InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Consciousness ❯ Back Again ( Chapter 6 )

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

Inuyasha and Kagome head back to the feudal era and the group heads out. Something strange is going on with Inuyasha. What's this... something nice? Yeah, like that's gonna last!

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 05.13.2005 | Updated On: 07.14.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 471 | Status: Work In Progress

Back Again

Kagome felt a light tug on her hair. Pulling gently, she tugged her hair out from under Inuyasha’s head. She rolled over to look into his face. He was just starting to wake up. His head had been resting on the edge of Kagome’s bed, her hair under his cheek. Golden eyes flecked with blue and red stared back at her.

‘The sun isn’t up, I see” she said reaching out to touch his dark hair.

“Soon. Your mom is up; she just checked in on you.”

“Yeah, Souta has school today, so she’ll be cooking breakfast. Come on,” Kagome rolled off the bed and headed toward the door.

Inuyasha followed her through the darkened house. Jii-chan wasn’t up yet; all the excitement from dinner must have worn him out. He was so excited to see and touch the completed Shikon No Tama. They had to tell the story three times of Midoriko’s visit before he settled down for the night.

The two crept into the kitchen, trying to be quiet so as to not wake Jii-chan or Souta. Everyone had been up late. Inuyasha and Kagome were used to going with little sleep; the Feudal Era left little time for good sleep, unless they were in the village. Even then, Inuyasha rarely slept more than an hour or two at a time.

“Morning, Mom,” Kagome slumped down at the table, yawning.

“Good morning, Kagome, Inuyasha.” She was busy at the counter and stove fixing breakfast. She had tea on and began fixing cups for both of the children. “Here, have some tea. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

As Inuyasha settled down at the table, the sun was almost on the horizon. He could feel the tingle of his senses coming back to him. He almost grinned, and he could feel himself waking up. His ears twitched as they resumed their normal position on his head. Black faded to silver, with the small exception of the streak of black hair down his right side.

“I see you are feeling yourself this morning, Inuyasha” Mya teased as she slid a plate in front of him. Eggs, fried fish strips - sliced thin, bread and gravy was placed on the table. “I take it you two are leaving early?”

“Yeah, right after breakfast,” Kagome responded, yawning again.

Breakfast was quiet, only slightly disturbed by a surly Jii-chan and a rambuncous Souta. The pair headed to the well before Souta went to school. They knew he wouldn’t want to go to school while they were still there.

Mya pulled Inuyasha aside as they headed to the well. “Inuyasha, you take care of my little girl. I will see her when I see her. You two do what you must, just keep her safe.”

“I will, Mya,” Inuyasha promised. He reached out for Kagome’s hand and pulled her toward the steps to the well house.

“See you later, Mama!” Kagome ran up the stairs into the Well House.

*****

The sun was shining bright in the blue sky above. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome around the waist and pulled her up out of the well. She dropped the bags on the ground and looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath of the fresh clean air.

“Kagome!” A bright orange ball came flying towards her. Kagome kneeled down to stop herself from being tumbled backwards as the orange ball impacted with her chest. “I missed you!” Shippo exclaimed.

“Hey, squirt! I missed you, too!” Kagome ruffled his hair. “How’s my big boy? Were you good for Sango and Miroku?”

‘Yeah! I helped Miroku and Kaede pick herbs for traveling. Then I helped Sango and Kaede crush herbs for medicines.”

‘Come on! Let’s get back to the village and get ready to go,” Inuyasha grumbled. He reached out and snatched up the kitsune. “Hey, runt, did they get ready to travel?”

“Yep! We’re ready to go!”

“Keh.”

They headed into the village. Sango and Miroku came out to greet them. Miroku took one of the bags from Inuyasha and headed back into Kaede’s hut.

“Good morning, Kaede!’ Kagome chirped as she sat down in front of the morning fire. She pulled the large bag over and pulled out items she had brought for Kaede: medicines, cleaners, soaps, and supplies. “I brought you some more medicines and supplies. Can we also leave some stuff here? We brought back lots of food and stew stuff, but I don’t think we’ll be able to take it all when we travel into the West.”

“Of course, ye may, Kagome. It is the least I may do for ye, for all ye bring for the village,” Kaede smiled. “Please, feel free to store ye extra belongings in the back room.”

“Ye are traveling early. I take it ye will be leaving soon?”

“Yeah, we’re heading out as soon as Kagome unloads some of her stuff.”

“Inuyasha, please, sit with me for a moment,” Kaede asked as Kagome and Sango headed to the back room

“What Kaede-babba?” he said as he sat down in front of the fire

“Inuyasha, I know ye are a little hot headed with your brother,’ Kaede started, raising her hand to stop Inuyasha from interrupting. “Please, let me finish,” she said. ‘I know that ye do not always see eye to eye and that mayhap he has not been all he could have been to ye.”

