InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hanyou's Heart ❯ Walking the Dog ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Chevalier Mal Fet 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.08.2015 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 375 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.08.2015 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 375 | Status: Work In Progress
This was always
a favorite chapter…even though I know it upset a few
people…
Disclaimer: I don’t own
Inuyasha; this is a work of
fanfiction
Chapter Three: Walking the Dog Episode One: Demon Lord Kagome had awoken in the night to a disturbing quiet. She had, perhaps foolishly, made her way towards the sacred tree, where she would find Inuyasha sleeping. She could not shake the strange feeling that something was wrong and hoped that the hanyou could still her uneasiness. But when she arrived at the tree, the hanyou was nowhere to be found. Kagome soon found herself at the well. She stared down into its dark depths. Perhaps she had been wrong to come to this time. She had so far been no help in finding the jewel, as their ventures out from the village turned up no hint of its whereabouts. She should probably just go home, at least until they found a more solid lead. No. She could not think such things. If she let her mind continue on this track, then she would find herself giving up on the quest altogether. With a sigh, Kagome turned and began the trek back to the village. She was back at the sacred tree when she spotted the silver-haired hanyou before her. She took a step forward before she realized that something was wrong. "Inuyasha?" The figure before her gave no response. He did not seem to even notice her. He merely stared up into the tree, as if searching for something that should have been there. After a few moments more, the hanyou gave a small sound of dissatisfaction. He finally turned to her, and Kagome quickly realized her mistake. This was NOT Inuyasha. Although the man before her was almost Inuyasha’s double, he held himself more regally. His face was a cool mask of elegance. His narrow gaze seemed to hold Kagome in place. When he finally spoke, it was in the rich, refined voice of an aristocrat. "You, where is that worthless half-breed? Where is Inuyasha?" Kagome found her voice, small as it seemed before such a demanding presence, and was about to answer that she didn't know where Inuyasha was, when a familiar voice shouted behind her. "Sesshoumaru! What the hell are you doing here!" The man gave a cold smile, turning to face the newly appeared Inuyasha. "Ah, Inuyasha, just the filthy half-breed that I wanted to see." The hanyou gave a deep growl, now standing before Kagome protectively. "Well I don't want to see you, you stupid bastard, so get lost!" "You don't seem to understand, dear brother. I've come here on family business. You have something I want, and you will give it to me." Kagome gasped behind Inuyasha. Brother! That man was Inuyasha brother? Well, it made sense. They looked too alike for it to be mere coincidence, but they looked to be almost the same age. Inuyasha was definitely the younger, as his face at times held an almost boyish look, not to mention the hanyou's immature personality. With their strange stagnated aging, how many years actually stood between them? "Family, feh! There is no family…just me and my damned youkai half-brother. I don't have anything anyways, so you're wasting your precious time. You should go back to your damned castle and leave me alone. This is MY territory, Sesshoumaru!" Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "You should not speak so to your lord, Inuyasha. You may think you are above my will, but I have yet to forgive you for killing my servant the last time we met." Inuyasha snorted. "Feh! You mean that little toad? He deserved to die. He earned it, waving that fire-staff around like that. You didn't seem to care at the time, though. You were happy to be rid of the little pest." "Oh, and it wasn't because he insulted the memory of your whore that you killed him?" Inuyasha growled menacingly, but Sesshoumaru seemed not to notice. "Or was it simply that your pride was hurt by the fact that she betrayed you? I have better things to do than to argue with you about your lack in taste in women." He gave a pointed look at the girl standing behind Inuyasha, before continuing. "I am here for father's tomb. You know where it is. You have the key." "I don't know what you're talking about you stupid bastard, and I'm not gonna listen to you insulting me any longer. Get lost or I'll help you!" With this, Inuyasha lunged forward, intent on his enemy before him. A short shout of surprise signaled the end of the hanyou's attack. Sesshoumaru had moved too fast to follow, and now held his younger brother by his throat. "You may not be the weakling you once were, but you still need to learn proper respect for your superiors. Now, dear brother, I believe that you have something I need. That flee better not have lied to me. I will not let him live next time, if he did." He raised he hand high and brought two fingers swiftly into the hanyou's eye. A scream of pain escaped the