InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forevermore ❯ Part Two ( Chapter 2 )

A WORD: The sole story of "Inu-Yasha" is the property of Rumiko Takahashi, a mangaka, or manga artist. This is part two of my story, and I think sometime soon I'll change my poem, the one below to a different one, but it seems to fit the title more than anything. I'm only writing this story because I wanted to try something different, also to take a break from my other story; you know the one: "Rain From A Blue-Grey Storm." That title is supposed to represent Kagome's eyes. Here's to Inu-Yasha + Kagome! (!@#$%^&*^&†§_†) I guess that's all I have to say about that...

« Forevermore «

By Mia

~An Inu-Yasha alternate-universe kind of story~

~~~~~~~

To love is to cry

To lose, to regain once more

To love is to feel

To protect and care for

To embrace, hold close

To keep the other

forevermore

~~~~~~~

*PART TWO*

It was summer as mentioned in the first half of the story, but still, that did not keep some college students away from the universities. Kagome stared up at the sunrise lit ceiling above her, halfway underneath her covers. Four hours tops is what she received for her nocturnal sleep. More or less unaffected, she tossed her covers aside and slipped out of bed, reaching for the cord and pulling up the parted blinds, revealing the beautiful view of a sparkling lake before her. The color of the incomplete sun peeking up from the horizon reminded her of that young man from the night before, and it made her stomach quell with an emotion she couldn't quite describe.

Letting out her breath deeply in a sigh, she turned and headed for her bathroom, readying herself for a shower yet again before having breakfast. I hope Eri, Ayumi, and Yuka got home okay last night. I wonder what became of that guy... Shaking her head, she shut the bathroom door. All thoughts seemed to have become locked with the stranger lately, and even the dreams and daydreams she regularly had about Inu-Yasha were more frequent than ever. Why now, of all times...? It scared her unconsciously, leading her to think that something big was going to happen now that five years had already past, and it had something to do with the amber-gold and yellow eyed young man that looked so much like Inu-Yasha with a modern hair-cut.

While in the shower, Kagome couldn't help but let out a giggle, thinking about Inu-Yasha as a motorcycle punk clad in tight leather. Yeah right...That's the funniest idea I've had in ages... At least she was able to think of the courageous hanyou in a positive way, instead of in a way to make her depressed even more than she already was.

Kagome came to the United States for two reasons. One was to go with her friends, to get the education her father had before her. The second was to escape the haunting past, the presence of the well so close to her always made her teary-eyed every time she walked by. But she knew she could never forget Inu-Yasha. If he had died in the past, she didn't know what she would do. It drove her nearly to madness to think what could have became of him the days following her disappearance, the days when she was no longer allowed to time travel. The time when she'd jumped in, prepared with her pack strapped onto her back, happy as a blue-jay and confident that this day wasn't going to be any different, she realized with utter dread that it was going to be far more different than any other. She'd sense him on the other side, knowing he felt her anxiousness, and tried to get to her, clawing his way into the dirt but to now avail. It was his voice that always echoed in her mind.

"Kagome! Don't leave...Don't leave me here alone! I LOVE YOU, KAGOME----!"

"I wish you never said that, Inu-Yasha..." She whispered to the light spray of warm water in her face. It ached her heart beyond words to imagine how he must've felt, that she abandoned him, no longer felt the way same for him; he had sounded so heartbroken. I hope that you decide to leave the memories of me behind and find a way to resurrect Kikyo in a real body. That way you won't be alone besides having Sango-chan, Miroku-sama, and Shippô-chan with you. But Inu-Yasha...I know I will never know someone like you, because if I did, I don't know if I can ever bring myself to truly love him. Ever.

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Ren walked into the den, noting the mahogany clock that hung against one wall, seeing that it was only seven in the morning. Heading to the living room where there sat a clear-top coffee table, and a note torn from the corner of a piece of business stationery rested on top. Running his hand through his slightly tousled black hair, he reached down and studied it. "Hm...Dad's gone to England for a business errand...again." He shook his head disappointedly as he crumpled it up in his hands, one hand tightening into a fist around the paper ball. "I tried my best not to get caught without a legal license or vehicle, and I didn't get caught, and I did it for him and he leaves without a word but a little note scrawled on a torn piece of paper. He doesn`t even have the time to get decent paper! Feh..." Without looking, he threw the ball into the wastebasket at the corner of the living room, making a perfect basket.

