InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Past, Hidden Self ❯ Chapter 23 ( Chapter 23 )

I don't own any of the InuYasha characters in this fanfic. The ones I own are Kane-Sakura, Setsuna, and Trowa. Mika and Nakura are owned by my friend Stephanie, Michi and Ori to my friend Nicky, and Yuki belongs to Danielle.

 

I have a comment to present to all of my readers (how ever many there may be). I'm happy to announce that I have been chosen to perform for my community theatre musical, `Summer Song'. I was awarded the lead female role of Karolka, a Czech immigrant. As good as this may be for my experience, it may put a damper on my writing. After this chapter is put out, I'm uncertain if I'll find the time between homework, practicing solo's and duets and lines at home, and practices at my high school, along with Regional Solo and Ensemble, State Solo and Ensemble, my trip to New York City over Easter Break, and work. If I'm lucky and my teacher gives me the okay, I'll be able to type out my story during third hour study hall in the computer lab. If not, that could mean no more new chapters after this one until after the performances in the first weekend of May. If any of my readers have any questions, feel free to e-mail me and I'll be happy to answer them (and I will get a chance to go on the internet once a week). My address is kane_sakura@yahoo.com. I'll answer it as soon as I can and I hope I have the answers you're looking for. Wish me luck in all I endeavor.

 

Last time on Hidden Past Hidden Self:

 

“Kane, stay here with the others. I'll fight for you!” Setsuna said, his eyes no longer their beautiful emerald that she loved.

 

“I'm fine; let me go defeat that bastard with my own bare hands!” Kane stood, but Setsuna pushed her down with his hands on her shoulders.

 

“Stay here or…” A whip of golden light slashed through the trees and into Setsuna's back. He was sent reeling into the next tree which was felled on impact.

 

“Setsuna…No, SETSUNA!!”

 

***

“He…he wanted to steal my Kizukaseru.” Setsuna had finally gotten up and was watching the scene unfold before his eyes. She looked over at him and smiled, glad to see he wasn't too badly injured.

 

“Hey, look at me and not that three-fourths cat when you're…”

 

“Shizuka ni! Don't call him a three-fourths cat, he didn't do anything!”

 

“And why not, you don't love him do you?”

 

Kane's face reddened. “That is none of your damn business InuYasha! I thought I'd let you know that I defeated Sesshomaru with Sora no Daiyamondo after Setsuna rescued me and then almost died protecting me!”

 

***

InuYasha's anger reached a boiling point at last and he snapped. “Keep your filthy hands away from her!” Unsheathing Tetsusaiga, he prepared to bring it down on the helpless, unguarded boy.

 

“SIT!!” Kane yelled; he fell.

 

He growled into the ground angrily. By the time he could at least bring his head off of the ground, Kane was sitting up, Setsuna's protective embrace around her shoulders. “Why are you protecting that cat?!” InuYasha's eyes narrowed in suspicion. “The only reason I could see you protecting him is because he knocked you up!”

 

…“I recommend you take that back before I unleash my Kizukaseru on you.”

 

***

“He didn't mean any of those words. He couldn't support his argument, so he made something up.” Setsuna crossed his arms and leaned against the wardrobe in her room.

 

Even though she still felt lousy, his words had comforted her in a way that she couldn't comprehend. Laughing slightly, she asked, “You really think so?”

 

“He's like any other brother. He doesn't want any man to touch or fall…” He paused and started to cough in a fake manner.

 

“I guess you're right, but he didn't have to say I slept with you.”

 

***

When Kane reemerged from the bathroom, brushing her long raven hair, Setsuna was standing by the window, leaning against the sill and gazing out into the night sky. “You know, it still amazes me.” He sounded as though he were talking to himself.

 

“What does?” Gently placing the brush on her nightstand, Kane walked over to the Neko.

 

“All of this technology you have here…”

 

***

Kane threw him a blanket and a pillow from her drawer and covered herself in her own. “Good night.” She rolled onto her side and clicked her light off. With the window still open, she could hear the cars going by on the street below and the breeze ruffle the curtains.

 

Setsuna sat up, watching her sleep for a while. `It can't be just her that's been recently arousing me. There's something else, something I can't just put my finger on.' He stood, restless and stared out at the stars again. A waxing half moon graced the sky and was shining with splendor in the deep black sky. `A full moon will come again soon, and Kane will be human again. Why am I looking forward to that so much?' Setsuna shivered as a creepy feeling made its way down his spine. `Maybe I'm imagining things.' His gaze returned to Kane as she slept so peacefully, mouth slightly open and ears drooped, unguarded. He sighed when she sighed in her sleep. `Sleep well, Kane-Sakura.'

