InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Escape ❯ Awakening ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: You all know the deal. He is not mine. ::smirks wickedly:: But that doesn't mean I can't play with him from time to time.

Hello once again. ::bows to audience:: Here I am yet again with the next exciting installment of Escape. Just want to take this time and acknowledge all of my faithful people out there that take time out of their hectic lives to read my little fic.

Last time:

But then it all became too much. The heat and intensity of such power began to overwhelm her senses. Tiny black dots clouded her vision and the throbbing of an oncoming migraine threatened to engulf her in excruciating pain.

"Kagome!!!" She glanced up exhaustedly at the rapidly approaching figure as the bluish energies retreated from whence they came. Darkness steadily invaded her sight.

"Inuyasha," she said softly before completely submitting into blackness.

Awakening

Inuyasha paced impatiently back and forth outside Kaede's room. It was all his fault she had gotten into this mess in the first place. They were probably wanted to get to him through her…or did this have anything to do with him at all? He growled. 'What the hell had she been thinking? She could've been killed emitting all that fucking energy.' He had sensed her aura flare out and had immediately raced in that direction, only to see her fall out and would've collapsed to the ground had he not arrived just in time to catch her. She had been complete depleted of energy and unconscious. There hadn't been any sign of Kagura, though her scent was still fresh. Miroku and Sango pulled up only a few moments after he had arrived and had driven them back to the apartments, all the while Kagome had been in his arms with him constantly checking her pulse to make sure she was breathing. Kaede was diagnosing her now. He paced some more.

"Inuyasha sit down. You're driving me up the wall with all that pacing," Sango said in mild annoyance from the Kaede's couch.

"Why my dearest Sango," Miroku said with a devious smile," I am ready and willing to drive you up the wall…and any other place at your command."

Inuyasha winced at the loud slap, the sound echoing in his sensitive ears. "Damn Miroku, keep your fucking lecherous ways to yourself."

"Where would the fun in that be?" he responded pouting, and rubbed his bruised cheek that was now sporting a red handprint.

The door opened abruptly and Kaede stepped out. Inuyasha immediately ran up to her. "So? Is she OK?"

"Gee Yasha, didn't know you cared so much," Sango remarked wryly.

The anxious façade of the hanyou quickly changed to one of nonchalance. "Keh," he snorted crossing his arms and looking away. "I don't care. But I went through all that trouble to save the wench and I just wanted to make sure all of my efforts didn't go to waste."

Miroku coughed. Sango rolled her eyes. Kaede said nothing.

"Kaede, why would Naraku be interested in Kagome-chan?" Sango asked moving toward the old woman as the monk tried to scoot closer to her on the couch, his wandering hand nearing her thigh.

Although his back was turned, Inuyasha kept an ear trained on the conversation at hand.

Kaede brought a wrinkled hand to her slightly sagging chin. "I don't have any idea why. She's a strong miko, that she is, but she is untrained and her powers are wild and untamed. I had Shippou run an background check on the lass."

"Who knows what runs through the twisted mind of Naraku," Miroku said solemnly, unconsciously clenching the hand clad in cloth and beads.

"Where do you think your are going?" Kaede questioned as the hanyou began making his way into the room where the sleeping miko lay.

"What does it look like old women?" he replied casually before entering. "I'm making sure her presence doesn't cause anymore disturbance or holes in the wall."

"Speaking of holes in the wall, tis a rather large one in your apartment, the one in which ye has yet to pay rent on."

Inuyasha inwardly cringed. 'Damn, forgot about that.' "Miroku has agreed to pay for all damages and my rent." He slipped in and closed the door behind him. He smirked to himself upon hearing the instant protests of the monk, then made his way to the bed where the miko lay dormant in. It was the second time he got to see her sleeping, peaceful form. His apprehensiveness instantaneously evaporated as the aroma of sakura blossoms caressed his senses, alleviating his tensions.

