InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Past, Hidden Self ❯ Questions and Answers ( Chapter 27 )

I do not own any of the InuYasha characters mentioned in this fanfic. However, my friends and I own the OC's in this fanfic. I own Kane-Sakura, Setsuna, Trowa, and Ren-Tao. Steph owns Mika and Nakura, Nicky owns Michi and Ori, and Danielle owns Yuki.

 

School's out for the summer peeps! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to update a whole lot because I've been training to be a cook. I have morning shifts starting at eight and ending at about two o'clock. And this weekend's even worse. I have to work from 6:30am to about 1pm. On Saturday and Sunday. Maybe next week will be better.

 

Chapter 27: Questions and Answers

 

One week later…

 

They set out on their journey to find Trowa. They were a big group, consisting of a wolf demon, an incarnation of Naraku, a hanyou and sister of Miroku, a Thunder Brother, a dog hanyou with his miko, a three-quarters demon and his fiancé, and a barrier making demon. InuYasha wouldn't have come if Setsuna had stayed behind, but of course since he didn't trust him, Kane's older brother came along to keep an eye on the two love birds.

 

Kane took Setsuna's hand as they led the group. From the moment they'd left, InuYasha had been giving them the coldest stares he could manage. To antagonize him, Kane whispered in Setsuna's ear to hold her by the waist. He did just that, and then lifted her up onto his shoulders. She giggled when the movement tickled her stomach and sent heat to her core. Then she heard her brother snarl in rage.

 

“InuYasha, calm down.” Kagome whispered and jabbed InuYasha in the ribs. “They're in love and engaged to be married.”

 

“Yeah, they're engaged, not married. He shouldn't be doing that before they say their vows.” He said angrily. “I don't trust that cat.”

 

“You wouldn't trust any man with your younger sister.”

 

“Yeah, so?”

 

Kane ignored her older brother and took in the view as Setsuna rubbed her upper thighs. `If he keeps this up, we may end up doing our `vows' right here in the road.' She blushed.

 

“How much longer are we going to walk?!” Michi complained.

 

“We rested only an hour ago! We're looking for Trowa right? Well, I'd like to find him and just get this whole family business over with.” Kane said from a top her fiancé.

 

As suddenly as the day had been beautiful, the sky darkened with rain clouds. Setsuna lowered Kane as they glowered at Ori, but he was also clueless. The first rain drops hit her head as Kane said, “We should find shelter.”

 

It poured, and yet they found no shelter. By the time night fell, they were soaked. They set up camp near a hot spring which was good since they were all freezing. The men insisted that the women go first, except for InuYasha since he always wanted things to go his way. After the women were done, the men went to enjoy a nice, hot soak.

 

Setsuna sighed as he studied the springs. `This place would be perfect for mating, but I promised Kane I'd wait until after we found Trowa.' He contemplated.

 

Ori nudged Setsuna as he looked like he was falling asleep. “Hideik, you all right?”

 

Setsuna opened his eyes and saw that the entire group of men was looking at him. “Yeah, why?”

 

“You were turning red.” Ori stated.

 

“I-I was? Oh, it must be the hot springs.” He laughed. “Now that you mention it, I am a little light headed.”

 

“Cat boy can't deal with water?” InuYasha asked. “What a wimp.”

 

Nakura shook his head. “Just because he's a cat doesn't mean he doesn't like water.”

 

“That's right. It's just that I'm feeling a little dizzy from the hot springs.” Setsuna stated.

 

“If that's the case, you should get out. You may have high blood pressure from the hot water.” Nakura said, rubbing the knots out of his neck.

 

“Good idea Nakura. I'll just get out and I'll feel better.” When he tried to stand, he realized that a large part of him was still thinking about Kane-Sakura in an improper way. He blushed and sat back down.

 

“Gotta problem standing on your own two feet cat boy?” InuYasha asked rudely.

 

“Huh? No, I just started getting up too fast.” He closed his eyes, pretending to be dizzy. Even so, all he could see was Kane, naked next to him in the very hot springs he was sitting in. He hardened a little more. “Shit…”

 

“Do you need some help?” Ori moved over to him, but Setsuna opened his eyes and backed away, afraid the guys would find out he was sexually aroused. Ori and Nakura would never let him live it down; they'd tease him until the day he died. And if InuYasha saw? Teasing from his friends he could handle, but having Tetsusaiga used as a medical instrument to remove his family jewels and possibly even his own dick? There was no way in hell he'd let InuYasha take pleasure in stripping him of his heir producing body parts.