Inuyasha snorted.

“Ye must understand though he was here, waiting for ye to wake up. I do not think he slept while he was here. I would never call him caring; yet, I do not believe he is a cold as he would have us believe.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Please, Inuyasha, just be patient in your dealings with him.”

“Sure.”

Kagome and Sango came back out of the back room. Kagome was dressed for traveling in snug, black knit pants with her new soft black boots, and a red tunic top that was belted at the waist. Kagome’s mother had bought her several similar outfits in different colors and weights for traveling.

“Ah, Lady Kagome, I do like your new boots,” Miroku came closer for inspection of the boots, “I see you brought Lady Sango a pair, too.”

“Yeah, Monk, get much closer, and you can see how they feel,” Sango retorted.

“Hey! I was just looking!” Miroku quickly retreated.

“Kaede, we are getting ready to leave. Do you need anything else from us?” Sango asked.

“Nay, I am well supplied, thanks to ye.”

Sango and Kagome headed out the door of the hut with Kirara and Shippo hot on their heels. Kagome strung her bow and quiver over her shoulder as she stepped out of the hut. Sango strapped Hiraikotsu across her back. They both picked up packs with supplies in them. Inuyasha and Miroku followed behind, both with a pack of their own. Supplies were spread between the group, a practice that had started in their travels to the North, during their hunt for Naraku.

They were ready for travel. “I want to travel quickly. Sango, is Kirara ok carrying you, Shippo, and Miroku?” Inuyasha asked.

“Yeah, we are ready to go.”

“Great,” Inuyasha reached out and grabbed Kagome’s hand and pulled her on his back. “Let’s go.”

*****

The group set out at a rapid pace, headed toward the Palace of the West. Sango and Miroku astride Kirara were taking note of Inuyasha, and the way he headed toward the top of the trees and then would leap, landing hard on the ground, only to leap up airborne again, touching the tops of the trees.

“Wonder if he is distracted?” Miroku asked pointing at Inuyasha and Kagome, as Inuyasha launched off another tree top, only to drop to the ground and launch off again. “He’s been a little grouchy.”

“He was fine when he and Kagome came through the well,” Shippo chipped in.

‘I wonder if it’s a distraction? Or maybe he’s trying to keep himself distracted?” Sango added.

“Well, I know that traveling into the West to Sesshomaru’s palace sure isn’t going to put him in a good mood,” Miroku said smugly.

“How long do you think before they try to kill each other off?” Sango asked.

“Kagome and Inuyasha, or Sesshomaru and Inuyasha?” The monk replied while trying to keep a straight face.

“Both, I guess,” Sango burst out laughing. She knew that there was no peace in the up-coming travels and wanted to enjoy it as much as possible before things took a turn for the worse.

‘They look so good together,” Sango sighed. She leaned back against Miroku, taking advantage of their position above and behind Inuyasha and Kagome. They had not told them yet. They were waiting until things settled down. Sango somehow knew it would be a long time before thing were even remotely normal.
Miroku put his arm around Sango’s waist. “Maybe, just maybe, they will actually figure it out,” Miroku said as he pulled Sango back against him tighter. “Maybe we should just tell them, and then maybe they’d get the idea.”
.
Sango and Miroku had agreed not to tell Kagome and Inuyasha; they figured they had enough on their minds. Sango had agreed to marry Miroku now that it was all over. Yet, it seemed that it had only just begun. They had a way to go before anyone settled down. Kohaku had died before the final battle. Sango wanted to settle down and start rebuilding her village to honor her lost family members.

*****

Below them, Inuyasha’s mind was in turmoil. He was pushing his body harder trying to clear his mind. He would occasionally drop from the tree tops to the hard ground, then to launch upward again. It forced him to concentrate on something aside from the girl he held on his back.

Heading to the West was causing memories to come flooding back. He remembered the years before his mother died and his life after his mother died. He remembered the time with Kikyo and awakening from the tree only to find Kagome’s face in his. He knew that the turmoil of reflection was simply due to the impending arrival at the palace.

Yet, his mind kept wandering to who was on his back. Every time he took flight and landed, he had to re-adjust her, his hand sliding up and pulling her back up onto his back. He had hoped that when it was over, she would decide to stay here in the Feudal Era. Now, with their impending traveling again, he wondered if she would just want to go home at some point in the near future.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome whispered into his ear, “Are you alright? You seem preoccupied?”

Inuyasha almost dropped her when she leaned forward and her breath caressed his ear.

