InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Infatuation ❯ Present and Past ( Chapter 16 )

A/N: The plot's getting darker and more twisted. Hope you enjoy this installment.

 

--------------------------------

 

Infatuation

Rated R/M for language

 

---------------------------------

 

Recap:

…Onigumo Industries…

The boy sat up from a metal tub in the corner, then climbed out and made his way over. As he stepped into the light, Naraku smirked malevolently. The boy's right arm had been replaced with a large green youkai arm, tipped with lethal claws. His eyes were now a glowing yellow, replaced by hawk-youkai eyes for better eyesight. His torso had a large scar running down the middle, from his sternum to abdomen, criss-crossed with stitches. Clawed feet peeked out from beneath torn pants.

 

“His soul has been transferred to permanent containment,” Kikyo informed Naraku.

 

“And the shard?”

 

“Implanted in his back.”

 

“Good,” Naraku replied. He turned his eyes back to the boy. “Welcome to my ranks, Kohaku.”

 

…Taisho Mansion…

“Kagome?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I'm sorry about what happened to Souta.”

 

“Me too.”

 

InuYasha pulled her around to face him, their noses touching. “I know he'll wake up. He's strong, like you.”

 

Kagome smiled, then captured his lips in a kiss.

 

---------------------------------

 

Chapter 16: Present and Past

-------------------------------

 

The day was bright and sunny. The breeze felt crisp and cool. Children's laughter echoed as they climbed up and down the monkey bars, swung higher on the swings and dug in the sandbox.

 

The gruesome roar of a mindless oni shattered the tranquility

 

“InuYasha! Keep the damn thing over here, away from the kids!” Kagome shouted, using a park bench to vault onto the demon's back, hugging the rogue around its burly purple neck.

 

“What does it look like I'm doing, wench!” the inu-hanyou shouted back, punching the thing square in its stomach. InuYasha then delivered a roundhouse kick to the side of its head. The demon came crashing down, with Kagome on top.

 

Sango and Miroku had sprinted ahead into the playground, ushering the parents and children away from the site. They came back to the scene just as Kagome began to glow pink.

 

“Say bye-bye, sucker,” the miko taunted, purifying the demon into ashes. She rooted through the dust, picking out the glowing Shikon shard and held it up in triumph.

 

“Well, that was easy,” InuYasha grunted. “I didn't even have to use Tessaiga.”

 

“Victory for the good guys!” Kagome cheered, adding the shard to the others.

 

“Yay team,” Sango deadpanned, plopping down on the park bench.

 

“You know, a little more enthusiasm would be welcome,” Kagome chided, sitting down next to her. “What's up?”

 

“That demon was way too easy. Like Naraku was taunting us. I really wanted something to pound on for a while,” Sango muttered angrily, crossing her arms.

 

“Well, if you need a good pounding, my dear Sango, I--”

 

Sango's katana was at Miroku's throat in a flash. “You perverted monk, if you even think about that one more time…” she growled threateningly.

 

“Hey now, no Slayer-on-Hunter violence,” InuYasha broke in, gently pushing the katana away. “Save all that rage for Naraku and his flunkies.”

 

“Arrrrg!” Sango shouted, storming off toward the park's main path, heading back to their parked motorcycles.

 

THWAP!

 

“Ouch! What the fuck, Kagome?” InuYasha cried out, grabbing the back of his head.

 

Kagome leveled a particularly nasty glare at the inu-hanyou, then stormed off after her fellow Slayer.

 

“Did I just miss something?”

 

“Sadly, my friend, you always do,” Miroku said wisely. InuYasha began to growl. “Hey, now, don't threaten me,” the monk chastised. “You know the girls are both upset. It's been almost three weeks since…”

 

InuYasha sighed. “Yeah, I know. I just wish Kagome didn't take it out on me quite so hard. That bitch can hit. Ow.” He rubbed the back of his skull gingerly.

 

“I understand. But we have to be strong for our women. They are going through difficult times.” Miroku leaned his staff against his shoulder and nodded to the path. “We should be going.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

When the InuYasha and Miroku reached the women, the Slayers were sitting on their motorbikes, geared up and ready to go. Miroku slipped on behind Sango and she sped off without a word.

 

“You've gotta be kidding me,” InuYasha said irritably.

 

“You're in the bitch seat. Don't argue. Let's go,” Kagome snapped back.

