InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Elsewhere ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

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

By: flowers

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor am I profiting from this.

“Peace in the struggle

to find peace

comfort on the way

to comfort”

- Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Toward Ecstasy

Chapter Seven

The car ride home was uneventful. It was strange enough watching him get into vehicle, ready to drive. The car was simple and elegant, black exterior with dark gray interior. She didn't know much about cars so she couldn't tell the make. She found herself lingering on details too much these days with her sullen attitude setting in. Watching him shift gears was almost pornographic.

Finding him alive and whole in her era was painfully ethereal without the external stimuli. He had changed. When his markings were showing they were much darker, almost blue. The crescent was a deeper shade as well. She studied him quietly; staring at him should have no effect since staring at her was acceptable in his eyes. His motions were fluid. Like he'd always driven a car.

He observed her quietly from the corner of his eye. She was staring at him. Staring had never made him uncomfortable. She was languidly resting her arms on the dash laying her head to the side. What was she thinking? She must be deep in thought as there was no body language to tell him otherwise. He noticed how thin she was and looked again. She wasn't underdeveloped for her age. All the female traits were there, maybe her spirit was thinning. Perhaps she stretched herself journeying back and forth through that well.

No, she was exuberant and full of life then. It was the long months afterward that had taken their toll on her. Feeling an emotion he couldn't explain he reached out and placed a hand on her arm and squeezed gently. He had noticed in the past that such mundane acts brought comfort to humans. He felt an intense heat hit her body like a wave and reflexively removed his hand.

This was not the reaction he was looking for. In an instant he found himself wishing he were human. She would react to him normally then and he wouldn't have the nuisance of his senses giving her body away. This thought was debasing so he swept it quickly from his mind. For the first time in many years he felt nervous, bordering on fidgety. What a wonderful if not troubling emotion! He was surprised he recognized it. He shot her a quick glance and reached for the radio. How he wished he could read her mind. Bodily reactions and thoughts were two completely different things.

She almost felt like apologizing to him. She was past embarrassment for the night. While admiring him from afar he reached for her arm in a demonic flash. His touch was surprising and gentle. She couldn't help her reaction, besides, he was probably quite used to this. Just as quickly he removed his hand, she regretted his senses.

The feeling of being touched was exquisite. How long had she been without human contact? Almost a year? It slowly crept into her mind that he was definitely not human. With a heavy sigh she closed her eyes and slipped back into melancholy. He turned on the car stereo. She opened her eyes and looked back at him. Was he nervous? She almost laughed. Her melancholy mood was melting away. She truly felt as if she had found a friend at that point. Letting her witness so many emotions endeared him to her. Maybe he needed a friend too.

Did she want physical contact? He noted that she distanced herself at the moment he removed his hand. This was too much for him. Human's desiring his contact at least after knowing the truth about him wasn't something he was used to experiencing. Then his thoughts flashed back to Rin.

Yes, he had almost forgotten how mundane physical contact affected her. It comforted her in nightmares and laid her fears to rest. Many times she took his hand on their journeys and felt pure happiness when he allowed her to do so. His heart almost ached for the daughter lost to him.

She had set many wheels in motion. Suddenly he felt a small hand grasp his from the gearshift. Kagome had taken his hand. He smiled suddenly unable to hold it in. Did she know what he was thinking? Yes, mundane contact was exceptionally nice at times.

She watched him smile like watching an elephant fly. This was unexpected. He must truly be lonely. She must remember to use softer tones with him in the future even if he embarrassed or upset her. He really didn't have a grasp on emotions.

Her house was closing in and she squeezed his hand gently before letting go, allowing him to slow the car to a halt. He turned off the ignition and she looked to him. He didn't expect her to invite him in did he? The look on his face told her he had something to say. There was a long pause. With the radio silenced it seemed she could hear her own heart beat.

“I have something for you,” he said softly letting emotion flicker in his eyes. What could he want to give her? She quickly dismissed the thought of a kiss with a deep blush. He looked at her in confusion. Then she realized that was probably the same thing grandpa was thinking as he watched from the window. She knew he would be there. She didn't have to look. Sesshoumaru reached into his pocket and retrieved what looked like…

“The rosary!” she gasped. Suddenly she felt frozen, like emotions played out too long were ignoring this sudden jolt of reality.

