InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Because of Tomomi ❯ Hide and Seek ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or the like. This story is for my own entertainment. (Well. You can be entertained by it too, I suppose.)

 

A/N: My return to fanfiction!! I'm really, really hesitant to post anything online. I don't think I'm as good a writer as I was at one point. But I really wanna share this fic~! So here it is. …I actually had to be reminded to do this part here, so I don't know what else to say. Standard: Any reviews are greatly appreciated!

 

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Because of Tomomi

Chapter One

Hide and Seek

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How long had it been? Since he'd been awakened, since the Shikon no Tama shattered? Absently, he reached up to touch the rosary that hung around his neck. How long since they fought Naraku? Since Kagome came back? Did it matter how long it'd been? He supposed not. He folded his arms back into the sleeves of his fire-rat haori, continuing on his solitary walk. All that mattered now was that she was angry at him, but he didn't do anything wrong.

 

He twitched an ear in the direction he heard a rustle in the bushes. He heard stifled giggling, and flicked both his ears in irritation. Whatever the kid wanted, they weren't getting anything from him. He listened as the child crouched noisily, getting ready to spring out on him. He moved first, though, jumping to the treetops just as the child - a girl - tumbled out of the foliage.

 

“You found me!” she cried happily. When she realized there was no one in front of her, she lowered her hands and looked around. He stayed just long enough to see the girl spin around, confused. When her face started to crumple like she might cry, he bolted. He didn't want to deal with it, and he wanted even less for word to get out that he was the one to make a village girl cry.

 

Although, he couldn't for sure say she was from the village. He certainly hadn't seen her before, but then he didn't pay too much attention to the milling humans most of the time. He tried not to, anyway. They always ended up being more trouble than they were worth.

 

He found refuge in the Goshinboku, hiding away from the world in its lofty branches. He wanted to forget everything for a while, forget the village, the way Sango took Kagome's side, the way Miroku just laughed, and especially how Kagome had been angry enough to nearly cry.

 

Grumbling and folding his arms again, he settled back and grudgingly tried to relax. Kagome'd been gone three years. Of course he wanted to know what had happened to her since then. Who she'd been with, if Hobo followed her around. He was allowed to know, wasn't he? So maybe lunch at Kaede's hadn't been the best place to bring up that line of conversation. But he wanted to know!

 

Another noisy rustle from nearby. The brat again? He wasn't going to move for her this time. Sure enough, the same girl from before clambered up to the tree.

 

“I found you, found you!” she sang. He glanced down at her, then pointedly ignored her. The hell was she doing in the forest anyway? “Ohhhh,” she mumbled somberly, pressing her fingers to her lips. “Quiet time. Shh.” She turned and sat at Goshinboku's base, hugging her knees to her chin. What was wrong with her? She was way too old to be acting the way she was. She was probably about the same age Kagome was when she first came through the well. But she looked thin and gangly, like she hadn't grown into her skin. And her hair was the lightest brown he'd ever seen on a human.

 

She sat perfectly still, and he found himself staring down at her head as if he could decipher her thoughts that way. Seriously, what the hell?

 

Suddenly, she beamed up at him, and pressed a finger to her lips. “Nii-chan's seeking now,” she said. Then she turned back to stone, staring ahead into the forest. InuYasha was by then more than puzzled. He sniffed warily, catching the girl's scent. Definitely human. Then why did she have such blue eyes?

 

In the distance, he heard a young man's voice. “Tomomi!” he called out. “Tomomi-chan, where are you? Answer me!”

 

InuYasha looked down at the fair-haired girl again. Probably Tomomi. She obviously couldn't hear the man. She still sat stock-still. Quietest human ever, he mused. Then he grimaced. The man looking for Tomomi was going the wrong direction. Of course. What person in their right mind would plunge headlong into the heart of InuYasha's Forest? This crazy one, he answered himself. Well, no point in worrying anyone any more. The man's voice was starting to get more and more desperate.

 

Sighing, InuYasha hopped nimbly out of the tree and landed a few feet in front of the girl. She blinked, but did nothing else. He stared at her warily, but she didn't blink again. “Tomomi?” he asked. She smiled brilliantly. He shook his head. What was he doing? “Your brother is looking for you,” he said.

 

“I know,” she chirped. Something bothered him.

 

“How long have you been hiding for?” he wondered aloud. Tomomi looked up, putting her fingers to her chin.

 

“Oh,” she pondered carelessly, “A day? Two?”

 

“Come on,” he said sternly, quickly rising to his feet and offering her a hand up.

