

“How did I meet with you guys so often if I lived so far away?” Kagome asked.

 

“You were usually gone for days. I couldn't stop you from going. You were always with Inuyasha. You didn't meet far from here...” Kaede said. “I think you were trying to get away from the children and ran off into the woods. I guess you met Inuyasha from there. Other than that I don't know.”

 

“Arigato for all your information. It's nice to meet someone I knew.” Kagome said.

 

“If you want you may stay here. There is an extra hut behind mine to take care of sick villagers but the sick season is over and rarely does anyone even use the hut when sick. You may stay as long as you like. Maybe you'll find some answers.” Kaede offered.

 

“Arigato!” Kagome said cheerfully.

 

“I'll show you to the hut and then I must attend to a villager.” Kaede stood.

 

Everyone followed Kaede to the hut in the back. It was a good distance away. “It is spacious enough for all of you if you don't mind sharing a hut.” Kaede said. “I'll leave you to get settled. I'll cook dinner for you all if you don't mind soup.”

 

“Arigato. I'm sure Inuyasha, Shippo, or Kirara can smell it cooking.” Kagome smiled. “Thanks again for all of your help Kaede-sama.”

 

“No problem. It was good to see you again.” Kaede smiled before leaving.

 

“Well that was sort of helpful.” Sango said.

 

“At least we know she's a friend.” Kagome said. “We know she's telling the truth because I saw her in a memory.”

 

“Well I think I shall take a look around the village.” Miroku said. “Care to join me Sango?”

 

“Hai, as long as we find a hot spring or river, anything so I can bathe.” Sango said.

 

“You bathed yesterday!” Miroku said, remembering the night all too well. The two of them argued while leaving the hut.

 

“I'm going to take a nap.” Shippo said. He crawled over to the corner with Kirara and fell asleep.

 

Inuyasha against the wall and sighed. “This running around crap isn't getting us anywhere.” He said.

 

“We're getting somewhere.” Kagome said. She sat next to him. “We're further than where we first started. At least that's something, even if there are lots of holes to fill.”

 

“Keh.” Inuyasha folded his arms.

 

“Ne Inuyasha...how do you think we met?” Kagome asked.

 

“I don't know.” Inuyasha said.

 

Suddenly the familiar white light flashed and they gasped.

 

*****Memory*****

 

A young Kagome was sitting on a rock, with her knees to her chest, head down. She sniffled lightly as she tried not to cry. She didn't want to cry anymore but she was all alone and couldn't help it. Her parents had died for her sake and as grateful as she was she hated it. She didn't want it to happen.

 

She didn't even know where she was. She just ran. The children taunted her for her parent's death, blaming it on her, making fun of her for not having any at all and living with a miko. As if taunting her about being a miko in the first place wasn't bad enough...

 

------H

 

Inuyasha was running around trying to do something to get rid of the boredom. There was nothing to do. No youkai wanted to involve themselves with a hanyou and there were no human children around even if they were willing to go near him. Sesshomaru was busy in the castle and had told him to find something productive to do.

 

He grew tired of having nothing to do so he decided to go exploring, anything to get his mind of the boredom. Aimlessly running through the forest he stopped when he smelled an enticing scent. Since he had nothing better to do he decided to check it out.

 

He soon found a girl sitting on a rock silently crying. No matter whom it was he could never stand to see a girl cry, whether or not he knew her. He was also interested with her scent. He'd never smelled anything so sweet. Quietly he walked up to the girl, not wanting to scare her.

 

The girl gasped and looked up at him. She quickly wiped her tears and stood. “Gomen, I didn't mean to be in your territory.” She sniffled and began walking away.

 

“Territory?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Hai, most youkai have territory and don't like humans around.” The girl said. “I'll leave.”

 

“This isn't my territory. It's the first time I've been here.” Inuyasha said.

 

“Oh.” The girl said. “Did you need something?”

 

“You aren't scared of me?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Am I supposed to be?”

 

“Most humans are scared of youkai.” Inuyasha crossed his arms.

 

“So you are a youkai. I thought so because of your ears.” The girl said.