He went over to the windows and drew back the heavy, expensive curtains with a long nylon cord, his eyes narrowing at the brightness of the rising sun. Ren could barely see the shining waters of the lake from where he was, but he noticed the shimmering water by the sunrise's light. Then Kagome Higurashi's face appeared in his mind's eye and he smiled. I wonder if she can see the lake right outside her window... He sighed. She probably could considering her apartment was within walking distance of Mindie's Munchies, the eatery of last night, and is therefore harboring the edge of the lake. I wonder if I'll ever see her again. But what would I do if I did see her again? It's not like I can just go up to her and tell her I feel quite familiar with her...No, she'd think I was some kind of loony escaped from the nearest mental institute...Besides, she probably has a boyfriend or something. That certainly brought his face to a glum state. Although, some deep part inside of him wanted to hunt whoever held her affections and squish the living essence of it out of existence. He shook his head, hard. Whoa, what has gotten into me? Maybe I do need that trip to the doctor's after all...

The ring of the telephone shook him clear from his thoughts, and he walked briskly to the coffee table where the black cordless was placed. "Hello?"

"Hello, Inuren dear. I heard your father went off on yet another one of his business trips again."

Ren looked at the phone for a second, then realized who it was. "M-Mom? Oh...Ah, I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday. I was kind of busy."

"So you were. You needn't explain anything to me, you're a fully grown man yourself. On the other hand, your father needs to spend more time with you...He has been neglecting you for quite some time, and it isn't because you and he have disagreements, ne?"

"I don't know...That may be the ultimate reason why he's staying away from me like I'm the plague. He didn't give me much lee-way back in Japan, but I don't understand why he's letting me go like a fish in the ocean." His mother laughed, a slight tinkling kind of noise; pleasant to his ears ever since he could remember. She was always so kindhearted and so understanding. The complete opposite of what his father was now. It was like his father didn't exist to him, except on one of their arguments did he ever leave his mark.

"Oh, I miss you a lot...Inu-Yasha." Ren's heart beat faster for a second as if he felt something inside awaken to his childhood nickname made up by his mother. He didn't know why she was fond of calling him that; it meant dog-demon, but it didn't bother him at all.

He was just confused at the meaning of the name. One time in his younger days, he could remember playing outside for the longest stretch of hours, and when his mother finally called him in to eat he came, noticing that she was looking at him strangely while he ate his dinner.

What's the matter? He'd asked, halting in eating. She only smiled warmly. Oh, it's nothing important. You just didn't mind me calling you by your ancestor's name that's all. He'd frowned. What name? I didn't notice you call me anything different. His mother laughed heartily. That's just it, my son. You were once so used to being called the name, that you did not even realize anything different.

"Um, Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Uh, do you remember that legend you told me a long time ago when I was a kid? You know, where your nickname for me came from." There was silence for a moment. "Wasn't there another character in the story, besides the one named Inu-Yasha?"

"Of course. Why do you ask, son?"

His voice was reluctant. "I was wondering...what the girl's name was. The one that the hanyou inu fell in love with." (Half-demon dog.)

"Ah, it's a wonderful story, Inuren. It's romantic and beautiful, but also very tragic. The young lady's name, the one who was responsible for the guardianship of the Shikon no Tama and the imprisonment of Inu-Yasha was Kikyo no Miko." Ren's shoulders slumped, almost at a lost. "However, the one that mysteriously disappeared from the ancient scrolls' history fifty some years later, was that of the beautiful shrine Miko Kagome Higurashi."

Ren nearly dropped the phone from his ear. He hastily adjusted it. "Wh-What? Did you say what I thought you just said?" His mother sounded offended by his tone of voice, but knew this was part of his attitude.

"What do you mean, dear? Which part?"

He tried hard not to raise his voice due to his impatience. "The Miko...the one that came after half a century."

"Kagome Higurashi? What is it, Inuren? Is something wrong?" She could tell something was wrong by the sound of his voice. His golden eyes blinked over and over.

"Nothing's wrong, Mom. I-I was just making sure because...Um, my friend told me about it and I wanted to make sure he got the name right." He winced and glad she couldn't see. He hated even slightly being dishonest to his mother, but technically part of it was true; he did get Kagome`s name from Raya. "Another thing I wanted to ask you...Why did you start calling me Inu-Yasha?"

"Oh, that. It's because of the color of your eyes and hair."

"What about them?"

