InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Elemental: A Feudal Soap Opera ❯ Chapter Eight ( Chapter 8 )

The Lord of the Western Lands sat with his back to his babbling retainer, wearing an air of indifference that masked his irritation. That irritation increased as his retainer continued to speak.

 

“Lower your voice, Jaken. Rin is sleeping,” he said, motioning to the girl curled at his side.

 

“Your...the hanyou seems to have lost his mind, Lord Sesshoumaru,” Jaken continued in quieter tones. “There are reports that he is currently destroying a small forest southeast of here. He has caused quite a disturbance. Will you do something?”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes flicked to Jaken, before returning to gaze at the horizon. “Where are his companions?”

 

Jaken hung his head. “I do not know, my lord. The reports say he is alone.”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened imperceptibly. Interesting. Schooling his features, he turned to look at Jaken, causing the smaller youkai to fidget and begin stuttering. He cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Is he transformed?”

 

Jaken scratched his lumpy head. “I don't believe so, Lord Sesshoumaru.”

 

Sesshoumaru felt his eyebrow twitch as his patience ran low. “You don't believe so?” His voice was deceptively calm.

 

“Er...I...that is...I mean to say,” Jaken stammered, backing away from his lord. “I will find out right away, Lord Sesshoumaru.” Turning, he ran off to fulfill his duty before Sesshoumaru could become truly angry.

 

Sesshoumaru suppressed a sigh at having to deal with such incompetents, and turned his attention back to the matter at hand...his annoying half-brother. What sort of trouble are you causing now, Inuyasha? He spared a glance for his small human charge, then continued his vigil in the darkness, lost in thought.

 

***

 

Shippou was as miserable as he had been in a long time. He felt as if everything in his short life was about to fall apart...again...and this time it was partially his fault. He hunched his shoulders, and stole a glance at his surrogate family. Nobody is talking. I'm going to have to tell. The prospect did nothing to make him feel better.

 

He had returned to the campsite shortly after Kagome and Sango to find dinner and a pleased monk waiting. There had been a short argument between Sango and Miroku over who, exactly, had provided dinner, but it was nothing serious, and soon Shippou and even Kagome were laughing at their antics. When the laughter had settled down, Kagome had asked him where he had been, but he had simply told her that he had been playing. He hadn't wanted to be the one to cause her to lose her happy smile, but that lie was eating at him now. He was beginning to see that he should have told them the truth from the beginning. Kagome's cheerfulness had faded hours ago, and it was clear that she was brooding over the hanyou.

 

He was reminded of this when he heard Kagome's voice break the silence. “Why hasn't Inuyasha come back yet?”

 

Shippou hunched in on himself even more, not looking at the girl. He trained his ears towards the forest and he grimaced.

 

“It does seem strange that he would miss dinner,” came Miroku's thoughtful voice. “Do you suppose I should look for him?”

 

No one answered. Maybe I can just let Miroku find him? No. I can't do that. No telling what Inuyasha might do, with the mood he's in right now. Shippou looked up. Kagome sat, miserably staring at the ground. Sango was giving her sympathetic glances, and even Miroku looked worried. Finally, Kagome spoke, not raising her head. “Do you think...that he might be hurt?” Shippou heard her voice catch, and guilt took another bite out of him. Great, now she's getting scared. Boy, I've really screwed up this time. He dropped his gaze, debating with himself before finally making up his mind. He squared his shoulders and took a deep breath.

 

“I know where he is.” He felt all the eyes in the camp on him, but found his courage fleeing.

 

“Shippou?” Sango's voice was patient, prompting him to continue. He glanced at her gratefully, then scooted closer to her.

 

“Shippou?” Kagome sounded confused.

 

Shippou took another deep breath, then looked into her eyes. “He's at the hot spring.” He winced when her face went white.

 

“What?” She nearly shrieked, and he winced again.

 

“He's at the hot spring. He chased me there.”

 

Kagome looked horrified, and Sango was beginning to look the same way. “Shippou,” she said, gently, all the while trying to soothe Kagome, “When?”

 

Yep, that's the question I've been dreading. Shippou flushed and looked down. “Whileyoubothwerebathing,” he mumbled in a rush.

 

Miroku snickered, having heard what the kit said, earning a glare from Sango. The monk looked at her questioningly, then glanced over at Kagome. Something he saw there must have clued him in on the seriousness of the situation, for he subsided.