 

***

 

Chapter 23:

 

Forgive and forget, that's what everybody wanted Kane-Sakura to do with her brother, InuYasha. But there was no way she was just going to forget about what he had said to her. Forgiveness would take a while, but it would happen eventually.

 

A few weeks had gone by since school had started and since Kane had last been in the Sengoku Jidai to see her brother. She had officially turned seventeen and felt that, even though it was no milestone, she was independent from all of her brother's brute force ideals.

 

“Why are you st...” Mika stopped herself. “I mean, not coming home right away?”

 

School had just been let out and everybody was looking forward to the break they'd been given for Keiro no hi. It was coming the following day, September 15th. “I told you, me and Setsuna have voice lessons to do before the break tomorrow.”

 

“But it's a holiday!” Michi whined. “One of the few weeks we get a three day weekend!”

 

Kane sighed. “I'll be back at about four. After lessons, we're going to a concert and then possibly dinner.” Everybody, except Kane, stopped walking. Noticing that she was alone, she looked behind her back. “Something wrong?”

 

“Yeah, the fact that you're going on a date with cat-boy.” Mika replied sarcastically.

 

“Listen, I promised him that I would take him to a concert before we went back to the Feudal Era. Then I thought we'd go out to dinner afterwards so we could get something to eat on the way home.” Kane shrugged, walking towards the chorus room in a calm matter. “I don't consider it a date, just a favor.”

 

Yuki smiled. “She's fallen for him, she just won't admit it.” She said for Mika and Michi's ears only.

 

Michi looked at Yuki who stood behind her, centered between her and Mika. “How can you be sure?”

 

“I can read her soul. And it's saying that Setsuna is the one she wishes to mate with some day.”

 

“Eh?! Mate with?!” Mika looked over at Yuki with disgust.

 

“Yup, she's head over heels in love with Setsuna.” Yuki looked at them as they stared back at her. “What, did I say something wrong?”

 

“How in all the hells can you read souls?” Mika asked.

 

“I collect souls and since I can do that, I'm able to sense how a soul feels. If I feel that the soul that was released from the body is wanting to go to heaven or was released of evil intentions, I take that soul, cleanse it, and...” She felt the weird stares coming from her friends. “Should I just stop?”

 

“Yes, please feel free to do that.” Mika said, walking ahead of her with Michi. Then, she leaned over and whispered, “Do you think she can read our souls like that too?”

 

“Why, Nakura on the mind?” She snickered with her whisper back to Mika. The wolf responded by hitting Michi on the head with her fist.

 

Yuki giggled. “Mika, Michi, you'll soon see who you really love as well.” She ran to catch up with them.

***

By the time Setsuna had shown up for his lessons, Kane was already practicing her song, `Try to Wish'; a song she was going to perform solo in the musical she starred in. She was on the first verse when he walked in, the one talking about what you wish for and how important it is to someone you love.

 

Kane didn't see him walk in and kept singing. The second verse talked about your heart making wishes on the stars and how special they were. She was singing with all her heart, imagining herself on stage with Setsuna in the audience. On the last verse, she used her hands to emphasize some of the words with feeling. Then she put her whole body into it and danced and twirled around the room. When she finished, both her teacher and Setsuna were applauding. Kane turned towards Setsuna, surprised that he had showed up during that song. She blushed.

 

“Excellent timing Hideik. Ready for your lesson?” The teacher was in a better mood that day, so he wasn't too angry at Setsuna's late appearance.

 

“Yes sir.” As he walked past Kane, he said in an almost inaudible whisper. “By the way, your voice is very angelic today Kane-Sakura. I'd like to hear more soon.” He took her hand and gave a light squeeze before moving on.

 

“Good job today Sugimoto. Have a good vacation.” The teacher waved good-bye.

 

“Thanks, you too.” She bowed and walked out of the room. Standing by the door, she listened in on Setsuna's lesson.

 

His song was the ever-popular musical song, `Silver Bells'. For doing a four-part song solo, he did a pretty impressive job. Even though he was a bass, the notes he was singing were clearly tenor parts. Still, he came through. His voice was like a combination of silk and velvet put together, smooth and soft like a teddy bear. Her knees nearly buckled beneath her own weight as she listened. He finished, was given tips by the teacher and sent on his way.

 

He came out, looking directly at Kane. “Ready to go?”

 

Kane smiled. “You bet. But can we stop at our places to change first?”

