InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Goodbye To Romance ❯ Do The Zombie Stomp ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape, or form own Inuyasha, or the characters within. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Entertainment.
Goodbye to Romance is a song by Ozzy Osbourne, so I don't even own that.

Special thanks to InuGrrrl for letting me be lazy for this chapter and allowing the use of Suicide Rain. "Cold" is apparently performed by Crossfade.

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Toshi shook himself out of his shock at seeing Inuyasha's body. He ran over to the tree, intending to get Inuyasha down. Even if he was dead, Toshio figured Inuyasha deserved a decent burial. He swiped his claws at the tree, felling it in one hit. “Wow,” Toshi muttered in amazement, “he wasn't kidding when he said these have power.”

 

Inuyasha groaned as he landed with a thud. Toshio caught this faint sound and quickly removed the tree from the wound. `It doesn't look so bad without the tree in it.' Toshio thought idly. The wound wasn't even the size of his fist. He put his ear to Inuyasha's chest to be sure that the groan wasn't just a trick of his imagination, and he heard the best sound of his life; Inuyasha's heart was beating!

 

He quickly ripped some strips off Inuyasha's already torn fire rat haori, wrapping it tightly around Inuyasha's middle. “Hang in there, Inuyasha,” he said, “I'll find us some place safe!”

 

With great difficulty he lifted Inuyasha's upper half somewhat off the ground and dragged him in the direction where he thought he'd come across a cave the night before, while he was hiding. Toshi wondered if he'd ever forgive himself if Inuyasha ended up dying protecting him.

 

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The old priest walked into the middle of a barren battlefield. Just one day ago his new savior had revived him with his magic jewels. What a fool he'd been in his past life, devoting his time to a doomed village, when he could have been carrying out his master's work. A truly righteous task such as ridding the world of all demon kind would have helped that cursed town more than any stupid sacrifice to a second rate curse. So he decided to shed all remnants of his past. Except for one, the alias he had chosen for dealing with that last troublesome hanyou.

 

`Hikari,' he mused, `I like that. It certainly fits, after all as His disciple I'm bringing new light to mankind. Besides, if I'm to have an identity, I want it to be multiple choice!'

 

Ever since he'd been revived by his master, Hikari had been hearing voices directing him where to go and what to do. He felt so connected to the world, he could feel everything, new lives forming, old lives being taken away, the ripping agony of a deer as it was chased down by wolves. And he could hear the voices telling him that this bloodstained battleground was the place he was looking for.

 

Hikari knelt down and drew an ancient and unfamiliar symbol in the center of a huge dried pool of blood. He slit his own wrist, splashing the blood over the symbol he had just drawn, and recited the incantation that the voices had been directing him to for the past day.

 

His work done, Hikari stood, and waited for the show to begin. The wind suddenly picked up, kicking around so much dust Hikari couldn't see his hand in front of his face. Dark storm clouds suddenly loomed over head, and rain poured down, muddying the dirt beneath his feet. He watched as decomposed flesh started to dig its way out of the softened earth. Within minutes two armies had dug themselves out of their graves, awaiting his orders.

 

He gave an evil smile, and beckoned them to follow him, “well, then. Here we are now, entertain us.”

 

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Toshi worried over his guardian. As soon as he had gotten the wound in Inuyasha's middle bandaged, and slowed the bleeding, Inuyasha had started shaking and groaning, aggravating his injuries more.

 

`Are these the side effects those humans were talking about?' He wondered. He withdrew the pouch from his sleeve. Inuyasha had seemed so opposed to taking it, like he feared it would hurt him. Toshi didn't feel right forcing Inuyasha into taking something he was so obviously against taking, and he certainly didn't want to harm him anymore than he already was. But on the other hand, if Inuyasha didn't keep still, it wouldn't matter what Toshi did, Inuyasha would make himself bleed to death.

 

“No matter what I do, it's not good,” Toshi whispered. Deciding that Inuyasha couldn't forgive him if he was dead, Toshi forced the pouch's contents down his throat, praying Inuyasha would survive to be angry with him.

 

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Inuyasha found himself in a large room surrounded by screaming teenagers. He cringed from the sounds of their squeals of delight and the overpowering scent of their overactive hormones and pheromones.

 

“So, this is what Hell is like,” he muttered to himself, utterly convinced that guy who pinned him to a tree, again, had finished him off. “What the hell,” he suddenly broke off from his musing of his fate, “is that me?”

Dismissing them, the hanyou said, "This is it," as they took formation. Wearing signature black, he gripped his mic stand as the curtain rose, bringing his audience, and more importantly, Kagome into view. He stared into those indigo eyes and whispered, "I never meant to be so cold." On cue, the band started up and he began to sing.

