InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daybreak ❯ A Talk with Mother ( Chapter 20 )

A/N: Another chapter in two days? Yes that's right, another day of exam prep was wasted for this. Don't you love me? I know you do…

 

Angel at Risk- Yeah, a little Inuyasha would be so cute. Thank you!

IDoInuyasha31- I know! Those stupid exams! And yeah, little hanyou with puppy dog ears would be awesome! Thank you!

Silver Dog of the Snow- Isn't he cute? I think we're all going to die of cuteness overload here. lol! Thank you so much!

Lunabell- Thank you! Yeah, little Inuyasha is so gorgeous! That's why I couldn't wait to get to this part!

 

The guy with the dog ears and his friends ain't mine.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 20- A Talk with Mother

 

 

Inuyasha snuck around the bush and crouched low to the ground. His little dog ears twitched once, scanning the surrounding forest. A few birds squawked somewhere in the distance and the trees rustled in the light breeze, but apart from that there was no sound.

 

Meaning he would have to be especially quiet.

 

Inuyasha peered over the bush to see his target crouching behind a tree. She had her back to him, peeking out behind the side of the tree trunk. She was obviously keeping a look out for him, but had neglected covering her back. Inuyasha grinned in excitement. In a sudden, quick jump he had leapt over the bush and bolted towards her.

 

She had barely enough time to spin around before he touched her arm.

 

“Found you!”

 

The miko with long black hair and brown eyes broke into his favourite smile. “You caught me! You know what happens now, don't you?”

 

She stood up, dusted off her red hakama and pulled, what was supposed to be, a scary face. “Now Miko-chan has to find you!”

 

Inuyasha felt another thrill of excitement and leapt away. “Try and catch me!” he dared. The miko giggled and darted towards him before he jumped even further away.

 

He loved this feeling of excitement, the feeling of the wind rushing through his hair. It felt exactly the same as when he had rushed home a few nights ago to tell his mother something amazing had happened. He met a really weird miko and they played together! And it was fun!

 

Although he hadn't connected that exciting feeling to the actual word of `fun', he still ran back to his mother's room in high spirits and began chatting away about all the things they did together. First, they played catch with his ball and every time she caught his throws, she would take a step back and he managed to throw to her all the way down to the end of the garden! She couldn't throw nearly as far as he could, so she let him throw for the rest of her turn. Then they played hide and seek and then she told him a story about a prince and princess and it was one he had never heard before.

 

His mother had got that crease in between her eyebrows, meaning she was annoyed. She told him that he should be careful around people he had just met. She didn't seem as happy as he was, but he couldn't understand why. That night he went to bed but was far too excited to sleep. All he could think about was how much fun the day had been and wondered if she was going to play with him again tomorrow. He really hoped so.

 

The next morning, he grabbed his ball and found his way to the miko's room. Her shouji screen that faced out to the garden was open. The miko sat solemnly, looking out at the greenery. It was then Inuyasha had stopped on the garden path, hesitating. It only occurred to him then that she might actually say no, and didn't play with him. Anxiety flurried in his chest and he found he couldn't take a step further towards the room.

 

Then the miko saw him and suddenly smiled.

 

`Good morning, Koinu-chan!'

 

Inuyasha's heart had fluttered. He shuffled his legs and nodded his head. He couldn't think of what else he could do. The miko had then stood up (he noticed she was wearing the white top and red pants again) and stepped into her shoes before heading towards him. She smiled again.

 

`Do you want to play together?'

 

Inuyasha felt the tension in his chest leave him and had a sensation of butterflies in his stomach. He nodded his head eagerly and she giggled.

 

That day he had shown her his secret place. It was the forest that grew around the castle. There was a secret hole in one of the castle walls that lead to the outside world. Nobody knew about it, so she was the first person he had ever showed. He often went to the forest when he was bored or when his mother was out at a feast. He loved jumping over logs and climbing trees or taking time to explore the greenery. It just gave him a feeling of freedom.

 

That day he and Miko-chan had played all day in the forest, not even bothering to stop for lunch. When he finally went back to mother's quarters in the evening he was starving and ate ravenously while telling his mother he played with the miko again. At first his mother paled and got angry saying he shouldn't be spending so much time with a travelling miko who came walking into the castle looking for `business'.