hanyou, as Sesshoumaru pulled a black orb from his bloody eye. "Ah, finally, I have found it." He carelessly tossed the stricken hanyou to the ground and turned away. The youkai released his own aura into the bead, and a portal opened up before him. "Tetsusaiga…I have finally found you." Kagome ran to kneel beside Inuyasha as the youkai disappeared into the portal. "Are you all right, Inuyasha?" The hanyou gave a grunt before standing. He held a hand up to his bleeding eye. "Feh. That bastard…I'm gonna kill him for this." He began to walk towards the open portal before Kagome's hand on his arm stopped him. He turned back to her. "What is going on Inuyasha? That is your brother? What is that portal?" Inuyasha sighed. "I'll tell you later, Kagome. Just go back to the village. It won't be safe where I'm going." "No! I'm going with you!" Inuyasha started to tell her that she wasn't, but he saw the determination in her face. There would be no convincing her otherwise. He sighed again. "Fine. Come on, Kagome. I have a bastard brother to kill." They stepped through the portal. Episode Two: Demon Fang Kagome was amazed at the sight that awaited beyond the portal. A massive skeleton rose before them. THIS was Inuyasha’s father? It was huge! She had little time to marvel, however, as they descended into the darkness of the remains, landing with a resounding crash. There was a dim light here, and she could make out the lithe form of Sesshoumaru. The Youkai regarded the arrivals with no evident surprise. In fact, he seemed to hold no emotion within him whatsoever, save the slight disdain he held for his brother. Inuyasha, however, was overflowing with emotion. Kagome could virtually feel them radiating from him. Anger was the most obvious, but there was always a grain of pain in his bearing, a pain that seemed to fuel his fury. Aside from the two demons, there was not much worth noticing. But a glint from the other side of the room caught Kagome's eye. A battered sword was embedded, blade first, in a small pedestal. The youkai caught her gaze and smiled. "The Tetsusaiga…forged from my father's fang. It is a sword of immeasurable strength. It was to be my prize." "Was? So what happened…couldn't you pull it out, you pathetic bastard? I never thought you were that weak, Sesshoumaru. So that is Tetsusaiga. Feh, Myouga didn't tell me that it was such a piece of crap. But it'll still be a pleasure to use it to cut your heart out." Inuyasha leapt to the sword, and Sesshoumaru did nothing to stop him. He simply watched, slightly curious. Inuyasha tried to pull the blade out with obvious effort, but he could not. A bit out of breath, the hanyou turned to his brother. "Feh! I don't need a damned sword anyways! I'm gonna rip your heart out with my own claws!" Again the hanyou launched himself at his brother. Sesshoumaru dodged aside, but Inuyasha had been prepared for that. The hanyou immediately followed and struck the surprised youkai upon the head. Inuyasha was forced back as his elder brother's claws came about, flashing in the dim light. A trickle of blood ran down the youkai's delicate face now, staining his immaculate hair. Sesshoumaru growled, for the first time exhibiting any real anger. His eyes burned with his fury now. "I will never let you live now, Inuyasha. How dare you, a worthless hanyou, strike me! You are dead now…you simply wait to be delivered from your bonds." "Spare me your pathetic threats, bastard…I'm not the weak child I was the last time we fought. These are your last moments. Prepare to meet our father. Tell him that his sword is a piece of shit." The two furious brothers rushed together, exchanging vicious blows. Blood spattered the walls generously. When the two came apart, they did so slowly, each panting heavily. Blood stained their clothes in numerous places, but it seemed as if Sesshoumaru had gotten the worst of the fight. His left arm hung limply, obviously shattered by one of the hanyou's fearsome blows, and his chest bore several deep gashes that bled freely. The hanyou wasn't much better, but he was smiling. "You see now, Sesshoumaru. You surprised me before, that was all. I am stronger than you, now. And now it is time for you to go to hell!" Inuyasha flashed across the room, faster than Kagome believed possible. He moved too quickly for even Sesshoumaru to react. There was a sickeningly wet tearing. The youkai's eyes opened wide in surprise. He looked down at the arm that was sunk in his breast. Thick, dark blood rushed from the gaping wound as the smirking hanyou withdrew his hand. Kagome gasped, nearly retching. The hanyou smiled darkly, holding up the bloody heart for the youkai to see. Sesshoumaru fell to his knees, staring blankly at his brother's face. The smile on it was of evil cruelty. The hanyou was actually taking pleasure from his death. His brother had truly changed in the last 50 years. He had been such a weakling before, it was almost sickening to think what could have done this… Sesshoumaru collapse in a heap at Inuyasha’s feet. The hanyou let the heart fall, and it landed with a wet smack next to the dead youkai. His expression turned sad for a moment, but he wiped it away before he turned back to Kagome. Her face wore a