"The legend of the hanyou Inu-Yasha always foretold that he had a sort of golden-orange and yellow color in his eyes, but his hair, besides being silver-white, turns black as midnight on the new moon---the time when his youkai blood disappears for the night. Why do you ask me of these things now, Inuren?"

"Oh, Ah...Just---" Might as well come out in the open...She might not even believe me even though she is all understanding. "Mom, there's this beautiful girl I saw at a restaurant the other night. When I saw her, she...Well, her aura intrigued me and fascinated me, unlike any other girl that's come by me before. I felt something inside me going off, like an alarm, and I heard...I heard the name Inu-Yasha in my ears, and when she met my eyes, she looked overly shocked, like I had dog-ears on top of my head...(^_^) Anyway, I don't know whether or not she looked happy, but when I tried to talk to her, she ran off, like I was a serial killer or something. I felt desperate to know who she was, because she looks exactly like a woman in my dreams...Her voice, just like hers. There was a strange connection between us of some kind, or she wouldn`t have acted so...bluntly...Although, I really don`t know what to make of it. I don`t believe in reincarnation, and I sure as heck don`t believe in voodoo or whatever that nonsense is."

Her voice was slightly amused but serious at the same time. "And you think this is more than just an attraction?"

"Mother..." He scolded.

"All right, all right. I apologize," she giggled a little more, then considered his story. "Okay, what was her name, son?"

"That's just the thing. She...her name from what I heard from a friend of hers is Kagome. Kagome Higurashi. Just like the name you told of me was the name of the powerful Miko of legend from long ago, except besides the original one that imprisoned Inu-Yasha." Ren unconsciously bit his lip, tapping his foot against the carpeted floor as he waited for her response. "And to add to that, I am not crazy." He couldn't help but to smile to himself.

"I do not think you are crazy. Don't assume that of me."

"I'm sorry, Mom."

"Never mind that, it isn't what I meant. On the contrary, in fact; whether you believe in it or not, you might as well be the reborn being of Inu-Yasha. It would explain a lot of things, like the sword that your grandfather had insisted be given to you on your tenth birthday---I suppose it's because he saw your father of no use---your incredible strength, your attitude, your appearance, and among some others. Kagome Higurashi-san might be the one and the same from the family that lives at a nearby shrine called the Sunset Temple, where they guard the Goshinboku or Sacred tree. I know more than you can contemplate of the history in the Sengoku Jidai period; I didn't study to become a historian for absolutely nothing. Now---what do you suppose you are going to do about your situation?"

"I have no idea. Heh, Mom, don't you think I would have dog-ears, seeing as to how my `appearance` is similar to that of the legendary, mythical hanyou?" He smirked.

"Don't joke. You know quite well that it would not be natural with that type of stature. Please take this seriously, my own Inu-Yasha. Be careful about handling the lady Kagome Higurashi-san. Don't frighten her...I want to see her for myself, to see if she lives up to the description of what the ancient scrolls read."

"She wears a jewel around her neck---a broken, incomplete one at that. Isn't that what you said about the Shikon no Tama?" There was an awed silence, and Ren knew he had triggered her surprise.

"Now you can't be serious. If it's true, then there is no other obvious evidence to lead that she is the genuine girl in the past from the future. Inuren, you must see her again."

"But she's just...Oh, I don't know!" He shook his head. "I don't even have a legal license, let alone drive my `cycle legally. Besides, you're all the way in Japan..."

"Oh, right! That's what I was calling about. A document should be sent in the post-office today from the DMV, stating legal rights, also giving you your license and registration. By being your father's son, he made sure you had your own clearance, or `green-card' to be able to be in the U.S., and you can decide to become a citizen if you want, but that'll come later on. By the way, how did you come by that restaurant by yourself without receiving a ride from that boy Koru Mibachi, hm?"

"M-Mom..." He began but relaxed when she sighed kindheartedly.

"All I want is for you to take care of yourself, and wisely. If you manage to catch Kagome-san for yourself, then you'll finally have a woman looking after you besides myself. You won't be alone any longer."

On Ren's head appeared a sweat-drop. "I ain't planning on marrying her! That's one effective way to scare her off, and I hardly know her. But...I'll see what I can do to find out more about her."

"Thank you, dear. The post-office closes at five. It's on 7th street---take care of yourself now and I love you, my very own Inu-Yasha." By saying that, it immediately made him feel better. At least now he understood the origin of the name.

