InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inexcusable Nature ❯ Of Swords, Schemes, & Crushed Velour ( Chapter 24 )

Inexcusable Nature
Just A Starving Writer

Disclaimer: nope, not mine.

Author's Rant: I swear, this story just will not end. ARGH! Anyways, I promise you, like 3 more things have to happen and then FREEDOM!!! And yes, in the next chapter questions will be answered and loose ends tied up.
Mucho love to my readers and reviewers. I couldn't have done this without y'all.
Enjoy if you can.


Part 24: Of Swords, Schemes, and Crushed Velour

It was times like these Inuyasha wished he could still feel his brother's emotions. He was the first to admit that it had its uses. However, it seemed the sheath alone, that the lord still carried at his side, was not enough to project the signal. Therefore the hanyou was left clueless as to what his brother could be planning.

So instead, he found those who might have seen something suspicious.

"He was humming again the other day," Rin noted. Every head in the room turned toward her. Apparently, this was news.

"Are you sure?" Souta asked incredulously. "Uncle Sesshoumaru NEVER hums."

"I'm certain. I heard it a few years ago for the first time and recently I've heard it more often."

Wide eyed stares accompanied thoughtful countenances as the rest of the small group tried to figure out the mystery that was their lord.

"He doesn't work as much," Kohaku, Miroku's oldest grandchild began.

"But he still never leaves the lab," cautioned Shippou.

"Yes, but he's not working as much in it anymore," continued Kohaku. "A lot of times, I'll go in there and he'll be writing or just sitting. Some of the machinery is getting dusty. I don't think he experiments as much anymore."

"Do you suppose he's given up?"

"No," both Inuyasha and Rin responded resolutely.

"Then what?"

The small group exchanged glances.

"Do you think…" Shippou began. "That maybe he found the cure and is just waiting to see if it's working?"

"But how would he test something like that? I've always wondered about it. I mean, sure, he has his little animals, but wouldn't he need a human test subject to be certain?"

Rin sighed. Somehow, she had always known it would come down to this. It was something she had been worried about since several years ago, right before the last Great Family Gathering.

"I don't know," she acknowledged regretfully, even though she had a pretty damn good idea what the clever lord was up to. "But I think it may be in our best interest to keep our eyes open - for anything."

They all nodded solemnly.

*

Miroku looked at his wife and sighed with content. He really did have a great life.

The parlor was filled with both the oldest and youngest of the extended family. Miroku and Sango had taken their traditional positions in large cushioned chairs, resting their old bones as they watched their great grandchildren frolic amidst the near total destruction of the room. Rin sat close by, industriously sewing the most recent rip in little Kaede's kimono.

Oddly enough, Sesshoumaru himself had taken a few minutes out of his `busy' day to sit in a corner of the vast room, scrawling laboriously on a scroll and seemingly ignoring the other occupants. Still, it was rather disconcerting to witness the contemplative lord spending time in a room full of loud human children.

"How is Kei doing in the village?" Rin asked thoughtfully of the two elder humans.

Miroku smiled as he lovingly tightened his grip on his wife's hand.

"She is great. Her training is going well."

"That's good. How old is the darling now?"

"Fifteen."

Rin sighed thoughtfully.

"Such a wonderful age, don't you think? Young and yet so near to adulthood…A crossroads."

"Yes, very true. Though I must say, I never quite expected my old age to be quite this fruitful."

Very slightly, the taiyoukai's ears twitched as his frame stiffened. Only Rin seemed to notice.

"How have you been handling it, Rin?" Sango asked politely, ignorant of the lord's sudden interest in the subject.

"I must say I agree with Miroku. I never expected that being this old would feel so good. My bones don't creak as much as they used to."

Rin stopped in consideration. Turning a thoughtful gaze onto the loving couple, she felt a slight prick of envy. They had never truly shown their age. Sango was approaching eighty while the monk was already there, and yet they had all the vitality and appearance of a couple in their early sixties. Rin, on the other hand, had never once been fooled into youth. She looked every bit the grandmother she acted.

Actually, come to think of it, even her age hadn't been apparent these last few years. She had watched as women from the village she frequented grew more weathered, the effects of time speeding up in what was usually the last years of their lives. In fact, most of her former acquaintances had passed on.

"I know what you mean," Miroku was saying and she caught the conversation once more. "I don't feel a day over 70."

That statement seemed to click in her mind and the former ward looked over to her lord who was still attempting to act nonchalant in his corner.

However, the image failed for several reasons. For one, he had ceased writing, his brush hanging in mid air. As well, he seemed to be concentrating a bit too hard on the wall. His glazed eyes betrayed that he was actually seeing anything. And, most disconcerting of all, he was smiling.

Her face dropped in realization as every clue fell into its proper place.

"What have you done?" she whispered in shock. The lord's eyes refocused on hers and she barely caught a glint of determined victory before she fainted.

*

Her adoring fans were waiting outside, milling impatiently about the shrine grounds. But she did not want to go out there. While she still enjoyed her mock battles with the Demon Dummy, she could most definitely live without the post-fight autograph session.

