InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Go Home Kagome ❯ Beginnings & Poultry ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14:

Beginnings & Poultry

 

Maybe 65 years before Inuyasha ever knew the name Kikyo:

 

Inuyasha slunk along the wood fence. This was a fishing village and the salty air reeked of rotting fish and eel. Inuyasha tried to avoid humans; they were mortal and a continuous reminder to him of his failures as a youki. But his stomach was empty and two days had passes since his last meager meal.

 

His ears perked at the sound of agitated clucking. Chickens, this little side trip just became interesting. He hoisted himself over the fence and saw the coop. It was open and the skinny, stringy birds meandered around the yard scratching and picking at the ground. The yard was deserted. He sniffed the air. Damn humans are everywhere. The scent is so strong it's hard to tell how close they are. No matter, his lips parted in a vulpine smile, I'm as fast as the wind when I wanna be.

 

Inuyasha leapt off the fence landing soundlessly on the ground. He raced towards the coop with one clawed hand extended. His hand wrapped around the silly bird's neck before it realized he was even there. Inuyasha spun around and flew back to the fence. His ear turned and caught the noise of a single footstep.

 

“Boy. Why are you stealing our chicken?”

 

If ya know what's good for ya, then you'll keep moving. Don't turn around. She's a stinking, fucking, dirty…Human.

 

It was too late. He was frozen in front of a girl. One strike of his claws would end her fragile life but she stood there, hands on hips angry that he was stealing her family's pitiful excuse for a bird. She has no fear of me? But surely she's sees what I am.

 

He frowned and growled, “This bird is half dead. You have maybe ten more. You won't be missing it.”

 

She cut her eyes at him and threw her head back. “This coop belongs to three families. Times are hard here too, every stupid bird counts. Release it.”

 

Inuyasha gave a half grin purposely showing her the white tip of a fang. “Why don't you come here and make me.”

 

She sighed and studied the youth's thin face. “It's too early in the morning for that kind of conflict. Why don't you give me the bird back and I'll bring you some breakfast.”

 

His hand tightened impulsively around the bird's neck and it began to struggle, flogging it's self against his body. “I'm a youki not an idiot. How bout I keep this bird, you leave and I don't hurt you?” Inuyasha raised his hand and flexed his fingers showing her his claws.

 

The girl looked him straight in his golden eyes and walked right up to him. Her dark eyes were filled with an intensity he'd never seen in a mortal. He was intrigued and stupid. She cupped her hands around the bird's flailing body. Inuyasha stood there as the willow of a girl gently pulled his first meal in two days from his hand.

 

“See?” She smiled at him and he watched her face come alive with the movement of her lips. “Nothing doing, how about that breakfast I promised you.”

 

Inuyasha was pissed. How dare she?! He turned to climb the fence and find some other meal. “Aren't you hungry? Wait here and I'll be back with food.”

 

His brows went up. “You'll be back… with samurai.”

 

She smiled again, “No silly now stay put.” Then she turned and left.

 

Inuyasha hid behind the fence. He'd meant to leave but couldn't. He wanted to see if she'd come back. And she did with a meal of rice, dumplings and sticks of fried eel. He took the food from her and shamed himself by eating till his belly damn near burst. When he was done his back slid down the fence and his butt hit the ground. He lay there with his feet out and his hand on his belly.

 

The strange girl knelt beside him. She lifted her hand and touched one of his ears. The last woman to do that had been his mother. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed and he ducked his head.

 

“Don't.”

 

“Why not?” She reached out to do it again. “You've lovely ears and hair.”

 

“Are you crazy?”

 

“One could ask you the same question. You were trying to take the world's oldest rooster. He would have made a terrible meal.”

 

Inuyasha knocked her hand away. “I'm a hanyou. A filthy half breed and you will be punished for helping me.”

 

She bit her bottom lip and sat beside him. “I'm a bit of a half breed myself.”

His head swiveled around to her and he took a cautious sniff. “No you're not you deceitful Baka!”

 

She pulled her hair back from her face. “I'm not half youki like you but my father is our lord and my mother his low mistress. I'm shamefully illegitimate and a social pariah. Why do you think no one has missed me? I am invisible to them.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, he could identify with that then it occurred to him. She is an outcast and yet she defended the property of those who scorn her? He watched her from under his lashes and then heard himself comment.

 

“You're a good cook.”

 

“Thank you. Do you live near by? I've never seen you before?”

 

He scratched his ears and yawned. “I'm passing through at the moment.”

 

“If you are still here tomorrow, then meet me in the woods tomorrow by the old stone Buddha at sunrise. I'll bring you some more food.”

 

This was an appealing proposition. He nodded. She asked, “What is your name?”

 

He frowned than glanced at the empty rice bowl. “Inuyasha.”

 

“It suites you, I'm Aiko.”

 

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

 

Inuyasha met Aiko under the sacred statue of Buddha the next morning and every day after that. He had no reason to stay near the village but every time he decided to leave, he couldn't. He kept telling himself it was because of the food but he knew better. One moonless night Aiko surprised him at the statue and learned his deepest secret and darkest shame.

 

Inuyasha leaned against the base of the statue. Tonight he was human and he hated ever second of it. He was keeping watch for anything that might want a piece of him. A noise startled him and he jumped to his feet prepared to run when Aiko stepped out of the woods. His heart fell from his throat back to its proper place.

“Inuyasha? Is that you?” She'd seen him but wasn't sure. He looked different.

 

“Nope,” he called out. “Never heard of the guy.”

 

“Now I know it's you! Why are you hiding?”

 

“I'm not hiding.”

 

“Yes you are.” She circled the Buddha but he was careful to stay just out of her line of vision.

 

Aiko doubled backed on him and he was so worried about his mortal condition he didn't realize what she'd done and ran smack into her.

 

Her mouth fell open at the sight of him. She touched his dark hair. “Inuyasha, you're human?”

 

He ground his teeth, crossed his arms turning away. “Yeah, it's the new moon, it does that to me.”

 

He heard Aiko mutter something about `that time of the month' and then she said, “Yeah the moon cycles aren't my friend either.”

 

He stood in silence.

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

“What?”

 

“Can I…stay with you tonight?”

 

He studied her face. “Will you keep what you've seen to yourself?”

 

She nodded.

“Okay I guess so.”

 

“Thanks.” Aiko leaned in and put her head on his shoulder.

 

Inuyasha frowned. I'm going soft. Then he pressed his hand to her cheek and after that being strong didn't seem to matter as much.