InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Impossible Dreams ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

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Author's Notes: Thank you so much for your response to this story! As always, it's a dream come true for me to see such support. And thank you as well for all your good thoughts and kind words regarding my surgery. It went well, although it took an hour longer then expected, so I was slow to wake up, but beyond that it all went as planned, and now I just have to deal with the pain that comes with recovery for the next two weeks, followed by four more weeks in a brace, and then four months of physical therapy. Not exactly my first choice for how to spend my summer vacation, but oh well, we can't control fate, right?

The reason I keep updating this story and not the others is because I had already typed up the first three chapters as rough drafts before my surgery, whereas the other two stories I have not yet. I just don't have the energy yet to work on a completely new chapter, so bear with me. I haven't abandoned them, and an update will be coming shortly, I promise.

This chapter begins to set the stage for the main theme of the story (if you already didn't know), and we meet yet another familiar face. I would love, by the way, some suggestions for the names of Kagome's mother and father. The way I see it, I'm so horrible with Japanese names that I figured I could just get advice from you!

And finally, several of you have asked exactly what the setting is for this story. I'm picturing it as kind of the south in times of slavery, with an influence of French revolution. But at the same time, Inuyasha is wearing his usual red haori…I just couldn't help myself on that one. Thanks for all the reviews! Enjoy chapter three!

FrameofMind: That might be my mistake, assuming kitsune referred to a child. But then, I've seen it used in that context before. Who knows…maybe we're all just wrong. Thanks for the review!

Miko Sakura-sama: Congratulations on entering the mess known as high school. Not to brag, but I just had to add to your comment that I am now officially a senior! YES! Anyway (blushes slightly) thanks for the review.

Trunksgirl: You're right, I didn't have Shippou in `Soul Therapy', did I?

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Title: Impossible Dreams

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Three

Rating: PG-13 (rated for language, violence, and implied sexual situations)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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Kagome observed the man with the silver hair and amber eyes silently, subtly, for the next few weeks, trying to avoid contact with him other then to offer the food she had started bringing to the slaves every day during their work. Every time it was the same thing, with him refusing to eat the food, but then eating it once she put it on the ground and left. He was puzzling, to say the least, and the more she observed, the more confused she became.

He was cold toward everyone who came near him, except for the man with the ponytail, who she had learned was called Miroku. But then, that was probably more just because the man didn't seem to take a hint and know when his attentions weren't welcome.

One afternoon, as she was sitting up in her room reading a book on the small window seat cushions next to her bed, she noticed him walking toward the well for a drink. He was wearing the red pants he had arrived in, though his matching red coat and white undershirt were missing, displaying for all to see his rippling muscles on his slender body.

Not having had much contact with men other then her father, Kagome was intrigued, and found herself watching him as though he were the most interesting thing in the world.

Whatever fate intended by what happened next, Kagome wasn't sure, but for some reason the silver-haired man happened to look up at that moment, water running down his chin, a gourd in his left hand, and met her gaze intently. For a time, they just stared at one another, and Kagome had the distinct feeling he was trying to figure something out, but then the blank expression on his face was replaced with a scowl, his amber eyes once more flaring dangerously.

Shivering, Kagome looked away, unable to bear someone looking at her like that for long. When she glanced back once more, he was gone.

"Kagome?"

Startled, Kagome jumped slightly as she turned around to find Sango standing in the doorway, gazing at her with a curious expression

"Yes?" She tried to sound natural, but her voice was somewhat tight. Her friend was clearly not fooled by her act.

"What's wrong?"

With a sigh, Kagome returned her gaze to the well, now sitting alone in the middle of the back courtyard, framed by garden flowers. "What do you know of that new man?"

"What?"

"What do you know about the new man, or demon, or whatever he is, with the silver hair and amber eyes?"

Sango sighed and moved to her friend's side, leaning against the wall casually, very unlike how a slave was supposed to act in the presence of a master or mistress. "Why would you ask me?"

Kagome shrugged. "Because you sleep out in the servants quarters, and I know you talk to them at night."

Knowing she was caught, Sango sighed again and met Kagome's gaze. "What do you want to know?"

"What's his name?"

"Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha?" Kagome tested the new name on her lips, marveling at the strange meaning behind it, picturing the ears on top of his head. "Dog demon?"

Sango shrugged her shoulders. "Don't ask me why he's called that, I certainly didn't name him."

"Does he have a last name?"

