InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Past, Hidden Self ❯ The Unexpected ( Chapter 31 )

I do not own any of the InuYasha characters mentioned in this fanfic. And hopefully everybody already knows what characters my friends and I own, so I won't mention that unless somebody asks.

 

Chapter 31: The Unexpected

 

Two weeks later…

 

Kane tossed and turned in bed, holding her stomach as she lay on her side when she finally settled down. She woke sweaty and feeling sick. Her sheets were soaking wet as she tossed back the covers and sat up in the darkness of early morning. The clock's lighted display read 3:38 a.m. as she got up and slowly made her way to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water.

 

The chill calmed her down and woke her at the same time. Kane leaned against the mirror with her head resting on her arm that lay on the mirror. `I haven't felt this sick since the seventh grade. What's wrong with me?' Her stomach did flip-flops and the nausea increased. `Holy crap…' She turned and lunged for the defenseless toilet and violently threw up into it. When she had only dry heaves left, she calmed down enough to call out for help. “MIKA!!”

 

It didn't take long for the wolf to hear her plea for help and come running into her friend's room. “Kane, what's wrong?” She sprinted into the bathroom and found her crying and holding her stomach by the toilet. “Are you okay? What's going on?” She knelt next the sobbing dog and felt her forehead. That's when the stench hit her. She shook off the instinct to scramble back in surprise and instead said evenly, “No fever, but you're dripping in sweat.”

 

“Mika, I've felt sick for the past week and a half.” Kane looked up at her with sad and frightened eyes. “I don't know what's going on, and I'm scared.”

 

She helped Kane stand up from her floor position and took her to the bed. “Lie down and take it easy. I'll have Michi get up and make some tea for you.” Covering her up with the quilt, she reassured her friend. “Don't worry, you're not dying.”

 

Michi rolled out of bed when she heard three frantic knocks on her door, followed by a, “Michi, get up! I need your help!”

 

She opened the door as she tied the sash on her silky blue robe. “Now what? It's almost four in the morning.”

 

“It's official; Kane's got morning sickness.” Mika stated as she worked her way to the kitchen. “I found her sitting next to the toilet with sweat running down her face.”

 

“Morning sickness? But it's only four a.m. and…” The monk's chocolate eyes widened. “Morning sickness?! You mean she's…?!”

 

Mika nodded. “Yeah, and what's worse is she doesn't even know it.”

 

“How long has she been like this?”

 

“Two and a half months.”

 

Michi frowned. “She said that she'd only been late by a few days when I talked to her.”

 

Mika turned after she'd filled the tea kettle. “She lied then. By now she'd have missed two periods, not been a few days late.” She turned the stove on. “When did she tell you this?”

 

“Just before me and Ori got off time-out two weeks ago.” Michi turned and glanced out the window over the kitchen sink. “We should tell her.”

 

The wolf demon shook her head as she put soothing chamomile herbs into the tea cup. “Not now. It's best we wait until she's calmed down and not feeling so sick. How would you like it if I told you something like that when you were throwing up in the toilet?”

 

“I wouldn't believe you.”

 

“Exactly.” Mika poured the boiling water a little later and added, “We'll wait until she's feeling better, and then we'll drop the bomb. That and we'll keep her home from school today for her sake. This is the first time she's actually gotten sick even though she's had morning sickness for the better of two weeks now.”

 

***

 

The phone rang as Mika unlocked the door to the apartment. “Okay, okay; I'm coming.” She complained as she picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

 

“Mika, is Kane there?”

 

“Setsuna,” Mika walked towards the dog demon's room and peeked in. She saw her sleeping under her covers with a bucket next to it just in case. “Sorry, but she's sleeping right now. It's best I not wake her until later.”

 

There was a pause on the other side. “Is she okay? She wasn't in school today.”

 

“Yes, she's fine. She just had a long night and was throwing up at four in the morning.”

 

“Maybe I should stop by and…”

 

“No, no. It's all right.” Mika stated. “She should be back in school by tomorrow.”

 

Another silent pause on the other side of the line. “Okay, see you tomorrow Mika. Tell Kane I love her.”

 

“She knows that already.”