Looking back at me I see that I
Never really got it right
I never stopped to think of you
I'm always wrapped up in things I cannot win
You are the antidote that gets me by
Somethin' strong like a drug that gets me
High..

“Wait, why am I singing?” He asked himself.

“Because you're so darn good at it!” A familiar voice to his left said.

Inuyasha looked to his left, seeing a familiar looking man in a red top hat and jacket. “You're not wearing purple this time,” he said. “So, am I getting another one of your `life altering and world changing' dreams?”

“Hey, now,” the man started, “what's with the sarcasm? You got what you were promised.”

Inuyasha shot the man a dirty look, and the stranger replied, “don't look at me like that. I didn't drug you. And just be grateful that I'm not showing you the reality where you're learning to play guitar.”

As soon as InuYasha's voice drifted across the audience, a frenzy began. Guys pumped their fists as women screamed and held up posters. But InuYasha didn't notice any of it. His golden gaze was locked on Kagome, the woman who had finally set his heart free.

What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold
Never meant to be so cold

“Keh, this is stupid. I wouldn't be caught dead making an ass out of myself like this. Especially for her. This is pointless, I want to wake up.”

The tour guide sighed and rolled his eyes. “You can't wake up. You're not physically ready for it yet.”

“Then what's the purpose of this? I get the other dream, it was a warning, but this is just useless and fucked up.” Inuyasha complained.

“It's a diversion, you idiot!” The tour guide spat out. “Tall, dark, and psycho reactivated the Lethe's Bramble. I'm keeping you under while your little sidekick works frantically to save your life. Nice job with him, by the way. You've forgotten something, though.”

“Oh, what's that?”

“Well, all your talk about always using your wonderful senses, and you haven't even bothered to smell that map you were given. It kind of smells like vinegar if you ask me.”

“And?” Inuyasha prompted him to finish.

“What are you asking me for? I'm just a dream.” The tour guide turned his attention to the stage. “Ooh, here's where it starts to get good!”

InuYasha tried hard to keep a straight face but failed miserably. In the end, he grinned as he sang, watching Kagome and Sango's excitement. Belting out the chorus, he pulled the mic between his legs and started grinding his hips against it, once again getting his koi's undivided attention.

"Kami-sama!" Kagome yelled, licking her lips.

Inuyasha made a disgusted face. “Okay, that's just gross!”

“Yes, you do seem a bit overeager.” The tour guide mused.

“That is not me!” Inuyasha protested.

“Well, just not the you you. It's a different you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You two share a number of things in common. For instance, you both share a name, genetically, you two are identical, you seem to hang out with the same crowd, and you both seem to be destined for that girl over there.” He explained, pointing to Kagome.

“Keh, there's no way I'm destined for that deceitful wench!” Inuyasha yelled, offended.

“Why must we scream at each other?” The tour guide asked, frustrated. “You know, I bet this is what it sounds like when doves cry.”

The hanyou began to walk off the stage toward Kagome, his eyes never once left hers and his heart beating a mile a minute. When he finally made it to her, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him. Holding the mic to one side, he continued to sing, his lips only inches from hers.

Kagome swayed, wrapping her arms around his neck as cameramen were practically on top of them, trying to get the best angle. "Those two can really create magic." Naraku observed, standing behind Kagura.

Jumping at the sound of his voice she replied, "Naraku-sama, I didn't know you were here." He winked and nodded as they continued to watch the performance.

The hanyou quickly kissed his lady before taking her hand and leading her on the stage with him. The crowd got louder as the couple made their return and when they reached centerstage, it was deafening. Flashbulbs went off one hundred at a time, committing the moment to film as the singer put on a show for the only person who mattered. Dropping to his knees, InuYasha looked up at Kagome as Sesshomaru joined him in the final chorus.

“Okay, now I know this shit ain't real.” Inuyasha scoffed.

“Why does that have to mean it's invalid?” The tour guide asked. “It's real for him. That's all this is, is us visiting a different reality while you recover from your latest ass kicking.”

As the song ended and the music died, the crowd grew silent, waiting to see what would happen next. "Kagome, I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry for everything I put you through. My whole world has always revolved around you. You're my sun and my earth, my moon and my stars, and, I love you. Now and forever." He kissed her hand and Kagome face grew wet with tears of joy.

Slipping to her knees beside him, she grabbed his mic and said, "I love you, too and there's nothing to forgive." The cheers drowned out whatever else she meant to say along with InuYasha's kiss.

“Aww, isn't that sweet?” The man in the hat cooed. “It always chokes me up.”

 

“Keh, it's mushy, sissy shit.” Inuyasha grumped.

 

“Hey, that's your alternate you you're insulting!” The tour guide replied, “if your world had been a little different, who knows? That could have actually been you up there.”

