InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Changing the Past, Changes the Future ❯ Friend Like Me ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, and I don't make any money from the writing of this or any of my stories.

 

Chapter 15: Friend Like Me

**Flashback**

“Thank you, Inuyasha.” Onigumo's voice shocked Inuyasha to the core as they sat in the cave. With Kikyo in the neighboring village, Inuyasha had agreed to look after Onigumo for her.

He gaped at the other man for a second before he said, “You're welcome.”

Inuyasha hated the idea of taking care of him, but Kikyo insisted and she was his only friend.

How could he deny her?

He might have agreed to take care of Onigumo, but that didn't mean he had to feed him broth. Onigumo needed meat or he would never get better physically, though Inuyasha already knew that the bandit would never walk again.

Hell, he was lucky to be alive at all. There were some half demon's that wouldn't have survived the fall from the cliff he had lived through.

Inuyasha had made sure to catch some fish and rabbits. He had also made sure that the meat was cooked thoroughly. He might want Onigumo dead, but he wouldn't kill him. Not until Kikyo told him that he could.

He had also propped Onigumo against the wall of the cave. It was the first time the man had sat up for this long in a few months. Kikyo was afraid he would break if she moved him too much.

Gold eyes glanced outside to see the darkness enveloping the land. It wouldn't be long before the sun set. And the moonless sky would be filled with darkness, other than the faintly shining stars.

Of all the places he could be when he turned human, this was one of the places he'd rather not be. Of course there would be no harm in letting Onigumo see him as a human. It's not like the bandit could do anything to him anyway.

“It was nice to have meat for once instead of that fucking broth Kikyo always forces down my throat.” Onigumo spoke again.

“She means well. It doesn't matter if they're human, half demon, full demon, or anything else. Women are women, and women are weird,” Inuyasha replied.

“Something we both agree on.” Onigumo actually smiled at Inuyasha as he laughed slightly. “Was your mother weird?”

Inuyasha shrugged. “Of course she was, but that's because she loved me. Women are even weirder when they love someone or something. She might have been weird, but she loved me, and she was my mother.”

“My mother was a lot like Kikyo. She was caring, beautiful, and obedient.”

“Mine was sad a lot. She worried about what my life would be like when she died. She loved me. I know she did, but she worried more about what would happen to me when she died, than actually taking care of me when she was alive.” Inuyasha didn't know why he was telling this evil man all of these things. Maybe it just felt good to tell someone things no matter who they were. He knew without a doubt that he would get no pity from Onigumo.

Inuyasha didn't want anyone's pity anyway.

“What was your father like?”

“I don't know. He died the night I was born, saving my mother and me.”

“Do you have any family?”

Inuyasha shrugged again. “I guess if you want to call my half brother family.”

“Human?”

“Demon. He's the Lord of the Western Lands. He can't stand the idea of having a tainted brother. Kind of like the way you can't stand for Kikyo to have a tainted friend. I just can't please anyone.” He stated.

Onigumo's chocolate eyes widened in shock as a white flash of light enveloped the half demon sitting across the cave from him.

When the light faded, a black haired human man sat in the place where a white haired half demon had once sat. The furry triangle shaped ears that Onigumo had once tried to cut off were now replaced by human ears. His fangs and claws were also gone. He had yet to open his eyes. The bandit knew that he wouldn't be able to see the half demons eyes, but wondered what color they would be.

With a sigh, Inuyasha's eyes fluttered open. Even across the fire Onigumo could tell that his eyes were bright blue.

“You're human,” Onigumo said, looking at the half demon turned human in disbelief.

“Keh!” Was the only reply the teenager with long ebony hair replied as they sat in the cave.

“You are now at the strength of a mere human, right?”

“Not really. I might not have any strength against demons, but I am still stronger than almost all humans in my human form.”

“You look very pleasing in this form.” Onigumo purred, creeping Inuyasha out.

The boy frowned and looked at the bandit, who looked about eight years older than himself. “You got a thing for teenage boys, Onigumo? It's pretty bad when you can give a half demon the creeps.”

The bandit chuckled darkly at the half demon's response. “Of course not. I just think as a human you aren't as ugly, half breed.”

“If I'm ugly because I'm a half demon, then what's your excuse?” Inuyasha retorted, making the man laugh again.

“Maybe it's not the demon blood, but the human blood that makes one ugly.”

“Maybe.”

“Is your brother ugly?”

Inuyasha smiled. “No. He's one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen. Of course the downside of that is he's the biggest asshole I've ever met. He's even more of an asshole than you are, Onigumo.”

Onigumo smirked. “I guess I'll just have to try harder.”

“Good luck with that.” Inuyasha folded his arms inside his robe.

“Not that it's necessary, but thank you for wishing me luck.”