horrified expression, and she backed away from him wordlessly as he approached her. Inuyasha stopped. He made his voice as peaceful as he could with the emotions churning within him. He tried to calm his face, but didn't know how well he succeeded. "Kagome…don't worry…I won't harm you. Sesshoumaru…was a bad person. He would have killed me…and you, if I had not killed him first. Please, don't look at me that way. I am not a monster!" Kagome was surprised at the intensity of his declaration. It was as if he were trying to convince himself as well. The pain was back in his eyes again. It had never really left, but now it was so strong…he wasn't even trying to hide it. Kagome slowly regained control of her fear. "I…I know you're not a monster, Inuyasha…but you scared me just now. I don't want to be here any more. Let's get out of this tomb." Inuyasha nodded, uncaring of the fang embedded behind him. He didn't need it anyways. He was strong…too strong. The hanyou gently held the girl to him and leapt from the tomb. He was careful not to startle her, but he could feel her shaking in his grip. She was still afraid of him. He did not know why that made him sad…but it did. Episode Three: Darkened Soul Inuyasha stared down at his blood-blackened hand. He had not washed himself yet. The smell of his brother's blood was thick about him. It was making him sick, his stomach twisting painfully. The hanyou could not help the self-loathing that overcame him. He had been enraged when he had fought Sesshoumaru. His mind had been afire with a fury that he had never felt before. He had relished the beating he had given the aristocratic youkai, had even enjoyed tearing out his heart…but then his rage had receded. The last look his brother had given him had been half sad, almost a look of pity. Inuyasha’s own remorse had resurfaced as his brother died. All of his anger evaporated and he was left empty, only to be filled with the shame of his own brutal murder. He told himself that the bastard had had it coming…that the youkai would not have hesitated to return the favor, but it did nothing to dam the flood of guilt. There had been a time when he would not have killed Sesshoumaru. There had been a time when he would have let him flee, but he was no longer that person…and he mourned for his own death. It was not a thing he could undo…he could not find the person he had once been. He had been afraid of himself at that moment, afraid of what he was capable of. But the strangest thought that had entered his mind was fear for the girl. Why she had even been in his mind at such a time was beyond him. He had no clue as to why she would have flashed so brightly in his troubled consciousness. Somehow, he found it very disturbing, more disturbing than his own fears. Inuyasha finally tore his eyes from his bloodied hand. The forest was still dark and quiet, but the sun would rise soon enough. He could not afford to show weakness to others. They would only exploit it. The hanyou got up and walked towards the stream he knew to be nearby. He would never forget his crime, but at least he would not be reminded constantly by the stench radiating from his body. Inuyasha descended into the dark, icy waters. He was chilled by more than the water about him. Ice gripped his soul, and he did not think that it would ever thaw. Episode Four: Beyond Loyalty Kagome shivered in the cool of the night. Though she was inside Kaede's hut, it seemed no warmer. Of course, it might just have been the memories of the last few hours that made her shiver. Seeing such a horrifying spectacle would be good reason to feel ill. Kagome could not forget the image of Inuyasha holding Sesshoumaru’s bloody heart in his claws, his eyes gleaming with cruelty. That was simply an image that was hard to forget. She had been terrified of the hanyou when he had approached her. He was covered in blood, his own as well as his brother's. Her fears had faded when she had seen his face though. He had been trying to soothe her, she knew that, but his face also showed his remorse. Inuyasha was not a bad person…He was a person with more pain in his eyes than she had ever seen. He had killed Sesshoumaru, and perhaps the youkai had deserved it, but the hanyou was punishing himself internally. She could see that. This violent outburst did not turn Kagome away, but it actually strengthened her resolve to stay and help. Inuyasha needed someone to help him. Kaede was a good person too, but she could not get around her dislike for the hanyou, and was merely using him to obtain the Shikon no Tama. Inuyasha had no one, and from what Kagome understood, never really had had anyone. If she could help him just a little bit, then it would be worth it. She didn't really understand why she was so driven to help the Inuyasha, but there was something about him that she could not turn away from. She was decided. Kagome would do her best to show Inuyasha that he was not alone. She would show him that someone cared. Maybe then she would finally see what his face looked like with a smile, a real one. She had only seen his perpetual sourness and anger, and that scary cruelty…and the pain in his eyes. Kagome wanted to see Inuyasha happy. She WOULD see him happy.