 

“No, no! I'll just stay in here until…” `Until my arousal goes down.' “…until the dizziness passes.” He adjusted his body in the water, only making things worse for him as his sensitive ligament felt the water rush past with his movements. He groaned.

 

“You don't look so good Hideik.” Nakura moved closer to see what the problem was. Setsuna only backed away further, into the shallow water that barely covered his waist.

 

`Damn it, damn it, damn it! If I move any further back, they'll see for sure.' Setsuna winced. `Only one thing to do in this case.' He widened his eyes in horror and pointed in the opposite direction they were facing. “Guys, look over there! It's a demon out to kill us all!”

 

It worked like a charm and as soon as they all turned to look and prepare for battle, Setsuna climbed out of the water and wrapped his waist in a towel. He sighed heavily and said to them, “Sorry, false alarm.”

 

They turned and stared at him as he left the springs.

 

“Hmm. I wonder what that was all about.” Ori stated, watching him leave.

 

***

 

She felt warmth, pure warmth emanating from a source so innocent it felt surreal. But it was there, there to keep her warm from the early autumn chill. Why hadn't she felt this before? Hadn't she wanted something like this since the beginning of time? Why was it now that it meant something more than the previous kinds of warmth she had felt in her past seventeen years of life?

 

The warmth shifted ever so slightly, to encompass her and keep her safe. She opened her eyes from peaceful sleep, noticing that even though she was lying on cold ground, she wasn't shivering. There was a man beside her, his arms wrapped around her body and holding her close. Kane's eyes focused on him, seeing his white hair gently mussed over his face from sleeping with it wet. She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes and trying to decipher what time it was.

 

Setsuna mumbled, and then woke completely. “Huh? Is something wrong Kane?” He rubbed her arms to keep her warm, knowing that the chill autumn nights carried a wind that made even a fire apparition like himself shiver.

 

“Any idea on what time it is?” Kane asked, noticing the fire was out and everyone else was asleep.

 

“It's gotta be in the area of about two in the morning I should think.”

 

Kane looked towards the steam the hot springs gave off. “Setsuna, the hot springs…”

 

“Yeah, what about them?”

 

She caressed his face in her hands and kissed his lips with fever and determination. “Don't think I couldn't smell your arousal when you came back from the hot springs.”

 

“What makes you think I was aroused by you?”

 

“Because you love me.”

 

“You wanna do that now?” He whispered. “While everybody sleeps only yards away?”

 

“Our love for each other is abounding, and I know you thought about doing it tonight…”

 

“What about finding Trowa?”

 

Kane scowled. “I know what I said. But the opportunity is upon us now,” She slinked her hand under his haori to feel his skin. “Whether we find him now or never, I want this opportunity before it expires.”

 

Setsuna felt himself harden under her touch. “Kane, slow down a little…” He groaned silently as she released the tension in his chest with a simple touch. “Let's get to the hot springs before we try going any further.”

 

Kane giggled lightly, almost like a woodland sprite, at his approval. “Setsuna, I love you.” She said as she stood, taking his hand to guide him to the hot springs.

 

“And I love you Kane.” Setsuna whispered as they passed under the tree InuYasha was sleeping in.

 

Hearing the two young lovers making their escape only as they went through the brush, InuYasha sat up and listened. `What was that?' He looked around, sniffing the air with his sensitive nose. But being too sleepy and lazy at the time, he opted for Mika to do the scouting. He grabbed a branch from above him and threw it at Mika, who groggily sat up and yelled, “Now what?!”

 

“Mika, don't be such a loud mouth.” InuYasha stated. “I want you to look around the area; I thought I heard something moving in the brush.”

 

“You know what; it's probably just a squirrel or something. Just let it go.”

 

“Go now Mika. You can never be too sure.”

 

Throwing back the tree branch at InuYasha, Mika stood and yawned. “Fine, but if it's nothing but a little squirrel,” She huffed. “I'm gonna make sure you lose sleep too.” And she stalked away from the little camp.

 

***

 

When they had reached the hot springs, both of the demi-demons were out of breath and their hearts were racing in their chests from anticipation of what they were about to do together. Kane laughed with glee when Setsuna hitched her up into his arms and twirled her around, making her stomach flutter with dizziness. When he slowed and stopped, she locked her arms around his neck and stared into his emerald eyes, a playful smile on her lips. Then Setsuna set her down, onto her feet, and continued to look deep into her eyes.

 

“Kane, I…”

 

“Shh…” Kane shushed him. “Just be quiet.” She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his chest now and up his back. When she started to dance to a rhythm that neither of them could truly hear, he joined her, rubbing her hips with his gentle hands. When she looked into his eyes again, they had calmed down, but fire still sparked in both of their orbs of emerald and amber. They stopped swaying and leaned toward each other to kiss the other's lips.