"Probably, but he hasn't told anyone."

"So, he's not very social?"

Sango gave her friend a strange look, and Kagome blushed slightly, realizing how it must sound for her to be asking about a slave this way. But she wanted to know, so she wouldn't stop now.

"Not really, he pretty much keeps to himself. Miroku is the only one who can ever get a reaction out of him. Well," she smiled to herself, "He and Kouga, but then, all Kouga gets is an argument. The two don't get along very well."

"Why?"

"I don't know, different personalities, I guess."

Kagome nodded and was silent for a minute, thinking about her next question carefully before asking it. "Sango, can you tell me why he continues to hate me so much?"

"Why do you think he hates you?"

"I can see it in his eyes."

"Kagome," Sango looked away for a minute, "You have to understand that he hates all people who aren't slaves. Heck, he probably hates just about anyone, to be perfectly honest. We were all normal people, and he no doubt had his life turned upside down just as much as you or I that day when Naraku overturned everything we'd ever known in our lives. So just be patient with him. Besides," she adopted a coy expression, "Why would you care so much anyway?"

"No reason," Kagome instantly went on the defensive. "I mean, he seems to like insulting me, or at least provoking me into a fight whenever we meet, and I just wanted to know why."

"So, you don't have any special feelings for him?"

"Oh, god no, he is insufferable."

Sango laughed at that, putting a hand around her friend's shoulders. "I agree with you on that one. Just be thankful you don't have to talk to him on a daily basis."

Kagome smiled, and was about to say more, when the sound of frantic hoof beats on the ground drew her attention to the far window of her room, which had a view of the front courtyard, and the turnaround.

Getting up, she moved quickly to see what was going on, and was surprised to see an elegant coach pull up next to the front steps, two men and a woman getting out hastily and walking up to the front door.

"Vistors?" Sango asked curiously, clearly just as confused as she was, and Kagome nodded her head.

"Yeah, but I don't know why. People so rarely travel any more." But then her eyes opened wide in surprise as the younger of the two men removed his hat, revealing a wealth of brown hair and kind blue eyes. "Hojo!"

"Hojo?"

Both girls stared, disbelieving, at their old childhood friend who they hadn't seen in at least three years. What was he doing here?

Kagome hastily put her book, which was still in her hands, on her bed before rushing out the door, pulling Sango along so they could find out together what was going on. The sound of voices drifted up the stairs, telling the girls that the guests had been admitted into the main hallway.

"Well, of course I'm pleased to see you, as always," Kagome heard her father say. She refrained from making an appearance just yet, hoping she might glean some information she would otherwise not be told. "But I can't help but wonder why you've made this unexpected trip."

An unfamiliar man cleared his throat before replying. "We had to get away, and you were the only relation we really have been in contact with."

"I understand that, but, what happened?"

"It was horrible," a woman's voice commented, and Kagome realized that must be Hojo's mother, and the strange man Hojo's father.

"What was?"

Kagome peered around the corner, Sango peeping over her shoulder, and together they watched as the strange man, tall with brown, but slightly graying, hair put his arm around a petite woman with long blonde hair pulled back into a bun. They were all wearing black travel clothes.

"The slaves at our home revolted," the man finally answered, and Kagome swallowed down her gasp of surprise.

"Revolted? That's impossible."

"I assure you, it has happened."

"But how?"

"During the night they attacked, setting fire to the barns and our home." The man squeezed the woman slightly as he spoke. "We barely escaped with our lives."

Kagome could see her father struggling for control, still remaining stiff, his posture perfect as always. "Where are the rebels now?"

"We don't know, they ran away, and are out there somewhere, probably planning their next attack."

She had heard enough by then, so Kagome stepped away from the stairwell and back in the direction of her room, taking several deep breaths to calm her racing heart. This couldn't be happening.

"I can't believe it," she whispered, leaning against the wall of the corridor, and Sango nodded in agreement.

"It's finally happening," she replied, and Kagome noticed that there was excitement in her friend's eyes, not fear.

"You think it's a good thing?"

Sango gave Kagome a look that said, `of course, don't you?' but then she also looked slightly guilty. "Well, you can hardly blame me, Kagome. If this revolt spreads, I have a chance at being free again."

"Free?" Kagome whispered, tasting that treasured word on her lips. "But…what about me?"

"What do you mean? You have nothing to fear, Kagome, you're already free."