He frowned, pulling up a chair to the bed. She looked so damned pale. The vivacious color that had once been vibrant on her face had dulled to a ghostly white, reminding him faintly of Kikyo. He sighed, bringing his clawed hands to his face. He had failed in protecting his childhood friend and love. She had meant everything to him and had let her down. He wouldn't let history repeat itself. 'I will protect Kagome with my life, it's the least I can do after failing Kikyo. <AN: Kinda makes ya wonder if Inuyasha's caring for her out of guilt of losing Kikyo or to ease his conscious.>

His ears perked up at the sound of Kagome's erratic breathing. Instantly he rose from his perch to the bed. She squirmed and whimpered in her sleep, silent tears streaming down the corners of her eyes. 'Damn nightmares.' He frowned, then pulled her body gently into his lap so that she melded perfectly against his chest. "Shhh, Kagome. I'm here," he whispered soothingly into her ear and stroked her silky tresses softly. "Nothing will harm you, not al long as I'm living. I swear I'll always protect you." He rested his cheek upon her head, letting her delicious scent wash over him in waves.

Whether from his calming presence or his vow of protection, Kagome's squirming gradually ceased and she finally relaxed in his hold. Inuyasha continued to hold her against him. Why in the hell did he feel so possessive over this one little girl? He had shut people out of his lives for so long, he forgot how good the closeness of another being felt. As sleep began to take him, he let the warmth of the girl permeate his body. Unbeknownst to them both, the wall he had built around his heart slowly began to chip away bit by bit.

Flashback

"What's your job mommy?" little Kagome asked staring up at her mother as she peeled potatoes.

"Why do you ask?" Hitomi questioned smiling down at her daughter.

"Cuz we have to write a paper on a person that in.. in…inflwenzes-"

"Influences Kagome," she corrected.

"Yeah, influences our society."

"And why did you pick me?"

Kagome gave an exasperated sigh and stomped the floor impatiently. "Mommy don't beat the bush!"

"Beat around the bush." She rinsed off the potato. "I'm a diplomat."

Kagome blinked in confusion.

"Lets see…I present my ideas and the opinions of others on how everyone can get along. Right now, I'm trying to get youkai and humans to live peacefully together."

"Is Daddy a diplomat too?"

"Yes he is." Hitomi diced the potato.

Kagome thought for a moment. "How come youkai and humans don't get along?"

She stopped dicing to look down into the eyes of the curious blue-gray eyes child. "Well Kagome, some people don't think that we should live together. Some humans want to rid the country of youkai and some youkai want to get rid of humans."

"Does Naraku want to get rid of humans?"

A shiver went down Hitomi's spine at the mention of his name. "How do you know him?"

"Daddy was talking about him on the phone. He says that 'that slimy two-faced bastard is tearing this country apart' and that Daddy wants to 'put his foot so far up Naraku's ass that-"

"Ok, ok," Hitomi cut her off frowning. She would have to talk to Akira about his language usage around Kagome. "Yes, Naraku does want to get rid of humans, but that's what we're here for. Your father and I will make sure that never happens."

"My mommy and daddy are heroes!" Kagome squealed.

End flashback

Kagome stirred. Images and flashes of her past had plagued dreams. Unwanted emotions and feelings had been awakened. Why the hell was she reminiscing about all this now? She had made sure that all of those memories had been buried along with her family all those years ago. Recollections of her family had replayed over and over in her mind, until a smooth, masculine voice broke through the madness and had quieted her thoughts with a vow of protection.

Barely audible voices pulled her out of her thoughts. Reluctantly Kagome opened her eyes to a blurred figure looming above her, a pair of fuzzy dog ears capturing her attention. A wave of nostalgia flooded her mind. She had seen those before, those cute furry ears…and piercing golden orbs. But where? Finding remembering too painful as a dull headache began to throb in her temples, Kagome shrugged the feeling off and blinked to clear her vision. She could barely remember the events that took place yesterday and yet was starting to know everything that happened in her past.

"Kagome?" asked the uncertain hanyou. He had started to worry when she awakened but began staring off into space.

She locked her eyes Inuyasha's gaze, which was full of hidden concern and uneasiness. Before she could respond, a small furry body bounded up onto the bed. He cocked his head to the side to get a better view of the newly awaken goddess-like woman. His interest had been piqued when he read about her background. She had had such a sad life. When he told his grandma, she had made him promise to not tell anybody.