 

The miko sleekly slid the bike into traffic and shot down the main drag. InuYasha enjoyed how the momentum blew her wonderfully scented hair in his face, and gave him an excuse to press tightly against her. He loved feeling her warmth, her small frame, her curves—

 

“Whoa, dog-boy, are you getting a little excited back there?” Kagome asked irritably as they came to a sudden stop at a red light.

 

He gently scratched his claws across her lower stomach. “And if I am?” he replied sensuously.

 

“InuYasha, cut it out,” she growled back, slamming down on the clutch and peeling out of the intersection.

 

“Come on, wench, you seem a little tense. You wanna talk about it?” the hanyou asked evenly, trying to keep the peace.

 

Kagome took a corner too sharply in response, throwing InuYasha farther back on the bike. She gripped the handlebars tightly, trying to keep a lid on the bubbling emotion threatening to spill over inside. `He wouldn't understand…'

 

“Fuck, bitch!” he screamed, clutching onto her waist and scrambling back into his position on the motorcycle. “I'm just being a concerned boyfriend. What is your problem?”

 

Kagome pulled into Headquarters' garage, slamming the bike to a stop in a parking spot. She cut the engine and hopped off the motorcycle. She then spun around to face the dismounted InuYasha, hair flaring out, leather jacket eerily billowing by her aura, and poked him squarely in the chest.

 

“My problem?” She shrieked. “You wanna know my problem? I've got no problem!” Kagome shoved InuYasha harshly, then stepped closely so that her face was in his. “I think you're the one with a problem! You're so damn insensitive all the time! I have to keep Sango calm, keep telling her everything's gonna be okay. And I have to lead my team like everything's normal, when everything has changed! It's been three weeks and--” She broke off, shoved him by the shoulders again, then threw up her hands, grumbling to herself and shaking.

 

“Hey now,” InuYasha said softly, slipping his arms around her waist from behind and resting his chin on the crown of her head. “I'm sorry if I acted like a jerk. You know how much of an idiot I am when it comes to emotional stuff. I'm trying to be better.” He took a deep breath. “I know you're frustrated about your brother, and Kohaku, and Naraku. You don't have to be brave right now. Just let it out.”

 

Kagome was very still for a few moments. Then she turned around. InuYasha saw the tears had already begun silently streaming down her cheeks. Gently cupping the back of her head, InuYasha brought Kagome's face to his chest. The tears poured and the anguished sobs came, echoing sadly in the empty parking garage.

 

----------------------------------------------

 

Rin stepped quickly around the corner, leaning against the doorframe. Her eyes were wide in shock and her cheeks flushed pink. `Oh kami, I am going to walk everywhere with my eyes firmly shut from now on!' She gripped the stack of folders she had just retrieved from Records tightly in her fists.

 

Sesshomaru lifted a silver eyebrow in inquiry from his seat at the computer desk.

 

“Kouga and Ayame,” Rin squeaked. “Walked in on them making out in the stacks.”

 

“Hn. That sight would terrify anyone.”

 

Rin shook her head, staring at the taiyoukai. `Did the Ice King just crack a joke?'

 

The corner of Sesshomaru's lips twitched upward.

 

Rin's eyes bulged. `No way! He did!'

 

“Am I in the right room?” She wondered aloud, cautiously approaching the desk.

 

The taiyoukai leveled the little Slayer with an incredulous icy glare.

 

Gulp. `Yep, right room.'

 

“So, uh, what particular item are we concentrating on today?” Rin asked nervously, taking her seat quietly.

 

“The miko. We need to talk to her about her peculiar scar…And the day she received it.”

 

“Oh, right,” Rin said uneasily. “I'm not sure if that's a good idea right now, Sesshomaru. After everything that's happened recently, adding additional stress by bringing up those repressed memories could cause her more damage. She's in a pretty fragile state.”

 

“I am aware, but this could be the key to everything,” Sesshomaru said calmly.

 

“But there must be another way to obtain the information. I could do more database searches…Have you interviewed both Kaede and Sango to compile what they know?”

 

“We have all pertinent information, excepting the miko's account.” Sesshomaru stared steadily at his partner. “This is vital, Rin.”

 

“Hai, Sesshomaru. I understand,” Rin sighed. “I'll speak with her when they've all returned from their assignment.”

 

“Arigato.”

 

Rin nodded and made her way out of the Computer Lab. As she turned a corner, Sango nearly ran her over, storming her way down the corridor. Rin turned to call out to her fellow Slayer, but was stopped by a hand on the shoulder.

 

“Miroku?” she asked, looking questioningly at the monk.

