InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inuyasha Diaries ❯ chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: wbk 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 09.21.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 351 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 09.21.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 351 | Status: Completed
Chapter 8
Sitting in the tree branches, watching the sunset, should have been a peaceful experience. It would have been, if he didn’t have his lap filled with this damn book. He could think of something else in particular he would like to have to keep his lap warm, and it didn’t involve writing.
He’d almost gotten what he wanted, too. If it hadn’t been for the damn hoshi, who wasn’t even the hoshi, he would have his Kagome in his lap enjoying the sunset with him.
It wasn’t a normal day from the beginning. Kagome had felt responsible for the big, green bellyaching lizard, and insisted that they find a suitable home for it. While he hadn’t been happy with the new addition to their pack, he’d had to admit that having the dragon travel with them hadn’t slowed them down. The great scaley beast could really move! Who would have thought that one belch could make that much difference? And Kagome seemed content to ride on its back even when she wasn’t speaking to him.
And just why the hell hadn’t she been speaking to him? So what was the problem with him telling the green monster how much of a pain in the ass it really was? Had she really expected him to be all smiles about having to find food and shelter for the big lug, too? Did she even have the slightest idea how much a dragon could eat? And with its damned sensitive stomach just how the hell did she expect him to find food that wouldn’t upset it?
How could Kagome have been upset when he’d taken the opportunity to dump the dragon at the first berry patch that they’d come across? He hadn’t even known that dragons were partial to berries. He’d simply pulled his pack away as the dragon gorged itself on the fruit. He’d remembered in time, this time, just how many thorns those berry bushes held. And besides, he hadn’t wanted to be anywhere nearby when the dragon discovered it had another belch on the way. So why had Kagome felt the need to say that word as soon as he’d set her down?
Keh!
After that the only one who had spoken to him at all was the bratty kit, and that was just to whine about how much he missed the great galoot. So when they’d reached the quaint little village nestled in the forest he’d been more than ready to call it a day.
Who knew the problems such a simple decision could lead to?
Miroku had done his usual evil cloud routine to get a room at the best inn in the village. Honestly, how could the monk stand to be around himself? It probably should have triggered his suspicions when he noticed that there were more inns than houses, but what did he know about human villages? He’d lived in the damn forest for most of his life.
Naturally, the girls had decided that they had to do the whole bath thing before any of them could eat, so he’d found that he’d had some extra time to look around the village.
He’d had no idea where Shippou was, but the village wasn’t really big enough for the kit to have gone too far. So while the monk was busy clearing out that nasty dark cloud, he set out to see the town. By the time he was done , Miroku would probably have talked the innkeeper into providing a feast to help them purify their bodies, all to better serve the village, right?
The first thing he’d noticed was the faint scent of kitsune that seemed to linger everywhere in this damn place. There must be a den of the tricky demons close. Maybe it would keep Shippou entertained, and out of his way if he made friends with a few of them. He was all for anything that would make his life easier!
Next, he’d noticed that there were none of the usual fields around the town to grow the foodstuffs the villagers would need. He’d thought this was strange, but since there didn’t appear to be any immediate danger, he’d filed the idea away in the dusty corner of his brain that was labeled ‘to think about’. He didn’t want to run the risk of overworking–or possibly breaking–his brain.
Resuming his stroll, he’d heard the monk behind him. When the hell had the hoshi had time to catch up to him? Shouldn’t Miroku still be making a big deal out of clearing the village of all supernatural dangers? The longer the monk took to provide for the safety of the town, the higher the price the bouzu would charge. And he’d seen the greed in Miroku’s eyes, as the grandness of the monk’s chosen mark became evident.
Turning, he saw Miroku talking to Sango. What the hell? Hadn’t Sango gone to the baths with Kagome? She didn’t even look as if she’d gotten wet. Things were just getting stranger and stranger, and he definitely didn’t like strange. Strange just confused him, and he’d decided long ago that if he couldn’t find a way to wrap his mind around something, it must be bad.
He’d gone back to ask the monk and slayer just what was going on, but they had ducked behind yet another inn just as he’d approached. When he’d finally made his way to where they should have been, he’d only seen the tails of two retreating kitsunes. He hadn’t even been able to pick up the scent of his friends.
As a matter of fact, he’d been amazed that he hadn’t even been able to pick up the normal scents of a village. Even the wood and stone of the inn he had been standing near hadn’t given off the usual earthy scent. It was yet another thought for that dusty corner of his mind.
