InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In the Beginning ❯ Part Two ( Chapter 2 )

“Inuyasha!”

 

His ears perked up at the sound of Kagome's voice but he made no move to head towards her or answer the girl. It would irritate her, he knew, but he was beyond caring at that moment. The pain in his back had steadily grown worse and it made even simple things, like walking, nearly impossible. He was quite irritable because of it, worse than usual. It was best if he didn't say anything.

 

`What the hell is wrong with me?' he wondered, scowling at the branches of the Goshinboku tree. He shouldn't have been in any pain, even after having a tree branch sticking into his back for an entire night. His demon blood would see to it. Even during the daylight hours of the night he turned human, he wouldn't have been in this much pain. His human blood didn't truly affect him until after nightfall. Inuyasha frowned as he thought about it.

 

`Tonight's the night of no moon . . . and I didn't sleep outside last night. I slept in Kaede's hut last night. It was the night before when I slept out here. My back shouldn't be hurting me . . . at all!'

 

Of course, he knew if he were to ask Kagome about it, she'd be able to tell him all sorts of things about muscles, the body, and everything else he never wanted to know about bodily functions thanks to those books that she read from her own time. Her knowledge because of those books were impressive, and Inuyasha had no doubts that they'd help her to become an excellent healer someday. However, that knowledge didn't really pertain to him. Yes, he had human features - he'd never have another form like Sesshomaru did - but his demon heritage had altered his human features and the way his body reacted to things like injuries, diseases, and poisons. In his opinion, the books that Kagome had to study from weren't good for much of anything when it came right down to it. Maybe they were good for using in helping other ningens but not for helping him.

 

`Still, there has to be a reason for this . . . it has to have some kind of a meaning . . . but who can I ask that would tell me?'

 

For a moment, he considered seeking out his older brother, Sesshomaru. The older youkai would possibly know what ailed him. After all, Sesshomaru had lived for a very, very long time and knew everything about their heritage. Inuyasha knew very little about his demon blood. Everything he'd learned had been discovered and quite by accident, at that. He had no doubts that Sesshomaru, if he were willing, could tell him what the pain in his lower back meant. Then he quickly dismissed the notion.

 

Seeking Sesshomaru out, he reasoned, would not only be an exercise in futility but would also result in a fight. His half-brother would taunt him, call him weak, and blame the pain on his human blood. Sesshomaru's words would rile him and send him into a rage that would cause him to attack. In his efforts to attack the older youkai, the pain would grow even worse and it was the pain that had Inuyasha worried. He knew he needed to seek out someone who wouldn't mock him for his heritage and to give him the answers he needed. That excluded Shippou and Kirara, leaving only one option for him.

“Myouga,” he breathed, his teeth clenched and eyes fixed on the branches Goshinboku tree. He didn't relish the thought of having to seek the old flea out, and he didn't necessarily believe that his father's old retainer would give him a straight answer. Myouga was strange like that.

 

“Pardon?”

 

Inuyasha glanced at Kagome from the corner of his eye, noting her confused yet worried expression. He knew that she was there. He'd heard her approaching him after she'd made it through the underbrush, and he could knew that he'd thrown her for a loop by saying the old flea's name. She'd probably been expecting him to say Kikyou's name since he was in front of the Goshinboku. Of course, he'd never tell her about the pain in his lower back. In his mind, it was his concern and his alone. No one could help him. Sure, she'd probably try prying to find out what was wrong with him, probably even “sit” him for not telling her right away, but she'd never completely understand. Thanks to her own time, she'd become quite sheltered, truly unaware of how things were.

 

“Nothing,” he grumbled, his eyes snapping back to the branches of the Goshinboku. “What do you want?”

 

He could see her reaction in his mind's eye. She recoiled at his harsh tone before her anger started to hit her. He felt her ire radiating from her and knew in that moment that she was glaring at him. It suited him fine . . . for the moment. As long as she didn't start crying . . .

 

“I just came to see if you were all right,” Kagome snapped. “Especially after Shippou said something about your back hurting this morning . . .”