"Love you too, Mom. Bye."

"Goodbye."

He punched in the number to turn the phone off, and he sighed heavily, plopping down on the nearby leather couch. Gods...All the trouble brought to me all within twenty-four hours. Kagome Higurashi, who are you really? Yet again he was startled by the phone ringing in his hand and he answered it a second time.

"Hello?"

"I see you aren't in jail. Good for you," Koru's voice said cockily on the other line. Ren glared to no one in particular. "Anyway, seeing as to how you're probably bored at your lonely penthouse, I say we go to the nearby university and spar."

"Koru, you moron, can't you just greet me with a usual hello? And what do you mean `spar'? Why in a university?" He sat up from the couch and tilted his focus up, his eyes trailing upwards and resting on the ancient sword his grandfather bestowed upon him, displayed inside a clear glass case over the mantle.

"Well, you know, kendo. I know you have your own sword, and we used to do it all the time back at the dojo in Osaka. The university is the only place I know of where they let the public practice, because it's one of the classes that can be taken along with the study of the Japanese arts. Anyway, I heard there was a new champion over there, and every one is challenging him and losing each time. I know you're really good, so I thought you might be interested. What do you say? I've been practicing all winter and spring, and I think I can take you on." Ren rolled his eyes and shifted his focus from his sword to the another clock on the opposite wall.

"But it's only---" Seeing that it was well past wake-up time at eight-thirty, he sighed. "I might as well. I don't have anything else to do besides go to the post-office and..." ...see if I can meet Kagome Higurashi myself. "But you already know I can't use my grandfather's sword. It's a treasure handed down to me from long ago. I can't possibly fight with it---I might even break it."

"Just meet me there in about an hour. I'm going to try to beat the guy that keeps winning, and I think he`ll be there today---I gotta go, Shiyaki's waiting for me."

Ren grinned mischievously. "Ooh, Koru's got a girlfriend. I'm so proud. All right, then. I think I'll use one of their swords. Later."

"A girlfriend?! She's my cousin---" Click.

"Gee, how lucky of him," Ren muttered, dropping the phone on the couch and rose to his feet, peeling off his shirt and headed to the shower. I guess I'll have to wait to see Kagome again. I'll have to pick up the document first to be able to get the university, though...

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In the meanwhile at Kagome`s apartment...

Yuka came to the kitchen with her, right on her tail. "You should show your skills today at the university through kendo, Kagome-chan! Because I..." She looked around uncertainly, absently picking up a fork and twirling it around in her finger. "...I kind of...set a bet on you..."

Kagome dropped her chopping knife from cutting her chives to go with her scrambled eggs. "You...You...You WHAT?! So how much am I worth this time, huh?!"

"Fifty big ones." Yuka hung her head in shame for a second or two, but brightened with a wide grin and slapped her hands together at her chest. "But of course I have faith on you, Kagome-chan! You won't make me bankrupt and broke, would you? Please? Come on, I heard that if you win again they're going to award you with a trophy for your fantastic efforts at being number one---"

Kagome grimaced and resumed her chopping on her cutting board. "I never meant to beat anyone. I was just practicing. Besides, my master skill is archery; I thought you knew that." Her eyes went downcast, remembering that it was Inu-Yasha's mastery skill---swordsmanship with Tetsusaiga. She missed ever seeing him wield the sword to protect her with all his strength. She started to experiment about a year after their parting, and found that she could truly remember him while she swayed the sword back and forth, and managed to at least challenge an opponent and be good at it. "Although, I just might do it." She sighed, but Yuka didn't seem to notice. "To relive it again, I guess...I want to brush up on it anyway. I don't have anything else to do except take the boat out, but that's for later in the evening."

Yuka jumped high in the air and shouted a loud yes. "Arigato, arigato, arigato, arigato...!" Kagome smiled and finished her chopping, storing the greenery in a tupperware bowl and throwing it in the fridge before heading to her room for her equipment. Might as well...Yuka needs the money, and she can't afford to lose fifty bucks on me, but I still think it's idiotic to bet on something like this...

"Just don't make a bet on me again!" She scolded Yuka with a slight humoring tone in her voice.

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An hour later at the nearby university...