He’d decided that the only course of action would be to find his friends, and let them try and make some sense of all the confusing facts that had taken over his poor, overworked brain.
He’d been on his way to the baths when he’d seen Kagome approaching him. She’d been in the company of the inn owner that Miroku had been talking to earlier. Wondering about Sango’s state of dryness hadn’t helped him before, so his mind hadn’t even noted that Kagome didn’t look as if she had visited the baths, either. There was only so much room in that corner of his mind, after all.
He’d taken the miko’s arm, and pulled her away from her conversational companion. He’d expected a loud ‘sit’ to leave her mouth at the interruption, but it hadn’t happened! Just what the hell was going on? There were some constants in life, and Kagome saying that word when he used his strength to make her do something she didn’t want to do was a constant that had been constant since the beads had been around his neck.
There had been no foot stomping or yelling, either. Kagome had simply stared at him with a vacant look in her green eyes.
Just then his brain had opened that dark dusty corner to the light of day. He might not always comment on how his friends looked, but he’d known damn well that his Kagome did not have green eyes. Depending on who was looking at them, they were either brown or grayish blue. He’d even heard people arguing about what color they really were. Green was one color that had never entered the conversations.
Studying his mysterious miko, he’d noticed that her scent was not what it should be, either. It wasn’t that it wasn’t Kagome’s scent. It was just not enough of Kagome’s scent to be his Kagome’s scent. He’d realized that the thought didn’t make a lot of sense, even to his own mind, but he’d known that something wasn’t what it should be, and that was enough for him.
Just as he was about to question this almost Kagome, the girl had pulled him into a strong embrace, and tried to kiss him. He’d known right then that this couldn’t be the Kagome of his dreams, because the only time that Kagome had ever acted this way was in his dreams!
Before his lips could touch the lips of the doppelganger in front of him, he’d heard that word, shouted from further down the main thoroughfare of the village. He’d had enough time to look up and see a very wet, very mad Kagome staring in his direction. He’d known right away which Kagome was the real Kagome.
Keh!
While he’d waited for the spell to wear off, the almost Kagome had disappeared into the closest inn. The inn owner could be seen entering another inn further down the street. When he’d managed to regain his footing, he’d seen a very wet Sango entering still yet another inn in the company of the monk.
Looking in the other direction, he’d notice what looked like Miroku and a completely dry slayer standing in front of the large inn that had been Miroku’s original mark. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he’d seen not the monk, but the slayer accost the person of her companion.
The smile that crossed Miroku’s face had told him that, as far as the monk was concerned, the dispelling of dark clouds was done for the day. The damn bouzu hadn’t even questioned why Sango would suddenly allow Miroku to grab all the monk could want of her backside. No, Miroku had seemed to be content to let his hand wander where it would go, and not have to worry about Sango’s swinging fists.
Apparently Miroku hadn’t cared enough to care if it was the real Sango, or not, but he was going to make damn sure that the woman at his side was his Kagome before he let her come any closer.
Leaning in toward what he thought should be Kagome, he’d started sniffing furiously. Maybe he should have been a little more discrete with the locations that he chose to sniff, but once he confirmed his Kagome’s familiar scent, he couldn’t seem to get enough.
As he’d made his way up and down the miko’s body for the third time, he could tell he’d gone too far. He’d learned to see the signs, after all. So, making sure to stay as low as possible, he’d cringed while he’d waited for that word.
When the word hadn’t come he’d chanced a look at the woman standing before him. She’d still smelled like his Kagome. She’d had his Kagome’s eyes this time. So why hadn’t she said that word that his Kagome could be counted on to say in a situation such as this?
Following the pivoting of the miko’s head, he’d realized that Kagome had noticed two sets of slayers and monks, too. Maybe he should have thanked whoever was responsible for saving him from meeting the ground again, but he’d wanted to find the original members of his pack, first.
Grabbing Kagome’s arm, he’d marched to the closest of the pairs. Trusting his trustworthy sense of scenting, he’d determined that the monk was real, but the slayer had smelled like kitsune. The fake Sango ran inside the closest of the many inns as Kagome had explained to Miroku that he had been about to become intimate with an imposter.
So why the hell did the monk seem to be upset that they’d rescued him from the fake Sango? And just what did he mean when he asked if they couldn’t have waited a little longer to discover the deception? Was the bouzu really depraved enough to have wanted the attentions of the trickster? He’d be damned if he’d ever be able to figure out how humans thought.