 

“Just tell her. Jeez what an attitude.” He said just before he hung up.

 

Mika slammed the receiver just as Kane opened the door and groggily walked out of her room. “Hey Mika, who was that?” She asked weakly.

 

“That was Setsuna, calling to see if you were all right.” She sat on the couch and motioned for Kane to sit next to her. “So, how're you feeling?”

 

Kane sat next to her friend and hugged her stomach. “Better. I actually started feeling better just after you guys left for school, but I was so tired that I slept for the rest of the day.”

 

Now she was sure. All of the tell-tale signs were showing and soon Kane would have to know. Mika looked down at her feet and sighed. “Kane, there's something I need to tell you that you need to know.” She looked up at her friend. “It has something to do with your `illness'.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Kane, have you noticed how sick you are in the very early hours of the morning and by mid-morning you're fine?” Mika thought of the right words to say, putting deep thought into them. Then she realized, she doesn't say anything nice, nor does she put deep thought into the words she's about to say. “Aw screw it. Kane you're pregnant.”

 

Kane stared at her with big glassy eyes that soon filled with tears, angry tears. “God damn it, I knew it.” She sobbed. “Somehow I just knew it. My body has been acting strangely for the past two months and I've missed two periods.”

 

“Kane, don't think of this as something so horrible.” She decided that now would be a great time to say some wise words instead of rude ones. “You're carrying the life that you and the man you love created. You're going to be a mother.”

 

“I know, but what is my brother going to say? He already distrusts Setsuna and now…now he's gonna want to kill him.” Kane cried harder. “And what about Setsuna? Is he ready for parenthood? Does he even want kids?”

 

“Listen Kane.” Mika took Kane's wrists and looked her in the eye. “Why wouldn't Setsuna be happy about this? He loves you and wants to be with you forever.”

 

“Yeah, I guess you're right. But, InuYasha…”

 

“You're getting married in six months and by then it's going to be obvious that you and Setsuna have been busy. I recommend that we talk to Kagome and the others in the past and move the wedding up. At least by then, it'll look at least kind of like you got pregnant after the marriage.”

 

“Yeah, but how soon?”

 

Mika thought it over. “Next week at least.”

 

“Okay, I guess that'll work.” Then reality hit Kane on the head. “Oh god, I'm going to be a mother. And Setsuna, he's going to be a father.” She started crying again. “I don't think I can do this!”

 

“Oh come on Kane, you've got seven months to figure this out…”

 

“Don't you see?! I'm only seventeen years old! What will people think in school?”

 

`I don't have to deal with this; I'm out.' Mika tiptoed away from the living room and into the kitchen. Michi was already in there, brewing some tea.

 

“What's going on?”

 

“Um, she's having mood swings right now. I told her about her pregnancy.”

 

Michi put a finger up to her chin in thought. “I wonder, since Kane's a dog and Setsuna's a cat, will she have puppies or kittens?”

 

“Beg!” Kane called out from the living room. Michi fell from her stool and did a face plant on the floor. Angered, she started to yell out Kane's subduing word, but Mika stopped her.

 

“No! Remember the baby. She could lose it if she's slammed into the ground like you were.”

 

“But…she still has free use of ours! That's not fair!”

 

“I know, but she'll freak is she's harmed. Plus she's emotionally unstable. Hopefully, as her pregnancy goes on, her mood swings will get better and she won't want to subdue us as much.”

 

Michi cringed. “It's gonna be a long nine months.”

 

“Seven to be exact. She's already two months along.”

 

“Doesn't make me feel any better.”

 

Mika shook her head. “Me either. Just make sure you don't s-t-a-y her until we can find a way to remove the charm. The last thing we want to happen is to have her whelp hurt.”

 

“If I hear you call it that again Mika, I'll heel you into the bottom story of this building!” Mika fell into the floor beside Michi.

 

“This is gonna be hell.” Mika groaned.

 

***

 

 

In the boy's apartment, Setsuna lounged on the sofa playing video games while Nakura and Ori began dinner in the kitchenette. “Oh yeah! New high score! Eat that Thunder Boy!” He yelled out victoriously and obnoxiously.

 

“There's no way he's ready.” Nakura said as he cut up the carrots for the stew they planned on sharing with the girls when the came over in an hour.