Kagome smiled, instantly forgetting her previous anxieties for the moment.

"Hi," he said shyly, looking down. "I'm Shippou."

"Hi Shippou. I'm Kagome. It's nice to meet you." She slowly sat up and tugged the kitsune onto her lap.

Inuyasha's left ear twitched and his eyes narrowed to slits in irritation as the urge to rip the child from her hold intensified. "Don't have somewhere to be brat?" he growled dangerously.

"Nope," he responded happily as she ran her fingers ran through his red hair and played with his bushy tail. He opened one eye to see the hanyou practically seething at Kagome's display of affection towards him. The kitsune smirked. 'That's what he gets for being mean to me all the time.' Whenever Shippou had wanted to play with him, he only flicked him off or threw him somewhere until his Kaede-baba threatened to evict him.

"You are so cute!" she squealed hugging the small child.

A growl rose in the back of his throat possessively. "All right runt time for you to leave." He plucked the content kitsune for her arms and flung him roughly in the direction of the door, which by chance happened to be closed. Shippou slammed head first into the door with a loud thump and slid to the floor.

Shippou grabbed his head in pain and his green eyes began to water.

'Ah shit.'

Wails and shrieks of pain erupted from the small kitsune, cutting through the silence of the room.

Kagome, slightly shocked at the brutality of the demon, rushed over to the bawling child and swept him up in her arms to console him.

"Shut the fuck up!" Inuyasha yelled over the shrieks, clamping his ears to his skull in an effort to rid himself of the excruciating pain that was being caused by the brat.

"It's ok Shippou," Kagome said stroking his tail tenderly. "I won't let the cruel hanyou hurt you anymore."

"Cruel?" he responded incredulously staring at her in bewilderment. 'She calls me cruel and I'm the one that took care of her ass all three days she was out?'

"Yes cruel!" she snapped at him. "What are you deaf! How could you do something like that to little Shippou!?"

Anger surged through him. "What the hell! He a fucking full blooded demon for fuck's sake! The little monster probably didn't feel a damn thing!"

"And stop using all that foul language around impressionable children! Don't you have any home training? Or did your first master forget to break you?"

"Listen here wench-!"

"My name isn't wench!" She cut him off.

"I don't give a fuck what your damn name is!" His blood was racing. Never had he been challenged in a verbal match this exhilarating with anyone.

She gave an uncharacteristic growl at the hanyou. "You are by far the most inconsiderate and rudest jerk I've met in my life."

He snorted. "You act like I care."

"Stupid asshole!"

" Dumb bitch!"

"Arrogant bastard!"

Shippou had stopped his shrieks when their explicit verbal spar overrode his screams of pain, even though it didn't hurt in the least bit. He likely the attention Kagome paid to him and felt jealous when she had stopped to fight with Inuyasha.

"I'm not arrogant!" he shot back indignantly.

"I beg to differ," she responded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Never in her life had she spat such harsh and demeaning words to a person. 'But this ass totally deserves it' she thought smirking to herself. She grinned to herself. This was actually kind of fun.

Inuyasha was thrown off for a second upon seeing the grin spread across her features. "Oi bitch, what's so damn amusing?"

But she never got to answer since the door swung open with Miroku, Sango, and Kaede all coming in.

"And what are you all doing in here?" Inuyasha asked not bothering to hide the irritation he felt right now for not getting to finish what he and the wench had started.

"Last time I checked I owned this building," Kaede said dryly.

"Kagome-sama," Miroku said, his eyes gleaming with joy, "you're finally awake."

She only blinked. "Finally awake? How long have I been out?"

"For about three days," Shippou answered scampering onto her shoulder.

"Three days!" 'Crapcrapcrapcrap. Ron and Carla are gonna kill me! And Rin. I bet she's worried out of her mind.'

"Don't worry Kagome-chan," Sango reassured, "I contacted your sister and told her that you were staying over my place for a few days."

Kagome sighed in relief. "Thank you Sango." 'I'm probably so behind in my classes.'

