InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Life ❯ Concealed Secret ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5: Concealed Secret

 

Author's note: I just wanted to make a little side note. In this story I have used all English translations. I'm usually against using them, I try and use Japanese whenever possible. I'm only doing this because everything Kumiko hears sounds like English to her even though she is really speaking and hearing Japanese. It's been really hard so if I threw in a “baka” or something let me know so I can change it! Thanks and I hope your enjoying!

 

Just after dawn, Inuyasha roused his companions. They had a quick breakfast before setting off. This time Inuyasha carried Kagome and Shippo on his back. Miroku and Sango flew above them on Kirara, while Kouga ran alongside carrying Kumiko on his back. Kouga let Inuyasha pull ahead only because he didn't know where they were headed. Suddenly, later that afternoon, they rounded a hill and the village was laid out before them.

 

“This is Kaede's village!” Kumiko shouted, “It looks familiar.”

 

Kouga smiled at Inuyasha and took off down the hill at lightning fast speed, using the power of the jewel shards in his legs.

 

“Oi, wolf!” Inuyasha shouted after them.

 

“Kouga!” Kumiko squealed, holding tight to him with her arms and legs, “I don't know which hut is hers…you gotta slow down and wait for the others!”

 

Kouga stopped and they showed up soon afterwards. Kouga and Kumiko followed them through town to the edge near the woods. Kaede was outside with some of the village children when they arrived.

 

“My, my, Kumiko…ye look quite well…I suppose you're doing well with the wolves,” said Kaede.

 

“Yes, very well…this is my mate, Kouga.” Kumiko replied, smiling up at him.

 

“Ahh…Kouga…I have heard much about you” Kaede smiled, “come inside everyone.”

 

They all sat around the fire in Kaede's hut. Kaede began a stew and Kagome prepared to tell Kaede their tale. She told Kaede of Kumiko's loss of memory and of her newfound strength discovered during her training. When Kagome finished, Kaede distributed the stew and pondered.

 

“Hmm…this is very odd…it is possible to place a concealment spell, but only a strong priestess would be able to cast such a spell” Kaede began, “I also do not know why a priestess would help a demon by doing so…no offense Inuyasha.”

 

“Keh!”

 

“Can you unconceal me or remove the spell?” asked Kumiko.

 

“If the concealment spell was used, there should be a scroll containing the unconcealment spell. I will look through the scrolls at the shrine” Kaede responded.

 

“I will help you, Lady Kaede” Miroku offered.

 

“Thank you so much, Kaede!” Kumiko smiled, but Kaede saw the hidden fear and worry in her eyes.

 

“Do not fret, child, we will find a way.”

 

Kaede returned late that night, but Miroku remained in the shrine until the next day. Just after lunch, Miroku and Kaede came down from the shrine. Miroku had a huge smile on his face as he approached them. Kumiko attempted to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat.

 

“I found it!” Miroku beamed, “Kaede has practiced it and we are ready if you are.”

 

“Yes, let's do it” Kumiko replied as she gathered her courage.

 

The group followed Miroku and Kaede into the hut. Kaede set up a table with various herbs and candles on it. She gestured for Kumiko to kneel opposite her. The others looked on, wide-eyed, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Kaede closed her eyes and raised her hands in front of her. Her hands were clasped, but with her pointer and middle finger pointed upwards. She began to chant very low. Kumiko closed her eyes as well and focused on her breathing to keep her nerves under control.

 

Suddenly, a bright light filled the room. It was golden and glimmered in the darkened hut. The others had to squint, but still only Kagome witnessed Kumiko's transformation. Kumiko's raven black hair turned brilliant silver. Her human ears faded and were replaced by small, white puppy ears on top of her head. Her fingernails grew long into claws. Behind her, a fluffy, silver tail (much like Kouga's) sprouted from just below the small of her back. Kaede's chant ended and the light faded. Kumiko opened her eyes and looked over at Kagome, who was not surprised to see that they were golden.

 

“Come outside, child, so that we may get a good look at ye” said Kaede.