 

“Where are we going?” she asked with a trusting smile, taking his hand. Gods, InuYasha thought, this could have been bad.

 

“To your brother,” he replied. Suddenly she was flailing and trying to escape.

 

“No, no!” she shouted. “That's not how the game works!” She continued to struggle, but he wouldn't let her escape. He didn't like the idea of her running off and finding more trouble.

 

“Okay, okay!” He tugged on her arm to get her attention. “In that case, I know the best hiding place,” he lied. “He'll never think to find you where I can take you.”

 

Just like that, her eyes were sparkling, and she went willingly with him. He had to reassure her a couple times that he wasn't taking her to her brother. That yes, the spot was in the village. He took her to Kaede's, not knowing what else to do. Kagome and Sango were still there. Sango looked ready to yell at him, but then Tomomi entered the hut behind him. Her words died in her throat - he could hear that happen - and instead she looked at him.

 

“InuYasha?” she asked, confused. Kagome wore a matching puzzled face, but Kaede wasn't surprised for more than a moment.

 

“Ah,” she crooned. “I see you've met Tomomi-chan.”

 

“Kaede-baa-chan?” Kagome frowned. Tomomi was already exploring the small dwelling, smelling herbs and examining dishes.

 

Watching the girl, Kaede gave a short sigh. “She and her brother came to the village not too long ago,” she began. “Their village was raided - or something. Her brother won't say much and talking to Tomomi-chan is… well. Something happened to her, I think. But they're here to be close to their aunt and uncle. Taking care of this girl is… a challenge.”

 

“Noticed,” InuYasha muttered, sitting next to Kagome. The way she slightly leaned away, kept her back straight, told him she was still angry with him.

 

“What's wrong with her?” Kagome asked, ignoring InuYasha.

 

“She…” Kaede searched for a polite way to put it. “She's not all there, child. I spoke to her brother. Some days are better than others. Some days she's as good as normal. But other times… she can be a handful.”

 

Kagome hummed her understanding.

 

“So she's crazy.”

 

“InuYasha!” Kagome and Sango exclaimed.

 

“What?” he demanded.

 

~*~

 

Once awaking from their nap, the twins came to find their mother, father in tow. Once Sango got her hugs, the twins turned their attention to InuYasha - specifically, his ears. Once in a while Kagome would catch herself envying the children for just that.

 

As soon as the twins latched on to the hanyou, though, Tomomi seemed to realize that InuYasha did have dog ears atop his head. She made her way closer to the ear-tug-of-war and sat on her heels, fascinated. Sitting a few feet away from the hyperactive children, she was bound to get noticed. One of the girls turned her attention to the older girl and grinned. Tomomi tilted her head to the side and regarded the girl curiously.

 

“Han'ou, han'ou!” she cried, throwing herself at Tomomi. Hanyou. The atmosphere turned tense with anticipation, awaiting Tomomi's reaction. Sango sent a confused look to Miroku; who had taught her that word? The toddler fisted her hands in Tomomi's bright hair and laughed delightedly.

 

“Kazumi,” Sango called softly to her daughter. The tiny girl, blissfully innocent, wobbled over to her mother and smiled as she nuzzled into her arms. Sango returned the embrace, lifting her child off the floor, still watching Tomomi.

 

The girl's expression hadn't shifted from puzzlement, but slowly, it crumbled as she raised her hands to her face. She threw herself forward so that she was in a ball and shook.

 

“Tomomi-chan?” Kagome said, getting to her feet and going to the girl. “Tomomi-chan, are you alright?” She placed her hands on the girl's shoulders and tried to see her face. Kagome's concern grew when Tomomi remained silent but for her breathing, which grew more and more broken with hiccups.

 

InuYasha stood abruptly, catching the second little girl that went up with him. He passed her off to Miroku and he was out the door like a flash. Kagome's shout died in her throat. She knew he didn't like being around crying women, but just what the hell was that? She was torn between her concern for the girl and her anger toward InuYasha, between trying to comfort Tomomi and tearing after InuYasha to march him right back. Before she could work out which she'd rather do, the matting of the door flew open again, and InuYasha unceremoniously deposited a young man on the floor of Kaede's hut.

 

For as startled as he'd looked, the man recovered admirably fast. With a short gasp, he was up on his feet and clamoring to the other stranger in their midst. “Tomo-chan,” he said.

 

“Nii-chan,” she whispered, flinging herself at him, burying her face in his neck and whimpering. The man - undeniably Tomomi's older brother - hushed and rocked her while they were both on their knees. He turned and looked at everyone in the room apologetically, but none so much as Kaede and Kagome.

