InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Bond ❯ Revalation ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Destiny's bond
Ch:3 Revelation
By
Lance the Flamesniper
Kagome blinked her eyes in stunned disbelief. Kouga had almost completely ignored Inu Yasha's posturing and instead asked her quite seriously if he could speak with her. With all the oddness going on in the last few days she was starting to feel as if she'd jumped down a rabbit hole instead of the bone eater's well. She briefly imagined Inu Yasha dressed the white rabbit, shook her head and looked to the Ookami Youkai in front of her.
“Certainly Kouga-san,” the miko replied. “What would you like to discuss?”
“Many things,” responded Kouga. “But I'd rather not discuss them in front of your friends.” He added looking very self-conscious.
“Like that will happen!” scoffed Inu Yasha. “Ya probably just want her to walk away from us so it'll be easier for you to kidnap her again!”
What happened next surprised everyone.
“Inu Yasha, you are quite the skilled fighter, I will give you that. I have tolerated a great deal of grief when it comes to you, mostly for Kagome's sake. And I will freely admit I have done many things that I am not proud of and will probably spend many lifetimes atoning for. In all honesty I was not coming this way to see any of you; it's merely a coincidence that I encountered you at all. I do not wish to fight you today Inu Yasha, therefore you have my word that Kagome will return to this spot when we are done talking. More to the point you are probably best acquainted with what would happen should you cause a scene, aren't you?”
Kouga actively reasoning things out to explain himself as well as his own actions and trying to avoid a fight? This is majorly weird. Thought Kagome, unknowing of how she was inadvertently mirroring the thoughts of everyone else. “Okay Kouga, where do you want to go to talk?”
Kouga lead her a few yards from the rest of the group, keeping well within sight of the still seething Inu hanyou. “This should be far enough. First Kagome, I want to apologize to you for kidnapping you when we first met. It was foolish of me to do so.”
Kagome blinked, she never expected that. “Uh, n-no problem Kouga, you were in a tight situation and you did what you thought would be best. So don't worry about that anymore.”
“Did I truly do what I thought was best? I wonder,” Kouga muttered. “Now that that is out of the way I guess I should just ask you. I want you to answer me honestly Kagome: How do you feel about me?”
“H-how do I…? What is this about Kouga?”
“I want to know: Do you love me or not? I need to know and I need an honest answer.”
Kagome hesitated as she caught the look in Kouga's eyes. The look spoke of fierce dedication and of a decision he almost seemed to hate to make, but that hinged on Kagome's answer.
“Kouga,” Kagome began. “I-I like you, quite a bit, but only as a friend. I know you see me as more and I'm sorry I can't return those feelings. Please forgive me for that.”
Kouga nodded giving his forgiveness. “I suspected as much Kagome-san. I hope however, that we are shall remain good friends.”
Kagome smiled. “Sure we can Kouga!”
“Good! Then you won't mind if I join your group for a bit? You see I am traveling to a nearby Taijya no sato and would not be opposed to good company.”
“A demon slayer village? You said something about that earlier but why would you go there? I would expect it would be dangerous for youkai to go there.”
“I have my reasons,” Kouga replied. “Before I forget,” he added taking his shards of the Shikon Jewel from his legs and handing them to her. “I won't need these anymore.”
“But Kouga,” Kagome asked her mind reeling as she took the shards. “Without these how will you fight Naraku?”
“For the sake of the spirit of Ayame,” Kouga began. “I will fight him with my own skills. You see, it's time for me to stop hiding my true self.”
“For the sake of Ayame's spirit? What do you..? What do you mean your true self?”
“Oh, sorry. Ayame died recently, it is for her sake that I shall kill Naraku,” Kouga began.
“Ayame… Oh Kouga! I'm so sorry! I know she liked you.”
“I know she did as well. As for my true self, Kagome the entire time I've known you and your friends, I've been concealing my true abilities from you. I've done it for so long that it's maddening to think of, but I had no choice. You see I am really the Taikoukai of the North. At nineteen seasons old, I'm the youngest youkai to ever hold that title. Because of that I hid my powers very well. Otherwise I would never have survived.”
“I see!” That's why you youki was so different! You aren't concealing it. But why give up the shards? Wouldn't they increase your powers?”
“I am starting to believe that those shards are the cause of all my troubles. I wonder if they've been clouding my thoughts and if everything I've done since acquiring them has been my will or theirs. That's why I must warn you Kagome, I don't know why you are seeking the shards of the Shikon no Tama, but be wary of anything you do with it.”
“I understand Kouga.” Kagome said with a nod. “Onegai, join us then Kouga.”
+++++++++
“Dammit! What are they talking about over there!?” growled Inu Yasha.
“Who knows? Let's just relax here and wait for them to return,” Miroku said as he sat down next to Sango.
“Don't try it houshi,” Sango said smacking his hand as it was just inches from her backside. It wasn't him but one like him! They messed it up! They are to blame! The venomous voice snarled.
“Kouga's certainly acting different,” Miroku said quickly changing the subject.
“Maybe he's finally decided to act like an adult. Who knows maybe some of that will rub off on Inu Yasha,” Shippou replied only to be whacked on the head by said Inu Hanyou.