 

“Ready for what?” Ori asked as he sliced some potatoes and then turned for the stove to turn it on.

 

“For the responsibilities of parenthood. He's too naive and acts like a child to be ready for or understand any of it.”

 

“Oh.” Ori stated flatly, continuing with his business with the potatoes. But his stillness turned into stunned silence as realization dawned upon him. “He's going to be a father?!”

 

“Yeah, apparently he impregnated Kane-Sakura two months ago. And that phone call only a few minutes ago, where I invited the girls over for dinner? Mika originally called to tell me about the chaos at their apartment, saying Kane now knows about her pregnancy.”

 

“The poor boy's gonna freak out when she tells him. Maybe we should help.”

 

Nakura cocked an eyebrow as he put the knife in the sink to rinse it off. “It's Kane's job to tell him. It's a very personal thing between husband and wife.” He put the knife in the dishwasher beside the sink. “That and how would Kane feel if she told him and he said, `I know that already. So what's for dinner?'”

 

“Oh I know that.” Ori looked at him sternly. “But he needs to learn how to be responsible, so here's what we should do; talk to him about it, but not drop the bomb. You know, just suggest subtle hints by showing him how to be more responsible.”

 

“Wouldn't it just be easier to teach him duty by getting him a puppy?”

 

“Yeah, but the apartment doesn't allow pets.”

 

Setsuna wandered into the kitchenette and grabbed one of the carrots Nakura had chopped. “What's going on guys? Didn't you hear my victorious battle cry in the living room?” He laughed. “Ori, there is no way you're going to beat my new high score, it's off the charts.”

 

“Actually, we were busy discussing something that we need to talk to you about.” Nakura said before Ori could come up with a snappy come-back related to the video game.

 

“Oh, what about?” The small carrot piece was popped into his mouth.

 

“Have you and Lady Kane gotten all your wedding plans ready?” Ori inquired.

 

Setsuna looked at him skeptically. “Most of them. Even though the wedding's in six months, we got things ready in case something would happen, like school or something. We were even thinking about picking up our tuxedos and dresses tonight after dinner.”

 

“Actually,” Nakura began. “Kane may not be joining us since she was sick from school today.”

 

Setsuna's face was downcast. “I forgot about that. Did Mika say she was okay?”

 

“She'll be fine, that is in time anyway.” Ori hinted.

 

“How much time?”

 

“Could be anywhere between a few weeks up to seven months. It all depends on how healthy she is.” Nakura said before getting elbowed by Ori as an indication that he'd said too much.

 

“Seven months?! What kind of illness does she have?!” Setsuna took two long strides to the phone and picked it up. “Why didn't she tell me?!”

 

Nakura gently took the receiver away from the distressed cat-boy. “It's not life threatening. Besides, she'll tell you in due time.”

 

Ori breathed a sigh of relief. “Setsuna, have you ever had a pet before?”

 

Setsuna blinked in confusion. “Why?”

 

“Just curious, since we were thinking of getting a dog or something.” Ori lied.

 

“Well, I did once. It was a frog I'd found in a pond outside of my house when I was young.”

 

“How long did he live?” Ori asked cautiously.

 

“Oh, I'd say about two minutes.”

 

“What happened to him?”

 

“That was the day I found out how flexible their legs really were. But I'd say he tasted pretty good, mostly like chicken.” He laughed again. “Why do you ask that now?”

 

They had no opportunity to tell him; someone knocked on the door. “Never mind, I'll get the door and you can explain later.” He rushed over to it and opened it to find the three girls. He greeted Mika and Michi with a smile of hospitality as they walked in, but stopped Kane as she walked in with one hand. “I thought you were sick.”

 

“That was this morning. I'm much better now.” She smiled up at him.

 

He sensed something about her that was different, like she was very fragile and weak. But there was strength in her that he could read in her eyes that reassured him. “Kane, you'd tell me if you were really sick, wouldn't you?” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I mean, the way the guys put it, they made you sound deathly ill.”

 

“No, I'm fine. Just something that I'll get every morning for a while until things settle down.” She moved into his body and wrapped her arms around his torso.