 

She was so gentle, nipping lightly with her fangs on his bottom lip. Kane was telling him that since this was her first time with him, it shouldn't be hot and fevered sex, but gentle, slow and beautiful. His fingers worked on her obi to start undressing his goddess. It fell to the forest floor, leaving her in only her kimono and sandals. He parted his lips from hers to let himself see her as he pushed the thin fabric away. She was truly beautiful, a goddess for his own taking. He wanted to plunder, to take until there was nothing more for him to take. But as she worked on taking his haori off, he knew that it was only right to take things at the pace that she wanted to.

 

His haori fell off to his sides and his hakama was now the only thing left that adorned his body. Trembling fingers undid the knot and let them fall to the ground. There were no barriers left between them now. Not a piece of cloth separated their hot skin. Nerves stopped Kane for a moment, until Setsuna put his fingers under her chin.

 

“If you want to stop, we don't have to…”

 

“No, it's all right.” Kane looked into his eyes. “`In hiding…a waiting to be found. This is a beginning, connecting the dream with a spirit renewed. To breathe the rhythm as the wind blows and to feel, which are with life. To sing harmonies of love, without words, to colors of our innocent heart.'” (Kitaro)

 

“What was that all about?” Setsuna asked, touched by the simplicity of the small passage.

 

“A Japanese philosopher's saying,” She touched his lips with hers, encouragingly. “About music and love.”

 

“I like that. Maybe that should be our saying for the wedding.”

 

He embraced her and cradled her into his arms. Carrying her into the springs, they let the hot water sink into their bodies and scare the cold away from them. When the water was waist deep on them both, Setsuna sat on a rock in the water and held Kane with gentleness. He kissed her little dog ears, moved down her cheek, to her neck and felt the flutter of her pulse. Continuing, he kissed her breasts. She arched into him. “Oh Setsuna…” She groaned.

 

`Slowly, slowly…' He commanded his body, even though his erection was pressing against her thigh and it was hard to control his demon instincts. And when her fingers raked his back, he almost went over the edge. He gently played with her breasts with his hands and moved his mouth to her stomach until he reached the water. From there, he made the trip back up.

 

Colors swirled in her eyes and her whole body convulsed as the orgasm ran through her hard and fast. “Setsuna please…oh please…”

 

“Not yet, koiishi.” He murmured in her ear. “Just a little bit longer.” His fingers rushed over her belly, made it quiver as he whispered sweet promises in her ears. With strong resistance, he put two fingers in her, moved them until she went taunt. Then made her turn to mush by kissing her senseless.

 

He'd known love before this. Setsuna was sure of that. But it had never measured up to the kind of love he felt for Kane at this very moment. She was beautiful, loving, and kind and everything he'd ever wanted in a mate for life. Atsuko had never matched this, and hadn't he known that from the moment he laid eyes on Kane? Of course he had, and now she would be his forever in only a matter of moments.

 

She was his miracle. His magic. His mate.

 

He cupped her hips with his hands, laid her back in the shallow water, and filled her. And as she went over the edge, so did he.

 

***

 

Why had she been so stupid? Mika couldn't stop berating herself as she watched the two lovers from a safe distance. Why hadn't she noticed that Kane and Setsuna were gone from the camp? Now InuYasha was going to be peeved at Setsuna for doing this to his sister. And it was all going to be her fault for not stopping it.

 

`Why should it matter?' She thought pensively. `If they get in trouble, it's not my fault.'

 

They just laid there, panting and holding each other in a cocoon of love and warmth. `I should just walk away, pretend I never saw anything and not mention anything to them about this. And if InuYasha asks what made that rustling noise, I'll tell him it was a freakin' squirrel.'

 

Kane moved underneath him. When Setsuna tried to move from on top of her to let her have freedom, she hugged him tighter. “What are you doing?”

 

“I'm too heavy for you. I just thought…”

 

“Mmh-mmh.” She hummed through her lips. “If you had been too heavy, I would've complained a long time ago.”

 

“We should wash ourselves off. I think our scents blended a little.”

 

“Mm? And why's that?”

 

“Because we weren't fully submerged. But I figure if we wash up in the hot springs water, our scents will be masked.”

 

He moved off of her. She sat up, looking over herself. “Oh Setsuna, I can't say…I love you so much.” Tears brimmed in her eyes.

 

He looked back at the scent of his mate's tears. “Kane, did I do something?”

 

“No, I'm just so happy.” She brushed at her tears with her fingers. “I wouldn't want to change any of this.”