“Someone wanted you to have this with the promise of his love,”

The words sounded thick and sappy. He was inexperienced in relaying emotions he himself had never felt. Having gone over this scene many times in his mind he decided that those words would be the best. She took it slowly and looked into his eyes, appearing quite shocked.

“I don't know what to say... Thank you for…” her words trailed and her eyes looked distant. He didn't know anything to say either. “Thank you for being a true friend,” she finally said. “To me and Inuyasha,” her eyes finally focused and welled with tears. He scoffed it off immediately. Friend? No. He was fulfilling his brother's dying wish. That was all.

“I think you misunderstand me girl. It was his wish for you to possess this. I am fulfilling a promise to my brother,” she smiled at him through the admonishment. Her hand quickly reached for his and squeezed gently again.

“You were his friend and now I like to think of you as mine. I am eternally grateful for you,” she said. He just sat, composed and stoic as ever. “I hope to see you again soon.” She opened the door and turned from him.

“You may phone me,” he said looking ahead. She turned and gave him a curious look. “My number is on the card.”

Oh no! The card! She had left it at his house somehow. He reached over to the door and in his hand was the card. The same one she noted. She took it and with and small wave she closed the door. With rosary and card in hand she turned and made her way to the door of her own house. The outside light was on. Preparing herself for a torrent of questions wasn't possible with emotions weighing heavy on her. She wouldn't be able to answer any of them.

He started the car and drove down a couple of blocks down to park. He locked the doors and made his way with inhuman speed back to her house. Perched on the roof he could hear a deep and old voice drilling questions. The door to her room opened and the sound of a body hitting a bed hard reverberated.

“Leave me alone Grandpa, I'm really tired. The movie let out late and I want to sleep,” the questions ceased. He listened intently for what seemed to be an hour to her breathing. She wasn't asleep, only lying in her room. Most likely contemplating the night's activities. He heard soft footfalls and the window swung open lacing the night air with a salt-tinged aroma.

She had collapsed on her bed prayed for sleep to take her. No such luck. With the rosary clutched to her chest she imagined the sweet familiar smell coming from it was Inuyasha even though that wasn't possible.

She let the bittersweet memories wash over her. Her first meeting with him, the first time he hugged her at the well then of course tossed her down it... their first kiss. The memories were becoming more sweet than bitter now and her sobs weren't uncontrollable.

She let the emotions take her. The golden thread of her love had settled and began to root itself deep within her mind. Tears slid slowly from her face and onto the bed sheets of her youth. Having a comforting thought she pushed herself off the bed to approach the window. Sliding the window open she let the sounds of night wrap around her.

“Hello?” No answer. “I'm going crazy...”

After all Sesshoumaru wasn't Inuyasha. Why would he hang out on her roof and spy on her? She chuckled softly. Maybe he was in the trees. He said that he watched her. Why was this comforting?

Her thoughts turned back to Inuyasha. While she couldn't find the same companionship with his brother, he took a bit of edge from the longing. He was a connection at least to the past, her past with Inuyasha. She whispered his name out into the night so softly she thought it only audible her ears. “I don't know how to let you go,” with that she closed the window slightly letting the air circulate and changed into her pajamas.

Her sheets and pillows were cool and brought back childhood memories. She drifted off into pleasant dreams as he stood on the edge of shadow and watched her. He couldn't suppress a smile. If she found slight comfort in his presence this was a good thing for the time being. He slipped off the roof and made his way to the car. As he drove he found her lingering scent relaxing.

She awoke the next morning to phone calls from her friends, her mother's annoying subtle questions, and her grandfather smirking at her. It was enough to make her pull out her hair. “Mom. I had a nice dinner and caught a late movie,” she huffed. This wasn't going to be enough. She tried to choke breakfast down quickly as possible to throw some clothes and meet her friends.

“Don't stay out that late again Kagome,” her mother shouted as she flew out the door.

“Yeah, yeah."

Her mother hadn't said anything while she was traipsing through the feudal era. Why worry now? The day was nice. Her friends bought food for her after window-shopping. Houjo even came around for a bit in the restaurant. Apparently trying to distract her attention. He was cute and all but much was lacking in many departments. Yet his affection for her was flattering none the less.