 

“Kane?”

 

Tears welled into her eyes. “Just hold me. I need you to just hold me.”

 

“What's wrong Kane?”

 

She smiled a little as his arms wrapped around slender body that would soon grow large with child in the coming months. “I just missed you. I need to be with you again.”

 

He tightened his grip around her and noticed how she smelled so different. He didn't understand why she did and pulled her away to look at her. “Kane, you're different. Is there something you want to tell me?”

 

Her watery eyes looked away from his. “Setsuna, it's probably best I wait until tomorrow to tell you. Tonight, I don't want you thinking of me any different than you do right at this moment.” She looked him in the eye again. “Do you still want to pick up the dresses after dinner?”

 

“Only if you're up to it.”

 

As they talked, Nakura stated to Ori, “I feel sorry for their child.”

 

“Why's that?” Ori asked with amusement and annoyance.

 

“It won't last one day in the care of Setsuna.”

 

Ori laughed. “You know what, I think you're wrong. I think he'll make a great father. With how much he cares for and protects Lady Kane, he'll do the same for his child.”

 

“Still, he's gonna freak when she tells him.”

 

Ori had to agree with Nakura on that one. “At least I'm not so careless as to forget protection.”

 

***

 

“Do you need help?” Mika offered her hand to Kane as she climbed up out of the well.

 

Kane sighed. “I'm pregnant, not injured.” She barked out as she put her feet on the solidity of the ground on the other side of the well. She sat on the lip of the well to catch her breath. “Besides, a little exercise never hurt anyone.”

 

“Well excuse me. I'm just looking out for you and the…”

 

Setsuna appeared from behind her shoulder just before she finished her sentence. Kane, nonetheless, said “Heel!” to make double sure she didn't finish it.

 

“Sorry…” She muttered from the ground.

 

“Kane, a little help down here!” Michi called from the bottom of the well after Setsuna had gotten out. Kane looked down and saw the monk holding all of the dresses for the wedding. She stood to give her a hand, but Mika stopped her by holding her ankle.

 

“Don't sweat it Kane. I'll get it.” Mika jumped down into the hole and brought up both Michi and dresses.

 

“I could've done it.” Kane retaliated. As she complained, Setsuna came from behind her and wrapped his arms around her upper torso and came to rest just below her breasts. His head rested in the crook of her neck.

 

“Isn't there something you wanted to tell me today?” He whispered as he planted sweet kisses down her neckline that made her shiver.

 

Ori, Nakura, Michi and Mika shook their heads as they looked at Setsuna in sympathy. As the two lovers began to walk away, Mika said, “I'll follow at a distance so I can pick up the pieces.” But she stopped when the others glared at her.

 

“You just wanna spy on them!” Michi held out her whistle to subdue the wolf demon with a high-pitched shrill.

 

“Hah! Like you don't want to!” Mika crossed her arms across her chest. “I'll bet after I left, you were all going to follow at a distance just to see how he reacts.” All eyes turned to the ground in guilt. “At least I tell it like it is.”

 

“But we just wanted to see how he'd react too.” Michi piped in.

 

Mika huffed in resignation. “Fine, you guys can tag along. Just keep quiet.”

 

Setsuna and Kane came to a small clearing next to the stream to talk. “I think you'd better sit down for this.” Kane motioned he take a seat. After he'd settled down onto the green grass, she too sat beside him and took one hand in hers.

 

He squeezed her hand and kept his intense gaze fixed on her face. “Is this news really that bad?”

 

“It all depends on how you look at it. And it may be more of a shock than bad news.” She turned away from him for a moment. “How do I put this?”

 

From downwind, her friends all watched in anticipation for Kane to lay the news on her husband. Michi started to giggle from the thoughts of his reaction. Would he pass out? Perhaps he'd just stare at her and never get knocked out of it until the day the child was born. Even better, he'd start babbling in unintelligible words then pass out.

 

“What's so funny monk?” Mika hit her on the head to shut her up.

 

“Nothing, I just keep seeing how his reaction could turn out. That and I can't see him being a father.” She burst out laughing.

 

Everybody covered her mouth and whispered in a hushed tone, “Shut up!”