 

“Shippou,” Kagome said, voice faint. “Were you eavesdropping on us?”

 

The kitsune flinched and blushed harder. “I didn't mean to, Kagome. I swear.”

 

Kagome didn't answer. Shippou stole a glance at her, noting her wide-eyed, shocked expression. He felt even worse than before. “I'm sorry.” Kagome didn't answer.

 

Sango interrupted his misery with another question. “Shippou, why do you think he's still at the hot springs?”

 

Shippou's cocked his head toward the forest again, then he looked up at her. “I can hear him.”

 

Sango's eyebrows rose. “You can hear him?”

 

Shippou sighed. This was the part he had been dreading most. “Yes. I'm almost surprised that you can't hear him.” He dropped his voice. “He's been tearing up the trees ever since...”

 

“Ever since...” Sango prompted.

 

Shippou's whisper sounded unnaturally loud in the small clearing. “Ever since he heard that Kagome's pregnant.”

 

The resulting silence was palpable. Finally, it was broken by Miroku. “Are you going to bear a child, then, Kagome?” To the monk's credit, his voice was calm.

 

Kagome, on the other hand, looked as if she could fly apart at any moment. “What? No!” Her cheeks were flaming, and there was an awful look in her eyes that Shippou didn't like seeing. “Maybe. I don't know. Leave me alone!” She jumped up and began pacing the campsite.

 

Miroku held up a placating hand, looking alarmed at the signs of hysteria she was beginning to display.

 

Sango shot the monk a nasty glare, then stood and went to her friend, trying to calm her. “Kagome, it will be alright.”

 

Kagome whirled on her. “How can you say that?”

 

Sango pulled her in for a hug. Kagome resisted at first, but then relaxed, as if all of her energy had left at once. “I just know. I know you, and I know Inuyasha. You just have to get through this.” She stood back from the now quiet girl and looked at her, then pushed her gently toward her bedroll. “Now, I want you to rest. Inuyasha will be here when you wake up.”

 

“How do you know?” Kagome asked, but her posture spoke of exhaustion, and she obediently let Sango guide her to her sleeping bag.

 

“There are shards to get. Inuyasha will not shirk his responsibility.”

 

Kagome seemed to think about this, then nodded, accepting the explanation. “You're probably right.”

 

Sango smiled at her. “You know I am. Now get some sleep.” She lifted an edge of Kagome's sleeping bag, motioning for her to get inside. For a moment it looked as if Kagome would balk, but, after giving a resigned sigh, she climbed into the sleeping bag and allowed Sango to zip it up around her.

 

Sango crouched by her, speaking too softly for Miroku to hear, but Shippou heard her plainly. “Rest. Morning will settle this.”

 

Kagome gave her a halfhearted smile, then turned her back to the group. Sango returned to her seat by the fire, giving the monk a warning look. They both remained silent until they were sure that the other girl was sleeping. Then, as one, they both turned to Shippou.

 

He swallowed audibly. Oh no. Here we go.

 

“Shippou,” Sango began in low tones, “I want you to tell me exactly what you heard, and exactly what Inuyasha's reaction was. Now.”

 

Shippou tried his most pathetic look, but the stern set of Sango's face told him that he was wasting his time. He gave it up with a sigh and, hesitantly, told them both everything that had transpired. When he was done, the fire had nearly burned out, and he was exhausted. He hoped fervently that he didn't have to repeat the tale to anyone else. He did not like to discuss such things, especially about his surrogate mother. It was just...embarrassing. Miroku and Sango were both solemn when he had finished.

 

After a moment of contemplative silence, Miroku turned to Sango. “Inuyasha really was not aware of what he was doing?”

 

Sango shook her head. “Not according to Kagome. He thought she was Kikyo.”

 

Miroku was silent for a few minutes more, seemingly lost in thought. Sango stared at him, appearing more and more impatient as time passed. “Well? What are you thinking in that depraved brain of yours, monk?”

 

Miroku looked at her, appearing hurt. “You wound me, dear Sango.”

 

“Save it,” Sango said with a glare.

 

Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Miroku relented. “It just occurred to me to wonder if Inuyasha knows that he did not initiate the...encounter. From what Shippou says, he only caught the last half of the conversation.” He turned to Shippou. “Isn't that right?” At Shippou's nod, he continued. “Someone needs to set him straight, and soon.” They all glanced to where Kagome lay sleeping, before Miroku shook his head. “However, I don't think it's wise to send her after him at this present moment.”