“It’s nothing. Why? You got a problem?” He asked crankily.

“Nope. Just wanted to check.”

“Let me know when you need to stop. It will take us until late tomorrow to reach the palace.”

Kagome contemplated Inuyasha for a minute. He had been so easy going and so nice since the battle. He had willingly gone to her time, gone shopping, and now he was even offering to stop to rest. She was confused by his unusual actions. She knew he was uptight about their trip, and he was distracted. Really, this bordered on ridiculous.

“So, we can stop for lunch?” she asked as she leaned up over his ear, breathing into his ear as she asked. She again felt his grip tighten on the back of her thighs. A light gasp slipped from her as he contacted hard with the ground.

“Sure,” he replied as they become airborne again.

“So, when you see a good spot with water, do you want to stop, and I can make ramen?”

“Sure.”

They traveled on for a while in complete silence.

*****

“Hey! Guys, follow me down,” Inuyasha yelled up at the team behind him as he made a descent into the woods. He had been scenting the area for water. There was a small clearing along a wide, lazy river.

He slid Kagome off his back the moment he touched down. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He then launched off into the surrounding forest.

“What was that about?” Sango asked as she slid from Kirara.

“I don’t know; he just dropped me and took off.”

“Kagome! Are we going to have lunch?” Shippo asked bounding up to her.

“Yeah, we are. Would you get some water?” Kagome asked as she and Sango started pulling items from her bag to prepare for lunch. “Miroku, would you please get some firewood?”

“Sure, Kagome,” Miroku headed off into the forest as Shippo came back up from the river with a pan of water. He heard the girls ask him to dig a fire pit.

‘What’s up with Inuyasha?” Sango asked as she busied herself preparing the food.

“I don’t know; he is being so easy going about everything, and he is the one who offered to stop for lunch.”

“He actually offered to stop?” Sango asked confusion etched on her face “Do you think he is just that uptight about traveling to his brother’s?”

“I thought that was it, but he was like that in my time too, nice and considerate.”

“Maybe he is starting to grow up?”

“I just don’t know, Sango.”

Behind them, Kirara changed back into her fire cat form, a loud snarl coming from her.

“Kagome!” Shippo hollered. Pointing across the river, he was showed them a demon heading their way. It was a large snake demon, moving quickly toward the water.

Kagome and Sango both grabbed their weapons, readying for battle. Shippo ran up behind them, and he puffed his chest out, trying to appear brave.

Kagome’s heart rate increased, and she could feel the blood singing in her veins as she prepared for battle. She barely had time to recognize what was happening. Her reaction was instinctual as she shifted into a fighting stance, drawing her arrow. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard Inuyasha. “Kagome, I’m coming.” She could sense him on the move heading straight for them at an incredible rate of speed.

“Ssss, you haaave the jeweeeel. Give meeee the jeweeeel. Sssss,” it hissed at them as it came across the low river bed.

“NOT TODAY!” A flash of silver and red launched itself between the girls and the snake; Tetsusaiga was drawn, and he swung downward on his descent, obliterating the demon before he even realized what hit him.

“Inuyasha!” Shouting, Kagome threw herself at him.

“Sango, are you alright?” Miroku asked as he had just come into the clearing.

“Yeah, Monk, I’m fine,” Sango said as she was putting Hiraikotsu down next to her pack. “Let’s get some lunch started.”

“Oh, yeah,” Inuyasha started guiltily. He had been standing there just holding Kagome next to his side. He’d forgotten he had dropped lunch when he saw Kagome in trouble. “Be right back.” Inuyasha disappeared in a flash, only to return almost instantly carrying a skinned rabbit.

“You might want to rinse this in the river because I dropped it when I saw Kagome in trouble,” he noted as he handed the rabbit to Kagome.

“You were hunting? How did you know we were in trouble?” Kagome asked.

“I don’t know, but it was strange because I could almost see the snake coming after you. It was kinda like I was seeing it through your eyes, Kagome,” he tried to explain.

“So, you were able to see what was coming after Kagome?” Miroku asked.

“It was the oddest thing; I could literally hear her heartbeat in my head, and I could hear her blood call out to me. I knew she was in trouble”

“Do you think this is part of what Midoriko was talking about?”

Kagome and Sango were fixing ramen and roasting the rabbit he had brought back. Shippo and Kirara were stretched out under a tree watching the fish jump in the river.

“It is odd; now that you mention it, Inuyasha, I didn’t really feel any fear, not like I have in the past. I didn’t feel ready to take it on in hand to hand combat or anything like that. There wasn’t any fear, just a knowledge that I would be alright.”