"Kagome, aren't you going?" her brother asked, clueless as to his sister's predicament. To Souta, she would always just be his kick-ass sister.

She sighed in resignation. At least it kept her mind off of a certain demon lord. Well, off missing him at least.

"Yeah, I'm going. Wanna help hold them off?" she asked in a rather sad attempt to add humor.

"Only if you promise to introduce me to the crowd!"

She smiled wistfully.

"Sure deal."

The demonstration went off without a hitch, as usual, and she let Souta soak up all of the attention he could. However, it all went downhill when the man approached. She instinctively knew the suit-wearing, slick haired man was bad news.

"Good evening, Miss Higurashi," he began in formal, business tones. Closing her eyes with exhaustion, she waited for the man to spill his spiel concerning the 5 minute exclusive for his news program. While she was not surprised about the interview, seeing as how it had already been mentioned several times in the 2 months she had been `practicing', she was a bit shocked at the vast audience. With this brief spot, she would be brought to the attention of almost all of Tokyo.

She nodded her agreement and began answering his questions as best as she could. It was all for the shrine, she figured. Now that she had no school, no friends, and no present love, she lived to help the shrine.

She sighed but wearily resigned herself to her fate.

*

The wizened woman sat silently as the car drove her from the airport. While the trip had been nice, it was wonderful to be returning home. Now that her `life' in the United States was `over', she could resume her position for a few years back in Japan before the cycle started again.

All the moving was troublesome, but she figured her extended life more than made up for it. The knowledge she had accumulated, the success she had wrought…it was all very invigorating. And she was never alone. The vast family always made sure to kill off members in pairs or small groups, making the transition into the next `life' easier. Soon she would be joined by Sango and Inuyasha, as they were the next on the list.

Of course, this was not by accident. Years of discussion had produced no pinpoint on exactly what month, or even what year, Kagome could now be found. Time spent in the dungeon had thrown off everyone's reckoning and Inuyasha had never consciously considered the year he had been traveling to. As a result, they were next to clueless on how to find her.

And timing was of the essence as the relationship that had formed between lord and miko had taken place in a relatively short amount of time. If anyone came too early, she would not be in love with the lord. Worse, if anyone dared distract her in the two years she was trapped away from the Feudal Era, Kagome might never come to terms with Sesshoumaru.

She sighed. Even after all this time, she was still dumbfounded when it came to the contradictions of time travel. It was a rather screwy business. Sure, it was possible that whatever they did would only make what happened, happen, but no one was willing to risk it. Therefore, once spies had affirmed that Kagome had been locked into the present, all contact with the girl had been severed so as not to risk letting the secret out. They had gone to such extents that the majority of the family had fled to the Americas. However, now that the allotted time was over, along with a few months just to be sure, Rin was returning to her homeland to resume her job as Kagome's watcher.

The home that was used consistently for the family's use was slightly stale from misuse but otherwise fine. All the bills had been paid and it had recently been renovated for the latest `life'. It was all she needed.

She almost felt her age today…well, at least her original age. For the first time in over a century, her bones were creaking. Maybe it was just nerves. Being this close…it was bound to make her feel tired.

Rin left unpacking for another time and instead decided to spare the time for a bath. A long soak would do her good. If there was one thing she appreciated about this time, it was hot water. While she waited for the water to get blissfully steamy, she turned on the news for a quick idea of what was going on in town. She almost immediately dropped the remote in shock.

Kagome.

Even if her memory had faltered in her vast age, Rin would have recognized her. In addition, the news was kind enough to have her name printed along the bottom of the screen.

It was possible that the haunted look in the young woman's eyes was a result of her two year stay away from the Feudal Era. It was possible that the shrine and consequently its miko could have been brought to the attention of the media on its own.

But there was one detail that made Rin immediately know that the time was right. Even without listening to the story or paying attention to the dummy in the background of the footage, she would know.

A white hilted katana was held tightly in her hand.

How the phone got into her hand, Rin would never know. She only came back to reality when a voice came from the other end of the line.

"Yes."

"It's time, my lord."

Silence.

It could have been a rather intense moment. However, now that the original shock of the situation wore off, Rin was finally able to listen to what the television was actually saying about the miko.

She broke into laughter.

"You aren't going to like it," she said between bouts of laughter. She swore she could see his confusion through the phone. A plan formed in her mind. Why not after the sneaky trick he had pulled so long ago?

"You still don't have a date for the ceremony?"

"Hn."

"Good. She's going."

"Hn. I'll be there as soon as I can get business settled."

He hung up before she could say another word.

She smiled gleefully.

After all these years, finally someone would be able to put the arrogant demon in his place again.

*

The crowd barely saw the swipe but they did witness the tattered sleeve fall to the ground.

Applause was obviously in order.

She smiled slightly. It was still not enough. These people…they thought she was a wonderful swordsman. But they wouldn't know good swordplay if it bit them in the ass.

