InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Confrontation ❯ Meeting of the Minds ( Chapter 19 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own any of them with the exception on Miebi Kokushi and Jouyoku.

Chapter 19: Meeting of the Minds

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Inuyasha hissed as he made his way through the gates of the village. Sure he had smelled his scent earlier but he figured maybe he was just passing by on one of his aimless strolls.

“Who's here?' Kagome questioned softly.

“Sesshomaru.”

“Why do you think he's here?”

“Feh, how would I know?” He replied as he wondered just what had brought his brother out this way. Sesshomaru had given up coming after the fang a long time ago, and after the battle with Naraku he really hadn't seen him at all, so one could say that this little visit really did have his mind running a mile a minute.

It had taken them a little longer than expected to get to the village, after Sangos' tantrum it was Kougas' bout of vomiting that wouldn't let up. Eventually the wolf Youkai was able to calm himself. Of course he hadn't explained what happened, but Inuyasha knew it had something to do with Ayame. He wasn't stupid he could also smell the change in her scent but it wasn't his place to say anything about it.

“Kouga are you alright?” Kagome asked over Inuyashas' shoulder.

He weakly smiled at her and he nodded in a positive manner. When the truth really was, hell no he wasn't all right. His Youkai was torn…damaged maybe he was even heart broken and he still couldn't understand why. Still he trudged on with an unconscious Ayame still tossed over his shoulder. He tried not to breathe, but it was a losing battle, so instead he tried to breathe through his mouth thinking that maybe if he didn't smell her then he could make it to the village with out throwing up again.

As he approached Kaede's hut he noticed Sesshomaru casually leaning up against the side of the door his head hanging low and his eyes closed.

“Half breed, have you also taken up traveling with mangy wolves?” Sesshomaru questioned coldly with out moving a muscle.

“What in the hell are you doing here? I smelled your stench from a mile back.” Inuyasha shouted as he let Kagome down so she could stand beside him.

Immediately she began to hop towards the door. Loosing her balance she stumbled and fell to the side, but Sesshomaru caught her before she could do any damage to her self. Standing her upright Sesshomaru released her, “you should pay more attention to the Miko and less attention to things that don't concern you.”

“Feh, she's fine besides no one told her to go hopping off.” He responded as he walked up to Kagome placing a hand on her waist to steady her. “Wench you could've hurt yourself.” He said as he walked towards the door of the hut but was stopped by Sesshomarus' hand on his chest.

“Don't even think about it Rins' being cared for right now.”

“Feh, your in my village now…I can do what I want when I want, you got that!” Inuyasha yelled as he pushed his brothers' hand away and walked on.

Reaching out Sesshomaru grabbed to back of Inuyashas' Haori, “I said Rins' in there and she's not decent.”

“Why you…” Inuyasha started to say but was caught off by Kagome.

Turning to face him she said, “No Inuyasha he's right if Rin is in here she's obviously being tended to, so you should stay here.”

“But...” he tried to say.

“If it was me would you let Sesshomaru in?” she asked.

“Feh!” He snapped as he snatched the back of his Kimono from Sesshomaru. “Alright go ahead, but remember what I said.”

Smiling she beckoned to Sango to help her as she reached for Ayame. Taking the unconscious women from Kouga she and Sango turned and entered the hut leaving the men outside all of them brooding at the fact that Sesshomaru wouldn't let them in.

Walking up Miroku stood between the pissed off Hanyou and his nonchalant brother, “Sesshomaru, if you don't mind me asking…what happened to Rin?”

“I mind.” He responded coldly.

“Feh, I don't know why you even asked him? It's not like he would tell us anything anyway. Just let him hurry up and get the hell out of here!” Inuyasha snapped as he walked over and sat on the makeshift fence that surrounded the field in front of the village.

“Inuyasha, maybe what happened to Rin has something to do with what happened to Ayame and maybe…” He faltered, could he really say it? If he did would it make it true? Not noticing that he now had the attention of all the men present he hung his head conceding to defeat.