He’d decided to let Kagome sooth the very upset monk, while he tried to remember which inn the real Sango was in. They’d all looked so much alike, and the smell of kitsune had been growing stronger by the minute. It had been enough to overpower his nose’s ability to sniff out the truth.
Taking no chances, he’s decided to check every inn in the village. Behind the first door, he’d come face to face with his own face. Disconcerting would have been the first word to come to his mind, but he’d been too disconcerted to be able to think of words with more than one syllable, or more than four letters. He’d let quite a few of those words lose, though. He’d known that if Kagome was close, he’d have to answer for his choice of words later, but right then he’d decided that he had to find the best way to grab himself.
Somehow that choice of words had brought enough unwanted pictures to his mind that his other self had been given a chance to escape. Now how in all the blazing fires of hell would he be able to keep the identity stealing bastard away from his friends? He could imagine all the trouble the pretender could cause for him.
As he’d thought of the confusing possibilities of the situation, he’d heard the voice of his miko’s angry voice just outside of the inn he was in. He tried to make a hasty exit, but just as he stepped out of the inn, he saw Kagome standing toe to toe with himself. He’d known what was going to happen next, but he’d been powerless to prevent it. He’d been able to see that Kagome was being pushed past her boiling point. He’d only had time to resign himself to the knowledge that it was his other self’s fault and not the miko’s when she’d said that word.
Keh!
She could have at least waited until he’d reached the softer ground outside, instead of the hard floorboards of the inn’s porch. Looking up, he’d seen a very confused Kagome looking at the retreating form of himself. He’d seen the look of enlightenment take over her face when she’d realized that it wasn’t the real him in front of her. Maybe the sound of him crashing onto his face had given her a clue. Who could say? He hadn’t been able to blame her, though. He’d almost been fooled by her double, hadn’t he? He couldn’t expect her to be as sharp as he was, could he?
When he’d rejoined the two others of his group, he’d been met with an embarrassed apology from the miko and a very long-winded explanation from the monk as to why Kagome should not be held responsible for her actions. He’d liked the way that Kagome had said that she would find some way to make it up to him. He’d like it quite a lot, as a matter of fact. He’d liked it even more when she’d told him he could decide how she should make it up to him.
What had set his temper on edge was how Miroku had gone on and on about how unfair it was to hold someone responsible for falling prey to a deception that was perpetrated against them. The monk had seemed to think that it would only enhance the wrong that had been done to him if either of them were to tell Sango of his reluctance to be parted from the slayer’s willing double. The bouzu had gone on about it so stridently that Inuyasha swore that if he heard one more word about not being fair or responsibility, he was going to lose his temper like he’d never lost it before!
He’d only been able to shut the monk up as they approached the last inn of the village. He hadn’t been prepared for the conversation that had been going on as he walked through the door. When he’d seen the face of the monk telling Sango that it wouldn’t be fair to hold him responsible for his past actions now that he’d decided to follow a new path, Inuyasha had lost all control. He’d lunged at the pseudo-monk with a ferocity that he’d never shown before. He’d meant to teach the non-lecherous version of his friend a lesson that the pretender wouldn’t soon forget.
While he’d been in midair, just about to put Miroku’s double in its place, he’d heard Kagome say that word.
Keh!
Laying on the floor, he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. What the hell was she talking about? What did it matter if the imposters hadn’t caused any real harm or not? This particular kitsune-in-monk’s-clothing had to be taught a lesson, didn’t he? He’d reached the end of his patience with this village of inns and illusions. If he didn’t get to pound someone soon, he would explode!
And he would have thought that Sango would have been glad of their intervention. Why did the slayer have to let them know how disappointed she was that the reformed hoshi wasn’t her hoshi.
So maybe he should have been able to figure out that it wasn’t a good idea to go after one of the monks as soon as the rosary’s spell wore off, but he had to teach someone a lesson. How could they think it was his fault that he’d gone after the real Miroku and not the double? It just wouldn’t be fair to hold him responsible for that mistake, would it? They did look alike, after all. But why did she think it was worth saving the monk by saying that word?
Keh!
While he’d been stuck to the floor, the monk’s double had shifted back to its natural shape, and explained that the group had wandered into a kitsune training village. The town was used by the young kitsune to hone their skills between examination times.
It seemed that Shippou had been instrumental in letting the other kitsune know what type of illusion would be most effective on each member of the group. The brat had been the mastermind behind the whole thing, yet he was the one to suffer the punishment. How was there any justice in that?
