InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ I Do ❯ Chapter 4

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Inu-yasha climbed from the well, straining to see in the thick darkness. After stubbing his toe several different times, and letting flow a rather extensive assortment of curses, he reached the door. His heart couldn’t help but skip a beat as he opened it, and stepped into the clear, cool night.

For the first time in a year, he felt something more than regret. He glanced up at the house, both relieved and anxious to see a light on even at so late an hour. Inu-yasha searched for an open window - any way to get in, without being noticed by Kagome’s mother.

Finding the window, he mounted a tall, near-by tree. His thoughts were racing as he climbed through the window. Even without his hanyou eyes and nose, he knew the pitch black room he had entered was Kagome‘s. Taking a deep breath, he made his way to the light switch, and flicked the lights on. He blinked as his eyes got used to the change in light, and glanced around.

The bed was perfectly made, and the room was so clean that Inu-yasha could hardly believe it had once been strewn with text-books and clothing. Inu-yasha made his way over to the empty desk. Everything seemed so stark, nothing like the room he had, at one time, recognized. He took a seat in the chair, feeling oddly out of place.

Curiously, he opened the first drawer. Empty. He opened the second. This time, he found a small, black book. Pulling it from the drawer, he flipped through it. It seemed every line had been filled with words, and Inu-yasha was surprised to find his name mentioned countless times. He came to the final pages, however, and felt the jealousy well up as he read.

“…Together for two weeks…Yumi keeps telling me how good he is for me…Handsome…Smart…Even Gramps likes him…”

Inu-yasha put the journal back in the second drawer, with a frown. She was obviously moving on just fine without him. How had he ever entertained the thoughts that Kagome could miss him? He couldn’t suppress the brutal aching inside him. He had thought about her every day, for a year - her scent, her eyes, her kind features, her everything. And she hadn’t skipped a beat. Just like everyone else, she’d moved on and left him in the dust. He’d came through the well, swallowed his pride - and how did she re-pay him? By running off with some guy. Who, Inu-yasha added with a slight growl, was probably no where near good enough for Kagome. His human emotions were wreaking havoc. “I’m a fool.” He said angrily, “A god damn fool.” He got to his feet, glaring around the room.

He glanced out the window, considering going back to his era, but the indignation and discomfiture at the time he had spent thinking of Kagome was too much. He had to find her. He had to - to - Inu-yasha couldn’t think straight. And suddenly, even the oxygen in the room felt heavy. His wounded pride clouded his already ambiguous thoughts.

Inu-yasha slammed his fist down on the desk. Angry, he realized that he would have to wait until morning before he could even begin to track Kagome’s scent through the city. But the sound of the door-handle twisting surprised Inu-yasha from his thoughts. He glanced from the door to the window. What would Kagome’s mom think if she were to come into her daughter’s room and find a human boy?

But it was Souta who came into the room, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “Kago - ?” He froze when he saw the raven-haired Inu-yasha . “Is that you Inu-yasha?!” He said loudly. Inu-yasha put a finger to his mouth. “Shhhh!” The hanyou rushed to close the door behind the boy.

“Yeah, it’s me.” He replied. Kagome’s younger brother had grown so much in the year since he had last seen him. “Why’s your hair all black, and - where are your fangs?” Souta asked curiously. “Time for a change.” He shot back, with a grin, and Souta returned the smile.

“New moon, you mean?” Souta questioned him, smile widening. Inu-yasha mumbled something about Kagome’s big mouth before pinning Souta with a, what he hoped was, intimidating glare. The dark-haired boy just shrugged, his smile still in place.

“So, where’s your sister?” Inu-yasha said casually, breaking the silence after a moment. Souta eyed the hanyou.. Didn‘t he already know?

“Kagome left for college across the city, last year. She’s got an apartment with her fiancé over by there too.” He replied, after a thoughtful pause. Inu-yasha nodded, as though already familiar with this news. Secretly, he was burning with the same indignation he had felt before. Fiance? He knew that term. Kagome was getting married. ‘I’m a fucking idiot.’ He thought, turning away from the boy and towards the window.

“I can give you her address if you want?” Souta offered, noticing the odd expression on Inu-yasha’s face. The hanyou seemed to be caught between staying and leaving. Souta said the first thing that came to mind. “Between you and me, I think Kagome’s taste in men sucks.” Inu-yasha laughed, hitching the same old half-smile on his, despite the burning jealousy inside him.

Oh, what he’d have given to be able to rant at Kagome right at that moment. “Nah, I don’t need an address.” Inu-yasha took a seat on the edge of the bed. Souta silently wondered just how a human Inu-yasha would find his sister. Inu-yasha interrupted his thoughts. “I’ve just gotta wait a while. I’m pretty tired.”