**End Flashback**

“Inuyasha, are you okay?” Kagome asked as she sat around the fire with Inuyasha next to her and Shippo on her shoulder. Sango, Miroku, Kikyo, Sesshomaru, and Jaken joined them. Rin was sleeping on top of Ah-Un with Sesshomaru's furry pelt over her.

The wolf demons were sleeping close by. Koga said he couldn't stand the stench of dog any longer. Sesshomaru was going to let the insult slide until Koga had said the stench got worse with Inuyasha there. Rin, whom had been killed by wolves commanded by Koga, was the one to plead with the irate demon lord for the wolf demon's life.

That was the only reason they hadn't enjoyed wolf meat for dinner.

 

Inuyasha and Kagome had been back for two weeks and they hadn't found any jewel shards. Not that anyone was surprised. Kagome would have been more shocked if they did find one that neither they nor Naraku had.

 

They were nearly back to Kaede's village, almost an hour walk, but decided to make camp in a clearing instead.

“Yeah. Sorry. I guess I zoned out.” Inuyasha watched as the fire devoured the wood, and danced about.

“What were you thinking about?” Miroku asked.

“I don't want to talk about it.”

Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow and looked toward Inuyasha. Normally he didn't want to hear Inuyasha's voice at all, but now he wanted to. He wanted to know what the half demon didn't want to discuss. “Share with us, Inuyasha.”

He glared at Sesshomaru. “Fine. I was thinking about Onigumo, are you happy?”

“You mean Naraku, right?” Sango asked.

He shook his head. “No. I was thinking about a discussion that Onigumo and I had one time.”

“You knew Onigumo, before he became Naraku?” Sesshomaru asked.

“That's what I just said, isn't it? Christ, Sesshomaru are you going crazy in your old age?” Inuyasha snapped. “Why are you still here anyway? Shouldn't you be off fixing your hair or killing something? Why the fuck are you hanging around me all the time?”

Gold eyes narrowed as Sesshomaru's whip snapped out of his hand, and almost struck Inuyasha. It would have hit him if it hadn't been for the pink barrier that suddenly engulfed the half demon. The whip's tip turned the same color as Inuyasha's barrier, and burnt Sesshomaru's hand when it was drawn back in. The demon gasped in pain as he studied his burnt hand. It was just like a burn from gripping the Tetsusaiga.

“Onigumo and I once had a discussion about the way I looked as a human.” He began.

“If Onigumo saw you as a human, does that mean Naraku knows when your night of weakness is?”

“No. I don't think so. He couldn't see out of the cave to know that there was no moon.”

Shippo looked at Kagome in fear. “Oh no. That means Sesshomaru knows when Inuyasha turns human.”

Sesshomaru turned to the kitsune on Kagome's shoulder. “This Sesshomaru has always known about the pup's night of weakness. There is no honor in killing a creature in its weakest form. Even if it is a worthless half breed.”

“Anyway,” Inuyasha said. “He told me that I looked good as a human and then I asked him if he liked teenage boys.” He looked around at them to see most of them smiling. Even Kikyo had a sad smile on her face. “He said he didn't and told me the only reason he said that was because I wasn't as ugly as a human. I asked him what his excuse for being ugly was. He didn't have any demon blood. He said it was the human in us that made us both ugly, and then asked if Sesshomaru was ugly.”

“You spoke of this Sesshomaru to that vile filth?”

“Wow, Inuyasha talked about you to Naraku's human core and I was sleeping with you and Onigumo at the same time. It seems that neither one of us could resist sharing certain things with you and Onigumo.” Kikyo uncharacteristically taunted the demon lord. It was true that Inuyasha had shared nothing, but blood with Sesshomaru at that time, but she couldn't resist.

”Now, finish telling us what you and Onigumo discussed,” she replied cooly as she felt both Inuyasha's and Kagome's eyes on her.

Sesshomaru looked toward Kikyo and actually smirked at her. “You share far too much, priestess. At least, you don't have to worry about breeding. Or getting some kind of rotting disease. This Sesshomaru has an extensive collection of pottery. Perhaps I could add you to my collection.”

Kikyo rose to her feet with no expression on her face and walked from the group. She showed no hint that Sesshomaru's words had bothered her.

Sango leaned over to Miroku. “Did he just make a lecherous advance to Kikyo?”

He leaned closer to her. “I believe that he did.”

Sesshomaru's eyes flickered to them in warning, before he turned them to a very confused looking Inuyasha.

“After I told Onigumo that Sesshomaru was beautiful, but even a bigger asshole than he was. Onigumo said he would just have to try harder. I told him good luck and he said he wouldn't need it.”

They all sat in silence for a few moments, thinking about what had just been said.

“I think he's proved that he's a bigger asshole than Sesshomaru now. He needs to stop,” Miroku said. He looked at the demon lord and held up his hands. “Not that I believe you are an asshole, Lord Sesshomaru.”