 

Inuyasha had then told his mother that the miko hadn't walked in, but had appeared in a bright light in the garden outside their room. His mother stared at him in surprise. Seeing this as a sign to continue, he told her all the things he did with Miko-chan (excluding the information of his secret place, of course). By the end of his story, his mother had finally smiled warmly and said how glad she was he had found a friend.

 

`Friend'… He wasn't so sure that was the right word to describe her, but he figured that that must be what a friend was like; someone to play with and someone to share secrets with.

 

That night he wondered about her again before he dozed off. She really was strange. She talked funny, was kind of eccentric and was always smiling so happily. He suddenly found himself thinking of how he first saw her, appearing out of a shining light in the middle of the garden, like she was some magical creature or heavenly being. Sort of like the ones his mother told him about in her fantasy stories. What was the miko really…?

 

And again, he couldn't wait to wake up this morning.

 

Inuyasha landed on a tree branch and looked down at the clearing below him. He watched as the miko came in, looking behind each tree and rock she came across.

 

“Koinu-chan? Where did you go?” she called out. Inuyasha shrunk in closer to the tree trunk, grinning. He was too quick. She was never going to find him!

 

The miko continued through the clearing and looked behind a bush before walking on. “Inuyasha?” she called again. She moved away from the clearing, still calling his name. He remained where he was and listened to her calls for a while. Finally, she made her way back to the clearing and shrugged her shoulders in defeat.

 

“Alright, Inuyasha! You win! I can't find you!”

 

Inuyasha smiled to himself and jumped down, landing behind her. Miko-chan jumped and spun around. “You really are fast!” she smiled.

 

“I like running!” he answered. “And jumping!”

 

She looked up at the tree he had just jumped out of. “That's a long way to jump for your age. But one day you'll be able to jump even higher! I'm sure of it!”

 

Inuyasha looked at the tree. It looked really big to him, everything did.

 

Miko-chan sighed deeply and sat down, resting her back against the tree. “I think I need to rest for a bit…”

 

Inuyasha reluctantly sat down next to her in silence. He really wanted to keep playing, but his mother had always told him not to be selfish. “Can we play hide and seek again?” he asked eagerly.

 

The miko smiled at him. “Okay, but you know you'll win again; I can never find you.” She turned to face him fully and looked at him in mock suspicion. “And you always find me so easily!”

 

“You stink,” answered Inuyasha, avoiding her gaze.

 

Miko-chan looked at him for a second before shaking her head and winking at him. “No, I don't think I do. I think you think I smell nice.”

 

Inuyasha felt heat flood to his cheeks. “Do not!” he yelled.

 

Miko-chan continued to tease him. “Yes you do, or at least you will!”

 

“Do not!” he yelled again. She just laughed and stood up, stretching her back while looking at the sky.

 

“Hmm… it looks like it's about lunch time. Would you like to get something to eat? I'm feeling a little tired too…”

 

Inuyasha was about to say he wanted to keep playing when his stomach growled. The miko laughed. “Let's get something to eat and then we can come back after lunch!”

 

Inuyasha nodded and followed after her as they made their way back towards the castle's wall. Miko-chan slipped through the worn hole first, held the bush that concealed the secret entrance aside and waited for him to follow her back to the castle.

 

“Can we play again tomorrow?” he asked jogging by her side.

 

The miko sighed, her pace slowing a little. “I'm not sure. I'm supposed to be meeting with the Lord of the castle when he calls, but he hasn't summoned me for the last three days. I guess he's been so busy with the moon viewing festival preparations.”

 

“What is the meeting about?”

 

“I don't honestly know. He just said he was in need of my help and needed to discuss something with me.”

 

“So that's why you came here?”

 

She sighed again and looked out to the distance. “No. Actually, I didn't mean to. I came here by accident. I meant to get something to save a special friend- Well, to save two of my friends, especially one who's being held captive by this guy…”

 

Inuyasha frowned a little. “Who's the special guy?”

 

Her eyes glazed over as if remembering something wonderful, a soft smile on her lips. “He's brave, loyal, trustworthy, strong, and a bit of a possessive jerk, but he's still very special.”

 

Inuyasha felt slightly annoyed. He didn't like the way she was talking about that guy. He was used to having Miko-chan all to himself and never thought about her playing with someone else. He didn't like it. Who was he?