"No, Sango, I'm in danger now more then ever. You heard what happened; the slaves set fire to the house, and could have killed Hojo and his parents if they hadn't escaped. You yourself said that no matter how kind I am to the slaves here, some of them will always only see me as the daughter of the master, loyal to Naraku, and thus the enemy."

"Kagome-"

"It's true!" There were tears in her eyes. "What if the revolt comes here? What if it comes while I'm asleep and I can't run away?"

"That won't happen!" Sango shook her roughly by the shoulders. "I'll protect you, Kagome, do you hear me? I'll protect you!"

But Kagome was shaking her head again, fighting back the sobs that were threatening to shake her body. "No, Sango, you can't protect me, don't you see? Ever since that day when Naraku killed your family, you and I were put into different worlds. Now, no matter what I do, I'm the enemy." She blinked, shivering slightly. "I'm alone."

Sango was clearly about to say something more, when the sound of footsteps alerted them that someone was coming up the stairs, no doubt to tell Kagome she was wanted to greet the guests.

Rubbing her eyes to rid them of the tears, pinching her cheeks so that they were slightly pink, Kagome put on a fake smile as her father appeared, and Sango marveled at how well her friend hid her inner pain. No one but her knew what Kagome Higurashi really went through every day, even though she seemed outwardly the perfect image of control.

"Father, is someone here?" Kagome asked in a sweet voice.

"Yes, your old friend Hojo. Would you like to come see him?" His voice was sweet in a sickening way, but Kagome just nodded, her smile still in place, lacking the energy to be the usual rebellious daughter.

"Of course, I always have time for friends." She moved away, and Sango started to come with her when Mr. Higurashi sent her a warning glare.

"Don't you have something to do, Sango?"

"Me, my lord?" Sensing that he was in no mood to be argued with, she decided to play along, and nodded. "Of course, I'll see you later Kagome." And with a bow, she disappeared down the back stairway leading into the kitchens.

Kagome wished her friend had not left her, but also knew she had no choice. Her father was probably going to be stricter then ever toward his slaves now that he knew there were the whispers of rebellion sweeping throughout the country.

Rounding the corner, she pasted her smile back on her face, and found it was almost genuine at the sight of her old friend, Hojo, who was currently smiling back, gazing at her in a certain amount of awe. Blushing slightly under his attention, Kagome cocked her head to one side elegantly, moving down the stairs with her father right behind.

"Hojo! How wonderful to see you!" She moved quickly to his side and clasped his hands in a warm greeting.

"Ah, Higurashi, you've grown up so much," he replied, still sounding like someone who was gazing at an angel, and not just an old playmate. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

"As have you," she replied, trying to sound casual. "Are you all here for a visit? I didn't know you were coming, or I would have had the cook prepare a meal for you." She decided to play stupid and pretend she hadn't heard a word of what they had been discussing a few moments earlier.

Hojo's mother was the first to smile, though it was tight, her tiny, round face pale from exhaustion and strain, though her bright blue eyes held a slight sparkle at seeing Kagome again.

"Our journey was rather, well, unexpected, Kagome, but we hope it won't cause too much inconvenience."

Still smiling, Kagome shook her head. "Not at all, I will have rooms prepared for you three at once."

And with that, unable to keep the mask on her face any longer, she swept out of the room with an elegant nod of her head and the excuse of tending to their comfort, all the while inwardly feeling stifled by fear.

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Sango made her way to the slave's quarters almost immediately after she was dismissed to tell Kouga what she had heard. This would mean serious problems if news of the rebellion spread too quickly; the slaves would be rash in what they did, and Kagome could get hurt in the process. The former demon exterminator intended to keep her promise and protect her friend.

Hastily knocking on the door, she was greeted by a confused looking Shippou, who was clutching a muffin that Kagome had brought him earlier that day in his hand. "Sango? What is it?"

"Shippou, I need to speak with Kouga." Her voice must have sounded urgent, because the kitsune didn't even ask why as he opened the door wider to allow her entrance.

Kouga was hastily pulling on a shirt as she entered, and she blushed slightly as she caught sight of his tan torso. She had no inclination toward liking the wolf man; she was just a proper girl.

"Sango, what's wrong?" His question confirmed she must have a look of panic on her face, so she decided to cut straight to the point.

"Do you remember Hojo and his family, the ones Kagome's mentioned a few times?"

He nodded, sitting down on his bed and taking a bite out of a green apple, another gift from Kagome. "Yeah, I've even met the guy once, the last time he visited. I had just arrived here a month before. That was three years ago." He shook his head to rid it of the memory. "Why do you ask?"