 

Inuyasha had to fight to keep his growling, and his anger, contained. There was a reason why he tried to hide things from the kitsune. This was one of them. He should've known that the runt would've said something to Kagome. Probably even told Sango and Miroku. After all, the kit had told Miroku about the first time he'd seen Inuyasha turn into a human. It was a wonder the entire world didn't know his secrets because of the kitsune. Of course, he'd probably nearly gutted the kit, too, in his nightmare-ridden sleep but still . . . Shippou didn't need to go blabbing every little thing to Kagome or the others. There were things he'd rather they didn't know.

 

“I'm fine,” he growled, slowly turning to face her. “In fact, nothing's wrong so stop your worrying and just leave me alone.”

 

She looked so taken aback that Inuyasha had to turn away again. If he saw her tears, he'd cave. He knew it. He had to leave now, before his resolve weakened.

 

“Inuyasha . . .”

 

Her tone held all the warning he really needed. Though she was hurt, she could mask it behind anger. Not as well as he could but she could still put on a good front. However, instead of trying to remain calm and be reasonable about what he wanted, his anger bubbled to the surface, quicker than what it normally would. It was habit, really. Instinct. He'd learned that baring his fangs and flashing his claws in angry defiance at people got the mobs of angry villagers away from him. He could move faster than they could and they were more concerned with saving their own pathetic hides than trying to learn the truth. Everyone had refused to listen to him, after all, especially when he'd been innocent of most of the crimes they'd accused him off. He couldn't help it when his anger came to the surface to keep people away from him. It was just how he was.

 

“Save it,” he snarled, keeping his gaze averted. “I'm leaving. I'll be back sometime tomorrow.”

 

Before she could respond and gathering as much strength and dignity as he could muster, Inuyasha strode away from her, away from the village, and in the direction of Totosai's cave.

 

“But . . .”

 

“I'll be fine! Quit your worrying and get back to the village. I'll be back tomorrow night!”

 

`I've taken care of myself before you came along . . . I can do so again for a day or two.'

 

Ignoring his protesting back, Inuyasha sprinted off . . .

 

* * *

 

Kagome watched as Inuyasha took off into the distance. She knew what tonight was, knew how vulnerable Inuyasha would be, and it only added fuel to her concern. Already she felt guilty for having “sat” him yesterday and she was blaming herself for the pain he was obviously feeling in his lower back. He wasn't always a very good liar when it came to hiding pain.

 

`I was afraid this would happen,' she thought, biting her lower lip in barely contained worry. `I knew I'd end up hurting him.'

 

It was only natural for her to fear that some day, by using the “sit” command one too many times and far too harshly, she'd end up hurting Inuyasha. He wasn't exactly impervious, after all. Sure, he had a nasty habit of brushing off serious wounds as being nothing but that had never eased Kagome's fears. Inuyasha was only half demon. Not full. If it hadn't been for Shippou saying something . . .

 

`Why didn't he talk to me, though? He could have told me about this . . . Doesn't he trust me by now?'

 

She didn't pretend, or try to pretend, that she understood Inuyasha completely. What she knew of him, she had gleaned from either watching Inuyasha in a given situation or from Myouga. Otherwise, she didn't know him that well. His behaviour and mistrust of others completely baffled her, especially when it was obvious that they had an ally in Kouga. Despite this, Kagome had done her best to let Inuyasha know that he could trust her and that he could talk to her if something was bothering him. It never occurred to her that Inuyasha did, to an extent, trust her, that he didn't want her to see him in pain, to see him when he was weak. It never occurred to her that, for a demon to show his weaknesses to others, that he was as good as dead for his enemies wouldn't hesitate to use against him. Sango could have explained it to her, if she thought to ask, but she didn't. All she knew was that she was worried and feeling more than a bit guilty. Something had to be done but, what, she didn't know. There was nothing for it, however. She had to let him go, let him leave so he could figure out whatever it was he needed to figure out.

 

“Please . . . be careful, Inuyasha. That's all I ask.”

 

Having whispered that into the wind, Kagome turned and headed back to Edo. The entire time an icy knot of dread formed in her stomach and refused to be dislodged.

 

 

Somewhere, a youkai dreamt of things to come while another triggered her trap and a third plotted his revenge.