“Maybe what Monk?” Kouga asked. He had remained quiet since their arrival to the village.

“Keh, it probably really has nothing to do with the other, but than I guess we'll never know since Sesshomaru has his head shoved so far up his own ass that…” Inuyasha stated before he was cut off.

“I'm warning you, you half twit.” The white Lord stated as he approached to men. “Ninjen, what happened to the wolf Youkai?”

“Well, Sesshomaru…” Miroku started to say, but was interrupted by Inuyasha.

“Miroku don't tell him anything! If he can't tell us what happened to Rin then he doesn't need to know what happened to Ayame.”

Looking from one brother to the other Kouga almost lost his temper, could something that Sesshomaru tell him lead him to discover what happened to Ayame? Had something happened to her that she didn't want? He didn't know for sure, but he did know that she was now mated but to whom? He needed answers he needed to talk to Ayame to find out what happened and why she had betrayed him, `she didn't betray me…I…I betrayed her every time I ran after Kagome. This isn't making any since, why am I acting like I chose her.' Shaking his head he yelled, “Look this isn't getting us anywhere. Monk what's going on here is that something that you need to tell me I mean us? Could Ayame have been harmed?”

Looking at Inuyasha the Monk stated, “Let's have a seat I'll tell you as much as we know.”

Inuyasha remained where he was; Kouga walked up a little closer and took a seat next to the Hanyou while Sesshomaru remained where he was standing.

“From what we've heard there is a demon by the name of Jouyoku roaming about. His only intention is to mate or rather defile pure women it doesn't' matter if she is demon or human, he doesn't care. Initially he came after Kagome and we believe Sango, but he couldn't get to them for whatever reason. We know that he has attacked a few villages stripping them of their pure women; it appears that he has some kind of ability because he doesn't take them by force they go to him willingly. The more he mates the stronger he gets. From what we've heard he will continue to this for a total of 90 days.” Miroku stated solemnly.

“So what, you're saying this Youkai is basically…raping women?” Kouga stated with a look of disbelief and shock on his face.

“That's just the thing by what Miebi Kokushi told us it may start as such, but afterwards the woman is practically in love with him…she craves him.” The Monk responded as he took a seat on the ground below and to the right of the Hanyou.

“Don't forget she slowly looses her mind and feels how did she put it, `pure pain at the site or touch of another man' but I guess that's just a side effect.” Inuyasha added nonchalantly.

“Have either of you seen this Youkai.” Sesshomaru asked.

Refusing to look at his brother the Hanyou replied, “If I had, do you think we'd be having this conversation right now?”

“Sesshomaru, Kagome and Sango have but all they would say is he had magenta hair and he was handsome.” The monk added hoping that if he were forth coming with information then maybe the white lord would be to.

“D…do y…you think he got t…to Ayame?” Kouga asked almost too afraid to hear the answer.

Looking at the wolf Youkai from the side of his eye Inuyasha finally felt sorry for him. He hadn't thought it was Jouyoku he just figured she had gotten tired of waiting on him while he chased after Kagome and mated with someone else. “Kouga…” he mumbled as his thoughts wondered to what ifs. What if it was Kagome, what if he was off running behind Kikyo when she was taken, what if she wouldn't let him touch her anymore. He couldn't he wouldn't be able to survive the guilt the pain it would kill him, `she has to go home.'

“Until we're able to talk to Ayame lets not jump to any conclusions we don't even know if she was still a virgin, maybe…maybe she's still pure, maybe she's just sick.”

“Wishful thinking Monk,” Inuyasha said as he watched Kougas' back slump a little lower, he knew as well as all of them Ayame was recently mated the only person that didn't know was the one with all the maybes.

Walking a little closer to the group Sesshomaru reluctantly spoke, “the scent on the girl matches the scent of the Youkai that tried to attack Rin this morning.” He figured if what they were saying was true then he would need to leave Rin with them while he hunted this beast down, figuring that if anybody could protect her, his dim witted brother could.