 

“Inuyasha…” said a voice. Both he and Miko-chan stopped and turned to see his mother standing in front of them.

 

“Mama!” shouted Inuyasha. He ran up to her and she engulfed him in her arms. He pulled away and pointed to the woman behind them. “Mama, this is Miko-chan! I was telling you about her last night! She plays with me!”

 

He turned, grinning at the girl who stiffened and bowed deeply. “I-It's very nice to meet you, Izayoi-sama. Please regard me kindly!”

 

Inuyasha watched his mother nod her head. “It's very nice to meet you too. Would you like to join us for lunch?”

 

 

*****

 

 

Kagome sat with her legs as close together as possible and made her arms as straight as she could get them. Her heart was beating like a jackhammer. Was it possible to be this nervous?

 

When she had seen Inuyasha's mother waiting for them in the castle grounds, she thought she was going to be in big trouble. She still remembered the way Izayoi had glared at her the night she appeared and was worried she had done something to offend the woman (Usually Kagome would just snort and think it was the other person's problem that they had issues, but this was different. This was Inuyasha's mother)!

 

Luckily though, Izayoi seemed to be in good mood and was smiling at her genuinely when she asked her over for lunch. Kagome had taken a second to get over her surprise and then gratuitously accepted. They had then returned to Izayoi's room where servants had brought them food.

 

Now finished with her meal, Kagome sat as politely as possible, hoping she hadn't done anything else to offend her host. She was also hoping to the heavens Inuyasha's mother couldn't tell just how nervous she was. Fortunately, the little hanyou boy had yet to draw breath, telling his mother about the funny insects he and the miko had found earlier this morning.

 

Just then, a maid slid open the shouji screen and came in to clear away the dishes. Kagome quickly bowed as deeply as she could. “Thank you very much for the meal!”

 

The maid packed up the boxes and went to leave the room.

 

“If you don't mind, please leave the door open; there's a lovely breeze today,” asked Izayoi. The maid bowed and proceeded down the outside walkway.

 

Inuyasha jumped to his feet and looked at Kagome eagerly. “Can we go and play now?” he asked.

 

Izayoi reached up and squeezed her son's shoulders. “In a little while, sweetheart. Go and play outside for a bit; I need to speak with Miko-chan.”

 

Kagome's heart thumped.

 

“But mama…” pouted Inuyasha.

 

Izayoi raised her eyebrows. “Off you go.”

 

The little hanyou looked at Kagome who tried to smile reassuringly. He looked back at his mother again before picking up his ball and heading outside. The two women sat in silence, watching him kick the ball around the garden.

 

Kagome shifted her feet a little. She was feeling especially nervous now that Izayoi was in such close proximity. Not just because she felt awkward, but because she felt so inferior in comparison. Now that she got a good look, Kagome could appreciate what a beautiful woman Inuyasha's mother was. Although she was definitely a middle aged woman now, she still radiated the same air and grace of a young lady. She was everything Kagome expected a princess to be.

 

“I must apologise.”

 

Kagome snapped her head back towards the woman sitting opposite her. Izayoi finally raised her eyes to look at the miko and bowed her head. “I was very rude to you the night you arrived. I'm very sorry.”

 

“Oh no, please, that's alright!” said a flustered Kagome, waving her hand. “Please don't feel guilty!”

 

Izayoi pulled an apologetic expression. “At first I was afraid you were a threat, but now I realise, my suspicion about you was misguided.”

 

Kagome felt relief flood over her. Thank goodness Inuyasha's mother didn't hate her anymore! It was just suspicion? Everyone had that! That was nothing to be ashamed about!

 

“It's really okay!” said Kagome honestly. “People are often cautious when they meet strangers!”

 

Izayoi lowered her eyes. “No, it wasn't just because you were a stranger…”

 

Kagome cocked her head to the side. “I'm sorry, Ma'am. I don't quite understand…”

 

Izayoi sighed and looked at her guest. “Has my father spoken to you about your services yet?” she asked.

 

Kagome shook her head. “No, he said he wanted to talk to me the day after I arrived, but he hasn't yet. He must be very busy.”

 

Izayoi nodded. “I see… You of course know of mankind's fear of youkai being a miko, do you not?”