 

“Yeah, yeah. Now for the tenth time, is there a point to this?”

 

“My point is simply this, this reality's Kagome and Inuyasha went through tremendous difficulties; lies, betrayals, emotional baggage, extreme sports, double lives, schemes of revenge, but they got passed it. Much like you and your Kagome are going to have to.” The tour guide explained.

Tears misted the hanyou's eyes as he looked at her with as much love as he could express. "I love you, Kagome and I always will. Please, complete me by becoming my wife."

Kagome couldn't answer, as she was sobbing too hard. She nodded enthusiastically and InuYasha slipped the ring on her finger. Standing, he pressed his forehead to hers and their tears mingled as they shared the first kiss of their new lives, and before they knew it, they were surrounded by their friends in a group hug that made the whole venue yell, "AWWWW!"

"Well, there ya have it!" Kagura said to the crowd. "Two winners and a wedding!" Naraku took Kagura's mic and kissed her, catching her completely off guard.

"How about two winners and two weddings?" He asked.

Kagome and InuYasha stared at the judges in awe. "I think we started an epidemic!" He said, kissing her once more.

“Whatever she did to this me can't be anything to what she did to the real me.” Inuyasha insisted, “there's no getting over it. And why are we so buddy-buddy with Naraku and Kagura anyway?”

 

“Well I give up. Maybe someone else can talk some sense into you.”

 

Inuyasha was startled by a popping noise as the man beside him disappeared. The entire room went dark, except for the Inuyasha and Kagome on the stage. The Inuyasha on the stage looked at the Inuyasha in the audience with disdain. “You don't have a choice, jackass, it's fate. Now wake up and accept it!”

 

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Inuyasha bolted awake, grasping his wound. “AUUGH!”

 

He took a few deep breaths, and hissed in pain, before he was tackled by a flying child. “You're awake!” Toshi screamed in delight.

 

“Keh, if you think a small thing like being impaled by a tree will put an end to me, you don't know me very well.” Inuyasha brushed off the pain that being tackled caused. He looked around the cave, and noticed the pouch Sango had tried to give him. “You used the stuff I specifically said I wasn't going to touch?”

 

Toshi looked down at the ground and nodded, “I didn't know what else to do!” He protested, trying to explain. “I had no choice! You were-“

 

“It's okay, kid.” Inuyasha interrupted. “You somehow got me to shelter, and saved my life. I can't get mad at you for that.” Inuyasha observed the smaller Hanyou who looked dead on his feet. “Get some sleep, you've had a hard day. I need to rest to heal this wound a little better anyway.”

 

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Kagome and the others sat around Kaede's hut, discussing the news Kikyo had brought. Kaede and Kagome had decided that it was probably safe to stop Kouga's sedation and let him participate in shard hunts again, so they were waiting for the herbs to wear off.

 

A small bloodsucker made his presence known on Kagome's neck. Kagome, feeling the irritation, promptly swatted Myoga flat. She lifted him into the palm of her hand, “Myoga! Have you been able to find anything out?”

 

“Yes, and it's nothing good, I'm afraid.”

 

“Now, it can't be that bad,” Miroku broke in, “after all, you haven't gone into hiding!”

 

“I resent that implication!” The flea said indignantly.

 

“I didn't imply a thing,” the monk pointed out.

 

“Besides, it doesn't matter where I run, nowhere is safe.” Myoga grumbled. “I decided that I might help you guys out, since I've recently become unemployed. But if I'm going to be treated with such disrespect, I'll just leave!”

 

“No, Myoga. Miroku's sorry. Right monk?” Sango said threateningly.

 

“Of course my dear Sango. I was merely having a little fun at Myoga's expense, much like Inuyasha used to.”

 

“So, what have you found out?” Kagome asked again.

 

“Well,” Myoga took a seat on Kagome's shoulder, “since we've last spoken, the water in Lake Saiko has started to boil, in three neighbouring villages that I know of, babies are being born with their eyes facing inside their skulls, and cats all over Japan have started giving birth to snakes.”

 

“That's disgusting,” Kagome made a face.

 

“That's not the half of it,” Kikyo said. “All of these occurrences aren't supposed to happen until the apocalypse.”

 

“You mean the end of the world?” Kagome asked. “But that can't be right, the world still exists five hundred years from now!”

 

“Well, that is an encouraging thought,” Kikyo replied, before grabbing her chest and collapsing on the floor.

 

“Sister! What's wrong?” Kaede asked, panicking.

 

“He's gotten through, little sister. That demon I told you about has finally succeeded in punching a hole through the barrier between life and death. He's coming, reality will bleed, and there's nothing we can do to stop it!”