InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Identities ❯ Tentative Relations ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi, not me.

Acknowledgements: As always, thanks to Fenikkusuken, who not only manages to correct all my bad habits, especially those of splitting my infinitives and a excessive propensity for using third person pronouns, but makes me laugh when doing so.

 

*

 

The afternoon after her anonymous vigilante/guest had departed, Kagome pushed open the door of her bedsit, in the company of a smiling, dark-haired young woman wearing huge chunky silver earrings. Her merrily chattering companion was loaded down with a large backpack and punctuating her words by waving around a bright pink folder.

 

“…So there was Ayumi, calmly explaining to the restaurant owner exactly what could happen should it become known that they were putting meat in the vegan salad, whilst the vegan in question was busy trying to free the lobsters in the kitchen!”

 

Kagome laughed at the latest in the long line of their friend's dating escapades. “This was the fellow she met when he was protesting at the Law Society's open debate on `Why suspension of law can be legal in times of need', wasn't it?”

 

“Yes, so maybe the championing of crustacean liberty isn't that unexpected,” the other young woman commented cheerfully. “I feel sorry for him though; he's called her three times since then and she's ignored him. Plus, she's still not forgiven Eri for putting her up to it.”

 

Kagome shook her head, grinning, as she stashed her books onto the small table. “Yuka? Do you want a drink?”

 

“Please. Tea, if you have any?”

 

“Tea I can manage,” Kagome answered cheerfully. The young woman turned towards her cooktop… and stopped dead.

 

“Kagome?” Yuka asked, concerned at her friend's suddenly-pale face. “Are you OK?”

 

“I'm fine… I just remembered I haven't given back Hojo's tracksuit,” the girl said slowly, staring at the pile of clean clothes stacked neatly on the sofa that definitely hadn't been there when she left that morning.

 

He's been here.

 

“I'm sure Hojo doesn't mind,” Yuka said reassuringly, then asked, “Which reminds me, how was your friend in the end after his food poisoning? Was he OK?”

 

“Better than expected. He was up and about much sooner than I thought he would be,” Kagome answered, distracted. I locked the door. I know I did, and I had to unlock it when I came in.

 

The curtains on the open window flapped slightly in a gust of cold wind. Shivering, she moved to close the pane, first peering over the sill to consider the long drop from the fourth floor into the alleyway. Cat-like ears came to mind, before the young woman firmly pushed the image away. Come on, Kagome. You'll be believing Grandpa's stories and looking for Kitsunes next! As she closed the window, something red flickered on the top of an adjoining building, but was gone before she could focus on it.

 

*

 

For the next few days, Kagome found herself jumping at shadows. Every rattle of the window pane, every shout in the street below had the young woman looking around apprehensively for trouble. Still, as nothing further happened, her nerves faded and normality reasserted itself.

 

The rest of the week was spent in lectures and in the library. The middle of the spring term was rife with graded papers, and Kagome winced under their weight. Hojo was as good as his word and lent her his notes from Tuesday's missed lectures, asking only for her company for that after-class coffee on the Friday that she had previously refused. The young woman smiled fondly at the young man's thoughtfulness while rolling her eyes Eri's encouraging thumbs up and incorrigible grin.

 

Kagome didn't speak of her encounter to anyone. After all, who would really believe her?

 

*

 

It was late on the Saturday evening when Kagome heard it: the quiet sound of her window sash being drawn upwards as she prepared her dinner. She squeaked in alarm and grabbed a frying pan off the counter before flattening herself against the wall, poised to clobber the would-be burglar. As a head emerged through the thin curtains, the frightened young woman brought down the pan with all her strength. It stopped, caught in a clawed fist.

 

“You!” her mouth fell open, too surprised to let go of the frying pan as she took in the white hair and the flickering animal ears.

 

“Is that any way to treat a patient, wench?” he asked, unreasonably amused.

 

“Err… no. Sorry.” When he released the pan, she hesitantly lowered her makeshift weapon and stepped back, in effect inviting him in. “What can I do for you?”

