InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ His Past, Her Present, Their Future ❯ Kaze ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Still no. Still not wanting to. Happy for Takahashi-san to do the dirty work. ^___^ I just like twisting perceptions! Kukukukuku!



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His Past, Her Present, Their Future
Chapter 8 - Kaze

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Another mostly uneventful week had passed, the group traveling and chatting cheerfully. Well, everyone but Sesshoumaru. The Taiyoukai, outwardly, looked bored as ever, but inside even he was touched by the mood. He walked silently ahead of his ever-expanding pack, scanning the trees for any movement which might signify danger to them. Only two weeks into the journey and the jewel was a third of the way completed, fused around a silver chain on Kagome’s neck. The expanding jewel drew enemies from all corners, and some were even foolish enough to approach when they saw who accompanied the Shikon no Miko.

Sesshoumaru was inwardly cringing with the idea of gathering the shards so quickly. He was loathe to relinquish his companion; greater good or not, he couldn’t imagine going back to his previously empty and quiet life. He had spent so many years closed off, enjoying the solitude and not remembering what it was like to be involved in the bustle that accompanies other life forms around him. He didn’t regard the servants and Jaken, though pestering, was the only companion he had. His small green retainer had been with him for over a century now, he realized.

Then came Rin. How she came to him in injury, unafraid, offering him food she had to steal, not caring that he didn’t say a word to her. He had tried to resist the pull to her, but in the end, seeing her mangled body, he had lost the battle. The young girl had reminded him so much of Her. While he did not see his young ward in the light he had once seen Her, it was the purity of her heart that had made him need her around. Just like Her.

He closed his eyes as he walked, his mind trapped in the far past. She had been so pure and kind, no matter a person’s heritage she would take to them if they had any good within them. In the months she had stayed in his father’s castle, she had befriended even the most hostile of guards and servants, pulling them in with her bright smiles and warm heart.

By the Gods he had loved her. He hadn’t even been two hundred years old at the time, but he loved her nonetheless. He had spent endless nights with her under the stars in the gardens of what was now his palace, holding hands and speaking secrets to one another that they had never told a soul. He had been a naïve child, so open to her. It was long before he had perfected the mask that lay over his perfectly chiseled face now. He remembered the night he had kissed her first, the way she had lost the ability to stand after and blushed darkly enough that he could see it in the darkness.

Then…she was gone. As quickly as she had come into his life, she had left again. She had broken him for a decade before he had risen up once more, slowly forming the ice that encased him. She had been his chosen, his beloved, but she was gone.

Yes, in the subsequent years he had taken several bed partners; he was but a man. Through it all though, he had never kissed another but her. He refused to taint that memory for any random whore who sought his power and position. He didn’t mind his solitude for so many years, until Kagome had broken into his life like a tornado, reminding him of life before all his kin had been struck down and before his father had fallen.

He snapped out of his musing when he felt the wind pick up around them, swirling around the group like a lover’s caress. Sakura blossoms blew around them in a beautiful dance, but Sesshoumaru took no notice of such things and he halted in irritation, “Witch, cease your toying and show yourself.”

Kagura walked from the trees slowly, a small amused smile on her crimson lips, “Ah but my lord, toying is what I do best,” the wind sorceress quipped. She sauntered closer and ignored Sesshoumaru’s hand on Toukijin’s hilt, her eyes turned to the miko behind him, “I come here on business.”

“What business could you have here? I freed you from Naraku, so why aren’t you enjoying that freedom?” Kagome spoke, stepping to Sesshoumaru’s side and placing a hand on his arm, stopping him from drawing his blade.

“Ah, but Kagome, I am. I never imagined being free could be as wonderful as it has been. I’ve been to many distant lands in the last few months, seeing things I only imagined while under the half-breed’s control.”

“Then why are you here?” the girl asked.

“I am here because of you. I tried to find you a moon cycle ago, but I was told by the houshi and taijiya that you were…incapacitated. By the way, my condolences,” she said with a bow to the cringing miko.

“Thank you,” Kagome said softly, “But that still doesn’t tell me why you’re here.”

“Ah. Well, I spent moons free, experiencing life, and now I have come to repay my debt to you. If not for your kindness, I would have died alongside Naraku at the hands of your friends. But you allowed me freedom, and for that I must show my gratitude.”

Kagome cringed and balled her hands, “What is it with you damn demons and you debts? Arg!” she screamed, stomping her foot childishly, “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Sesshoumaru, I don’t want it. The things I do, I do because I feel they are right, not because I want something in return. And frankly, its insulting that everyone comes to me like this is why I did favors for them!”

Kagura met her gaze, “I mean no insult, but in youkai society, it is only right to repay your savior. Our honor is like yours, though you are the only human I have ever met to display it. My honor dictates that since you gave me a life, I must repay that.”

“Well, I don’t want you to.”

“You would insult me so?”