Ren dodged to the right of Koru's attack, and advanced once more, panting heavily inside the mask-like head gear that they have as helmets for protection. (Also, fencing like they do from the French. It's kinda like this except they're aren't using foils, the official swords to wield. It's kinda like that thing they have in Ranma 1/2, where Akane wears the whole outfit with the helmet and therefore concealing her face so no one suspected she was a girl. Also, they're wearing armor.)

Their swords clanged against each other and both swung back, both worn out from the exercise. But then Ren's unknown skill and adrenaline kicked in and he hit Koru's sword to the side, knocking it from his hands to fly off to the left, and he leaned the sword edge at his throat, the blade shiny and reflecting every light around them. "And you say you've been practicing both winter and spring, eh?" Ren chuckled and stepped back, bowing in the traditional way, but knew Koru took it as insulting.

"Well, I didn't practice day and night as if my life depended on it!" Koru cried, taking off the helmet. "Although I don't think you'll last against the university champion."

"Oh? What's this guy's name?" Ren walked over (Keeping his helmet on) and picking up Koru's sword, studying it through the helmet's dense screen.

"I dunno. You'll know after he beats you though," Koru snickered and Ren shot him a look, knowing well that he couldn't see it. Then he saw his friend's eyes widen when a girl walked up to them, and he turned, seeing another fully equipped figure heading toward them with a sword at the waist inside a black scabbard. "This might be him now," he whispered.

"Hey you guys, are you looking for a challenge?" The girl asked, and Koru looked to Ren. "I'm Yuka; my friend here is looking for a suitable opponent. We were wondering if you were interested at all." Ren quietly studied the opposing figure, and noticed that the person inside must be quite small, and slightly short for any guy. He supposed this should be quick and easy.

He went forward, holding out his hand. "I'm Ren. What's yours?" He was startled when Yuka all of a sudden appeared in front of him and shook his hand instead.

"Um, you'll know who my friend is after the duel. Gonbata ne, Ren-kun. I will be cheering for you as well." Her dark eyes flashed with something mischievous. "However, if you do happen to lose, you will go on a date with a person of my choice. I can tell you're a hunk underneath all that junk you're wearing." She smirked and stepped back. Ren frowned, unnoticeably showing his annoyance as Koru stood next to Yuka and smirked alongside her.

His opponent got into a stance, and he recognized it from somewhere, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He stepped back as well, and gripped his sword after throwing Koru's his back. I have a weird feeling I'm getting from this guy, he thought to himself, watching as his opponent reached down and unsheathed his sword with one hand, holding the handle with both hands in front of him. It's also weird that he hasn't yet said a word...

Ren was thrown violently from his thoughts as the guy lunged forward, pointing his sword directly at him. "Gah---!" He blocked with his own weapon, and they pushed at each other in unison each fighting to come out as victor; he could barely make out a shadow through the opposite side of the helmet face screen. Gods, this guy is strong! He broke away, already breaking sweat as his challenger stood confidently in all his short glory. "Time to get serious..." He was the one that lunged forward this time, hitting and blocking with sword and all his skill, but his opponent seemed to handle them with amazing and equal grace and skill. The duel lasted for as long as five minutes, although it felt like five years to Ren, and when it came that the challenger brought upon him the neck-slicing attack that he'd used on Koru, his sword flew away from his hand as it was knocked away in the similar technique...by his dueler.

"Yay! Yay! I knew you could do it!" Yuka cried happily, while next to her Koru had his jaw dropped, his eyes wide behind his glasses that he put back on. Ren glared unhappily, hating to lose but liking that he found a suitable opponent to spar with. He could faintly hear the short pants coming from the figure, and he thought they sounded a little...girlish.

"All right! It's about time we know your identity!" Ren said a little too loudly, remembering what Yuka said about an arranged date. The masked dueler took a moment to sheath his sword, then stepped tall, reaching up with gloved hands to his helmet. All three watched as the face appeared from behind the mask.

"Oh my God! It's a...a WOMAN?!" Koru exclaimed, about ready to tear his hair out.

The black hair was tied back in a loose pony-tail, the grey-blue eyes wide but charming, happy to be challenged at least for a little while. Ren jaw and heart just about gave out inside all the armor, his legs hardly being able to support him at seeing who it really was that just beat him at kendo, his favorite sport. His best sport. And he was defeated by a member of the opposite sex. But this was no ordinary female...

"K-Kagome Higurashi?!"

Kagome's eyes widened even more in question, a shiver running up her spine. "Nani...?" Koru stared at his friend, wondering what in the world had gone wrong.

*End of part two*

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