 

He swung inside, and seemed to hesitate as he considered the offer, his eyes cautiously flicking over her slightly nervous but open expression. For an instant the gold eyes softened. “You know, you're the first person in a really long time who has asked me if I want something that didn't want something in return.” She tilted her head, curious, and he cleared his throat. “You promised to take my stitches out. It's `a week or so' now.”

 

Kagome relaxed as she realised that his reason for the return visit was less sinister than his arrival method. “I did promise. Please, sit down. And, um, sorry again about the frying pan. People don't usually come through windows with innocent intentions.”

 

As the young woman bustled around, returning the frying pan to the counter and collecting an assortment of scissors, tweezers and antiseptic, he sat down on the edge of the sofa and removed his medieval-style jacket, now repaired and properly cleaned.

 

Kagome flushed as her patient slid off his white shirt and the clean lines of his muscles made her think inappropriate things for a few moments before she scolded herself. She could have sworn he smirked a little at her reaction, but by the time she crossed the room, his expression was perfectly bland.

 

Kneeling on the sofa beside him, the young woman's mouth fell open in shock “You… you're almost healed!” He gave her a guarded look and shrugged. Kagome gently ran her fingers over healthy-looking tissue. They're much better than I expected; with that shoulder wound alone, he should've be laid up for weeks… and yet here he is, five days later, clambering in my fourth floor window. Unconsciously, she continued to run her fingertips over his skin. He really did come through the window to return the clothes! The half-naked vigilante shivered under her touch, and the young woman flushed. Oh no, now he really is going to think I'm a pervert! Kagome yanked her hands away, her cheeks red as she squirmed with embarrassment. However, when he made no comment, she picked up the scissors and the tweezers and carefully began removing the stitches.

 

“So, a medical student?” he asked casually.

 

“Yes. Luckily for you.”

 

He rolled his eyes and she smiled at his attitude before moving onto another suture line. “Do you have a name, Mr Masked Avenger?”

 

“Inuyasha.”

 

Kagome considered that piece of information for a moment, her eyes lingering on his `ears', before going back to the stitches. “Dog Demon, huh? I suppose that fits. Are the others in the Youkai Pack named after animal spirits as well? Like, Ookamiyasha and Kazeyasha?”

 

He snorted with laughter. “No. They have different names, like Sesshomaru.”

 

“'The Killing Perfection'? You definitely got the raw end of the deal. You should ask for a new superhero name.”

 

“It was more of a nickname, but it stuck.” There was an edge to his voice, and she bit her lip to stop herself asking anything further.

 

They were quiet for a few more minutes as she removed all of her handiwork, running her fingertips over his arms, chest and back to make sure that she hadn't missed any. Kagome was unaccountably disappointed when she realised she'd run out of excuses to touch him. “You're done,” her voice was suddenly husky, and the young woman self-consciously cleared her throat.

 

Inuyasha turned his head. Kagome was still kneeling right beside him, and suddenly, their faces were very, very close, those intense golden eyes staring into her own. Instantly self-conscious, the young woman bit her lip; the answering flash in his gaze had her flushing scarlet and scrambling off the couch. Slowly dressing in his heavy, colourful clothing, Inuyasha watched her with a strangely pensive expression.

 

“Um… so… err…” Kagome floundered on what to say to the strange, costumed man seated on her scruffy sofa before inspiration struck. “Do you want something to eat before you go?”

 

“What're you offering?”

 

“Well, today's exciting choice is ramen… again. But you can have either chicken or beef this time.” Giving him an apologetic shrug, she noted the considering way he looked around the tiny dilapidated flat. “You don't get a lot of money as a med student, but it's still better than being on the street…. I mean, I don't know where you live, but with what you do, I mean, it's not like you get paid, and… um… never mind.”

 

He looked slightly blank before her words sank in, and then he appeared rather amused. “Beef ramen's good.”