 

“She's off to the Training Room. To work out some anger.”

 

“You're going to follow her?” Rin asked incredulously.

 

“More like observe from a safe distance.”

 

“Where are Kagome and InuYasha?”

 

Miroku paused, looking puzzled. “They haven't returned yet? They were right behind us on Kagome's bike.”

 

“Maybe Kags took a little detour in the form of a joy ride. I'll go check the garage and see if they've pulled in.”

 

Miroku nodded politely, his mind obviously on Sango. He and Rin parted down separate hallways. Miroku eventually found himself outside the Dojo, peering through the glass. There she was, long pony-tail flying out behind her as she ran through the obstacle course set up on one side. She flipped over the vault, rolled under some netting, then sprang up onto the rigged ropes and began to climb.

 

Miroku stared transfixed by her black, biker short-clad butt, and the way her pink tank top strained with every breath she took. He shook his head. `Concentrate on the issues. Do not revel in the distractions.' He sighed and quietly entered the Dojo.

 

Sango reached the top of her climb, then used the rope to propel herself down the other side of the wall. When she reached the floor, she nearly tripped over the excess rope.

 

“Houshi! What the hell are you doing in here? I told you to leave me alone!”

 

“I know,” Miroku acquiesced, reaching out to help steady her. “I am merely worried about you.”

 

Sango snorted. “Well I am just fine. So go away.” She pushed past him and over to the Weaponry Room, grabbing two of Ayame's knives. She twirled them in her hands as she walked over to a target. In two spins, she had whipped both knives into the bulls-eye. Sango moved on to a punching bag, and began to swing. She got four hits in, before her solid roundhouse kick knocked the bag off its chain and smashed into a wall. Sango didn't even give it a second glance as she made her way toward the sparring matt.

 

Miroku stepped in front of her.

 

“Monk,” she bit out. “Move.”

 

“Sango, I realize you are angry and upset. And you have every right to be. But destroying everything in this Dojo won't help.”

 

“So what will?” she demanded. “Because right now, I can't do a damn thing. Do you know what that feels like? Knowing the ones you love are suffering and that you can't do a damn thing about it?”

 

Miroku looked her calmly in the eyes as he placed his hands on her shoulders. “I do,” he said quietly, but firmly.

 

Sango gasped. But before she could form a retort, Miroku had claimed her mouth in a heart-stopping kiss.

 

-----------------------------------------

 

Rin ran into Kagome and InuYasha in the outside stairwell, on her way to the garage.

 

“There you two are! I was getting worried--” she broke off, noticing their subdued demeanors. “What's wrong?”

 

“Nothing, hon,” Kagome said tiredly, forcing a smile. InuYasha gave her a look, but kept quiet. “What's up?”

 

“Oh, well Sesshomaru is requesting your presence Kagome. He has a few questions he needs to ask you.”

 

Kagome's brow crinkled in confusion. “The Ice King needs to ask me questions? About what?”

 

Rin laughed nervously. “Oh, it's nothing big. Just something that might help answer a few bigger questions.”

 

InuYasha folded his arms across his chest. “That sounds like a load of shit to me, Rin. What does the asshole really want?”

 

“Well, it's just--” Rin gulped at the two penetrating stares. “You see, uh--”

 

“Out with it already!” InuYasha demanded.

 

“It's about yourmedicalrecords,” she squeaked.

 

Kagome looked at the littlest Slayer skeptically. “My medical records? What does he need to know about them?”

 

“I can't, Kagome,” Rin pleaded. “Just please come see him.”

 

Kagome sighed. “I swear to kami, if he's gone through my gynecology records I'll purify him.”

 

---------------------------------------

“Hem-hem.”

 

Miroku and Sango were broken apart by throat clearing. Sango pushed the monk away and wiped her mouth, turning to face the couple in the doorway.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Look at you two get it on,” Kouga chuckled. “I knew that her bashing him around was just foreplay.”

 

Sango and Miroku reddened as Ayame burst out laughing.

 

“Wolf's got a point,” the red-head giggled.

 

“Shut up!” Sango snarled. “Is there something you needed?”

 

“Well--” Kouga's snarky reply was interrupted by Ayame elbowing him in the side.

 

“We've been summoned to the Computer Lab,” Ayame informed them.

 

“We'll be there momentarily,” Miroku said. Ayame and Kouga exchanged knowing smirks, then exited the Dojo.

 

“Sango, I--”

 

“Don't.”