So now he found himself with the damn book in his lap, instead of the woman that he wished was here to share the romance of the sunset with him. He would simply have to get this done as soon as he could, and see if any of Kagome’s guilt could still be salvageable.
Looking at the blank page, he began to write:
I found that sometimes it’s best not to force humans to accept the reality of their lives. They’re so hard to understand, but I’m getting better at it. What they say they want and what they really want aren’t always the same thing.
Looking at his writing, he couldn’t help thinking about the last line, and wondering how his miko would react to it. It said:
p.s. Kagome, remember you promised to let me decide how you would make up for that sit. I’ve got some ideas that I’d like to talk to you about.
He didn’t know exactly what reaction to expect from Kagome as she read his entry, but he could honestly say that he hadn’t expected the reaction that came. Taking his hand, his Kagome led him away from the others, and said, “You’re right, Inuyasha. It’s about time that we had a nice long talk. We might even have to talk all night, so don’t expect us back, guys, okay?”
Smiling as he walked, he decided that he just may have finally figured out the one human that was most important to him.
8-8-8-8
A/N: this sat on the computer half finished for over a month and a half. I think parts sound forced, but it was time to wrap it up. I’m marking it complete, because the chapters seem to be harder and harder to write. I will be going back through the chapters to correct all the mistakes, so ignore any update notices that come through. The way this story was designed, I can always add another chapter if the spirit moves me. But it would have to move me really hard.
I would like to thank all the wonderful friends and reviewers for your interest in this story. Isiaha still checks how many hits and reviews come in on it. He’s thrilled with the readers from other countries, too.
As I promised, Kagome did read the entry and sympathize with Inuyasha at the end of the story. Happy endings are always nice, aren’t they?
Sitting in the tree branches, watching the sunset, should have been a peaceful experience. It would have been, if he didn’t have his lap filled with this damn book. He could think of something else in particular he would like to have to keep his lap warm, and it didn’t involve writing.
He’d almost gotten what he wanted, too. If it hadn’t been for the damn hoshi, who wasn’t even the hoshi, he would have his Kagome in his lap enjoying the sunset with him.
It wasn’t a normal day from the beginning. Kagome had felt responsible for the big, green bellyaching lizard, and insisted that they find a suitable home for it. While he hadn’t been happy with the new addition to their pack, he’d had to admit that having the dragon travel with them hadn’t slowed them down. The great scaley beast could really move! Who would have thought that one belch could make that much difference? And Kagome seemed content to ride on its back even when she wasn’t speaking to him.
And just why the hell hadn’t she been speaking to him? So what was the problem with him telling the green monster how much of a pain in the ass it really was? Had she really expected him to be all smiles about having to find food and shelter for the big lug, too? Did she even have the slightest idea how much a dragon could eat? And with its damned sensitive stomach just how the hell did she expect him to find food that wouldn’t upset it?
How could Kagome have been upset when he’d taken the opportunity to dump the dragon at the first berry patch that they’d come across? He hadn’t even known that dragons were partial to berries. He’d simply pulled his pack away as the dragon gorged itself on the fruit. He’d remembered in time, this time, just how many thorns those berry bushes held. And besides, he hadn’t wanted to be anywhere nearby when the dragon discovered it had another belch on the way. So why had Kagome felt the need to say that word as soon as he’d set her down?
Keh!
After that the only one who had spoken to him at all was the bratty kit, and that was just to whine about how much he missed the great galoot. So when they’d reached the quaint little village nestled in the forest he’d been more than ready to call it a day.
Who knew the problems such a simple decision could lead to?
Miroku had done his usual evil cloud routine to get a room at the best inn in the village. Honestly, how could the monk stand to be around himself? It probably should have triggered his suspicions when he noticed that there were more inns than houses, but what did he know about human villages? He’d lived in the damn forest for most of his life.
Naturally, the girls had decided that they had to do the whole bath thing before any of them could eat, so he’d found that he’d had some extra time to look around the village.
He’d had no idea where Shippou was, but the village wasn’t really big enough for the kit to have gone too far. So while the monk was busy clearing out that nasty dark cloud, he set out to see the town. By the time he was done , Miroku would probably have talked the innkeeper into providing a feast to help them purify their bodies, all to better serve the village, right?
The first thing he’d noticed was the faint scent of kitsune that seemed to linger everywhere in this damn place. There must be a den of the tricky demons close. Maybe it would keep Shippou entertained, and out of his way if he made friends with a few of them. He was all for anything that would make his life easier!