 

“Just tell me Kane. No matter what it is, I'll still love you.” Setsuna leaned forward.

 

Kane took a deep breath in. `Please don't let it be one of his dense days.' “What do you think of having an heir.”

 

He blinked twice. “The air here is okay; is that what's bothering you? The air in the future?”

 

“No, no. A different kind of heir.” She emphasized `heir', praying he understood.

 

“There are types of air? I didn't think that was possible.” He smiled, squeezing her hand. “Back to your condition.”

 

`He is so dense.' Anger began to build in Kane like steam. “Please try to understand what I'm trying to tell you. Do you remember what happened a little over two months ago?” She exasperated.

 

“Remember what? Was I supposed to do something?” He stopped to think as Kane's anger grew to an enormous amount. “Oh wait! We got married! Is it our anniversary?”

 

Kane took in another deep breath. “Very good. Now, something was produced through our unity.”

 

“Produced? Oh no, did you catch one of those STD's that we learned about in health class?!” He stood and brought her up with him. “Why didn't you tell me sooner! We need to get to the hospital so you can get treatment right away!”

 

Kane's temper flew off the charts. “An STD?! No, you BAKA!” She shoved him back down on the grass. “Why did I have to fall in love and mate with the most dense three-quarters in the universe?! Now listen to me as I tell it to you in a way you might understand!” She took in another deep breath and let out her rage. “I'm pregnant, with child, carrying your heir, EXPECTING A BABY!!” She yelled in his face. “I'm going to have a BABY! Your baby!!”

 

The gang, along with Setsuna, looked on in horror as her hormones took control of her emotions. They knew that if Setsuna didn't get it by now, there was no hope for him. “She's lost it.” Mika whispered.

 

“Wha…!” Setsuna gaped at her like she was some crazy person after his life.

 

“You're sperm plus my egg equals baby! There's a living thing that you and I created two months ago growing in my womb! Is there any other way that you wish me to explain it to you, you thick headed baka?!” She turned away from him and sat with her back to him, finally satisfied that he'd gotten the picture.

 

After the sheer horror he'd been through, he sat in stunned silence. Then reality hit him. “You're…pregnant?”

 

Kane sighed. “Do you want me to go through my explanation again?”

 

“N-no thank you. I got it. But, that means…”

 

“Yeah, we're screwed. My brother's going to kill us.”

 

Setsuna got up and knelt in front of Kane. “No, that we're going to be parents.” He closed his eyes. “Our love created something special, and if InuYasha tries to take it away from us, he's got another thing coming.”

 

“But…” Tears gathered in her eyes. “I'm not sure he even approves of us being engaged. What's he going to think when he finds out that you got me pregnant?”

 

“I think you need some rest.” He picked her up and carried her bridal style away from their friends who were still in shock. “And we'll figure something out.”

 

Nausea took over Kane suddenly. “Could you put me down? I need to…” She covered her mouth and ran out of his hands to heave into the bushes.

 

“Are you okay?” He knelt beside her. “What's going on?”

 

She wiped away the spittle on her mouth with the back of her kimono sleeve and sighed. “It's just morning sickness, it should pass in about a month.” She spit out excess flavor and winced. “Damn it, I feel so weak…”

 

Setsuna hefted her into his arms once again. “I think Kaeda should take a look at you. We'll discuss how to handle the wedding date situation afterwards.”

 

“Actually, I have the perfect plan. Our friends may not like it, but it'll get our butts out of harms way, courtesy of my brother.” Kane laughed half-heartedly. “Setsuna, are you…disappointed?”

 

“Disappointed with what?”

 

“That I'm pregnant.”

 

Setsuna stopped walking and looked down at her with love and seriousness in his eyes. “Kane, there's no way I'm disappointed with this. Yes, we're young and still in school, but I love you.” He brushed his lips over hers gently. “And this baby, our baby, will also be loved. I've always wanted a family.”

 

Tears gathered in her eyes. “Oh Setsuna, I love you so much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly as she sobbed. “I…I don't know where I'd be without you.” Hot tears spilled onto his neck as he let her cry and comforted her with merely being there.

 

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

 

Hello fellow fanfic readers!