Kagome narrowed her eyes and clenched her jaw, turning to lock eyes with her silent companion. He met her gaze levelly, the silent conversation played out with their eyes making sense to no one else. The miko sighed in resignation, “Well, Kagura, I do not wish to insult you, but I will not allow you a debt. But I will offer you what Sesshoumaru offered me, and that is to help me. But not by duty or force, but by friendship,” inwardly, Kagome mulled over how she was now offering friendship to a second former enemy, and almost giggled.

“Friendship?” the kaze witch repeated, her eyes downcast. Even in her life before being absorbed by Naraku, she had been solitary. While in her captivity she had bonded with her ‘sister’ Kanna, but she had met her demise at Naraku’s hand a year prior. She never imagined a life beyond freedom, and maybe a few offspring of her own from the handsome demon lord in front of her. She mulled over the thought of a friend. She knew what it entailed from weeks of watching over the Inu-tachi back in the day, but she couldn’t fathom being offered something so precious by the girl in front of her. She raised her magenta eyes to meet the girl’s again and made her decision. This girl was unlike any she had ever met, or ever would meet, “Hai, I would be honored to call you friend.”

Kagome beamed then and nodded to her, then turned back and poked Sesshoumaru in the arm, “Can we stop for the night? Its getting late.”

Sesshoumaru ignored the assault on his person and gave her a nod, but Kagura cocked an eyebrow in disbelief. Was this the same Taiyoukai? It was strange enough for her to have found she was traveling with him, but to see how familiar she was with him was a little shocking. Internally she bristled as thoughts of the future father of her children being involved with a mortal girl, but laughed it off. Like the Lord of the Western Lands would ever do that, right?

The group went to work setting camp, and Kagura watched them in silence. The children clung to Kagome like a mother, following her and chattering about random inanities. Sesshoumaru’s retainer mumbled as he gathered firewood, and the always stoic Taiyoukai just sat against a tree and leaned back, his arm draped elegantly over his raised knee, as he observed his pack. Kagura felt a bit out of place as she watched.

Soon, Kagome had prepared, a meal of some strange smelling food, and offered some to the lord, who refused politely. Kagome turned to Kagura with a smile and held out a bowl, “Would you like some? Its really rather good.”

A little apprehensively, Kagura accepted the strange noodles, plucking one daintily between her chopsticks and putting it in her mouth. Her eyes widened a little at the bowl. It was good. She ate slowly, but finished every bit, thanking the little miko who was now settling the children for bed. She listened to the fairytale that she told the children theatrically, and smiled at the little scene they made. After a bit she grew restless and excused herself, taking to the skies for some relaxation.

“Kagome-chan?” Rin asked after the story was over and Kagura had left.

“Hai, Rin-chan?”

“Why is that lady here now? She took me away from my Sesshoumaru-sama. She isn’t going to again, right?”

Kagome smiled kindly, “No, Rin-chan. There was a very bad man who made her take you and do lots of other horrible things. But, your Sesshoumaru-sama and me and my friends made him go away, so she won’t do anything like that anymore.”

“That’s good,” Rin said with a smile and a yawn, closing her eyes as she curled up next to Shippou at the end of their long day. Kagome sighed wistfully and rose, striding over to Sesshoumaru and settling beside him, like usual.

“Its so nice to let Shippou have someone his own age to play with.”

Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow at this, “He is far from her age.”

“Nani?” she asked, confused.

“You do not know how old your kit is?”

“I never thought to ask. I know that age means something totally different to demons, so we wouldn’t be celebrating any birthdays, so I wasn’t concerned.”

Sesshoumaru bit back a grin as he watched her reaction, “Well, to inform you, he is at least eighty years old. Perhaps more.”

Kagome looked dumbstruck, “EIGHTY?! He’s older than my jii-san! Why does it look so little, then?”

“Because kitsune, for the first century of life, stay in a child’s form. It is the best form of protection for them. Once he reaches one hundred he will grow rapidly, a bit faster than a human would, until he reaches maturity. Then his aging will practically cease.”

“Ack! I can’t believe I treated him like a baby all this time!”

“He technically still is. He is the equivalent to a human child hardly older than Rin’s age in maturity, but he holds the wisdom of his years.”

“Ah, well, that explains his strange moments of clarity,” she said with a giggle, “Its strange though, to know my son is older that I’ll ever be.”

“You do not know that for certain.”

“I don’t wish to be that old, so I am. I don’t want to be old enough to not be able to take care of myself.”

“Hn.”

“Well, now I know something new. What about inuyoukai? How do you age?”

“He age as humans for the first few years of life, then the process slows a bit. Psychically maturing maybe one year for every five. Once we reach the appearance of an adolescent, it slows down to one year every twenty or so, then even more to one every fifty. Inuyoukai are…” he trailed off, “…were one of the most powerful races of demons, so our life spans are nearly eternal. We reach full maturity at five hundred years, and hardly age at all from there on.”