 

The young woman felt his eyes burning into her back as she skittered around the kitchenette making noodles for two. As she extended one of the steaming bowls towards him, he brushed his fingers against hers as he accepted it.

 

Swallowing a mouthful, her guest asked, “So let me get this straight… you pick up a strange man that you find injured in the street, take him home, patch him up, tuck him into your bed, and offer him dinner… but you don't even know his name, and suspect he might be a homeless psychopathic member of the underworld?”

 

“I don't think you're a psychopath, but essentially yes.” She tilted her head on the side, considering. “Wow, it does sound a bit stupid when you say it like that.”

 

Inuyasha snorted in amusement. “I think you have a death wish, wench.”

 

She narrowed her eyes. “It's Kagome. Ka-go-me.”

 

“Wench suits you better.”

 

“Idiot suits you better,” Kagome smiled serenely, “And don't spit out your noodles over my couch.”

 

*

 

It was a fortnight before she saw him again; she was dozing lightly when a soft noise alerted her to the fact she wasn't alone. Sitting up with a muffled shriek, her heart instantly thumping against her ribs, she peered through the darkness until she identified the white mane flowing down the back of her visitor in the dim light from the window.

 

“Inuyasha?” She swung her long legs out of bed and stood up, pushing her bangs out of her eyes. The night breeze from the open window made her shiver after leaving her warm bedding, and she wrapped her arms around herself.

 

“Is this how you greet all your uninvited visitors, you idiot? Half naked?” Inuyasha demanded, his voice low, almost furious.

 

Kagome flushed red. “Don't call me an idiot, you idiot! I was sleeping!” she shot back as she tugged the drooping neckline of the thin, oversized tee-shirt back onto her shoulder.

 

“I could have been anyone, wench. Anyone could have seen you like this.”

 

“It's dark and no-one else comes in through the window,” she pointed out in a determinedly reasonable tone. “I still haven't worked out how you do that, considering I'm four floors up with no fire escape.”

 

“You mean you only dress like this for me?” The anger dissolved and he smirked, fangs flashing in the dim light.

 

Struck by a sudden concern, she took a half-step towards him, her hand outstretched. “Are you hurt? Do you need something?”

 

“Maybe I just like being around you,” he suggested.

 

She laughed a trifle nervously at that. “Of course you do… I'll bet you say that to all the girls you drop in on in the middle of the night.”

 

His demeanour instantly sobered. “Okay, I admit it… I do need something. I need a shower, and don't turn on the light. You don't want to see…”

 

“There are towels in the chest, third drawer down.”

 

He nodded. As he passed her in the semi darkness she could see the ichors glistening on his skin and his claws, and close up she smelt the stink that accompanied intestinal surgery. Or shredded intestines her mind added helpfully. Her stomach lurched, and she coughed. She didn't see his mouth twist just before he softly commanded, “Go back to sleep, wench.” Kagome was only too happy to obey, tucking herself back into her bedding and drifting off to the sound of running water.

 

*

 

Kagome wondered if there was something vaguely unhealthy in her rapidly developing interest in the Youkai Pack and to a lesser extent, the Spider. Over the next few weeks as February rolled into March, she began paying careful attention to the news, looking for more information on her mysterious visitor. Ayumi was her legal-beagle font of all knowledge regarding the gangs, but she also struck out on her own to look for more.

 

In breaks between essays and lab work, she would turn on previously-ignored talk shows and watch interviews with people who claimed to have seen or met the Youkai Pack. Munching on cheap salted popcorn, she focussed with the intensity of an addict as a wailing woman described her rescue or assault. Kagome also became a master at the acquisition of papers left on buses or in the common rooms; papers that didn't have the word `Medicine' anywhere, but had a lot of society gossip. In the university computer rooms, she surfed internet sites containing photos and news reports. The Pack was adept at avoiding cameras, so all that were seen were blurs and flashes, but the `Youkai Watchers' (dot com) had formed a list of the core members.