 

“But I think we should talk--”

 

“Nothing to talk about,” Sango interrupted tersely. “Let's go.”

 

------------------------------------

 

“So…” Kagome said, looking around at everyone assembled in the computer lab. “Is it party time?”

 

Ayame and Kouga snickered, but everyone else remained quiet.

 

“Hardly,” Sesshomaru said, placing the file carefully on his desk.

 

“Then what the hell is going on?” InuYasha growled impatiently.

 

“Kagome, what exactly to you remember about the day your home was attacked, four years ago, during the massive rogue youkai attacks?”

 

The miko stared at Sesshomaru, taken aback by his question.

 

“I don't know, not too much. Is this random question day or something?”

 

“It is imperative you describe what you remember from that day. Especially, how you received your scar.”

 

“My scar?” Kagome whispered, touching her right side through the gray fabric of her shirt.

 

“You mean that circle-shaped one she's got below her ribcage?” InuYasha asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

“What's my scar have to do with anything?” Kagome asked, suspiciously eyeing Sesshomaru. “What's going on?”

 

“Kagome, please,” Rin spoke up softly. “Just describe what you remember. It could be very important.”

 

Kagome took a deep breath. She glanced at Sango, who was eyeing her with concern. Sango understood how hard this was for her. She knew how Kagome did her best to block that day from her memories. The day her parents were killed.

 

“It was my birthday,” Kagome whispered.

 

-------------------------------------------

 

Four years ago…

 

A 15-year-old Kagome skipped up the shrine steps on her way home from school, excited about today. Her mother and father had a nice little family party arranged for her birthday. `Maybe I'll finally get that leather jacket I've been wanting.' She reached the stop and paused to catch her breath. `First thing I'm gonna do is change out of this stupid school uniform and then find Souta. He owes me a few hours at the arcade!'

 

Kagome ran up to the door, but paused at the step. Something felt weird. The wind was still. Something hung in the air. Something bad. Then she heard a scream.

 

“Mom!” Kagome gasped, tearing into the house. She dashed through the kitchen and into the living room, halting abruptly in her tracks. A large centipede youkai was towering over her screaming and bloody mother, holding her by the throat. Kagome glanced around for something to hit the demon with, and spotted a body on the floor behind the couch.

 

She fell to her knees. It was her father. His body was contorted in an odd angle, and his head was twisted the wrong way.

 

Kagome covered her mouth to stifle the sobs and choke back the bile. She had to focus. `Have to help Mom.'

 

She crawled over to the end table and grabbed a letter opener off the counter top. Forcing herself into a crouching position, Kagome waited for a moment. Then sprung.

 

“Hey you! Get away from my mother!” she screamed, stabbing the youkai in the back.

 

The centipede demon dropped Mrs. Higurashi on the floor and spun around to face Kagome. Her wide mouth spread into a smile.

 

“You, you're the one. You reek of it,” the youkai hissed.

 

“What?”

 

“You have it. I can feel its power.” The youkai's fangs gleamed. “And I am going to take it.”

 

Kagome stared at the demon in horror as it lunged at her, claws out, and screamed when she felt the centipede youkai tear into her right side. She crumpled to the floor.

 

“Yesss, I've got it now,” the youkai hissed, pleased.

 

Kagome tried to focus on what the demon had in her claws, but her vision was swimming. Then the youkai exited through a hole in their living room wall.

 

“Kagome?”

 

Kagome weakly turned her head toward the fading voice of her mother. She lay in a heap on the floor, fingers outstretched toward her daughter.

 

“Mama…”

 

“Shh,” her mother choked out. “I love you. Tell your brother I love him too.”

 

Kagome watched her mother force a smile, then close her eyes forever. Tears were streaming down her face as she lay there. She didn't know what to do. Blood was pouring out of her side. Her parents were dead, murdered by that youkai.

 

“Ka-Kagome?” a small voice stuttered.

 

Kagome forced herself to roll to her left side and prop herself up on an elbow. Her little brother was sitting at the top of the stairs, pale and shaking. She hoped he hadn't seen their parents' bodies yet.

 

“Souta.” By saying his name, it gave her strength. “Call an ambulance. Hurry.”

 

She later woke up in a hospital bed, Souta sitting by her bedside, sleeping curled up in a chair. She noticed an elderly woman standing in the corner, by the door.

 

“Who are you?” she asked softly.

 

“I am Kaede, child,” the old woman introduced herself, walking closer to the bed. “I have come to you because of what has happened.”