 

Setsuna laughed. “Sure; these clothes are really stuffy.”

 

They walked to Kane's apartment first. She stepped in, with Setsuna in tow. “Wait here, I'll be right back.” Kane gave him a quick peck on the cheek just before closing the door to her room.

 

“Hey, Setsuna, is that you?” Ori yelled over to the Neko demon.

 

“Hey Ori.” Setsuna strolled into the living room. “You here to see Michi?”

 

Ori blushed slightly. “Yeah, we're spending time together tonight.”

 

“May I inquire as to what you're planning on doing?”

 

“Kane suggested watching some of these... `movies', I believe they're called?” Ori held up some boxes containing the videos Kane had suggested. They were romance movies that were sure to start something between the two.

 

Setsuna stifled a laugh, and then covered it with a cough. “Have fun tonight.” He walked further into the living area, seeing Michi's bedroom door closed with soft music playing from within. He felt sorry for her having fallen into one of Kane's `set up' trap. He went over to the balcony doors, where curtains billowed in the gentle breeze that blew through the open glass French doors. He noticed that the opaque walls were accented with delicate wall scrolls of peacocks and goldfish. Off to the side, by the kitchenette, there was a fish tank with tropical fish in it. He looked away and out the window, resisting the urge to make them into sushi again. The last time he'd tried that, he'd choked on the super bony fish. Not wanting to upset Kane (or get blamed), he put the upchucked fish in Mika's room so that she'd get caught, even though she never ate those types of fish. He cringed at the memory of her scream when she had uncovered her `surprise'. `I won't do that again.' He vowed silently in his head.

 

“Okay, I'm ready!” Kane said behind Setsuna. He turned to face her, his hair dancing on his head with the gentle wind from the doors. She had changed into one of her favorite black mini skirts with a diamond stud in the hem. Her shirt was a basic white spaghetti strap tank top accented with a diamond choker on her slender neck.

 

`Wow, she's...beautiful.' Setsuna gulped, feeling that arousal again in his stomach. He regained his senses by shaking his head, and then offered his hand to her. “Ready to go?”

 

Kane nodded, taking his hand in her own. Mika, Michi, Yuki, and Ori leaned around the corner, watching them as they left.

 

“Not a date huh?” Mika snickered.

 

“Looks like one to me.” Michi stated.

 

They walked to the guy's apartment complex so Setsuna could also change out of his school uniform. While he changed in his bedroom, Kane waited patiently in his bedroom. She admired his taste in décor and thought it suited his personality well. He had hand painted his walls fire engine red and accented the tops with orange and yellow flames. He had Chinese dragon wall plates in gold; they almost seemed to want to jump out at Kane and attack her with their ruby eyes. On his bed, he had chosen a black comforter with red sheets and a red pillowcase with a black dragon on the middle. She looked at his bedpost and noticed how the wood had been charred in one area. `Those burns look as though they've been self inflicted, not designed into the wood.' She touched them and her fingertips turned black.

 

“Oh, those burns.” Setsuna had stepped out of his bathroom just as she'd reached out to stroke the blackened wood. “They kind of showed up a few nights ago.”

 

“What happened?”

 

“Bad dreams, I guess.” He lied. He wasn't about to tell her that he had inflicted those burns the day after he'd come home from staying in her room all night. It had relieved only a minimal portion of his sexual desire. He recalled how he had punctured the wood with his nails and set the case ablaze in that section, imagining it was Kane he had set fire to in a more intimate and stimulating way. “But I like it, it adds character.”

 

Kane noticed his outfit as she looked up from the wood. He wore a black silk shirt with dark blue jeans and white tennis shoes. He had taken down his high ponytail and had it in a lower one, close to the head, giving him a sexy edge. “You look really nice.” Kane took it the scent of his cologne.

 

“Well, why not? I figured I'd look stupid if I dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and went out to eat with you all dressed up.” He shrugged his shoulders, taking her compliment as if it hadn't meant anything.

 

Kane stood from his bed. “The concert's going to start soon, so if you want to eat we should get going.”

 

“Want me to drive?”

 

Kane recalled the last time she'd ridden with Setsuna in his car. Two words came to mind: panic and mayhem. `Maybe he's improved since then.'

 

“I have my license now.” He tried to lessen her fears.

 

Kane smiled and took his arm with hers. “Go ahead; we're at your apartment anyway.”

 

***

 

“This thunderstorm came out of nowhere!” Setsuna held his coat over Kane as they ran to the dry inside of his car in the torrential downpour.

 

Kane smirked. “I wonder if Michi and Ori are having fun.”