 

They followed Kumiko, open-mouthed, into the afternoon sunshine. Fangs glinted as she smiled weakly at them. She, then, looked down at the claws on her hands and flipped her tail so she could see it, running her hands through the soft fur. She reached up and felt the ears upon her head.

 

Finally, Inuyasha and Kouga finished gawking at her and immediately went up to sniff at her.

 

“She's a half-demon!” Inuyasha announced.

 

“…And a dog!” Kouga added, looking shocked.

 

Kumiko took a deep breath. Fortunately, Kouga was there to catch her as she nearly fainted.

 

“Is she ok?” Kagome gasped.

 

“She's not used to her new senses…they were overwhelming her,” Kouga answered as he laid her down and placed her head in his lap.

 

“Perhaps we should take ye to the river so ye can see yourself and have some water” Kaede offered.

 

Kumiko nodded and Kouga gathered her into his arms. The entire entourage followed them to the river. Kouga let her down gently and she took small steps to the riverbank and peered in. Kumiko gasped, but a smile was on her face. Slowly, she touched all her new features.

 

“I look like Inuyasha!” she exclaimed quietly.

 

“Keh!”

 

Kumiko turned to face them and took another deep breath, but had to cover her nose quickly as a million scents assailed her at once. She sat down on a rock.

 

“This just keeps getting weirder and weirder” Kumiko stated.

 

“You can say that again!” responded Shippo.

 

“This must mean that there are demons and half-demons alive in Kagome's time” said Miroku.

 

“I've never seen any,” answered Kagome.

 

“I've never smelt any either” Inuyasha stated.

 

“Lady Kagome, did you know Kumiko's parents?” Miroku asked.

 

“No, we didn't really know each other that well until she came here.”

 

“It seems that if there are demons in Kagome's time, they all must have these concealment spells to disguise themselves” Miroku continued.

 

“I agree…Inuyasha and Kouga said Kumiko smelled like a normal human” said Sango.

 

Kumiko looked around the group, “Where is Kouga?”

 

 

After setting Kumiko down, Kouga quietly slipped off downstream. Kumiko's scent had changed now that she was half-demon. Not completely, her scent was still there, but no there was something else…a boldness. Something that Kouga could not get enough of. Being that close as he carried her to the river had nearly driven him insane. His demon blood was rushing and he had an overwhelming need to mate with her. He had wandered off to put some distance between them. He splashed water on his face and began to regain some control.

 

 

“He was just here a minute ago,” said Kagome and she looked over at Inuyasha for help.

 

Inuyasha shrugged, “I dunno…Kumiko should be able to find him” he said and smiled at Kagome, “do you remember his scent, Kumiko?”

 

“I think so” she responded and she began to sniff the air.

 

It took Kumiko a lot longer than it would take Inuyasha to sift through all the scents. She recognized each person's scent, beginning with Kagome, who was standing next to her. She, then, went to Shippo, Kirara, Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha and Kaede, unconsciously committing each of their scents to memory. Finally, she found Kouga's scent and it led off downstream. She followed the scent and Kagome started to follow after her, but Inuyasha held her back.

 

“She's going the right way…let her find him herself,” he said.

 

Kagome smiled back at him and they followed the others back toward the village.

 

Kumiko found Kouga sitting on a large, flat rock in the river. She sighed and leapt onto the rock, next to him.

 

“I found you all by myself” she said, touching her nose.

 

Kouga said nothing, but sighed and let out a low growl.

 

“What's the matter, Kouga…do you not like me anymore?”

 

“No, it's not that” Kouga said as he reached up and cupped her cheek, “I'm just ready to head home.”

 

“Ok, let me say goodbye and we can leave.”

 

“So, you learned how to track me down, did you?” Kouga said as they landed on the riverbank.

 

“Yep!”

 

“Good…why don't you try to find Kagome…where do you think they are now?”

 

“It's faint…they must be back at the village.”

 

“Wanna race me?” Kouga smirked.

 

“No jewel shards?” Kumiko smirked back.

 

“Fine by me!” he said and took off at normal speed.

 

Kumiko quickly caught up and passed him. Using her nose, she found Kaede's hut and beat him to it.