“Kouga did seem to be acting more mature. But there was something else different about him…” Sango mused as something stirred in her distant memory. That wasn't all that unusual with her though. Something about Kouga always tugged at some long buried memory that was always quickly forgotten as he and Inu Yasha's spats boiled to almost, near or outright fighting.
“As promised,” Kouga said as the two returned to the group. “Kagome has been returned.”
“About damn time! If you're finished wasting our time just give us your jewel shards and leave.”
“Actually Kagome has my jewel shards and has kindly invited me to travel with you for a while. Especially since we seem to be going in the same general direction.”
“What!?” The group responded in stunned disbelief.
“It's true guys!” Kagome said as she held up the two shards. “He told me he doesn't need them anymore and handed them over.”
“Whatever! If the wimpy wolf is done wasting our time let's go!” Inu Yasha responded. “I want to be in the village by nightfall! Whiny wolf can come with us if just hurries up and doesn't take my ramen!”
“Oh Inu Yasha…” Kagome sing-songed.
“Oh no…” Inu Yasha muttered.
“Sit boy!” Kagome shouted.
The results were immediate and at least privately to Kouga humorous beyond belief as Inu Yasha landed face first into the dirt. Once the “properly chastised” hanyou had recovered from his “dirt nap”, the group including a panting Ginta and Hakkaku set out toward the village of the demon slayers. Unnoticed by everyone however was how Sango's eyes had not strayed from Kouga.
++++++++++
It was almost sundown when Kouga spotted them. In the years since he was last here the trees had grown stronger and taller, their green bowers dotted with blossoms and almost ripe fruit as they reached towards the heavens. “In a few days there should be ripe peaches to be had.”
“Really Kouga?” Kagome asked. “I didn't know you liked peaches.”
“I do. My mother and I would come to harvest from these trees every year. We kept them our little secret. The guy who planted them called them sai-ro peaches. They are the best tasting peaches that I know of.”
“Sai-ro peaches huh?” Miroku said thoughtfully. “Obviously then these must be your trees?”
“No, mother and I just helped take care of them. Anyone from weary travelers to the people of the village could have them. We just didn't tell the other wolves about them because we wanted….”
“More for yourself,” Inu Yasha interjected.
“Partially,” Kouga allowed. “But I also know that the wolf pack in its hunger would have destroyed the trees and probably alerted the Taijya village in the process. It was always dangerous to come get the peaches because the village was between the trees and the border of the Northern Lands.” Then Kouga added quietly. “But it could also be fun too.”
“Never the less it's too late to enter the village tonight,” Kagome said. “We'll camp here for the night.”
With a reluctant nod of agreement the group set up camp.
+++++++++++
From his hiding place, Naraku smiled as Kanna's mirror reflected the activities of his enemies. As much as he had fused more demons into himself, as much as he kept ejecting the weak parts of himself, he still found himself incapacitated when the new moon comes.
“So the pathetic wolf has joined with Inu Yasha. No matter, I shall crush them all,” He chuckled. “Go forth my servants!”
Two forms in the shadows nodded before disappearing to their “Father's” dirty work.
+++++++++++
7:30 p.m. Tokyo, Japan Modern Era
It was early evening when Orihime Onikami walked out of the elevator into the spacious office of her father's business, Onikami Industries. Her father was a man of many hats as the saying went. His primary business was providing security for major companies, but he also owned nightclubs, restaurants, a winery, a real estate company and stock in several of the biggest businesses in the world. He'd tell anyone however; Orihime thought proudly, that his greatest achievement was being a good father to his children.
Orihime was tall and lean with a runner's physique. Her hair was a lustrous mane of midnight black and her eyes blue with gold flecks. She was currently still in her school uniform, which she hated because the colors didn't suit her. Idly she nodded to her older brothers Byakuya and Renji as well as her older sister Tomoe. She idly wondered why they were here, before coming to a stop before her father's chair.
“How was your day at school, `hime?” Her father asked.
“Fine father. As you predicted Kagome was not in school today. How did you know?”
“I have my ways. I predict she won't be in school for at least three more days.”
“If I may ask father, why do you have me protecting her? Tokyo is a protected city the Taiyoukai see to that don't they?”
“Usually they do. Between them and their treaty with various Miko clans and various warrior clans Tokyo is supposed to be neutral. Therefore there are three reasons `hime-chan,” Her father said as he looked out at the city. “The first is because she isn't yet able to capably defend herself properly. The second is because is a family friend, though she doesn't know it yet. And finally, there may very well be a danger to her. And that, my children is something I simply will not stand for! I Byakuya, Renji, Tomoe: I expect reports on your assignments in three days time.”
The Four Onikami children nodded and left their father to his musings. He had his reasons for his actions, he always did. When the time came he'd let them know what they were. With his children gone the head of the Onikami family stood and looked out at the stormy Tokyo skyline.
“You're doing the right thing Onikami-sama,” Konran said as he stepped out of the shadows Youmei following shortly thereafter.
“I just hope I'm wrong about what is happening,” Onikami said.
TBC