InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ghostly Ambition ❯ Bothersome Recollection ( Chapter 2 )

Saimyoushou means "most fierce victory" and refer to Naraku's large poisonous wasp-like insects.

Youki means "magical/bewitching power" and in Inu-Yasha refers to the inherent energy/power that Youkai/demons possess.

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Chapter Two: Bothersome Recollection

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The wind rushes past, mingling silver and black hair as InuYasha alternately runs and leaps southward with Kagome and Shippo perched on his back, trying to reach the distant village where the Monk and Taijiya await them before nightfall.

Kagome closes her eyes against the bright afternoon sunlight, burying her face against his warm and solid back, relaxing trustingly in his firm grip, feeling safe. Shippo twitches restlessly under her arm and she smiles, concentrating on the `now' and trying to forget--

----Blood, hot and wet…the sickly sweet smell…----

She jerks her head up and her breath hitches in her throat, blinking rapidly to rid herself of the image. Her hands tighten in the material on InuYasha's shoulders and he turns his head to ask without stopping, "Are you alright?"

Shippo watches the shadows flitting in her eyes and frowns. "Kagome?"

She blinks again and says automatically, "I'm fine…" She meets the kitsune's curious gaze and looks away. `I keep saying that,' she sighs and glances back, seeing the concern on his innocent face. Guilt hits her, knowing that she is the cause, `He's too young to have to worry about me on top of everything else.' She forces a tiny smile for him in spite of the sick churning she feels deep inside and fills her lungs with the clean air, hoping it will pass.

Kagome turns her attention towards their surroundings of scattered trees and random hillocks colored in all shades of green imaginable but the hanyou is moving too swiftly to take in all the details as they pass. Large patches of wildflowers pepper the landscape; their brilliant hues blending together and disguising individual features as if seen through a rain blurred window. The colors darken as she watches, the light fading and taking on a greenish hue, much like…

----The huge underground cavern is lit by the bilious green glow of the youkai eggs piled in the center, their vile light illuminating the hacked up corpses of the two giant worms…The appearance of the second, turning towards Sango and rearing up its eyeless head----

Kagome blinks hard and the sunny day comes back into focus. `Why would I think of that now?' She is careful to hold still and keep her face calm, not wanting to be the cause of more worry just because her mind is playing tricks on her and gives her self a mental pep-talk. `Quit being silly, those things are dead…Miroku-"

At the thought of the Monk, another picture fills her mind's eye. ---The rippling side of the worm bursting from within, spilling the gasping man onto the cavern floor…watching from above as Miroku uses his Kazaana to clear the cavern of the youkai corpses and eggs, the wind filling the cavern and rushing into the hole that pierces his right hand…Sango hugging the sodden Monk--- Hot anger suddenly washes through her and Kagome tenses in confusion. `Huh?'

InuYasha, acutely aware of the girl on his back, has had enough and comes to a stop under a tree. He stoops, releasing her legs and allowing her and Shippo to slide off before turning to grab her shoulders and looking at her hard, measuring the strain on her face. "All right, tell me what's wrong or we go back to Kaede's."

`Go back?' Her eyebrows raise and she turns her head away, `As badly as he wants to find Naraku…he'd do that?' She takes a deep breath and returns his look, her reply coming automatically, "I'm fi-"

"Bullshit!"

Her eyes widen at the barked out word accompanying his fierce expression and she closes her mouth, unsure of what to say.

Shippo steps in-between the two towering over him and hollers, "Don't you yell at her InuYasha!" In spite of the ludicrous difference in size of the kitsune compared to the hanyou he is challenging, his tiny fists rise up. "She's been through enough without-"

"Don't you think I know that, you little runt!" InuYasha glares angrily down at the equally angry Shippo and uses his foot to push him aside. The kitsune rolls with a squeak head over heels, disappearing into a bush several feet away.

Kagome gasps and frowns in outrage, "InuYasha! What did you do tha-"

He gives her a little shake and yanks her close, wrapping his arms around her where she can feel his heart pounding. She stares at the waving branches of the tree overhead and swallows, the leaves beginning to blur through the tears she'd been holding back for a while now.