 

“Yes, very well,” answered Kagome. She knew plenty about it. Travelling with Inuyasha on their adventures had shown her some interesting things about humans.

 

Izayoi kept her sad eyes on Kagome. “Then you know Inuyasha is not accepted here.”

 

Kagome nodded sadly. “Yes…” she whispered.

 

“The reason I was so suspicious of you is because I have heard some horrible things circulating throughout the rest of the castle about Inuyasha. Things like how they should `cleanse' the royal family of demon blood and the rest,” spoke Izayoi, her voice full of contempt. “I even heard someone suggest how they should get a professional in to purify the family, so when I saw you I instantly assumed that father-”

 

Kagome leapt up in a furious rage. “THAT IS WHAT HE WANTS TO TALK TO ME ABOUT?! THAT'S DISGUSTING!!” She gasped and sat down quickly, bowing her head. “I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to yell.”

 

Izayoi looked a little taken aback but shook her head. “No, please don't apologise.” She was silent for a moment before she spoke again. “You are not from here are you?

 

Kagome shook her head. “No, I come from somewhere far away. You probably wouldn't have heard of it.”

 

“But you trained to be a miko there?”

 

Kagome laughed nervously. “Um, to tell you the truth, I'm not a fully qualified miko. I'm still in training...”

 

Izayoi broke into a smile. “I thought so.”

 

“Y-you did?” stammered Kagome. She didn't think she was that terrible at her miko duties…

 

“Yes,” smiled Izayoi grimly. “Because I was to be a miko too.”

 

Kagome's mouth dropped. Now that she wasn't expecting! “You were a miko?!”

 

Izayoi gazed out of the open shouji screen at the little hanyou boy playing in the garden. “Yes, I was told I had a great deal of spiritual power, enough to become trained as a Shinto priestess. And since I had no promises of marriage at the time, my father was to send me to a shrine where I could properly train my unharnessed abilities.” Her light smile faltered. “But just before I was to go, I met Inuyasha's father.”

 

Kagome stopped breathing, hoping the silence would encourage her to go on. When the woman remained quiet, Kagome summoned her courage and spoke. “Ma'am, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to Inuyasha's father?”

 

Again, Izayoi was silent for a while, watching her son before she turned back to the young miko and smiled warmly. “It was honourable, just like the man he was. It was on the night Inuyasha was born; he saved us both from death, but in doing so…” she sighed heavily. “He was already wounded from a previous battle so he didn't have enough strength to save himself as well…”

 

“Ryukotsusei…” breathed Kagome sadly to herself, remembering the dragon youkai the adult Inuyasha had slain.

 

“What was that?”

 

“Oh, um, nothing. Inuyasha's father sounds like a great man! I'm very sorry for your loss.”

 

Izayoi shook her head. “Thank you, but it is not nearly my loss as it is Inuyasha's. He has no connection to the youkai world and yet this human one will not accept him. Even people of the castle despise him, saying he's vicious like the feral youkai of the wild.”

 

Kagome suddenly slammed down her fist on the tatami mats. “That's not true!” she shouted. “Inuyasha is great kid! He's honest, loyal and a heck of a lot better than most human men!”

 

Izayoi beamed at her warmly.

 

“I hope he can meet someone like you when he's older.”

 

Kagome froze for a second before tearing her eyes away from the majestic woman. Had she really just said that? She wished Inuyasha to meet someone like her in the future? That was practically receiving her blessing! She'd gotten Inuyasha's mother's approval! Kagome was sure she was smiling like a goof, but at the moment she didn't care.

 

“So what is this about you trying to save your friends?” asked Izayoi.

 

“Oh!” exclaimed Kagome. “You heard that…?”

 

Izayoi smiled apologetically. “I'm afraid I caught the end of your conversation. Please don't think badly of me.”

 

“No! No, I never could!” said Kagome leaning forward. She was so nice and gracious! “I haven't told your father the exact truth…”

 

“Is it true that you appeared in a bright light?” asked Izayoi curiously.

 

Kagome's mouth dropped.

 

“Inuyasha told me,” the princess quickly added.

 

Kagome let out a sigh of relief. At least it was just Inuyasha and his mother as far as she knew. “As hard as it is to believe, yeah. That was how I accidentally came here…” she trailed off, remembering the few seconds before she had touched the stupid pearl. Inuyasha had been so close to her…

 

Izayoi nodded sympathetically. “You have a lot on your mind, don't you?”