Souta brightened at that. “Well, you can stay here until tomorrow if you want! Gramps won‘t be a problem, and mom’s got work.” Souta said, to which Inu-yasha nodded. “Thanks, kid.” With that Souta turned, and made to leave. “See you tomorrow.” Souta replied, before closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

Inu-yasha stared at the door a moment, straining to hear whether or not Souta had gone back to his room. After realizing human ears didn’t do well listening through solid wood doors, he gave up with a sigh.

Inu-yasha leaned back on the bed, head racing. So Kagome had her own apartment? A soon-to-be husband? He was so frustrated he couldn’t even focus. He had never felt more foolish in his life. Soon enough, one thought led to the other and he found himself dozing off. After a moment, his eyes fluttered open, and he climbed to his feet with a quiet groan. Kagome’s mom would think it awfully suspicious if the light was left on. ‘Pfft. Let her come in here and find me. That’ll give her something to think about.’ He thought savagely, ruining his brooding expression with a wide yawn.

Turning the light off, he flopped back down on the bed. A pang of emotion overwhelmed him, and Inu-yasha realized, once again, why he so hated his human form. From it’s overabundance of emotion to how easily it tired out - he could hardly take it. How did people do it? He was looking forward to waking up in the morning, back to his original form. He’d need that strength to keep himself from exploding on Kagome the very moment he saw her.

In three hundred and sixty-five days, Inu-yasha hadn’t awoke to the scent of Kagome all around him. His heart thumped madly in his chest as his eyes flew open. Kagome’s room. He was laying on his back, curled up under a thin blanket on Kagome’s bed.

He lifted his hand above him, staring at his claws absently. He was happy to be back in his hanyou formed. Taking a deep breath, he recognized Souta’s scent. The young boy was still in his room down the hall - which probably meant it was early.

‘Good.’ Inu-yasha thought, with a scowl. That would give him more time to find Kagome before she ran off to her college. And her future husband, a voice said in the back of his mind. Although not nearly as intense as it had been in his human form, the jealousy seemed to claw at him from within.

Despite his thoughts, he made no move to leave the bed. Kagome’s scent was everywhere, and he felt comforted. Not to mention, he thought, that he’d need clothes if he planned on going anywhere in this modern era. And something to cover his definitely obvious ears. He wanted to blend in, after all. If not, Kagome would throw a fit. She always used to…The same jealousy and regret rose to the surface again. He fought the emotions with a scowl.

When had he become so sensitive about Kagome? He rolled over, warm and content despite the nakedness of the room. You always have been, said the voice, and his scowl deepened. Even when she was walking out of your life…

Inu-yasha was startled out of his thoughts - and off of the bed - by Souta, who chose that precise moment to throw open the door and exclaim, “INU-YAAAASHA!” Surly-faced as he got up from the floor, he made a mental note to stop zoning out and missing all too obvious scents coming his way. Kikyo’s face flashed through his mind, and an uncomfortable sensation settled in him. Souta, however, was in no mood to wait. He gave Inu-yasha a impatient frown.

“Don’t you have - something to do today? School or something?” Inu-yasha grumbled, but the boy shook his head, the frown fading to be replaced by an eager, almost mischievous grin. “It’s Saturday, Inu-yasha, and you‘re back to your hanyou self.” He replied. Inu-yasha merely stared at the smiling boy. “Which means,” Souta continued, “No school. And lots of time for me to help you disguise those.” The boy took a seat at Kagome’s desk, pointing to Inu-yasha’s two, fluffy dog ears.

“And who says I need help?” Inu-yasha retorted, crossing his arms across his chest as he plopped down on Kagome’s bed. Souta laughed. “Well, unless you feel like walking around in that get-up, and having about a thousand people stare - “

“Okay, okay,” Inu-yasha raised a hand to silence him, “And what do you get out of this?” Souta shrugged, and Inu-yasha watched him thoughtfully. “Better yet, what do you want from me if you do this?”

“I never said I wanted something, exactly…” Flashing Inu-yasha that same impish smile, he stood up. “But I would like to go through that well sometime. I mean, it seems like Kagome has a lot of fun every time she goes.” Inu-yasha snorted. “Depends on what your definition of fun is.” This didn’t seem to put Souta out. “Well, it’s either that or I guess you can just wander through Tokyo with doggy ears…”

Inu-yasha scowled at Souta, thinking. Surely going back for a day with him wouldn’t cause too much trouble, and he really could use the help fitting in. It’s not like he knew anything about modern fashion - or much of anything in this era, when it came right down to it. Inu-yasha sighed, and Souta knew his resolve was breaking.

“Then it’s settled.“ The young boy clapped his hands together in a way very reminiscent of Kagome. “Let’s go!” Souta turned, racing from the room - and leaving a very confused hanyou in his wake.

“Go? Go where?!”

“You’ll see.”

Ree: Heh. And you thought it’d be that easy. No way I’m gonna let Inu-yasha find her just yet. There’s work to be done, first! As always, don’t forget to tell me what you think.