"I'm sorry..."

His words whisper across her ear and the tears overflow, running down her cheeks and she hides her face against his shoulder, shaking her head `no', "It's not your fault." Her hands twist in his haori, jerking in emphasis, "It's not!"

"Oi Inu-!" Shippo emerges from the bush and stops, his face flushing red at seeing how close the two are.

Kagome hears and takes a step back, wiping her eyes and feeling a little better while InuYasha turns his head to the side, not looking at either one. He crosses his arms and says softly, addressing the air over her shoulder, "Don't say your `fine' again." He meets her eyes for only a second, "You don't have to lie to me." She opens her mouth but another warning glance from him closes it again. "Understand?"

She bites her lip and blinks back more tears while his expression remains steadfast. She finally nods and he sighs, asking, "What do you want to do?"

Shippo's eyes are wide at this mystifying exchange, looking from one to the other, finally resting on Kagome as they both await her answer.

She bows her head, her emotions calming and she rests a hand on the tiny bottle hanging by a string around her neck and hidden under her clothes, "I want to go on." She looks up and her eyes open wide. InuYasha had noticed the change in the air at the same moment, grabbing her around the waist and leaping forward to snag Shippo by the tail, quickly evading the tempest of curved blades that blast into the ground where they had just been standing.

He sets them down and smoothly draws Tessaiga as he spins to face the woman floating effortlessly above on a giant feather surrounded by swarming Saimyoushou. Her contemptuous smirk fades a bit as the sword transforms from rusty blade to lethal fang and her pupil-less red eyes narrow.

"Damn you Kagura! What are you fucking doing here?!" InuYasha takes a step forward, swinging Tessaiga threateningly.

"Ho…" her smirk is back, "Pretty good moves you got there."

"Keh! You want to see some more?" His eyes glint dangerously and he bares his fangs, beginning to relish the thought of a little action.

Kagura gives a little chuckle, glancing around with an arched brow, "What happened to the Hoshi and Taijiya…get eaten by something that didn't agree with them?" She feels a little curiosity at the way the girl is dressed, looking a lot like that damned, walking dead woman.

He frowns and feels suspicious anger build, "What is that supposed to mean, Bitch?!"

Kagome has readied her bow and is in the process of drawing an arrow when she hears this, and a few things click; hindsight is ever so clear. "I thought it was odd that both those Worms had two Shards each!" She pulls back on the bow, aiming at the haughty wind-user.

----Kagura brandishing her fan and flinging rapid wind-blades at Kouga…the fan again, waved more gently this time and the grisly dead of the wolf-pack arise to attack at her bidding…Kagura standing in a vortex of youki driven wind, controlling it and preventing InuYasha from using Tessaiga's Kaze no Kizu until her power is broken by virtue of a Purity Arrow…Kagura's scheming demeanor, tapping her fan against her chin and backed by hoards of youkai----

Kagome blinks and lowers her bow, `W-what was that?'

InuYasha is focused on the woman still aloft on her feather raft and doesn't notice Kagome's distraction. He growls, "Is that true; those monsters were sent by Naraku?!"

---Naraku--- Kagome goes blind to the world again, her bow dropping from lax fingers. ----InuYasha facing off with a man hidden under a white baboon pelt and snarling angrily, "Kagome, how many shards does this Bastard have?!"…Coldly aristocratic features with red eyes…Naraku holding an untransformed Tessaiga and smiling evilly over a defeated Sango who is wounded by her own little brother…Naraku boldly confident behind his barrier, tauntingly out of reach… Naraku standing smugly, the large fused fragment of the Shikon no Tama glowing darkly in his hand with Kagura and the pale Kanna on either side of him ---- Kanna…expressionless black eyes in an innocent face…Kanna standing calmly as her mirror deflects Hiraikotsu back at a surprised Sango…the glowing mirror absorbing souls…the mirror held in delicate hands reflecting Tessaiga's Kaze no Kizu back at InuYasha----

Shippo dodges the bow as it hits the ground and looks up at the girl with the blank expression. `What's going on?'