“Come to think of it, I did notice that you were quite battle ready today,” Sango noted.

Kagome started serving up lunch, ramen and rabbit. It sounded like a strange combination, but for the travelers, it wasn’t unusual.

“Why the rabbit, Inuyasha?”

“Kagome needs to eat; she’s still recovering from our little escapade.”

“So, we’re eating Kagome’s rabbit?” Miroku asked, a smirk on his face

Inuyasha blushed red as Sango reached out and smacked Miroku on the head. Shippo giggled from his spot near Kagome

“It’s not like that; she needs to eat good, that’s all,” Inuyasha defended.

“So, we’ll make it to the palace by tomorrow night?” Kagome tactfully changed the subject.

“Yeah, late tomorrow afternoon at the rate we have been traveling.”

“Well, we better finish lunch and get traveling again,” Sango was eager to be on the move again. They had been sedentary for almost two weeks

Supplies were repacked, the fire was put out, and the group readied to travel again.

They headed out, traveling in silence as they went to the West, each caught in their own thoughts.

*****

Kagome continued to chase certain thoughts over and over again in her head. Inuyasha had hunted rabbit for her. He basically said as much at lunch. She could hear Kagura’s voice in her head, “Feeding you, hunting for you, protecting you, and fighting for you.”

Could she be right? Kagome thought maybe it was just his sense of duty or that maybe just that he had promised her mother that he would take care of her. That still didn’t answer his actions when Koga was around. Of course, she could always chalk that up to simple pride and dislike. Kagome hated trying to sort out what went on between her and Inuyasha. She knew simple logic dictated that she should just let go. Yet, somehow, she couldn’t do that.

Sango and Miroku watched the two on the ground; Inuyasha had stopped his jarring ride in favor of just skimming off the tree tops. Their hair was flowing out behind them, silver mixing with black. Kagome’s red tunic covered arms were wrapped around Inuyasha’s neck and her legs covered in black were a stark contrast wrapped around his waist. They represented everything in Ying and Yang there was. Kagome was so innocent and pure, while Inuyasha was more cynical, a Miko and a Hanyou.

*****

As night started to fall, Inuyasha started scouting for a place to settle for the evening.

The group settled into a small clearing against a bluff, allowing for easy protection of the camp site. He knew Kagome needed to sleep tonight because they had traveled long and hard today.

Miroku and Inuyasha collected firewood and set up camp while Kagome and Sango prepared dinner. Kirara was sleeping under a tree while Shippo lay on the ground drawing.

“Inuyasha, is there a place to bath close by?” Kagome asked.

“Yeah, we noticed a hot spring while we were getting firewood for dinner.”

“Sango and I are going to take a bath; will you make sure Miroku behaves himself?” Kagome smiled mischievously.

“Well, the spring is right through that thicket, just holler if you need me. I’ll keep an eye on the pervert.”

Sango and Kagome headed for the hot spring for a hot quiet soak.As they settled into the hot spring and started to bath Sango looked at Kagome, “So, isn’t he being pretty easy going?”

“I’m starting to think maybe he was hit in the head.”

“I wonder if this is a result of the bonding that Midoriko placed on you two.”

Kagome sighed, deep down she was secretly hoping there was more to it than just the bond that Midoriko had created. “I don’t know,” she shook her head. “It is strange that I can sense his mood more now than ever. He is so anxious over the trip to the palace that I think this is a ploy to slow down our trip.”

“He’s not arguing over going.”

“That’s just it; he seems so resigned to it,” she sighed again. “I think that maybe he just sees the whole thing as another big obligation, something he has to do for honor, not because he wants to do it.”

“I don’t think he minds taking care of you, Kagome. I actually get the feeling he likes the bonding.”

Kagome blushed prettily, sighed, and said, “I hope so.” She thought about again as she stuck her head underwater to rinse her hair. Then, Sango and Kagome finished bathing and headed back to camp.

As night settled in, the group hunkered down near the fire for the night.

“Come here,” Inuyasha looked over at Kagome.

Kagome walked over to him and sat down next to him. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” he said as he pulled Kagome up onto his lap. Sighing, he leaned back against a large rock and closed his eyes. As Kagome wiggled to get more comfortable, he heard her open her mouth. He could almost feel the question coming. “Shhh, don’t,” he said quietly in her ear.

Kagome sighed and settled back against him, closing her eyes. Shippo quietly snuck up to the resting pair and climbed into Kagome’s lap, falling asleep almost instantly.

Review:
shadow wolf-02, thanks again.

OK: Disclaimer!
I don’t own Inuyasha, its characters, or the story line.
That is the sole joy of Rumiko Takahashi
I’ll let you know which ones I own as we go!