“You saw him? Why didn't you kill him? Or was he too fast for you?” Inuyasha asked with a smirk. Before he knew what happened Sesshomaru had his hand wrapped tightly around his throat and had him dangling off the ground, “What, Sesshomaru you're going to try to kill me because you were stupid enough to let him get close to Rin?

“You know nothing of what you speak half-breed!”

Trying to pry Sesshomarus' hand off he yelled, “Yeah, well I know enough to keep my mate safe!” Not realizing the claim he had just made he swung his legs into Sesshomarus' chest and kicked off, which caused him to flip backwards finally free from his brother chokehold.

“Your mate? You have yet to claim her, that makes her just a vulnerable as the rest of them.” Sesshomaru hissed not realizing just how true his statement really was.

Before Inuyasha could retort he was shushed by Kouga, “You two need to shut up, the girls are talking maybe Ayame will tell them what happened.”

Simonkal of Inuy

Entering the hut Kagome noticed Rin laying on Kaede's cot the top of her Kimono pulled down to her waist her breast fully exposed for all to see. `It's a good thing Inuyasha didn't come in here, I would've gauged his eyes out.' She thought briefly.

“Kagome what happened to you all?” Kaede inquired looking way from the girl she was tending to.

“Well Ayame attacked me and Kouga but something weird has happened to her. We were hoping that maybe you could see to her and maybe patch up my leg if you're feeling up to it?” Kagome said as she and Sango laid Ayame on the mat at the furthest corner of the small room. Looking over the old lady's head she said, “Rin, how are you? My you've grown since the last time I saw you.”

Blushing shyly the girl replied, “Hello” then asked, “Is my lord still out side waiting for me?”

“He sure is.” Kagome stated with a smile as she hopped over to the wall nearest the door. She heard the yelling going on outside and could only pray that the two brothers wouldn't rip each other apart just yet.

“Would you or Sango mind filling me as to what's wrong with the girl?” The old lady stated.

“Well that's what we're not sure about. She was hiding behind a bush then she attacked Kouga and tried to run, but he tackled her and she kneed him in his groin, but that's when it got really weird…she started this gut-wrenching scream that was simply deafening. Miroku tried to approach her but she even attacked him.” Sango replied.

“When I approached her she looked at me like I was her worst enemy then she tried to sharpen her claws on me. Thank Kami Inuyasha was there, because she probably would've killed me.” Kagome added.

“Ever since then whenever she wakes up she tries to fight the guys. The only way we made it back to the village with her is by keeping her unconscious.” Sango said as she sat next to Kagome.

“I see. This doesn't sound too good. Sango take this and hold it under her nose. We need to talk to her to find out what has happened to her.” The old lady said as she passed Sango some strong smelling liquid. Okay Rin I think I'm finished with you for now, but I need you to lay here for a while longer until I know for sure that the medicine is working.”

“Okay, but I don't want to keep Milord waiting too much longer.” The girl replied.

Slapping at the thing that was over bearing her senses Ayame began to toss and turn. Slowly she opened her eyes at first her vision was severely blurred. Blinking they began to focus, `where am I?' She questioned herself as her eyes came to rest on the girl with the purple eye shadow, `she's that bitches friend.' Grimacing as her head began to throb she tried to pull her self into a seated position, but faltered and landed back on her back, “what did you do to me?”

“We didn't do anything to you. We had to get you to the village so we…” not sure if she really wanted to mention them knocking her unconscious every time she woke up Sango faltered in her speech. “We wanted Priestess Keade to have a look at you Ayame, that's all, and don't worry Kouga is right outside waiting for you, okay?”

“Kouga?” She whispered as tears came to her eyes.

“Sango, why isn't she screaming? She isn't even trying to fight us?” Kagome said in a low voice.

“I don't know.”

Kneeling next to Sango Keade laid her hand on the girls' forehead feeling for a sign of a fever, finding no sign of one she sat back, “Ayame? Could you tell me what happened to you? Why were you screaming and fighting your friends? Why did you attack Kagome?”

