InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fatefully Entwined ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The smell of burning incense and the deep monotone drone of chanting did nothing to help the oppressive feel of the large office his older brother kept for working away from the office. Inuyasha had to dig his claws into the armrests of the leather chair he sat in as the old balding priest probed his concealment charm for any sign of failure. The strong sensation of it made him feel sick to his stomach.

Finally the old man stopped his chanting and opened his beady black eyes, much to Inuyasha's relief. Sesshoumaru sat silently behind his polished wooden desk the entire time. How he had been able to withstand the discomfort was beyond Inuyasha. Personally, if felt like he was being continually zapped by a taser. It was enough to make anyone go crazy.

"I have used every possible combination of spells to weaken your concealment charm, Inuyasha-sama, but it remains as strong as the day I cast it." The old priest said, with thinly veiled annoyance. Inuyasha had to keep himself from jumping up and giving the old man a well deserved black eye. "Clearly you were mistaken." He added snootily.

"There was no mistake, my ears work perfectly you old buzzard." Inuyasha said through gritted teeth. The monk snorted his indignance.

"Common shrine maidens do not possess the ability to detect a concealment charm, let alone see through one. It takes several decades of intense and rigorous spiritual training before one is even ready to peruse that branch of spiritual study. It requires a great deal of power and discipline!"the monk argued.

"Silence, both of you." Sesshoumaru commanded. "Your services are no longer required, you are dismissed." He said to the priest, who bowed low to the daiyoukai before gathering his tools and taking his leave. Inuyasha scowled, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"That was a complete waist of my time. I suggest that you keep your ridiculous and unfounded concerns to yourself the next time the need strikes." Seeshoumaru growled out, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

"That old geezer would do and say anything to make himself look good. He's got a giant stick up his ass!" Inuyasha argued.

"Get out of my office, whelp, before I lose my temper and decide to show you exactly how it feels to have a stick up your ass." Sesshoumaru rumbled, standing from behind his desk.

Inuyasha shook his head, and stalked out. He wasn't about to stay any longer than he absolutely had to. Spending all night and all day stuck in a stuffy old office wasn't his idea of a good time, and he was relieved to know that he could still go out in public without drawing attention to himself. That girl had definitely piqued his interest, and there was still the matter of returning her phone.

 

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This was mission critical. Kagome's cell phone was missing, and despite having spent the better part of the evening searching the shrine grounds for it the night before, and her mother's house that entire morning, Kagome was beginning to lose hope that it would ever be found. "I've just got to find it!" She told herself with as much conviction as she could muster.

"That's the spirit dear! Why don't you and I walk the shrine grounds again." Mama suggested. She smiled warmly, and led Kagome gently by the arm out of the house. The sun was covered with clouds, and the air was thick with the smell of rain, a marked difference from the day before.

"Now, let's think. Where had you been yesterday so we can narrow our search area?" Mama asked.

"I helped Sota out in the shop storage, and then I walked to the store." Kagome answered. "But I'm pretty sure I didn't have it with me when I was working..." She added.

"Well, no harm in having a look just in case. I'll check the storage room, and you can go down to the store to see if maybe you dropped it there." Mama said as she made her way toward the shrine gift shop.

"Alright Mama, I'll be back later." Kagome called out as she took off down the stone path. She was careful to look under every car parked on the street as she made her way to the store where she'd purchased the ingredients for last nights dinner, but if had been there at any point since the day before, it certainly wasn't there now. She sighed in frustration, and hurried down the street at a brisk walk.

The store was pretty empty for so late in the afternoon, but the sky was getting darker and darker with the threat of rain. "Hello again, " The kindly old woman behind the register greeted her."Back again so soon?"

Kagome shook her head."Actually, my phone went missing last night, and I was wondering if maybe I left it here by accident." She explained.

"That's too bad. Nobody's turned one in, and I didn't notice one when I closed up last night." The old woman shrugged her shoulders apologetically.

Kagome groaned under her breath. This had been her last hope. "Oh well, thank you anyway," she said as she turned to leave.

"I hope you find it dear!" The shop keeper called after her before the door swung closed.

Kagome took her time on the walk back to the shrine. She'd made it to the bottom of the steps leading up the hill to the shrine when the sky finally opened up and the rain poured down with a vengeance. She took shelter under Goshinboku, an ancient tree that had been growing for over a thousand years. She sat down at the tree's large base, and let her back rest against it.

"Just great." Kagome moaned, brushing her wet bangs away from her face. At least she was sheltered from the rain by the massive tree. The rain continued for quite some time, but the longer Kagome sat there the more at ease she began to feel. Somehow she had a feeling that her phone would show up sooner or later. Finally the rain let up enough that Kagome could make her way back to the house before it picked up again.

 

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Higurashi shrine was completely empty, but that really didn't surprise Inuyasha considering it had been pouring rain all afternoon. Nobody had been at the gift shop, but not too far off in the distance he spotted a house where he supposed the family that attended the shrine lived.

Stepping up to the door, he checked to make sure that the phone was still in his jacket pocket before he knocked.

"I'll get it!" he could hear someone yell from somewhere on the other side. The door slid open, and a young teenage boy stared up at him. "Can I help you?" He asked politely.

"Yeah, I ran into a girl here yesterday, and I came to return something she dropped." Inuyasha explained. The boy shrugged, and then turned around.

"Kagome, some guy is here to see you!" He yelled. Kagome huh? Inuyasha tested it out in his head a few times, and decided it fit well.

"I'm coming, hold your horses." Inuyasha heard her say as she walked to the door. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt that exposed a small sliver of her smooth toned stomach. Her hair was damp and smelled of the rain. She stopped at the door and stared at him with a look of confusion and recognition, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

"Sota, Mama said dinner was almost ready. You should go wash up" she told the boy.

"Whatever," the boy shrugged and disappeared back into the house.

"Uh, hi." The girl, Kagome, greeted as she pulled the door shut behind her.

"Hi." Inuyasha echoed.

"Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to offend you, and I felt absolutely terrible afterward. I know youkai and hanyou are particular about their secrecy." She blurted out.

Inuyasha stood there, stunned. She knew that he was a hanyou? Finally Inuyasha managed to swallow and clear his throat. He sniffed the air for any trace of youkai on the girl, but she smelled completely human. There was no mistaking that. So she really could see through his concealment charm.

"It's not a problem, I've just never been outed before." Inuyasha admitted. "But I actually came here because this fell out of your bag when you dropped it." He said, reaching into his pocket to retrieve her phone. Her eyes lit up when she realized what he was talking about, and she smiled brightly.

"I've been looking everywhere for this! You are a lifesaver!" Kagome enthused, taking the phone in her hand.

"Kagome, I've got dinner on the table." An older woman wearing an apron over her skirt said cheerfully as she pushed the door ajar.

"Mama, he found my phone after I dropped it yesterday, and came to return it." Kagome explained. The older woman smiled just as brightly as her daughter.

"How kind of you! I've just put dinner out on the table, and I insist you join us as a thank you!" She said, bowing her head.

"Mama!" Kagome hissed through her teeth. Inuyasha smiled.

"Actually, I'd be happy to join you." He admitted. What else was he going to do anyway? It wasn't like he'd had any plans.

"Good! Sota, Grandpa, we have a dinner guest." Kagome's mother announced."Let's make up another place at the table." She quickly disappeared into the house, leaving himself and Kagome alone again.

"Please come in, uh... I never asked your name." She realized aloud.

"Inuyasha." He answered as he stepped through the door.

"It's nice to meet you Inuyasha, I'm Kagome. Welcome."

 

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I really hope you enjoyed this one. Thanks again,

CandlelightQuill