End of Chapter Three -Chevalier
Chapter Three: Walking the Dog Episode One: Demon Lord Kagome had awoken in the night to a disturbing quiet. She had, perhaps foolishly, made her way towards the sacred tree, where she would find Inuyasha sleeping. She could not shake the strange feeling that something was wrong and hoped that the hanyou could still her uneasiness. But when she arrived at the tree, the hanyou was nowhere to be found. Kagome soon found herself at the well. She stared down into its dark depths. Perhaps she had been wrong to come to this time. She had so far been no help in finding the jewel, as their ventures out from the village turned up no hint of its whereabouts. She should probably just go home, at least until they found a more solid lead. No. She could not think such things. If she let her mind continue on this track, then she would find herself giving up on the quest altogether. With a sigh, Kagome turned and began the trek back to the village. She was back at the sacred tree when she spotted the silver-haired hanyou before her. She took a step forward before she realized that something was wrong. "Inuyasha?" The figure before her gave no response. He did not seem to even notice her. He merely stared up into the tree, as if searching for something that should have been there. After a few moments more, the hanyou gave a small sound of dissatisfaction. He finally turned to her, and Kagome quickly realized her mistake. This was NOT Inuyasha. Although the man before her was almost Inuyasha’s double, he held himself more regally. His face was a cool mask of elegance. His narrow gaze seemed to hold Kagome in place. When he finally spoke, it was in the rich, refined voice of an aristocrat. "You, where is that worthless half-breed? Where is Inuyasha?" Kagome found her voice, small as it seemed before such a demanding presence, and was about to answer that she didn't know where Inuyasha was, when a familiar voice shouted behind her. "Sesshoumaru! What the hell are you doing here!" The man gave a cold smile, turning to face the newly appeared Inuyasha. "Ah, Inuyasha, just the filthy half-breed that I wanted to see." The hanyou gave a deep growl, now standing before Kagome protectively. "Well I don't want to see you, you stupid bastard, so get lost!" "You don't seem to understand, dear brother. I've come here on family business. You have something I want, and you will give it to me." Kagome gasped behind Inuyasha. Brother! That man was Inuyasha brother? Well, it made sense. They looked too alike for it to be mere coincidence, but they looked to be almost the same age. Inuyasha was definitely the younger, as his face at times held an almost boyish look, not to mention the hanyou's immature personality. With their strange stagnated aging, how many years actually stood between them? "Family, feh! There is no family…just me and my damned youkai half-brother. I don't have anything anyways, so you're wasting your precious time. You should go back to your damned castle and leave me alone. This is MY territory, Sesshoumaru!" Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "You should not speak so to your lord, Inuyasha. You may think you are above my will, but I have yet to forgive you for killing my servant the last time we met." Inuyasha snorted. "Feh! You mean that little toad? He deserved to die. He earned it, waving that fire-staff around like that. You didn't seem to care at the time, though. You were happy to be rid of the little pest." "Oh, and it wasn't because he insulted the memory of your whore that you killed him?" Inuyasha growled menacingly, but Sesshoumaru seemed not to notice. "Or was it simply that your pride was hurt by the fact that she betrayed you? I have better things to do than to argue with you about your lack in taste in women." He gave a pointed look at the girl standing behind Inuyasha, before continuing. "I am here for father's tomb. You know where it is. You have the key." "I don't know what you're talking about you stupid bastard, and I'm not gonna listen to you insulting me any longer. Get lost or I'll help you!" With this, Inuyasha lunged forward, intent on his enemy before him. A short shout of surprise signaled the end of the hanyou's attack. Sesshoumaru had moved too fast to follow, and now held his younger brother by his throat. "You may not be the weakling you once were, but you still need to learn proper respect for your superiors. Now, dear brother, I believe that you have something I need. That flee better not have lied to me. I will not let him live next time, if he did." He raised he hand high and brought two fingers swiftly into the hanyou's eye. A scream of pain escaped the hanyou, as Sesshoumaru pulled a black orb from his bloody eye. "Ah, finally, I have found it." He carelessly tossed the stricken hanyou to the ground and turned away. The youkai released his own aura into the bead, and a portal opened up before him. "Tetsusaiga…I have finally found you." Kagome ran to kneel beside Inuyasha as the youkai disappeared into the portal. "Are