“Maybe we could see a movie sometime soon?” he asked sheepishly. Finding he was unable to pull her from her friends he came out with it all of sudden. All the girls waited with bated breath.

“That would be nice, maybe next week. You can call me,” she said mostly to appease her friends. She could imagine a date with him would be like watching paint dry. She dated him once right? It was so long ago the memory evaded her. He looked like a puppy just thrown a bone.

The puppy still on her mind was lost in time. She sighed and continued gossip with her friends. At the end of the day she was very drained. Normal boorish conversation tired her. She could never talk about what was really on her mind. She thought of Sesshoumaru and perked up. Should she call him so soon? No, she would see how long she could hold out.

Sesshoumaru was meditating in his bright garden. He was finding it hard to keep the previous night's conversation out of his head and was content to sit and observe nature. He wondered how long it would take her to call? He had chosen to stay at his own home and tend to other matters now that they had made contact.

Somehow he craved more. Conversation on such an open plane was very stimulating to his mind. He was almost saddened that it took him centuries to find this out. No longer needful of his warrior mentality and deadpan demeanor he felt this era to be very… He searched for the word his is mind. “Freeing…”

Now he was less restricted. Of course he could have said and did as pleased at any time in the past but refrained. Always harboring the opinion that doing as one pleased was great weakness and more human frailty. It wasn't acceptable. He didn't want to end up like his father now did he? Destroyed by weakness for a mere human.

Yet the days of youkai power and warring were long gone. A newer and more evil demon plagued existence. Money. At its advent he thought it trivial and predominantly more human stupidity. As the reign of youkai faded into legend humans began their reign. He easily enough let humans have their time but centuries were wearing down on him. Existing became almost a burden. But a promise and a tiny seed sown long ago kept him going.

The medicine of Rin was like a time-release capsule. No longer fearing the danger of powerful youkai seeking to take his life and status he eventually went into hiding and then tried his hand at blending in. Humans were more intelligent than he gave them credit for. Their technologies were all around him. Youkai were predominantly more intelligent but fueled by basic instinct. Thusly they mated and exterminated themselves out of existence.

With a smirk he realized self control saved him from an untimely death. However his instincts were still strong within him. He found himself meditating more and more for simple control. He wouldn't end up like those pitiful and wild youkai, evading human eyes and roving the wilderness. What enlightenment and joy could be found in that?

He accepted the grim truth a century ago shortly after the death of Jaken; he needed something more to get along. That is when he ceased observing Rin's descendants and began to gather them to himself. Yet even this wasn't enough, perhaps he'd found the answer just yesterday. Companionship.

Yes, there were many years left to kindle a “friendship” of sorts with this girl. He would lavish attention on her that he restrained from Rin. Questions, answers, and everything that had been impossible up to this point. His heart jumped at the thought. Not a kindred spirit but more a partner in crime. She was intelligent enough and understood the world he came from. He could learn much from this girl.

He stood slowly and took a deep breath. Time now for writing. Again in the confines of his home he found himself seated by the front window. Ideas weren't coming to him. He had found that writing helped calm his senses and gave him something to look forward to.

He had been published and awarded in the past for his objective views on Japanese history and lore. He cracked a sly grin. Humans awarding him. How foolish. Yet if they chose to properly respect his status of higher intelligence, they could do so. After all they simply didn't understand his status as it were so this was acceptable. His work was being used in universities to educate humans. This was pleasing. At least he could shed the light of truth into underdeveloped minds.

He gave up on writing ideas and began to mentally list questions he would present the girl with. There were so many. Humans are strange and fickle creatures. This would all be for his greater good, of course, acting as a human wouldn't work without first understanding them.

He had once purchased a television but quickly discarded it after find that it was more annoying than useful. Worse than the sounds that damn telephone made when it beckoned you. He was quite sure that noisy contraption would answer some of his questions but it lacked exceedingly.

He tensed; it was time for feeding again. This time he would hunt himself. Needing to loose his billowing youki was foremost in his mind. A calming hunt would do him much good. He gave notice to the surrounding families that he would be absent for the next few hours and maybe well into the next day. Donning his traditional robes, it had been so long he could now call them as such, he gathered his youki cloud and took off into the sky to his `personal' island he had set aside for this specific purpose.