 

There was a rustle in the bushes nearby and a change in the surrounding scents. Kane went taunt, anger piercing her eyes at the knowledge of whose scent it was. Setsuna smelled it too. He turned, covered Kane with his body to protect his mate.

 

“Kane-Sakura, is that you over there?”

 

“Trowa…” Kane stated angrily.

 

He appeared from the dark shadows of the trees. “There are rumors spreading in the wind that you come seeking me for some answers.”

 

She nodded. “I am.”

 

“Kane, get in the water. I'll get your kimono and obi…”

 

“I see I have interrupted something.” Trowa turned away. “I'm sorry about this, if you'll excuse me I'll wait for you to dress. When you're done, come over in this direction and we can discuss the matter that you need to know about.” He disappeared into the darkness again.

 

“Kane, are you sure you want to know about your family that bad?” Setsuna asked his mate. “I mean, he…”

 

“I know what he did to me Setsuna. My heart still feels a little raw from it.” She shrugged on her kimono, and turned back to her beloved. “Can you help me with my obi?”

 

Setsuna remembered the way she had been not long after Trowa had raped her. She had curled in on herself both physically and mentally. She'd disconnected herself from all others and gone into a deep depression. In some ways, he knew she'd never gotten over it. And he also knew that she never would. “Just take care of yourself. I'll meet you back outside of the camp. If you're not back before sunrise…”

 

“I won't be long.” Kane stated. “I'll get my answers and be rid of him for the rest of my life.”

 

After he'd finished tying the obi, he embraced her. “I'll always protect you. If he does any harm to you, any harm at all, I'll tear his head off.”

 

Kane held his arms that wrapped around her chest. “I know. I promise I'll be back before sunrise.” She pushed him away reluctantly.

 

He watched her go into the darkness, waited for her scent to diminish. When he could no longer sense her presence, he headed back to camp. He couldn't help but realize that both he and Kane had forgotten to bathe after their `marriage'. He knew he'd be facing consequences with InuYasha and the rest, but at least this time Kane had given her consent, unlike the previous time and with Trowa.

 

***

 

She wandered through the wooded area, using her keen sense of smell to locate Trowa. When she found him again, she stood and stared at him for a moment and studied him. He seemed sad, almost depressed about something. Was it because of the memories of what he did to her? She shook her head. No, why would it be about that? He probably knew the answers to her questions, and they weren't happy ones.

 

“Kane-Sakura, you've been watching me for quite some time.” Trowa turned, his sad eyes targeting her. “Come forth and ask whatever it is that you wish to hear about.”

 

She stepped forward with bravery. “I have come to ask about my family. Recently, my mate, Setsuna, almost died of a curse that Ren-Tao placed on him. It was a curse that had no way of being lifted, and when I sang, the sword that held the curse disappeared and he lived as you can see.” Kane thought through what to say next. “Kaeda explained to me that…that what I had done had been a priestess power. She told me that you might have known my family.”

 

Trowa nodded. “I did know your family. After all, we were engaged to be married by means of arrangement. Your mother, her name was Niwa Sakura.”

 

“Sakura? So she named me after herself?”

 

He nodded. “She was, in fact, one of the most desirable women in the land of the west. But she was considered untouchable.”

 

“How could she be untouchable?” Kane asked. “I'm here after all.”

 

“She was untouchable because she was a priestess, and a very powerful one at that. You said you sang and cured your mate of the curse?”

 

“Hai.”

 

“That was her power. And she had passed it onto you, just as you will when you bear a child.” Trowa moved toward her, but she stepped back. He smiled and laughed once to himself. “Still afraid of me, are you?”

 

“You would be too if I had been the one to take advantage of you.” She stepped back once more.

 

“Yet you gave your heart freely to Setsuna.”

 

“He loves me.” Kane stated. “You couldn't have cared less.”

 

“While it's true that I didn't love you like he does, I did care for you. And it was selfish of me to have taken what was yours to give when you wished.” He bowed. “I am utterly sorry for the pain I caused you.” He straightened and continued the topic of the conversation. “She wasn't a priestess like Kikyo was or Kagome is. Their powers developed over time, but yours were with you from birth. Have you ever noticed how your voice has had power over certain things?”

 

“Yeah, it stopped Setsuna when he turned to a raging full demon almost two weeks back. He…” She stopped herself. “Never mind.”

 

“Driven by his demon side, he almost did the same thing to you as I did.” Trowa nodded in understanding. “Your voice holds higher power than your mothers did. When she sang, she could lift curses and soothe the soul. But she could never speak and stop a rampaging demon.”