"You should thank Inuyasha too," Miroku proclaimed sending a wicked grin Inuyasha's way. "He hasn't left your side since you fell unconscious. Didn't even go to work."

A considerable amount of red crept onto both of their cheeks. Kagome immediately felt bad. She had accused him of being all those bad names and he had taken care of for three days. "Umm," Kagome began suddenly bashful, her face flushed, "thanks, Inuyasha. Sorry for calling you all those names."

"Keh." he crossed his arms. "Don't expect me to babysit your ass again. Takes up too much of my fucking time." He mentally slapped himself. Shit, he hadn't meant to say it so harshly.

Her smile faltered, her brow began to twitch. "I apologize to you and you act like a jerk. I knew I was right. You're nothing but an insensitive stuck up bastard! I hate you!"

"Fuck you too bitch!" he snorted, effectively hiding the pain he felt when her words sliced through his heart. 'Why is she effecting me like this?'

"I'm going home." She whirled around and stalked out, and would've made it had it not been for the hand that latched onto her arm, preventing her from continuing her journey.

"Wait chile," Kaede said, "let Inuyasha escort ye home. He can be a bit brash at times, but he has a noble heart hidden under all that arrogance."

"See," he smirked, "I have a noble heart."

Miroku coughed once more, hiding his snickers. Sango once again rolled her eyes. Kagome and Shippou glared daggers at him.

Kaede looked expectantly at her, waiting for an answer.

Kagome sighed in defeat. "Fine. He can take me home."

A smile graced her haggard features. "Good then. Tomorrow afternoon Inuyasha will bring you back here so we can start your miko training."

"Miko training?" She frowned, bits and pieces of the previous night slowly coming back to her. "How did I become a miko? Nobody in my family had that kind of power. My grandfather only thought he did." She ignored the impulse to break down and cry with the memories of her deceased family. No, she had to be strong, for them if not herself.

"Shippou and I will look into that," Kaede spoke quickly, knowing she was treading on unstable grounds, "you just focus on gaining your strength back. You're going to need it when we begin your training."

Kagome smiled and bent down to hug the old woman. "Thank you Kaede,"

"Tis no problem chile." She eyed hanyou warily, who was at the moment looking so very bored. "Take care of her Inuyasha."

She only got a grunt in response.

As Kagome said her farewells to her new friends, Kaede's brow furrowed in deep thought. Her family had been murdered in their home the day before her birthday. The murderer had never been caught. The police report had said that she had seen their corpses brought out of the house, yet weeks later appeared perfectly normal. Events like that should normally traumatize a child for life without proper therapy. But she had went to sessions and appeared perfectly normal while in foster care.

'If she doesn't grieve I fear that her anguish will eventually consume her.' She would have to speak with Inuyasha in making her more open about her past. Who knew what would happen if she keeps those feelings bottled up inside her. Kaede feared the worst, especially with all her untamed miko powers.

. . .

"Your late."

Kagura inwardly cringed at the sound of his smooth, dangerous voice. 'Bastard, I couldn't care less about you and your damn priorities.' But she smartly held her tongue. She didn't need anymore beatings right now. The one she received from that human wench was enough for now.

Dark miasma curled around his ominous form as he walked up to his subordinate. "So," he drawled tracing her jaw line with his claw, "is it her?"

"It is." She held her breath, waiting for him to lash out with fury.

But he appeared to be unfazed by her words. "Judging from the scrapes and bruises inflicted on your body, am I correct in presuming that she is strong?"

Kagura only nodded and bowed her head, her bangs hiding the shame and anger in her dark eyes at the prospect of being defeated by a lowly human.

He gripped her chin and tightened his hold, lifting her face to meet his emotionless black orbs. "Send Kouga to retrieve her." He released his hold and turned to walk away.

"But wouldn't killing the bitch be better?"

He stopped walking. "Kagura, I only tolerate you because you are my offspring. But don't think that I wouldn't hesitate to decapitate your worthless hide for undermining my decisions. Next time I won't be so lenient. Is this understood?"

"Yes…Naraku."

End.

AN: More twists, more turns, more characters, more to come…

Review and tell me whatcha think.