After a few moments, Kagome rose to her feet and followed Kikyo. Inuyasha made a move to follow her to make sure she would be safe.

“I will watch after them, Inuyasha.” Sesshomaru said as he hopped into the trees.

Inuyasha spun around. “What the hell happened while Kagome and I were gone?” Inuyasha flopped down, only to have Shippo scurry onto his shoulder.

He fought the urge to smack the snoring Jaken in the face with Tetsusaiga's sheath, but refrained. He'd rather have the little toad sleeping then being awake and pissing him off.

Inuyasha was shocked when she didn't slap him, but she blushed and smiled at him. “Are you two…”

“Not yet. Kikyo and I decided to be nothing more than friends. Sango and I have since decided to pursue a relationship. To see if our friendship could be something more.” Miroku watched as Inuyasha rose to his feet.

“Keep the shield around you guys. I'm going to go make sure Sesshomaru doesn't hurt anyone.” Inuyasha was gone.

“Things have certainly gotten strange around here.” Shippo now sat on Miroku's shoulder.

“I have a feeling this is just the beginning.”

While they sat by the fire, Kagome followed Kikyo's soul collectors into the field where Naraku had struck her down in the form of her best friend. “Kikyo? Kikyo, are you okay?” Kagome walked closer to her.

“I'm glad you escaped him, Kagome.”

“Me too.”

Kikyo sat in the grass and stared at the stars. “Sit with me, little sister.”

When Kagome was seated, she felt Kagome's hair. “Your hair has grown much in the time you've been gone.”

“Yeah. They're called hair extensions. It's not my real hair. We figure this might be able to throw off Naraku for a while.”

“It will only last for a while. What you did in the past has even changed Naraku.”

Kagome didn't like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”

Kikyo shook her head. “Just watch the stars with me.”

Kagome did as she was asked and they sat in silence until Kagome was about to fall asleep. Inuyasha walked from the forest, lifted his mate in his arms, and squeezed Kikyo's hand before heading back to the others.

Kikyo wasn't surprised when she sensed the powerful demonic aura take the place where Kagome had once been. She felt the tall grass shift as Sesshomaru sat next to her. For the rest of the night, the Western Lord and the undead priestess sat together. They said not a word, for they had nothing to say to each other. They didn't touch one another, for they had no reason to. They just sat together.

For the first time in a while, the priestess, and the demon didn't feel quite so alone.

!@#$%^&*())(*&^%$#@!@#$%^&*())(*&^%$#@!

“You don't know what you're talking about mutt face.” Koga snapped at Inuyasha.

“Be not a fool, half breed,” Sesshomaru deadpanned.

Kagome sighed as she looked from the wolf to the half demon, then to the demon lord, then back to the half demon. Koga and Sesshomaru had been intentionally baiting Inuyasha for hours since the wolves had returned. Both were trying valiantly to pick a fight with the hot headed half demon. Occasionally, they would get irritated with one another and verbally spar for several minutes, before focusing back on Inuyasha.

Kikyo and Miroku had gone with Ah-Un and Rin to pick flowers. Jaken had tagged along with them because Miroku had mentioned something about going by the river. Jaken thought it would be a nice gesture to catch some fish for everyone.

Shippo had offered to join them.

Someone had to protect the group.

Everyone was waiting for Inuyasha's mounting explosion. His hands were clenched into fists and his teeth were grinding together. A growl escaped his throat and his aura began to shift. For some reason, everyone sensed the changed except for Sesshomaru and Koga.

They must have been too busy harassing Inuyasha, to sense the change in the half demon. The other demons in attendance took a step back from Inuyasha.

Koga looked shocked when Inuyasha's hand clamped down on one of his wrists. Sesshomaru simply looked bored. “Stop it right now.” Inuyasha growled to the two demons.

Koga laughed and Sesshomaru snorted at the same time. Koga's laughter died and caught in his throat when he felt fire lapping at the place where Inuyasha held him.

Inuyasha knew that Sesshomaru wouldn't have the same reaction, so he looked at his brother. Sesshomaru's eyes were narrowed in pure hatred as they glared at Inuyasha's face. He refused the show the half breed that what he was doing hurt him in the least.

“If you two don't quit pestering me, I'm going to purify both your fucking asses straight to hell.” Inuyasha snarled at them.

“Inuyasha. Let them go.” Kagome's hand rested on his shoulder.

“Lord Sesshomaru!” Rin's shriek echoed through valley.

Everyone froze.

“I can sense the sacred jewels shards!” Kagome shouted.

Inuyasha could sense them too, though he didn't say it. Another sensation came to him and the group watched as Sesshomaru disappeared in a blur. He would know that smell anywhere.

“What is it?” One of the wolf demons asked.

“Naraku.” Was all Inuyasha said.