 

“My parents. She killed them.”

 

“I am so sorry for your loss. But it is not safe for you here.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Someone sent that demon after you because you are a threat, child. You have power that ye not yet know.”

 

“I don't understand,” Kagome said, attempting to sit up. She gave up after a searing pain ripped through her right side.

 

“You are a miko, a very powerful one. Untrained though you may be, your parents knew your potential and kept you from these bad things in our world.” Kaede sighed. “But they have found you. And I wish to help you.”

 

“How?”

 

“I will train you to use your powers, for I am a miko too. But I will also teach you other talents. What do you say?”

 

Kagome looked over at her brother, thinking. He looked so defenseless sleeping there. If they were at home, their father would have picked him up and carried him to bed. Their mother would have tucked him in. But they were gone now. Dead. It was all up to her now.

 

“I want to fight.”

 

Kaede smiled. “Of course. You may bring your brother, and we will find you a new place to live. I think you will get along well with another girl, Sango Taijya. She is the same age as you, and has a younger brother like yours.”

 

---------------------------

 

“I met Sango later that week,” Kagome finished explaining. “She had been assigned to look through the wreckage at my house and tell me what she could. But we never knew what the youkai took from me.”

 

“We do now,” Sesshomaru said quietly. “That scar of yours. It resembles the same one Midoriko had when the Shikon no Tama left her body.”

 

“Sealed inside a miko's body…” Miroku muttered.

 

“Are you saying I had the Shikon no Tama?” Kagome gasped. “No way.”

 

“It's a very likely possibility. All the facts fit. Look,” Rin said, pulling up a few windows on her laptop. “In Naraku's files, around that date, it shows him contracting Tsubaki to control a demon. The demon was a centipede youkai, sent on a very special retrieval mission.

 

“In these archival reports from here at HQ, it confirms that a centipede demon, known as Mistress Centipede, was responsible for your parents' murder. And here, the name of the controlled youkai--”

 

“Mistress Centipede,” Kagome finished in a whisper. “So it's all connected. I'm not just some random miko he wants for that crazy plan of his. I'm connected to the jewel, because it was a part of me, so that's why I'm integral to his plan.”

 

“Hai, so it seems,” Sesshomaru affirmed.

 

“So what are we gonna do about it?” Ayame demanded. “How does this help?”

 

“We know the connection now. So we can find what kind of advantages Kagome has over the jewel,” Rin explained softly.

 

“The Shikon is not some simple bauble to control,” Miroku said.

 

“But because her body housed the jewel, she may have certain protections,” Sesshomaru explained.

 

Everyone sat in silence, mulling matters over quietly in their brains.

 

---------------------------------

 

Later that night, Sango sat in her room at the Taisho mansion, looking out the window. There was a soft knock on her door. Sango dragged herself away from the windowsill and opened the door a crack, sighing in irritation.

 

“What do you want?”

 

“To talk,” Miroku said quietly.

 

“I told you before, there's nothing to say.”

 

“Please.”

 

Sango pondered Miroku's solemn expression for a moment, then pushed the door all the way open. He walked in and took a seat in the desk chair while she resumed her spot by the window. Minutes ticked by in silence.

 

“Well?” Sango asked, eyes never leaving the night.

 

“You seem sad. Today was a difficult day, I realize. But remembering four years ago, that was even harder for you, wasn't it?”

 

“It just brought up some bad memories. And before you say anything, no I don't want to talk about it.”

 

“Oh,” Miroku said sadly.

 

“I'm not ready to.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“But when I am, maybe I'll tell you. Since you're so eager to listen.”

 

Miroku smiled. “I'm always here, my dear Sango.”

 

Sango returned the smile, then went back to staring out the window. `Oh Kohaku, I wonder where you are now. If you're ok. What you're doing.'

 

-----------------------

 

“Kohaku, are you ready?” Naraku asked, reclining behind his desk.

 

“Yes, sir,” the modified human boy responded robotically.

 

“Excellent. You know what you must do.”

 

Kohaku nodded, flexing his clawed-tipped hand.

 

“Go.”

 

---------------------------------

 

Special thanks to these reviewers: Kaiyou Suki, SplitPersonality, BellaBooTwilight, pandagirl26,DesMM, Snow_Princess_Jaz, InuGoddess715, candie1206, BoredGirl17, beautifulyreal, fire-Angel-of-death322

 

Please review! Reviews really help me write.

 

~Lizzie