 

Sango looked perplexed. “Then what do you suggest?”

 

“Why,” he told her with a grin, “I suppose it's up to me to talk some sense into our prodigal hanyou, isn't it?”

 

“Miroku, I don't know...” Sango began, worry coloring her tone.

 

Miroku ignored her. “Shippou, can you still hear Inuyasha?”

 

Shippou listened hard for a moment, even though he hadn't heard the hanyou for at least an hour now. “No. It's quiet.”

 

Sango raised an eyebrow in his direction. “Quiet as in he's calmed down, or quiet as in he's gone.”

 

Shippou thought for a minute. “Calmed down, I think. I would have heard the noise fading if he had moved away. A little while ago, it just stopped. I think he's still near the hot spring.”

 

Miroku stood, dusting himself off. “Very well. I will return shortly.” He began walking away from the fading firelight.

 

Sango watched him go. “Be careful,” she called after him, keeping her voice low so as to not wake Kagome.

 

He gave her a little wave in answer, then was gone.

 

With a sigh, she turned to fox cub. “It's late, Shippou. You'd better go to bed.”

 

Good. I'm tired. Still, he made no move towards Kagome's sleeping bag where he usually slept. Casting a worried glance at Sango, he had to ask, “Do you think she's mad at me?”

 

“Who, Kagome?” Sango stared at him in confusion for a moment, before her face softened into a smile. “Of course not, Shippou. She's just under a lot of stress right now.” She patted him on the head. “Now go to bed. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.”

 

Shippou didn't have to be told again. Surprising the girl with a quick hug, he hurried over to the warmth of Kagome and the sleeping bag, saying a quick prayer that things would be back to normal in the morning.

 

***

 

Inuyasha was, indeed, at the hot spring when he heard Miroku approaching. Scrubbing at his face, he glared around him, seeing the decimated trees and undergrowth that littered the forest floor. He wondered briefly what the monk would think, but decided he didn't give a damn what he thought. It couldn't be any worse than what he thought of himself, after all. Besides, it wasn't like he had had much choice. It was either destroy the trees, or turn youkai. He shuddered, briefly remembering the long minutes he had spent clutching Tetsusaiga with both hands, his anguish nearly sending him over the edge in spite of it. Destroying the trees had taken the edge off.

 

If only destroying trees could have kept him from touching Kagome.

 

Goddammit, I should have had more control. He stared at the ground with bleak eyes until he heard Miroku's footsteps nearly behind him. “What do you want, monk?” He asked the question without looking up. “Come to ask me to leave?”

 

“Now why would I do that?” Miroku sounded honestly perplexed as he sat down on the ground beside Inuyasha.

 

Inuyasha sneered, masking the burst of self-loathing that flooded through him. “Feh.” There was silence after that. Miroku was seemingly content to sit in the cool night air indefinitely. Inuyasha stole a glance at the other man. His eyes were closed, and his expression gave away nothing. Inuyasha gave a mental growl, and returned to his contemplation of the ground.

 

After a while, though, the silence got to him. “How is she,” he asked, his voice hoarse.

 

“Who?” Miroku asked, not opening his eyes. Inuyasha wanted to punch him.

 

“Kagome,” he snarled. Fucking monk. He knows exactly who I'm talking about.

 

“Ahh, Kagome,” Miroku said. “She's worried, I believe. About you. Why don't you ask her?”

 

Inuyasha glared at him, getting tired of his whole “serenity of Buddha” routine. Serenity of Buddha, my ass. “Bastard,” he said, under his breath.

 

Miroku finally opened his eyes and looked at him. “You can't tell me you're mad at her. Are you?”

 

Inuyasha started. “Mad at her? Why the hell would I be mad at her?”

 

Miroku stared at him for a moment, hard. Inuyasha refused to look away. Fucking bastard. Say what you have to say, and get the hell out of here. As if he had heard him, Miroku spoke. “What do you remember from the night of your fever?”

 

Inuyasha swung around to glare at him, cracking his knuckles dangerously. Wha...? What the hell is he asking? I should have killed him a long time ago.

 

The monk held up a hand. “Whoa...that's not what I'm asking.” Looking wary, he continued. “Look, you don't have to tell me. Instead, I'll tell you what I know.”