 

“Why're you wondering...?” It slowly dawned on him as he added two plus two. “Oh, never mind.”

 

The concert had been cancelled because of this sudden storm and now the two demi-demons had to go home early. Once Setsuna had unlocked the car and they had gotten inside, they were drenched. He started the car and turned on the windshield wipers to as fast as they could go. Still, they couldn't see through the sheets of rain.

 

“Might as well wait it out. I mean, they can't go on like this forever.” Thunder rattled the ground as he said that. Setsuna cleared his throat and stated, “Then again...”

 

“I'm sorry; I didn't think things would get this heated up between those two.” Kane apologized, gazing out of the passenger window and sighing.

 

“Don't sweat it, I liked what...” He paused suddenly, as if something had occurred to him that was frightening and disturbing.

 

“Is something wrong?” Kane looked over at him in puzzlement.

 

`Not now! My transformation can't happen now!' He gripped the seat with his hands so hard that his knuckles started to turn white. Kane then looked out the window as the rain stopped and the sun got lower in the west. The last of the sunbeams disappeared and a full moon came out. Her dog-ears dropped to human and her hair turned silver, the color of her father's hair. Human teeth replaced her fangs and her claws shortened to become human nails.

 

“Hey I'm human!” Kane exclaimed. “Maybe it's a good thing it started raining, right Set...” She stopped when a deep growl resonated from the boy's chest.

 

“Beautiful,” His normally green eyes opened and reflected in the shimmering moonlight. But instead of an emerald shine, there was an eerie sort of orange and red reflection.

 

The way he looked at Kane and the bass huskiness of his voice gave her an uneasy feeling. “The rain's stopped. Don't you think we should get going?”

 

“Not until I've gotten what I desire.” His soft hand rested on her upper thigh, sending shearing heat into her core. And a deep, penetrating cold up her spine.

 

“Setsuna, are you feeling all right? Maybe we should go...” Kane stopped mid-sentence when his hand moved up her thigh and under her mini-skirt. Her heart raced, and she feared the man sitting beside her was able to hear it too.

 

“I need you, right here, right now.” He jumped over the seat and onto Kane's lap. “You have no idea of the torture I go through every day when I see you, the desire that rushes through my veins every time I smell your scent.” He licked her cheek. “And of the immense need of becoming your mate--forever.” He rested his knees on her hands as he extended his claws, ripping the fabric of her tank top into little strips of tattered cloth. He brought his mouth down onto hers, crushing her lips with his and assailing her mouth with his tongue. Kane struggled against him, rolling her head to the side. Seeing this as an advantage, Setsuna brought his mouth down to her neck and nipped at her with his fangs.

 

`This is just like what Trowa did to me!' Struggling even more to get away, Kane managed to get an arm free. She dug her claws into his face, pushing him away from her. Then, with all of the strength her human self could muster, she shoved him off of her and into the dashboard. “You bastard! What's wrong with you!” Kane grabbed his coat and ran off into the night, tears streaming down her face. But in her human form, she couldn't get very far. Only feet from his car, he pushed her down and whipped her over onto her back by her arms. He straddled her, letting his arousal rub her inner thighs as he parted her knees with his leg.

 

“Where do you think you're going?” Setsuna asked, deliberately running a clawed finger down her cheek. “I know you want me, I can smell it on you. Just submit to me, and then we can live happily ever after.”

 

A scratch formed on her cheek, where his claw had run. The little droplet of blood mixed with her tears as she spoke. “Setsuna, no! I'm not ready for this!” He ignored her pleas and ripped off the strapless bra to release her breasts from their captivity. Kane looked into his eyes and noticed for the first time that even though they were the color of fire, they held no warmth. The trusting tenderness that they once held only conveyed ice and no emotion.

 

“I want you and there's nothing that's going to stop me.” He licked the blood that had been trickling down her neck from his first bite mark. “I've been craving you for months.”

 

“Do you remember your promise to me?! The one that said you'd always protect me?!” More tears trickled from her eyes. “You said you'd never let anybody hurt me! YOU PROMISED ME!!!!”

 

The words penetrated his ears, and he stopped. Trembling, he withdrew from Kane and sat up. She didn't wait for him to say or do anything; she got up and ran to his car. Jumping into the driver's seat, she started the ignition and drove away, away from Setsuna.

 

He walked over to the parking space, where his car had once been. He touched his face as tears steadily ran down his cheek. His knees buckled beneath him as he sank to the pavement. Setsuna pounded the blacktop as he whispered though his tears, “What have I done?”

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