you all right, Inuyasha?" The hanyou gave a grunt before standing. He held a hand up to his bleeding eye. "Feh. That bastard…I'm gonna kill him for this." He began to walk towards the open portal before Kagome's hand on his arm stopped him. He turned back to her. "What is going on Inuyasha? That is your brother? What is that portal?" Inuyasha sighed. "I'll tell you later, Kagome. Just go back to the village. It won't be safe where I'm going." "No! I'm going with you!" Inuyasha started to tell her that she wasn't, but he saw the determination in her face. There would be no convincing her otherwise. He sighed again. "Fine. Come on, Kagome. I have a bastard brother to kill." They stepped through the portal. Episode Two: Demon Fang Kagome was amazed at the sight that awaited beyond the portal. A massive skeleton rose before them. THIS was Inuyasha’s father? It was huge! She had little time to marvel, however, as they descended into the darkness of the remains, landing with a resounding crash. There was a dim light here, and she could make out the lithe form of Sesshoumaru. The Youkai regarded the arrivals with no evident surprise. In fact, he seemed to hold no emotion within him whatsoever, save the slight disdain he held for his brother. Inuyasha, however, was overflowing with emotion. Kagome could virtually feel them radiating from him. Anger was the most obvious, but there was always a grain of pain in his bearing, a pain that seemed to fuel his fury. Aside from the two demons, there was not much worth noticing. But a glint from the other side of the room caught Kagome's eye. A battered sword was embedded, blade first, in a small pedestal. The youkai caught her gaze and smiled. "The Tetsusaiga…forged from my father's fang. It is a sword of immeasurable strength. It was to be my prize." "Was? So what happened…couldn't you pull it out, you pathetic bastard? I never thought you were that weak, Sesshoumaru. So that is Tetsusaiga. Feh, Myouga didn't tell me that it was such a piece of crap. But it'll still be a pleasure to use it to cut your heart out." Inuyasha leapt to the sword, and Sesshoumaru did nothing to stop him. He simply watched, slightly curious. Inuyasha tried to pull the blade out with obvious effort, but he could not. A bit out of breath, the hanyou turned to his brother. "Feh! I don't need a damned sword anyways! I'm gonna rip your heart out with my own claws!" Again the hanyou launched himself at his brother. Sesshoumaru dodged aside, but Inuyasha had been prepared for that. The hanyou immediately followed and struck the surprised youkai upon the head. Inuyasha was forced back as his elder brother's claws came about, flashing in the dim light. A trickle of blood ran down the youkai's delicate face now, staining his immaculate hair. Sesshoumaru growled, for the first time exhibiting any real anger. His eyes burned with his fury now. "I will never let you live now, Inuyasha. How dare you, a worthless hanyou, strike me! You are dead now…you simply wait to be delivered from your bonds." "Spare me your pathetic threats, bastard…I'm not the weak child I was the last time we fought. These are your last moments. Prepare to meet our father. Tell him that his sword is a piece of shit." The two furious brothers rushed together, exchanging vicious blows. Blood spattered the walls generously. When the two came apart, they did so slowly, each panting heavily. Blood stained their clothes in numerous places, but it seemed as if Sesshoumaru had gotten the worst of the fight. His left arm hung limply, obviously shattered by one of the hanyou's fearsome blows, and his chest bore several deep gashes that bled freely. The hanyou wasn't much better, but he was smiling. "You see now, Sesshoumaru. You surprised me before, that was all. I am stronger than you, now. And now it is time for you to go to hell!" Inuyasha flashed across the room, faster than Kagome believed possible. He moved too quickly for even Sesshoumaru to react. There was a sickeningly wet tearing. The youkai's eyes opened wide in surprise. He looked down at the arm that was sunk in his breast. Thick, dark blood rushed from the gaping wound as the smirking hanyou withdrew his hand. Kagome gasped, nearly retching. The hanyou smiled darkly, holding up the bloody heart for the youkai to see. Sesshoumaru fell to his knees, staring blankly at his brother's face. The smile on it was of evil cruelty. The hanyou was actually taking pleasure from his death. His brother had truly changed in the last 50 years. He had been such a weakling before, it was almost sickening to think what could have done this… Sesshoumaru collapse in a heap at Inuyasha’s feet. The hanyou let the heart fall, and it landed with a wet smack next to the dead youkai. His expression turned sad for a moment, but he wiped it away before he turned back to Kagome. Her face wore a horrified expression, and she backed away from him wordlessly as he approached her. Inuyasha stopped. He made his voice as peaceful as he could with the emotions churning within him. He tried to calm