“Kouga, where's Kouga?”

“He's outside he's worried about you.” Sango said softly.

`He's worried, didn't he smell my scent? Doesn't he know that I'm mated? They lie, their all liars!' She screamed in her head as she sat upright. Glaring at the women before her she said, “you lie…Kouga doesn't want me, how could he?”

“Ayame, why would you say that?” Kagome said trying to get up.

Looking at the girl who had held Kougas' affection for so long Ayame smirked, “How dare you even speak to me? You…you selfish bitch! You weren't happy with just having your Hanyou so you had to come after Kouga to, even though you knew he had promised himself to me!” Pointing at her own chest she continued, “I told you myself that he had promised to mate with me and y…you pretended to be my friend but you still flirted with him and accepted his advances! You with your sweet smile and your caring words…” Looking as is she was contemplating spitting in Kagomes' face but decided against it, “I despise you and everything you stand for.” She hissed.

The guys listened to everything Ayame said. Inuyasha sat stunned his blood boiling how dare this Youkai bitch yell at his Kagome like she was some kind of commoner or nothing more than a grain of sand at the bottom of her feet.

Kouga stood to his feet as the words she spoke stung at his very heart and soul. It wasn't Kagomes' fault it was his own. He had been the foolish one; he was the one that pretended not to remember. He took a step forward in the direction of the hut but was stopped.

Stepping into the wolf's path Sesshomaru stated, “maybe you and Inuyasha should just listen for once.”

“Ayame…” Kagome said as her eyes filled up with tears. What was she talking about? She had never wanted Kouga he always chased her. Kouga could never measure up to her Inuyasha how dare she blame her for things she had nothing to do with.

“Don't Ayame me! This is your fault!”

Sitting back Kaede and Sango looked between the two women one angry and practically foaming at the mouth the other visibly hurt by the slanderous words being spewed from the others' mouth, but both had tears in their eyes. “What's her fault?” Sango asked.

“I…it's her fault that he…that he…If Kouga was with me instead of chasing you we would've been mated and I would've been with him not out on my own! It's your fault that Kouga hates me now; it's your fault that I have no future, no true mate! He raped me Kagome because of you, he raped me, he took everything from me, everything do you hear me! And it's your fault you selfish bitch!” Ayame yelled tears running down her face, her fist clenched at her side as she glared at Kagome daring her to say something anything.

With her head hung Kagome wept for the girl in front of her of all the things that she had thought could be wrong with her she never thought it was something like that. “I'm so sorry Ayame…I'm so sorry that this has happened to you...” lifting her head she continued, “but you can't blame me even though you would love to. I will not sit here and allow you to ridicule me for something I have nothing to do with. I've never loved or wanted Kouga, he ran behind me because he wanted to. Yes, I was nice to him because I'm nice to everyone and I will continue to be nice to him, but if you're looking to place the blame on someone's head maybe he's the one you should be yelling at. Ayame I have always looked at you as a friend and in such I would never make a move on Kouga. Even if I wanted to my heart no longer belongs to me, it's not mines to give away.” Wiping away her tears with the back of her hand she continued, “You see…I gave my heart to the silver haired Hanyou out there a long time ago so I'm sorry Ayame your wrong I'm not to blame for any of this, but if you let me…I would love to help you through it.”

Inuyasha stood up happy and saddened all at once. Happy because he now knew for a fact that she loved him and had loved him for sometime, but he was saddened because his sometimes friend and always rival just had his heart broken into a million pieces by the two women he cared the most for. One had just admitted that she was in love with someone else and had never loved him, while the other…the other was now practically and totally with out a doubt off limits to him.

Staring at the hut as if he could see through the walls Kouga stammered, “he…he raped her.” Walking to the hut he didn't dare enter he fell to his knees as tears clouded his vision but didn't fall, “A…Ayame?” he whispered.

Until Next Time…