 

There was the tall one with long white hair who was only ever seen at a distance, but eyewitness reports hinted at a leadership role. Another member was so fast he or she was only ever seen as a blur, but there were hints of fur and metal. There was another member with red hair and the poise of a stage magician, and finally, the white-haired warrior in red that she knew better than the Youkai Watchers could ever hope to.

 

No-one knew any names, and their identities were all heavily disguised by strange clothing and animal-like features. All seemed able to perform feats impossible for mere mortals, but there were pages and pages on the web devoted to an analysis of the techniques needed, from jump rockets for the amazing leaps to laser powered whips for some of the attacks. Kagome wryly recalled her broken scissors when she read comments claiming that their clothing had `armour-like properties'. That's why I couldn't cut his jacket… I hope that I didn't damage it when I washed it!

 

The Spider was another matter and his exploits made grim reading. A truly ruthless gang lord, he apparently bore a large version on his back of the spider tattoo sported on the arms of his trusted lieutenants. I'm so glad that Inuyasha didn't have a marking like that! The group had a special interest in historical artefacts, raiding museums and private collections. Like the Youkai Pack, they tended to wear outlandish robes and were noted to have disguised physical features, such as red eyes or albino skin. The Spider's gang members were never taken alive, which meant battles with the police were vicious. The worst part was that many of them seemed to take particular joy in destruction and torture. Kagome carefully limited her reading after a few nightmare-filled nights.

 

It was not known who came first; the Youkai Pack or the Spider. They seemed to appear around the same time three years before. The police blamed the Youkai Pack for triggering extremism and psychopathic behaviours in the criminal underworld because no-one wore strange costumes before they came on the scene. It was clear that the Youkai Pack were not completely innocent of criminal charges, either. Grainy CCTV camera footage from a warehouse on YouTube showed someone that looked worryingly like Inuyasha ripping through a score of gang members with what appeared to be blades attached to his hands.

 

Kagome thought about all of it for a long time, wrestling with her conscience as to whether or not she should just contact the police and be done with it. And finally, after failing to reach a conclusion, she listened to her gut feelings instead. She shut down the site listing the Youkai Pack's alleged crimes, and left the window open.

 

*

 

“And so, he agreed that if we manage to pass all the exams… by which I mean, you'll walk them,” Hojo winked, “We can work at the hospital over the summer as interns, and that will go onto our grades for next year!”

 

“That's brilliant! I can't believe you managed to swing that; I really owe you!” Kagome beamed at man currently carrying her study bag as they walked towards her building in the early dusk.

 

“No problem. You know, we should go out to dinner at some point to celebrate… especially as it's vacation time now so there's less coursework to worry about.”

 

“Mmm… I can't really afford it,” she hedged.

 

“I'll pay; it'll be my treat.”

 

As they arrived in front of her building, Kagome reached forwards to take her bag, distracted by a distinct sense of unease. I feel like I'm being watched. Shaking off the nerves, she asked, “Go out to dinner as in `go out to dinner'… or as in `Go Out To Dinner'?”

 

He blushed slightly but gave her an insouciant grin. “The latter.” Both of them jumped as a low, almost sub-vocal rumble vibrated the air around them.

 

The hair on the back of her neck stood upright, and she rubbed her arms to settle the goose-bumps. This isn't good. “Um, I think maybe just go out to dinner as friends....” Kagome's voice trailed off as she failed to find a good end to the sentence.

 

Hojo winced slightly but smiled. He reached out and took her hands in his, looking at them instead of her. “It's fine, Higurashi. Just don't mind me if I ask you for a date again at some point; otherwise you'll forget that people appreciate you.”

 

Kagome gave him a watery smile, “That works for me.” The young woman squeezed his fingers comfortingly for a second, before gently pulling her hands free. Noticing the deepening sunset, she asked, “Are you going to be OK walking home?”

 

“I'll be fine; Akago's only a few streets away at his brother's place. I'll grab a lift from him.”