 

It wasn't long before Tomomi calmed down, but she still hid her face in her brother's shoulder while he sat around the fire pit with everyone else. She refused to let go of his hand, which she held by his thumb.

 

“I'm sorry for any trouble my sister may have caused you this afternoon,” he said. But for his sister, he would have bowed. “I also thank you, InuYasha-san, for finding her and keeping her safe.”

 

InuYasha folded his arms into his sleeves and looked away with a “keh.”

 

“Ryouta-kun,” Kaede interjected, worry in her voice, “are you not well?”

 

Tomomi's brother forced a polite smile. “Thank you for your concern, Kaede-sama, I am fine. I'm just glad to finally have my sister back in my sight.”

 

“About that…” Miroku hedged, seeing off Sango and the children. He took up his spot next to Kaede again. “This girl is truly your sister?”

 

“Yes!” Ryouta exclaimed, a little to forcefully. He frowned defiantly at them all. InuYasha raised a curious eyebrow at him, while the others wore various masks of wariness. Ryouta seemed to realize his outburst. “I mean,” he recovered, “yes… partially.” He squeezed his sister's hand, but she didn't respond. She hadn't moved since Ryouta turned to face them. InuYasha was getting used to it, but the others still found it vaguely disturbing.

 

“Tomomi and I had the same mother. But my father was a wealthy public figure. Hers was…” His eyes tightened. “A barbarian.” Kagome fidgeted, knowing how the Japanese first took to people from the west. She knew the history, but she didn't have to like it.

 

“Why is she like this?” InuYasha asked. Kagome looked like she wanted to scold him for asking, but wanted to know as well. Ryouta shook his head like he saw it coming, and he probably did. Kagome wondered just how many times the poor boy was going to have to explain his sister's behavior.

 

“When Tomomi was born, it was obvious that she wasn't my father's child,” he began quietly. He covered his sister's hand with his free one. “My father… publically said our mother miscarried. And he hid Tomomi in our housing compound. It was extensive enough, and he paid his servants well enough that it was possible. But he couldn't pay them enough to care for her, to be unafraid of her.” He paused then, the sorrow for others' actions plain on his face for the pain it'd caused his sister. “I saw her when I could, but it wasn't enough to keep her rooted in this reality I suppose.”

 

He turned to face them again, forcing himself to be stoic. “She wasn't all that bad then. She just… wasn't entirely there. But then our town was raided. Because of my father, our house was targeted, and burned down. They ransacked the place, killed many of the servants.” His eyes flinched. “My parents were killed. No one was left that knew about Tomomi or would care to tell someone. No one went to save her the way they came to save me. It was… several days before I could escape the refugee camp. I'd lost a lot of blood, and came down with a fever. I stole a horse and found the bandits. I don't know what they did to her. She can't or won't say.”

 

“If you were injured, how did you save her?” Kagome asked before she could stop herself.

 

A heavy silence settled over the small gathering, broken only by the sound of the fire and the bustle of people outside. Kagome fidgeted when Ryouta looked to the fire, his gaze turning distant. Just when he seemed like he wasn't going to answer, he opened his mouth and pulled a breath as if to talk, then hesitated.

 

“I didn't,” he admitted. He seemed horrified. “I found where the bandits had made camp, but… they were all dead. At first I feared some youkai had torn through them, Tomomi among them. But there she was, in the middle of the camp, sitting so serenely. She was naked and obviously had been scrubbed clean.”

 

Swallowing his revulsion, Miroku forced himself to ask, “Was she the one that killed them?”

 

“I don't know,” Ryouta whispered. “I found Tomomi a clean enough kimono and got her out of there. I didn't look too closely at the bodies. Maybe I didn't want to know. Either way… I don't know.”

 

When the silence stretched on too long, and it was clear the conversation was over, Ryouta bundled up his sister and led her away, bowing to the others in Kaede's house. It was late afternoon, and Miroku dismissed himself shortly after Ryouta left to be back with his family and help his wife. Kaede stoked the fire for the silent pair remaining and left to see a family that'd asked her over for dinner. Contemplating Ryouta's story, Kagome shivered and rubbed her arms, as if she was chilled.

 

InuYasha knew she was still probably mad at him. He'd find some way to make up for it. But it didn't stop him from putting his arm around her shoulders and holding her close to his side. It eased some of the tension in his heart when she leaned into him and put her hand over his. Perhaps she wasn't as angry with him as he thought.