"He and his family are here now."

Kouga growled slightly, which surprised Sango slightly. Surely he didn't still harbor feelings for Kagome? She had thought that small fancy had faded with time.

"That wimpy man? What does he want? Hopefully not to ask Kagome to marry him again."

Okay, Sango thought, clearly she had been wrong about his feelings. "If you would remember correctly, Hojo had nothing to do with his parents proposing that the two be betrothed. In fact, to this day Kagome doesn't know that she had almost married the man, and I'd like it to stay that way."

"Whatever, he was happy at the idea of being engaged to Kagome."

"So what if he was? Kagome's a beautiful young woman who is single, as is he. They've known each other practically their whole lives. I don't see why this should bother you so much."

Kouga blushed slightly. "You know why."

With a sigh, Sango sat down on the bed next to him. "As much as I'd like to comment on that, for now I'm going to leave it be, since we have a much bigger problem at the moment."

"What is it?"

"Hojo and his family are here now because they were forced to leave their home when their slaves revolted, burning their house and nearly killing them."

The wolf-man opened his blue eyes wide. "When? How? Why?"

"I think we know why, and I assume it happened a few days ago, since the family just arrived today in their carriage. As for the how, I'm not quite sure. But then, when you think about it, there are more slaves here at the Higurashi home then there are masters, so it wouldn't be that hard."

Kouga rubbed his chin thoughtfully, taking another bite out of the apple as he thought. "No, it wouldn't be that hard."

Sango narrowed her eyes and slapped him on the shoulder, her voice grave as she spoke. "Don't even think about it."

"What?"

"About copying their example and starting a revolt here."

"Oh, come on Sango, you just said yourself it wouldn't be that hard. And once we were free, we could deal with Naraku."

"And I think you're forgetting a few important factors in this plan: how can you deal with Naraku when you and all the other demon slaves are kept under control by those diamonds?" She indicated the glowing necklace with a nod of her head.

He shrugged. "I'd think of a way."

"That's not the point, Kouga, and you know it."

"Look Sango, I've been a slave for five years, ever since Naraku pushed his reign of terror out toward the north and the wolf tribes. For too long I've allowed myself, a prince, to be told what to do and be a suppliant to a master. I won't have it any longer. I want revenge for what that monster did to my pack."

Sango sighed, knowing how he felt. She wanted revenge too, for the death of her family, but she also knew that to be hasty would ruin all chances of ever attaining freedom. "I want to be free of all this as much as you, Kouga, but if we're stupid and approach this without thinking, it could all go wrong."

"How?"

"The slaves at Hojo's home were so hasty to be free that they burned down the house with every intention of killing their masters."

"So? Mr. Higurashi deserves to die for his treachery; I make no show of pretending to think otherwise."

"But aren't you forgetting about someone else?"

He raised an eyebrow curiously. "Who?"

"Kagome."

Kouga's face went dark, and Sango knew that now he understood their situation better. If the house was attacked, Kagome would be in as much danger as her father.

"But, the slaves all love Kagome," he finally protested, "They would never harm her."

"Not all of them see her as their savior, Kouga, and you know it. I can think of one man in particular, a certain hanyou, who would gladly see her dead."

Kouga snorted in disgust. "That wimpy dog? He hates everyone but himself and that ridiculous monk of a friend. He's no example."

"Still," Sango pushed, "If his attitude was to spread, Kagome would be in grave danger, and I won't let that happen."

"I'll protect Kagome!" Shippou announced, and both adults turned to see the kitsune with his hand in the air triumphantly. They had both forgotten he was even there.

"I'm sure you would, kid," Kouga commented fondly, reaching out and ruffling his hair, "But that wouldn't be enough. We would have to find some way of warning her when the attack would take place, and get her off the land before it happened."

Sango nodded, but paled. "But can we know for sure when the attack would happen? I mean, it could happen at any time. Once the slaves catch wind of the rebellion, their courage will grow. Who knows what we can and cannot control."

"In that case, we'll just have to put our trust in the fact that they love Kagome for how kind she has always been to them."

"I suppose," Sango shuddered as an image of her friend in pain came to mind, "Though I wish there was some other option. None of the slaves are predictable as it is, but who knows what kinds of monsters they'll turn into when the prospect of freedom is dangled in front of their faces on a golden chain?"