 

I hope you're enjoying reading `Hidden Past Hidden Self' as much as I'm loving writing this. This story has become very dear to me as it has progressed and I'm pleased to announce that I am making another movie for this fanfic. Remember the first one, `Freak Out!'? If you haven't read it, you don't know what you're missing. I'll admit, it's not my best work, but it has a great story line, plot and it'll keep you on the edge of your seat (at least, that's what my friends said it did). This second movie has had no previous announcements because of the fact that it greatly involves Kane's pregnancy, which of course wasn't revealed until a little earlier. So, I'd like to give you all a little sneak-peak into the second movie, which has been officially titled, `Only Time…'

 

Kane's life is great. She's married, pregnant, and very happy living in the present and going to school with her friends. But one day, a school field trip changes everything. They discover that there's a mysterious well on the shrine grounds that they're visiting, a well that can change the past and the present because on one little change in events of the past. The only thing you have to do; fall into the well. Do so and your life will be forgotten and those connected to you will either forget about you or have their lives altered as well. When Kane falls into the well by accident, the entire group is transported back into the Sengoku Jidai and given different lives: Mika's back at home with Koga, Michi's engaged to be married to Akutou, another monk, and Setsuna has Atsuko again?!

 

Kane is nowhere to be found, until she attacks her brother again. She's pure evil, chasing after the coveted Shikon Jewel Kagome carries in order to become full demon. She captures Setsuna and takes him prisoner, only to seduce him and get him into her bed. But sleeping with her before she falls in love with him again could mean the end of their chances at changing everything back to the way it was…and they only have four months to do it since both Mika and Michi are expecting! If they have the babies before they solve this mystery, everything is permanent.

 

***

 

Kane rested her elbows on the table. “It's called Yasukuni Shrine.”

 

“Whatever…” Mika took out her pamphlet and read it over. “Says here that the shrine carries a legend.”

 

Yuki leaned in. “What kind of legend?”

 

“It says here that `Located on these sacred grounds is a mysterious well known as Nakushita Omoide Ido. It's said that anyone who falls into this dry well could ultimately change the past.' What a load of bullshit.” Mika closed the pamphlet. “Lost Memories Well, keh! Bullshi…”

 

“Now Mika,” Kane hushed. “Remember the Bone Eater's Well? Kagome proved that the well's legend was true about monsters going through a time slip. It's possible that this one's just like that.”

 

“Says you. Why don't you prove it?”

 

“Are you insane?! If that thing's for real, falling into it could dramatically alter the future! Plus I'm pregnant! Jumping into the well could cause injury.” She rested a protective hand over her belly. “I won't risk it.”

 

“Chicken.” Mika stated as she started to write down some notes in her notebook. “Well, it don't matter anyways. You'd probably just land on the bottom and ask for help to get out.”

 

***

 

“Pull her out of that class. Sports and pregnancy don't go together.” Setsuna stated.

 

Mika put her hands on her hips. “Will you listen to me?! She's in no immediate danger. If she was, I would've told her to drop that class at the beginning of semester.”

 

“She got hurt today!”

 

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, to protect herself! When her stick fell from her grasp, she turned her back to stop the puck. That's how she got hurt, and because of her `injury', if you can even call it that, the teacher took her out of the game.”

 

“I've just had this foreboding feeling concerning her.” Setsuna closed his eyes. “For the past few days, I've felt this…this weird feeling…”

 

“You're just concerned for your…”

 

“It's not like that! Ever since she told me about that field trip she's going on tomorrow, I've had an uneasy feeling. I want to stay by her side at all times to protect her from this unseen danger.” Setsuna strolled over to the crib and touched the blanket folded with in.

 

Mika sighed. “If you want, I'll stay by Kane for the whole trip. And after that, if you still feel uneasy, then we'll force her out of gym.”

 

“Thanks Mika,” Setsuna smiled with reassurance. “I know you'll take good care of her.”

 

***

 

Mika brushed her school uniform off. “How about that well shrine I mentioned yesterday?”

 

Kane shrugged her shoulders. “I guess. Just don't get any ideas on pushing…” She paused and grimaced. Resting a hand on her belly, she breathed deeply through her nose.