 

“I'm not a youkai. I'm a hanyou, half inu.” He explained. “That's what my ears are from.”

 

“You're a hanyou?” The girl asked. “What's your name?”

 

Shocked that the girl was still talking to him, he for some reason felt compelled to tell her his name. “Inuyasha.” He said.

 

“My name is Kagome.” She introduced herself. She walked closer to him. “Your hair color is so different.”

 

“So?” Inuyasha snapped. “It's inu youkai trait.”

 

“I was just saying. I like it.” Kagome smiled. “Your eye color is nice to.”

 

“Keh, whatever.” Inuyasha sat down and crossed his arms. He was still shocked that the girl hadn't run scared. “You're not disgusted by me?”

 

“Why would I be?” Kagome asked as she sat down next to him.

 

“Well I'm not full human or full youkai.” Inuyasha said. “Most people don't want to be near me.”

 

“I don't mind.” Kagome smiled. She reached up to touch his ear. They twitched under her touch. “They're so soft!”

 

Inuyasha leaned into her touch before realizing he let a complete stranger touch his ears. He'd never let anyone besides his mother touch his ears, and here he was letting a girl he met not even five minutes ago rub his ears, and he was enjoying it. He let out a content growl before falling to the ground.

 

Kagome giggled and removed her hand. “I didn't know inu youkai purred.” She said.

 

“It wasn't a purr!” Inuyasha growled.

 

Kagome giggled again but reached for his ear again. “Gomen, that's what it sounded like to me.” She said. “If this isn't your territory then where did you come from?”

 

“The castle nearby. Sesshomaru's the lord of the Western Lands.” Inuyasha said as he gently swatted her hand away from his ear. As much as he liked the feeling he couldn't carry a conversation at the same time.

 

“I didn't know there was a castle nearby. This is the farthest I've been outside the village. I hope I can find my way back.” Kagome looked in the direction she had come from.

 

“How could you get all the way out here and not know the way back?” He asked.

 

“I wasn't paying attention.” Kagome said.

 

“Was it because you were crying?”

 

“Hai, I ran from the village because the other kids were teasing me again.” Kagome explained.

 

“What were they making fun of you for?”

 

“Because I'm a miko and my parent's are dead.” Kagome said and began to cry again.

 

“Oi don't cry!” Inuyasha shouted.

 

“I can't help it!” Kagome cried.

 

“Oi stop crying already! I won't let anyone make fun of you again if you stop crying!” Inuyasha shouted.

 

“How would you do that?” Kagome sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes.

 

“I don't know but I'll try. Just stop your crying.” Inuyasha turned away from her.

 

“Arigato.” Kagome smiled as the last of her tears were wiped away. “Your so nice.”

 

“Keh.”

 

*****End*****

 

Kagome gasped as the white light flashed once again and disappeared. Her head was swimming with the fresh memory. She tried to grasp what she had just seen. “Inuyasha did you see that?” She asked.

 

“Yeah. Guess that answers your question of how we met.” He said. He saw that she was struggling to stay awake. “You need to rest. You always get weak after you see a memory and this one was the longest and most detailed one so far.”

 

“Like you'd let me stay awake even if I could.” Kagome said. She stood but Inuyasha pulled her down into his lap. “What are you doing?”

 

“You need to rest.” He said.

 

“I was going to until you pulled me down!” She said.

 

“Shh don't wake Shippo. Just go to sleep.” Inuyasha said.

 

Kagome sighed and rested her head in the crook of his neck. “Wake me when Miroku and Sango get back.” She yawned.

 

“You'll wake when you wake.” He said.

 

“Jerk.” She said before falling asleep.

 

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Well I hope you like this chapter. It's the longest chapter I've written for this fic. I thought you guys deserved a long chapter. I've gotten a lot of reviews and this is my favorite fic to write, besides I thought it would be cute to write the scene how Inuyasha and Kagome met. I think next chapter I'll write how Miroku and Sango met...Not sure yet, I'll have to think of something though...Well let me know what you think. Ja ne!

 

THANKS TO READERS AND REVIEWERS!