 

Inuyasha clenched his jaw and waited. This ought to be good. He had to suppress a snort.

 

“You thought Kagome was Kikyo,” Miroku said, shaking his head at Inuyasha when he was about to interrupt. “Wait, let me finish.” The hanyou grunted, but was quiet. Miroku continued. “She let you think that she was Kikyo in order to be with you. In fact, she is beating herself up with guilt right now for taking,” Miroku tried and failed to suppress a snicker, “advantage of you.”

 

Inuyasha looked at him in disbelief, then shook his head. Even if it were true... “It doesn't matter,” he said finally.

 

Miroku gave him a piercing look. “Ahh,” he said. “Well, there's always Kouga.”

 

Inuyasha felt an involuntary growl vibrate through his chest at the mention of the damned wolf prince. “What about Kouga?” His voice sounded dangerous even to his ears, but he didn't care.

 

Miroku nodded as if coming to a decision, ignoring both Inuyasha's question and his hostility. “Yes, Kouga may well be Lady Kagome's salvation.”

 

What's he playing at? “Miroku.” It was a warning.

 

Miroku paid it no heed. “Think about it. Kagome may be carrying your child. She can't go back to her time with a hanyou pup, and we certainly wouldn't want her trying to raise the child alone here.” He gave Inuyasha an angelic smile, teeth brilliantly white in the moonlight. Inuyasha wanted to claw the grin from his face. “Therefore, Kouga is the perfect solution. He can mate with Kagome and foster the child to a good home. Kagome may even be able to convince him to raise it as his own. He says he loves her, after all. Besides, even if she isn't carrying, she is no longer a maid, and it wouldn't be fair for her not to have a partner, and I believe that Kouga will take her despite her lack of...virtue.” He ignored Inuyasha's growl, and continued speaking. “I'm sure she will be pleased with Kouga in that department, as well. He seems virile enough. Almost as good a choice as myself, as a matter of fact. Actually, I considered offering for her, but she is more of a sister to me. It might be awkward. Oh well.” He stood up and dusted himself off, ignoring the murderous glint in the half-demon's eyes. “Now that that's settled...oomph!”

 

Unable to contain himself any longer, Inuyasha had tackled the monk at the knees, taking him down in the dirt and straddling him. “Damn you,” he hissed, claws raised.

 

Miroku began to laugh.

 

Inuyasha looked at him as if he'd lost his mind, then crawled off him with a snort of disgust. Fucking lunatic monk. He sat back down, temper fading. “I knew she wasn't Kikyo,” he said after a moment, voice quiet.

 

Miroku stopped laughing. “What?”

 

“I knew she wasn't Kikyo.” He plucked up a twig and began playing with it idly, rolling it back and forth between his fingers. “I thought she was at first, but before...before I touched her, I knew it was Kagome.” And that's why I'm a bastard. I knew it was her, and I touched her anyway. Fuck!

 

“Oh.” Miroku was silent for a moment, then a slow smile spread across his features. “Then it's even, you know.”

 

Inuyasha scowled. “What are you talking about?”

 

By now, Miroku's smile had turned into a full-fledged grin. “Kagome knew who you were, too.”

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “Feh.” He waited for Miroku's chuckles to die down, then told him, “That's not the problem.”

 

Miroku sobered, giving him his attention. “Then what is the problem?”

 

I knew he'd ask that. Now...how do I tell him what, exactly, I've done to Kagome? How do I explain what it means for a miko to love a hanyou? He took a breath to speak, but before he could, he was interrupted by the sight of Shippou crashing through the underbrush. His words died in his throat, and he jumped to his feet along with Miroku. Kagome!

 

The kit skidded to a halt in front of them, panting. “Kagome,” he began, mirroring Inuyasha's thought, then squealed as the hanyou grabbed him up to hold him at eye level.

 

“What about Kagome?”

 

“We thought she was asleep, but she snuck away. Sango thinks she's going to the Bone Eater's well. She followed her, and sent me to get you.”

 

Stupid wench. It's the middle of the night. Doesn't she realize that she's a perfect target for youkai? Doesn't she know how vulnerable she is right now? He winced. Of course she doesn't. Damn it, Kagome. Wasting no more time, Inuyasha handed Shippou to the monk and took off running.

***

-to be continued-