 

Waving as Hojo headed off down the darkening street, the young woman hurried up to her flat. Kagome unlocked her door and stepped into her bedsit, preoccupied with the idea of an internship and guilty for crushing a dear friend's hopes. Was it the right thing to do? I mean, I don't feel that way about him, so it isn't right to lead him on… “Oh!” Her only warning was a flash of red in her peripheral vision before she was slammed against the just-closed door hard enough to knock the wind out of her. A hand clamped over Kagome's mouth as a scream rose in her throat, her bag thumping to the floor from nerveless fingers.

 

Her absent, erstwhile patient loomed above her, snarling softly, long-clawed fingers clamped around her bicep hard enough to leave bruises. He'd changed his contacts and these featured red-rimmed golden irises, which were extremely intimidating. It had been a month since she'd seen him last, and she was suddenly aware of how very much larger he was. I only come up to his chin… and that hurts, darn it!

 

As if he could feel the rising waves of terror coming off the young woman, Inuyasha dropped the muffling hand from her mouth to her other arm and buried his face in the side of her neck, inhaling deeply. Kagome felt his body relax almost instantly in the way he pressed more heavily against her, the snarling quieting to a low growl as he calmed down. The young woman relaxed as well despite the apparent threat, even if the way his breath feathered over her skin was highly distracting. This is a bit weird but okay... or at least it was, until Inuyasha shifted slightly. The friction of his chest against hers caused her nipples to peak, and she was suddenly aware of how his entire body seemed to radiate heat everywhere they touched. Pinned against him, her nose pressed into his clothing, Kagome found his wild scent strangely intoxicating. As she bit her lip to stop an inappropriate whimper, he deliberately moved again, intensifying the sensations shooting through her body, his hands sliding down her arms to her hips. When he ground an obvious erection against her belly, she jerked out of her haze. This has officially moved to Not Okay.

 

“Um… Inuyasha?” She gulped as he pulled back to regard her with a smouldering gaze that quickly dropped to her mouth. “Inuyasha, please let go.”

 

“Why?” he purred, the single word rumbling through his chest into hers, and hardening her nipples even more.

 

“Because I've only met you three times, I don't really know you, and this is really freaking me out.”

 

Inuyasha stared at her lips, wearing a lazy, sensual expression that made her almost regret her decision. Almost. “Please.”

 

Something that resembled regret flickered over his features and the white-haired man quickly obeyed. Taking several steps back, Inuyasha dropped down cross-legged on the floor and folded his hands into his sleeves. Kagome took a deep breath to clear the fog of sensuality, and mustered up a glare. “Listen to me, you idiot! I do value what you do and I see you as a friend… sort of. But if you ever do that again without my permission, I swear I will lock the window and call the police.”

 

Inuyasha's mouth twisted, an indefinable pain darkening his expression that abruptly turned to blistering anger. “You're absolutely right; I don't really know you, Ka-go-me. Don't worry, I'll go… I should never have come back here. It was a stupid thing to do.” Gracefully rising to his feet, he headed for the window.

 

“Wait!” Kagome's stomach lurched as she realised with absolute certainty that if the vigilante left, he would never come back. “Please don't go… not like this.”

 

“What do you want from me, Kagome?” Inuyasha hissed her name almost resentfully.

 

She looked at her hands. What do I want? He's a dangerous vigilante, and I don't even know his real name. He's most likely homeless and probably destitute, yet I trust him enough to let him into my room at night… and I worry about him when he isn't around. And this… this sexual thing is confusing the heck out of me. I don't know exactly what he wants from me, but … I definitely know what I want from him right now. Lifting her head, she looked him in the eye. “I want to be your friend, Inuyasha.”

 

Surprise made his eyebrows disappear under the hair framing his face, and then they lowered in suspicion. “Are you sure? I mean, I ain't exactly normal.”

 

I feel like I've missed something. Shrugging off the niggling voice, she replied, “Yes.”

 

“And you don't mind that I'll always be like this to you?” He gestured to his hair and clothing.

 

“If that's what you want, I'll respect that. Friends accept each other as they are,” she replied earnestly. Why do I feel like I'm answering a different question?