Kagome was tired and sweaty. The blue kimono clung to her body in the early summer heat, but still she refused to change. Maybe she could have a special kimono made for practice? It was a thought and with all the extra money coming into the shrine, there should be enough room for it in the budget.

Wiping sweat from her brow, she made another pass at the Demon Dummy, doing the much loved `Sock Bangs Slash' in which she once again revealed the dummy's forehead adornment. Sometimes she questioned why this particular move was a crowd favorite, but then, she'd never really understood them at all.

She became aware of a strange movement in the beautiful katana. Accounting it simply to the trembles she occasionally got after practicing too long or thinking too much about her missing lord, she tried to get the weapon back under control. Unfortunately, it would have nothing of it. Instead, the shaking only grew stronger, intent upon gaining her attention. As it was, it also gained the attention of the crowd. This was a new part of the routine.

A sudden force from the enchanted sword jerked her from her feet and she almost fell. However, she regained her balance in the following instant, though her ankles fiercely protested their extended use.

The katana jumped again. She grew worried. Why would it be acting like this now, after three months of nothing? It just didn't make any sense.

Putting all of her will into it, she pushed the sword back into her control. For a minute it ceased all movement. Letting out a shaky breath, she began to relax. So, of course, it was at that minute the once dormant weapon decided it had had enough of her control.

Yanking her suddenly, the sword began to pull its master away from the mock battle. Kagome could only hang on for dear life.

*

So close….so very close….only to be stopped in traffic! O, the bastards would pay!

Further thought concerning the engineers of the highway system was cut off when a sudden noise caught his attention. Looking around the small limo, he couldn't quite discern the location of the bothersome noise before it ceased. Resting back into his seat, he tried to forget it had ever crossed his mind.

It was not to be. No sooner had he pushed the noise out of his thoughts than it began again, this time with more passion. This time, he had no problems finding it.

He had proudly worn the sheath for the first few centuries. However, he became concerned after some time that something might happen to it, especially when the threat of war appeared continually. Therefore, to keep it safe from both thieves and wear, he'd resigned himself to keeping it in a display case. But even that was not enough. It being one of the few, and most personal, items containing her memory, he needed it close to his person. Though his `family' considered him odd and the outside world considered him insane for doing so, the sheath was carried at all times with him. On business trips, it was first carried in special cases and most recently in padded briefcases. At home, it was kept in his bedroom, beside his bed so as to comfort him into sleeping, something he had difficulty doing since her untimely departure. On the road, it was displayed prominently in whatever vehicle he was in.

Therefore, today the sheath was resting in its Lexan display case that had been specially made for his limo on top of the mini fridge. And today, for the first time in over 500 years, the sheath was trembling.

He was close…so very close….but the damn traffic still wasn't moving. He was becoming terribly impatient as was the sword, if its increased movement was any indication.

He never had a chance to decide his course of action. In a sudden spurt of incredible strength, the white sheath broke free of its bindings and shattered its Lexan case, heading for the limo's window. Crashing into freedom, the sheath wasted no time in seeking its master. The former taiyoukai followed in suit.

*

She was more than frightened of killing someone in the sword's haste to get wherever the hell it was going. Luckily, the katana seemed to pick up on that fear and did its best to avoid the pedestrians that littered the sidewalk.

Kagome had long since shut her eyes in terror and so it was a complete and total surprise when the katana suddenly ceased its insanely fast progress and, with a click of completion, fell to the ground. Still in shock, she fell with it, her eyes still fiercely shut.

Therefore, it was yet another surprise when her falling body was intercepted by two arms that quickly pulled her against a rather hard chest. Before she had the chance to even remotely catch her breath, her lips were assaulted by her savior. In an instant her eyes were open, trying to see exactly what was going on. However, understanding just wasn't going to happen while she was being so wonderfully distracted. As much as she wanted to release herself to her savior's touch, only one being reserved the right to treat her as such and even he faced her wrath from time to time. Wrenching herself from her captor's embrace, she wasted no time in slapping him.

"I should have expected as much from you," the man said softly, with an air of arrogant compassion. It was almost as if he was restraining himself from further assaulting her.

But that wasn't what grabbed her attention. Nope. Her savior's attire was higher in her mind at present, simply because it simply did not compute to her tired mind. It would have been silly in ordinary circumstances but presently it was downright ridiculous. The jogging suit was in pristine condition, the white unsullied by even the tiniest speck of dirt. The zipper screamed plated silver. The red pattern on the shoulder had to have been embroidered in silk. And was the material…no, surely it couldn't be. A tentative hand reached out to softly skim the surface. Yup, crushed velour.

Letting her gaze travel upwards, she saw that his hair had grown almost into its former glory, though she swore a few random braids were peeking out of the mass. The moon was gone, she noticed, but for some reason the stripes remained. It was curious to say the least. But his eyes…o, his eyes were the same.

"Wench," he stated simply.

She'd had enough. The months of torment, the damn haunting song, the hours of practice, the swarm of teenage fans, the sword's little trip…without another word, she fainted dead away.

*