 

The wolf watched as Kane held onto the stone column before her for support. “What's wrong?” Mika walked up to her and looked at her face. It was filled with panic.

 

Voice shaking, Kane replied, “I don't know. This sudden pain appeared in my stomach.”

 

Not liking the sound of this, Mika stated, “But your two months preterm; it's too early.”

 

“I don't think its labor.” Her breathing evened out and she stood up straight again.

 

“You're probably right. Your body isn't releasing a distress scent yet, so I'm guessing…” Then Kane groaned and hunched over again.

 

“No not now! This can't happen now, it's too early!” She bent her knees and sat on the floor.

 

***

 

The whistle blew, signifying a rotation and to bring the ball to the center. Nakura and Setsuna were now facing off in the center while Ori and Akira stayed back on defense. The two youkai stared each other down and waited for the second whistle to be blown.

 

At the shrill of the whistle, both boys' sticks slapped at the ball, but Nakura was just a tad bit faster. He swatted it to a team mate and ran towards him to get a pass.

 

When the clumsy player tried to make a pass, a shiver so violent it could've been felt on the floor went down Setsuna's spine. As he stood there, eyes wide but unseeing and shaking, the ball came flying from the other player.

 

“Hideik, get down!” Ori yelled, but the Neko continued to stand motionless, until the ball smacked his forehead and he fell back, unconscious.

 

***

 

“Too much sake, I assume?”

 

Mika stomped away from her brother. “No; the last thing I remember is Kane-Sakura falling into the well in Tokyo and then…” A startled gasp escaped from every mouth in the cave. “What? Did I say something offending?”

 

“Did you say Kane-Sakura?” Koga inquired.

 

“Yeah, what of it?” She looked at her brother again.

 

He approached her and took her arm. “You hanged around her? And she didn't kill you?”

 

“Normally she doesn't try to do that unless I…why the serious face, bro?”

 

“She's pure evil Mika. I recommend you not go near her again.”

 

“Evil?” Mika let out a gut-busting laugh. “That's a good one. Her mood swings may make her seem evil, but she's just in a condition; she's not really evil.” Mika laughed harder at the thought. But nobody else was laughing.

 

***

 

InuYasha leaned against the Goshinboku for support as he breathed heavily. A drop of blood ran down his face with sweat and he wiped it away as it trickled near his mouth. `Damn it. I won't hold out much longer. She's gotten stronger.'

 

He'd managed to lose his sister, for the moment. InuYasha figured he had only minutes before she picked up his scent trail and caught up. He needed a plan, and fast.

 

Yuki and Akira appeared from the foliage. “InuYasha, what's going…?” But as she asked her question, a loud cry came from a few feet away.

 

“Sora no Daimiyando!” Diamonds kicked up dust as they made their way towards InuYasha.

 

A barrier of pure blue stopped the assault. Once the dust started to settle, Yuki put her barrier down and rushed over to her half-brother. “Are you okay?”

 

“He might be now,” A female's voice stated. “But soon he won't be.”

 

As Yuki helped InuYasha, Akira walked towards the voice. “What do you want with him? Who are you?”

 

A shadowed figure moved in the dust. “I don't think you're the one who should be asking that.” The figure came into the fading sunlight to reveal herself. Her black hair was pulled up high in a ponytail and she wore armor; skimpy armor that covered her breasts, wrists, and around her hips. The silver plated armor moved with her body in a seductive manner as she walked forward, barefoot with sheer silk caressing her legs from her bottom piece of armor. Her amber eyes shifted between Akira and Yuki and her little dog ears on top of her head twitched in annoyance. “You are, after all, defending my prey from imminent death.”

 

“Kane,” Yuki breathed, standing to face her. Color drained from her face when no recognition crossed Kane's features, but it blossomed red in anger. “How can you talk about your brother like he's just an animal!?”

 

***

 

There you go, the sneak peek into `Hidden Past, Hidden Self The Movie 2: Only Time…'. I hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to reading it in the near future. Don't worry, the character of Akira comes along a little later in the real story and you'll get to know him a little before I start the movie. I plan on the write-up being finished by October, so hang tight since it may be a while. School has started and the musical is in full swing. We'll see how things progress over the coming weeks.