“Your father looked older than you, how old was he?”

“Approximately four thousand years.”

Kagome gagged and stared in disbelief, but saw no hint of joking in Sesshoumaru’s eyes, “Well, holy cow.”

“Holy…cow?”

She ignored his dubious look and asked another question, “You said inuyoukai were the most powerful race. What did you mean?”

“I mean were. Now there are so few of us left, it is impossible to call us completely superior. As a race we still outmatch any other, but such a dwindled population, we are no longer on top.”

“Why are there only a few left?”

“Many years ago, a huge war broke out between humans and youkai…there were many killed in their sleep, callously. It was dishonorable, but the humans didn’t care. While the youkai came out victorious, there were many causalities. Take that along with our lines’ propensity towards procreation with humans, and it has cut and dwindled out bloodline to nothingness.”

She winced at the comment about humans, “Is that why you hate ningen so much?”

He was silent for a few minutes, leaving Kagome to believe he wouldn’t answer. She was about to ask something else when his low baritone spoke out, “In a way, yes. It showed me that, as a race, humans are conniving, greedy, selfish idiots who are not to be trusted. That, coupled with the stench of decay and feces, makes me more than happy to avoid them.”

Kagome’s eyes slid down to her hands, this small sad movement not lost on her stoic companion. She sighed silently, “We aren’t all bad, you know.”

A single clawed finger reached for her chin and tilted her head up, her sapphire eyes locking with golden ones only inches from her, “I know. There are exceptions to every rule, and this Sesshoumaru considers himself lucky to have found two. You have a spirit all your own,” before Kagome could react to the uncharacteristically kind sentiment, she felt a soft pressure against her lips and her eyes widened. ‘AHH! He’s kissing me! Wow, his lips are soft…and warm... AHH! He’s KISSING me!”

Her eyes slid shut and she leaned slightly into the soft contact, which only lasted moments before it was taken away. Kagome felt a sense of loss, and her mind was racing. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, was back in his original sitting position, not a hair out of place, as if he’d never moved. Had she imagined it? Her lips still tingled, and she was sure she hadn’t.

Her heart still hadn’t slowed as she finally worked up the courage to look back into the Taiyoukai’s face. It was blank as usual, the marble features untouched, but his eyes blazed as he looked at her from the corner, emotions in them she was unable to decipher. Her breathing was barely calming as he turned his face to the night sky, “You should get some rest. We will start out early tomorrow.”

She blinked several times before nodding her acquiescence, standing, and walking to her sleeping bag. Why was he suddenly so silent? Did he not mean to kiss her? ‘Of course he didn’t, baka, you’re human.’ She sighed at the thought that her second kiss had been a mistake and closed her eyes, a single tear falling from beneath her lashes unnoticed. It was not, however, unnoticed by the silver haired demon that watched her, his cold heart constricting.


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A/N…aka RANT: Another installment of Katie’s Krappy Karnival! >_> Wow, that was dumb. Ignore me! Yeah, adding in Kagura is overdone, but I like her character a lot! Not to mention we can have some good natured jealousy! WOO! I need someone who can bluntly think the lusty thoughts I have of Sesshou, because Kags would never think the things I think. XD [Spoiler] I know, in the manga she is killed off, but like I said at the beginning: I am taking liberties with the all-mighty Takahashi-san’s storyline. The demise of Kagura and Toukijin being the biggest omissions. ^_^ [/Spoiler]

A note on ages - yes, Shippou is that old. Kinda. He’s at least fifty in the anime, because he was alive when the panther demons came the first time, right after InuYasha was sealed to Goshinboku. And InuYasha is a little over 200, according to Tenka Hadou no Ken, the 3rd movie. I think the 3rd movie is the only one to go by, because it was actually canon (in my opinion, at least). GASP! As for how youkai age or how old Sesshoumaru is…that’s just my thoughts. So yeah. ^__^

To my reviewers, thank you yet again! ^__^ I love reviews, I never realized why authors were so beggy for them, but now that I have some, I have to force restraint in order to not. :-D And a BIG thank you to Sessys..uhh (no internet+bad memory= …)..Sessyssomethingorother on MM.org, I loved your review, you made my day and got me writing this chapter. ^___^ I agree with you totally about Naraku, methinks its overdone to have him come back. Yes, he’s a fabulous bad guy, but be original!! XD No, he won’t be back. Honestly, there isn’t some big evil in this (that I know of….if one pops up, then its IT’S fault, not mine, I am but the humble servant to my imagination!) its mainly to be a romance. I’m a sap. ^__^ And no, Sango and Miruoku aren’t gone for goo, dbut they won’t be around much. I love their characters, and their relationship, but it just doesn’t fit in for what I have for this story. Wahh. Again, thank you Sessyswhatchamacallit, and I love you. XD