The memories continue to assail her in rapid succession. ----Tessaiga, a rusty blade embedded in a low platform inside the skeletal remains of…Tessaiga transformed…the huge fang swings leaving destruction in it's wake…Kaze no Kizu; the violent energies slicing outwards and pulverizing…Bakuryuuha; enveloping and twisting around another's attack, turning it back on the originator in an irresistible onslaught that shreds…Tessaiga glowing red, shattering Naraku's barrier much to his dismay----

InuYasha hears the clatter behind him and glances back, `What the…?' He faces Kagura again, not daring to turn his back on her or show his inner concern, 'Kagome…damnit…' He sees the wind user shrug in response to his question.

Kagura slants a look at the hovering insects, feeling disgust at their perpetual spying and wishing she could get away with smashing them, once and for all. `Huh…He didn't tell me I couldn't talk.' Her frown deepens, `I have at least that small freedom.' Her attention turns back to the challenging hanyou, `And maybe I can fan the flames a bit more in my favor.' She smiles derisively, "You figured it out!" She watches him fume and twists the knife a bit, "Why so angry InuYasha…loose something down a slimy gullet?"

His eyes narrow and he returns her volley, "Not hardly…they were too wimpy by far!"

`That's why we couldn't find them…' she snaps her fan shut and tilts her head coyly, "Hmm…Well, I guess I can assume that you have their Shards?" The girl's silent stillness finally catches her eye, disabusing her previous conclusion of clumsiness over the dropped bow, `Something else is going on here…'

"Damn straight we do! What are you gonna do about it?!"

Kagura looks back at him, pondering the situation, `They know now…it's enough,' and decides to back off, "Nothing." Her tone is full of boredom as the feather-raft swings about, "It's no longer my concern." She flicks open the fan and casually waves it, sending a short volley of wind-blades down to cover her retreat; not really even aiming. She wonders about the girl's blank look, `Maybe I'll stick around…see what's up.' The drone of the insects following her suddenly revives her loathing and she makes the feather speed up, `and maybe not. I'm not going out of my way to help Him!'

Shippo snatches the discarded bow and leaps to the side while InuYasha grabs Kagome to whisk her out of harm's way again, snapping her out of her transfixion. She feels disoriented as he sets her on her feet and she clutches at his arm until the world steadies around her.

InuYasha watches Kagura and her buzzing escorts leave before turning to Kagome, "What just happened?"

She almost denies that anything is wrong before his concerned look reminds her of what she promised only a moment ago and she sighs. "I…I've been remembering things…"

He frowns, `How can that…?' He watches the confusion flicker across her face, "You mean about this morning?"

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head looking alarmed, "No!" Just the thought of this morning sends a thrill of nameless panic through her and she draws a steadying breath, looking to the side, "Just…memories."

He's trying to understand but it doesn't make sense, "If it's just memories, then why did you drop your bow?"

Surprise hits her and she looks at her empty hands then down at Shippo, holding said bow, who has been waiting silently. "I…didn't realize…"

InuYasha is staring hard at her, his concern evident, "I think we should go back to Kaede's."

She straightens her shoulders and shakes her head determinedly. "No, I-" His eyes narrowing at her stops her and she sighs, saying more calmly, "I feel alright." She shrugs out of his hold and accepts the bow back, shouldering it before finishing, "I meant what I said; I want to go on. Besides…you need me. You can't find the shards without me."

He frowns at her, tensing his jaw in frustration. Finally he releases his pent-up breath, "Fine." Stepping closer he looks her dead in the eye, "But you stay out of any fight, you got that?" She opens her mouth and he cuts her off, "If you freeze like that again - you'll be a sitting target!"

Speechless again, Kagome looks away and nods. She feels Shippo hop onto her shoulder and she turns her head to look at him. She reaches up to pat his hair comfortingly, hating the anxious look in his eyes. Kagome's voice is soft, "We should go, Sango and Miroku are waiting."