 

“And what do you want out of it?”

 

“Your company. To know you're safe.” She paused and added, “Your respect.”

 

For a long moment the vigilante assessed the girl in front of him, his red-rimmed golden eyes boring into her. Kagome nearly quailed under the combination of strength and ruthlessness, but was caught by the wary vulnerability that was also apparent. Finally, he held out his clawed hand. “Deal.”

 

Without hesitation, she shook hands, then asked. “What do you want out of it, Inuyasha?”

 

He looked at her with a thoughtful expression. “Nothing you're not prepared to give, Kagome.”

 

*

 

As March turned into April and rolled towards the eagerly anticipated Golden Week vacation, Kagome found herself in one of the strangest friendships she'd ever experienced.

 

Inuyasha came back once that week, once the next, and twice the week after that. He never stayed overly long; usually to either borrow the shower or grab food and chat for a bit, and on one memorable occasion, he agreed to play cards, teaching the young woman the more traditional game of Hanafuda. When he was there, he made a point of staying just on edge of her personal space, but she never felt crowded… although her skin tingled whenever he was near. Inuyasha also had a habit of prowling around her flat, rearranging objects, reordering things and handling her possessions, to the point he seemed to leave physical manifestations of his presence when he wasn't around. When the young woman joked at one point that he was marking territory, Kagome was surprised when the vigilante flushed, and put down the cushion he'd been fiddling with.

 

Conversations were relatively careful, but she learnt he had an older brother, the infamously named Sesshomaru, and that the rest of his family were dead. She found out that the Spider's name was Naraku, and that he was an old enemy. Inuyasha explained that the Youkai Pack had banded together because of Naraku's appearance, and Sesshomaru had determined that Naraku was choosing targets based on the contents of museum collections.

 

Shifting uncomfortably on the threadbare carpet, Kagome had asked, “Based on museum collections? Why?”

 

Inuyasha shrugged, although his expression became slightly guarded. “He's looking for something. Then again, we don't know why he picked Toyko; it breaks the pattern because he's been here before.”

 

He told her his favourite food was ramen in deference to her sparsely stacked cupboards, and she laughed. On the fourth visit when she felt a little reckless, she asked Inuyasha what his natural hair and eye colour were, and how his ears were wired. He stared intently and asked if she really wanted to know. After some thought, the young woman shook her head, noting wistfully, “I would like to know more about you, but I know it's not a good idea.”

 

For his part, the vigilante was intensely curious about her, taking interest in the smallest details of her life, from her favourite flavours of ice cream to her oldest memory. When the young woman had blushed, protesting that her life was deeply boring, he cut across her objections with earnest assurances. “You're far from boring, Kagome; I want to know more about you.”

 

So, Kagome cheerfully told him that her family originally had been shrine keepers in Tokyo (he hadn't seemed surprised, strangely), but that they had moved to Okinawa for a few years due to her grandfather's health, leaving her second cousin in charge in the interim.

 

“How's he now?” Inuyasha had asked through a mouthful of ramen.

 

“Errr… He's just fine. Great!” Kagome had replied after a moment's hesitation, her bright smile brittle. He'd given her a sceptical look, and the young woman had flushed and changed the subject. Kagome had told him that she wanted to be a doctor, and that her life revolved around studying which meant that she didn't go out much. She also told him about her courses at the university, described some of her friends, and even mentioned her old hobby of archery.

 

He'd rubbed his chest before muttering, “Archery? You gotta swear not to point any arrows at me, wench.” Somewhat surprised, Kagome had promised.

 

Inuyasha also asked about the small scars that no-one else noticed, from the small dent on the underside of her chin (“I went over the handlebars of my bike when I was eight and needed three stitches”) to the tiny silver line on the side of her knee (“I caught it on a nail on a fence in the neighbour's garden when I was thirteen”). He listened with flattering closeness when she went off on tangents and talked about her childhood before her father died.