 

“What happened to her after she threw me down the well?” Kane was curious; she needed to know what happened to her real mother.

 

Trowa shook his head. “It's what happened before she threw you down the well that you need to know. After you were born, the priestess Miyo ordered an attack on her fortress. Ren-Tao was amongst those she hired for the samurai army she needed. She wanted both you and your mother destroyed because of what you were; a hanyou with priestess powers.

 

“On that day, you killed all but the priestess Miyo and Ren-Tao. Ren-Tao vowed revenge, and the priestess Miyo died shortly after from exhaustion of her power usage. You had defeated them, by crying out as a newborn infant. Your voice has only gained strength.

 

“After that attack, your mother had to run to escape from all the demons after your powers. Eventually, she threw you down the well to let you live, sacrificing herself in the process.” Trowa saw the shocked expression on Kane's face. “She saved you because you were a very precious child to her, her only child, her only daughter.”

 

“Oh.” Kane seemed almost shocked beyond belief. She had known that her mother had died to protect her, but she didn't know of all the carnage she had caused. Nor what she had dragged her friends into. “I have one last question.”

 

“Then ask, and I'll answer it to the best of my knowledge.”

 

“My brother had given me a marble on the day he found me and brought me back here. That was when I discovered that I was half-demon. How were my powers locked away like that?” Kane finally stepped forward. “Could she have done that?”

 

Trowa shook his head. “I'm afraid I don't know that one. I never knew your powers were locked away like that. It takes a tai-youkai to do a power lock-away like that. Perhaps your father did it, but for sure I can not answer that question.”

 

“Oh, I see.” She turned away. “Thank you for the information. That's all I needed to know.”

 

“There is one more thing I must warn you of.”

 

“Like I need any more warnings.” Kane said sharply. “Just get the hell away from me.”

 

“Demons can sense changes in hormonal balances, so I'd watch yourself if I were you.”

 

“You can smell Setsuna on me can't you?”

 

Trowa smiled. “Yes, but don't worry. Your brother will know no difference, for a while at least.”

 

“What will eventually make him notice?”

 

“That I will let you figure out on your own. Just be prepared for some major changes.”

 

He turned to leave, but Kane stopped him. “Wait. I have one more question.”

 

He didn't turn back to her. “Why do you seem so sad?”

 

“Sometimes one can not forgive one self for a sinful action they committed.” He sighed and looked to the stars. “My mate, she died only recently. Because my family found out she was not you. And they disowned me.”

 

At first Kane was going to say `Serves you right buddy.' But her heart was too big and she still cared a little. “And your child too?”

 

“Yes. I will not make the same mistake twice.” This time he did turn to her. “I will find someone just as you did.” And in a puff of smoke, he was gone again.

 

***

 

Kane came up to the sight just as the sun started to rise in the east. Setsuna was waiting by a tree and when he saw her, he rushed over and embraced her. “Did you find out all you needed?”

 

“Yes, I did.” She smiled as she absorbed the warmth he offered her. “We don't need to see him anymore.”

 

“Well, what do we have out here?” A deep female voice said from the other side of the tree.

 

“Oh, hi Mika.”

 

“Getting a little cozy out here aren't we?”

 

The demi-demons both blushed. “Yeah, so?”

 

Mika stood and looked Kane dead in the eye. And cocked an eye brow. “What are you celebrating?”

 

“I found Trowa. I smelled him earlier and went to find him. We can go home now.” Kane backed away as Mika got really close to her face and started sniffing. “Wha-what are you doing?”

 

“You smell funny.” She started sniffing all around Kane, but Kane only got angry and said as loud as she could, which woke the entire group up, “HEEL!!!”

 

Setsuna sighed and took her in his arms again. “We're going to have to work on that temper of yours.”

 

Temperature of Happiness

By: Angela, from their J-pop album `Voice of the Sky'

 

If you want to know the temperature of happiness

It would be very close to body temperature

It'd be similar to the dearness one feels in a finger

When you touch the cheek of your precious person

 

Since I'm a weak human, I can't live alone

I'm afraid of losing warmth

Although where I stand now is so unstable

Because it's fleeting, we are supporting each other.

 

When I happen to look at my feet

There is a little flower blooming nearby

I want to vigorously live like this flower

That took root in such a wasteland.

 

Overcoming the crying nights, bask in the morning sun

I learned to share joy

Since I don't seek much, I wish the present continued forever

Hold hand in hand with my precious person.

 

If you want to know the temperature of happiness

It would be so close to body temperature

It'd be similar to the dearness one feels in a finger

When you touch the cheek of your precious person.

 

When you caress your skin gently

You'll realize the warmth by you.

 

~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`