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"Arigato Gosaimasu Taijiya-san, Houshi-sama," the small group of village elders bow as one, their earnest gratitude almost embarrassing to witness. The gathered families crowding behind follow their example, the youngest children fidgeting under their parents' watchful eyes.

Sango bows back, smiling and holding Hiraikotsu with one hand to keep it from shifting while Miroku merely nods his head impassively, accepting his due. The tiny Kirara sits quietly at her mistress' feet, her twin tails wrapped primly around her paws.

The designated speaker for the village clears his throat, "Is there anything we can do-?"

Sango is quick to head off the opportunistic Monk, "Thank you, but no. We do not require anything from you." She slants an intimidating look at her companion that he can't ignore before facing the grizzled speaker again. His clothing is threadbare and not much better than what his fellow villagers are wearing and she takes in the overall poverty of the surrounding buildings. The slanting late afternoon sunlight brings into stark relief the rough planking and every flaw of their construction, reinforcing her decision to refuse payment. "That your children will not suffer for lack of food this winter is enough for us." She surreptitiously elbows the Monk.

Miroku sighs imperceptibly, his eyes almost closed in pious humbleness, "Yes, one should not accept accolades for doing one's duty." His voice drops and he mutters out of the side of his mouth for her ears only, "…although a bed for the night under a roof would have been nice."

She continues to smile and turns her head slightly to mutter back, "And put some poor family out of their home as meanly as they live…bite your tongue."

His whispered response gives her a jolt, "…after you…" She clenches her fist, glancing at the lascivious glint in his eye and promising silently to whack him good as soon as they leave. With a deep breath to calm herself, she bows once more to smile their good-byes, grabs the Monk's arm and drags him off. Kirara blinks her wide eyes and gambols after them.

He is still sporting a nice lump on his head and keeping his distance from the fuming young woman when the others arrive at their small camp just out of sight of the modest cluster that barely classifies as a village. The fire flickers merrily in the fading light of early evening, creating a visible barrier to accompany the invisible one created by the tension between the two. The arrival of InuYasha, Kagome and Shippo is a welcome distraction.

Sango and Miroku stand but their smiles of welcome fade when they are not returned. Glancing at each other, they are equally confused at the somber looks on their friends' faces and at the way Kagome is dressed.

"Kagome-chan…what happened to your clothes?" Sango steps forward, intending on helping the girl remove the obviously heavy backpack.

Kagome looks at her. ---A smiling Sango with a flower fixed over her ear and blushing prettily…Sango flushed from weapons practice and standing proudly…Sango looking dreamily up at the stars and washed in moonlight-- She flinches away from her friend and away from the strong feeling of possessiveness that surges through her.

Kagome swallows and places a hand over her rapidly beating heart. `What is this…?' She averts her eyes in shame, knowing that her face is turning red, and wills herself to calm down. "I…" she tries to remember the question, "…had an accident," and rolls her eyes at her own lameness, shrugging the heavy pack off her shoulders and letting it hit the ground with a thud.

InuYasha catches Sango's eye and shakes his head with a frown while reaching up and plucking the kitsune from his perch on his shoulder to drop him as unceremoniously as the pack. He then assumes an impassive look. "Come on, Miroku," he grabs the perplexed Monk before he can say anything and spins him around to pull him along, "Let's go get some more firewood before it's too dark."

Shippo sits up with a dirty look at his retreating antagonist, rubbing his backside and brushing dirt from his clothes while his tail twitches furiously. Kirara skips over and licks him on the cheek, blinking her red eyes with a `chirrup' of welcome.

Miroku frowns at the hanyou's odd behavior, unable to yank his arm from the clawed grasp, `Why do I keep getting dragged around?' He looks back at their female companions still standing by the fire looking awkward and tries to resist, "InuYasha, what-ah!" He swings his head back in shock and manages to remove his abused arm, rubbing at the sore spot.

InuYasha glares fiercely at him to silence him and growls low, "We need to talk." He jerks his head toward the trees and walks off, trusting the Monk to follow him.

His curiosity piqued, he follows his agitated, dog-eared friend.

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