 

Her visitor offered her small sums for food several times, but she shook her head on the assumption that the vigilante needed it more than she did. However, he kept making pointed comments about the stocks of ramen and little else in her larder, and she finally admitted that things were a little tight. He gave her a pensive look and then he leant forward to tuck some of her hair behind her ear.

 

She found she was smiling after his visits, and missed him when he didn't come.

 

*

 

It had been several weeks since Inuyasha's last visit, but Kagome was too exhausted to notice. Pushing open the door to her bedsit, she rolled her shoulders as she dropped her back pack onto the floor. I shouldn't have stayed in the library so long, but there's so much to learn, especially since we've moved onto the parasympathetic nervous system. At least there's more daylight in the evenings now… “What on earth....?”

 

Instead of her usual threadbare carpet, there was an unfamiliar, luxurious rug arranged in the middle of the floor, brightening the dull room with its vibrant colours. It's beautiful! Unable to stop herself, the young woman kicked off her shoes and carefully stepped onto the wide border of the design, her feet sinking into the soft fibres. Kagome wriggled her toes in sensual pleasure as she carefully inspected the unusual pattern. It was a striking design of a large white dog with glowing red eyes, surrounded by archaic kanji and flanked by floral crests on yellow. Her mouth tilted in a mischievous smile, and she tip-toed around the dog, then knelt and affectionately petted the creature's fluffy head. It's not quite Inuyasha, but it's not too shabby! Uh-oh… I'm already an accomplice, but I don't want to be caught holding stolen goods!

 

Straightening up, she glanced around in the off-chance that her mysterious interior decorator had left a note, only to discover yet another gift. Propped against her pillow was an old book with cracked leather bindings. Curiouser and curiouser! The young woman fetched the volume and sat back down cross-legged on the rug while she inspected it, absentmindedly running her fingers through the dog's fur. It was a book of old Japanese legends, with a silk ribbon marking the story of the Shikon Jewel, the hunt for the legendary treasure against a dark half-demon. The young woman smiled as she read the names of the characters, realising why the Youkai Pack had taken the names and disguises they had. The Inuyasha in the story even had the same rather adorable ears. I suppose I did ask to know more...

 

Somewhat troubling, there was also a reference to a `Kikyo'. In the story, Kikyo was the original keeper of the Jewel, a Shinto priestess deceived by the dark hanyou into attacking her lover and dying in the process. Something inside Kagome's gut twisted. Inuyasha called out her name on that first night. I wonder if she's another member of the Youkai Pack? It would make sense, I guess, since all their names seem to come from this legend. The young woman debated whether she should ask her infrequent guest about it the next time, but didn't come to a conclusion. It was ironic that their enemy was even named Naraku; she wondered if the Spider had adopted the name before or after the Youkai Pack had picked their theme.

 

Glancing at the carpet, Kagome abandoned the book-marked page and flicked through to the section on demons. In the small bestiary, the same image was linked to the Sengoku Jidai-era legends, attributed to the lineage of the Inu-no-Taisho. The Great Dog General.

 

She paused, frowning at the page as she thought. First the inhuman rate of healing, then the ears, now this… Careful as a tightrope walker, and against her better judgement, Kagome followed the absurd train of thought to its possibly logical conclusion. What if, just if, demons had once been real? How long were they supposed to live? Did they ever have descendents? Deliberately closing the book, she chewed her lip as she considered the ramifications of the rather unusual gifts. Inuyasha can't be related a youkai… because they don't exist… right? Maybe he chose this rug because the dog-demon is kind of an in-joke between us about his superhero name? But then… I'm not sure how to take the information in this book, either. It all sounds so plausible! Argh. He's making me crazy, and he's conveniently not here to answer questions… like, were these legitimately acquired?

 

Later, while the kettle steamed and she opened the cupboard to select her nightly ration of dried noodles, she found the once-empty shelves stacked with dozens of packages of ramen.

 

Torn between laughter and suspicion, Kagome faced the music, or rather, the noodles. Oh dear… did he knock off a supermarket, too?

 

*