 

“Yes…” said Kagome wearily. She really did have a lot on her mind. Any time she wasn't playing with Inuyasha, her thoughts would come flying back to her dilemma that was waiting for her. Already it had been several days, and she had yet to come up with a plan to save Hojo, Inuyasha and herself. Every day she would wake up feeling more anxious, knowing time for a plan was quickly running out.

 

“I had this friend,” began Kagome. “Who had some black magic forced upon him. Some bad person transferred his conscious into my friend's body and is now controlling him. My… other friend is now being threatened by the bad guy. If I don't do what the bad man says, he'll kill him. But we can't fight back at him, because the bad guy is using my one of my friend's body! I want to save the both of them, but I don't know how. And I don't have much time…”

 

As Kagome finished explaining her problem she paused to relish in the relief that swept over her. She had been keeping so much to herself; it felt good she could finally get some of it off her chest.

 

“This other friend of yours, the one who is being threatened if you don't cooperate,” said Izayoi, smiling softly. “Is he the special friend you were talking about earlier?”

 

Kagome felt her cheeks going pink and fiddled with her hands. She cursed herself. What was she so nervous about? It's not like Izayoi knew she was crushing on her grown up son! Kagome just swallowed and nodded.

 

“You're in love with him.”

 

Kagome glanced up at the princess in shock. Was it really that obvious?

 

Izayoi laughed. “Don't worry, I've always had a keen eye for these things! So? What's he like?”

 

Kagome's eyes unconsciously travelled to Inuyasha playing outside. “He's a very good man,” she murmured, watching the little boy's red haori flap in the wind. “He's had a hard life, but he's still got a kind heart despite that, even if he is a bit of an idiot sometimes. I really trust him with my life.” She looked back at Inuyasha's mother who was smiling at her nostalgically.

 

Izayoi took a deep breath and crossed her arms. “I see, so we're going to have to think of a way to get that bad man out of your friend's body so we can save your lover.”

 

“He's not my lover yet…” mumbled Kagome, embarrassed. She probably would never be his lover…

 

“How long do have exactly?” asked Izayoi.

 

“I'm not sure exactly, but I have roughly until the end of the week.”

 

“That's only a few days…” mused the princess. Her eyes once again fell upon her son, now kicking the ball on his knees, happily oblivious to the serious conversation of the adults. “I suppose Inuyasha will be sad…”

 

Kagome looked sadly at the boy outside, her chest tightening. “I know, I don't want to leave him either.”

 

Kagome knew that as soon as she got back, she would be the only one with memories of their fun time together. The adult Inuyasha probably didn't have any recollection of his childhood with her and she would be forced to go back to how things had always been. She didn't mean to be selfish, but she had loved the time spent here when it seemed she was like the only person he could see in the world.

 

She snapped back to reality when Izayoi stood up and patted her on the back. “Why don't you go off now? I need to look for something in the storage sheds.”

 

Kagome stood so as not to be rude. “Are you sure?”

 

Izayoi laughed again. “Yes! Please bestow your kindness on Inuyasha a little longer. He does adore you.”

 

Kagome felt a warm feeling spread through her chest and smiled broadly. “Yes! Of course, Ma'am!”

 

The miko headed out of the room and slipped on her shoes. Inuyasha came running towards her, his white hair whipping in the breeze.

 

“Can we go now?” he asked eagerly. Kagome giggled and nodded. The little boy waved back to the room.

 

“We're off, Mama!”

 

Izayoi stood by the door and returned the wave, a doting expression on her face. “Have a good afternoon, you two. We'll see you both at dinner.”

 

“'Kay!” called back Inuyasha. He looked up at Kagome, his eyes wide with excitement. “Miko-chan! Try and race me back to the forest!”

 

With that, he was off, skirting around the garden path in a red blur. Kagome laughed and turned to wave at Izayoi one more time before taking off after him. Even if she was the only one that remembered this time, perhaps it didn't matter after all. No matter what she would treasure these moments for the rest of her life.

 

“Wait for me!” she called brightly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/N: Okay, I'm forcing myself to stop typing now. Until next time!

 

xxGoldenDust