his face, but didn't know how well he succeeded. "Kagome…don't worry…I won't harm you. Sesshoumaru…was a bad person. He would have killed me…and you, if I had not killed him first. Please, don't look at me that way. I am not a monster!" Kagome was surprised at the intensity of his declaration. It was as if he were trying to convince himself as well. The pain was back in his eyes again. It had never really left, but now it was so strong…he wasn't even trying to hide it. Kagome slowly regained control of her fear. "I…I know you're not a monster, Inuyasha…but you scared me just now. I don't want to be here any more. Let's get out of this tomb." Inuyasha nodded, uncaring of the fang embedded behind him. He didn't need it anyways. He was strong…too strong. The hanyou gently held the girl to him and leapt from the tomb. He was careful not to startle her, but he could feel her shaking in his grip. She was still afraid of him. He did not know why that made him sad…but it did. Episode Three: Darkened Soul Inuyasha stared down at his blood-blackened hand. He had not washed himself yet. The smell of his brother's blood was thick about him. It was making him sick, his stomach twisting painfully. The hanyou could not help the self-loathing that overcame him. He had been enraged when he had fought Sesshoumaru. His mind had been afire with a fury that he had never felt before. He had relished the beating he had given the aristocratic youkai, had even enjoyed tearing out his heart…but then his rage had receded. The last look his brother had given him had been half sad, almost a look of pity. Inuyasha’s own remorse had resurfaced as his brother died. All of his anger evaporated and he was left empty, only to be filled with the shame of his own brutal murder. He told himself that the bastard had had it coming…that the youkai would not have hesitated to return the favor, but it did nothing to dam the flood of guilt. There had been a time when he would not have killed Sesshoumaru. There had been a time when he would have let him flee, but he was no longer that person…and he mourned for his own death. It was not a thing he could undo…he could not find the person he had once been. He had been afraid of himself at that moment, afraid of what he was capable of. But the strangest thought that had entered his mind was fear for the girl. Why she had even been in his mind at such a time was beyond him. He had no clue as to why she would have flashed so brightly in his troubled consciousness. Somehow, he found it very disturbing, more disturbing than his own fears. Inuyasha finally tore his eyes from his bloodied hand. The forest was still dark and quiet, but the sun would rise soon enough. He could not afford to show weakness to others. They would only exploit it. The hanyou got up and walked towards the stream he knew to be nearby. He would never forget his crime, but at least he would not be reminded constantly by the stench radiating from his body. Inuyasha descended into the dark, icy waters. He was chilled by more than the water about him. Ice gripped his soul, and he did not think that it would ever thaw. Episode Four: Beyond Loyalty Kagome shivered in the cool of the night. Though she was inside Kaede's hut, it seemed no warmer. Of course, it might just have been the memories of the last few hours that made her shiver. Seeing such a horrifying spectacle would be good reason to feel ill. Kagome could not forget the image of Inuyasha holding Sesshoumaru’s bloody heart in his claws, his eyes gleaming with cruelty. That was simply an image that was hard to forget. She had been terrified of the hanyou when he had approached her. He was covered in blood, his own as well as his brother's. Her fears had faded when she had seen his face though. He had been trying to soothe her, she knew that, but his face also showed his remorse. Inuyasha was not a bad person…He was a person with more pain in his eyes than she had ever seen. He had killed Sesshoumaru, and perhaps the youkai had deserved it, but the hanyou was punishing himself internally. She could see that. This violent outburst did not turn Kagome away, but it actually strengthened her resolve to stay and help. Inuyasha needed someone to help him. Kaede was a good person too, but she could not get around her dislike for the hanyou, and was merely using him to obtain the Shikon no Tama. Inuyasha had no one, and from what Kagome understood, never really had had anyone. If she could help him just a little bit, then it would be worth it. She didn't really understand why she was so driven to help the Inuyasha, but there was something about him that she could not turn away from. She was decided. Kagome would do her best to show Inuyasha that he was not alone. She would show him that someone cared. Maybe then she would finally see what his face looked like with a smile, a real one. She had only seen his perpetual sourness and anger, and that scary cruelty…and the pain in his eyes. Kagome wanted to see Inuyasha happy. She WOULD see him happy.
End of Chapter Three -Chevalier