Next, he’d noticed that there were none of the usual fields around the town to grow the foodstuffs the villagers would need. He’d thought this was strange, but since there didn’t appear to be any immediate danger, he’d filed the idea away in the dusty corner of his brain that was labeled ‘to think about’. He didn’t want to run the risk of overworking–or possibly breaking–his brain.
Resuming his stroll, he’d heard the monk behind him. When the hell had the hoshi had time to catch up to him? Shouldn’t Miroku still be making a big deal out of clearing the village of all supernatural dangers? The longer the monk took to provide for the safety of the town, the higher the price the bouzu would charge. And he’d seen the greed in Miroku’s eyes, as the grandness of the monk’s chosen mark became evident.
Turning, he saw Miroku talking to Sango. What the hell? Hadn’t Sango gone to the baths with Kagome? She didn’t even look as if she’d gotten wet. Things were just getting stranger and stranger, and he definitely didn’t like strange. Strange just confused him, and he’d decided long ago that if he couldn’t find a way to wrap his mind around something, it must be bad.
He’d gone back to ask the monk and slayer just what was going on, but they had ducked behind yet another inn just as he’d approached. When he’d finally made his way to where they should have been, he’d only seen the tails of two retreating kitsunes. He hadn’t even been able to pick up the scent of his friends.
As a matter of fact, he’d been amazed that he hadn’t even been able to pick up the normal scents of a village. Even the wood and stone of the inn he had been standing near hadn’t given off the usual earthy scent. It was yet another thought for that dusty corner of his mind.
He’d decided that the only course of action would be to find his friends, and let them try and make some sense of all the confusing facts that had taken over his poor, overworked brain.
He’d been on his way to the baths when he’d seen Kagome approaching him. She’d been in the company of the inn owner that Miroku had been talking to earlier. Wondering about Sango’s state of dryness hadn’t helped him before, so his mind hadn’t even noted that Kagome didn’t look as if she had visited the baths, either. There was only so much room in that corner of his mind, after all.
He’d taken the miko’s arm, and pulled her away from her conversational companion. He’d expected a loud ‘sit’ to leave her mouth at the interruption, but it hadn’t happened! Just what the hell was going on? There were some constants in life, and Kagome saying that word when he used his strength to make her do something she didn’t want to do was a constant that had been constant since the beads had been around his neck.
There had been no foot stomping or yelling, either. Kagome had simply stared at him with a vacant look in her green eyes.
Just then his brain had opened that dark dusty corner to the light of day. He might not always comment on how his friends looked, but he’d known damn well that his Kagome did not have green eyes. Depending on who was looking at them, they were either brown or grayish blue. He’d even heard people arguing about what color they really were. Green was one color that had never entered the conversations.
Studying his mysterious miko, he’d noticed that her scent was not what it should be, either. It wasn’t that it wasn’t Kagome’s scent. It was just not enough of Kagome’s scent to be his Kagome’s scent. He’d realized that the thought didn’t make a lot of sense, even to his own mind, but he’d known that something wasn’t what it should be, and that was enough for him.
Just as he was about to question this almost Kagome, the girl had pulled him into a strong embrace, and tried to kiss him. He’d known right then that this couldn’t be the Kagome of his dreams, because the only time that Kagome had ever acted this way was in his dreams!
Before his lips could touch the lips of the doppelganger in front of him, he’d heard that word, shouted from further down the main thoroughfare of the village. He’d had enough time to look up and see a very wet, very mad Kagome staring in his direction. He’d known right away which Kagome was the real Kagome.
Keh!
While he’d waited for the spell to wear off, the almost Kagome had disappeared into the closest inn. The inn owner could be seen entering another inn further down the street. When he’d managed to regain his footing, he’d seen a very wet Sango entering still yet another inn in the company of the monk.
Looking in the other direction, he’d notice what looked like Miroku and a completely dry slayer standing in front of the large inn that had been Miroku’s original mark. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he’d seen not the monk, but the slayer accost the person of her companion.
The smile that crossed Miroku’s face had told him that, as far as the monk was concerned, the dispelling of dark clouds was done for the day. The damn bouzu hadn’t even questioned why Sango would suddenly allow Miroku to grab all the monk could want of her backside. No, Miroku had seemed to be content to let his hand wander where it would go, and not have to worry about Sango’s swinging fists.
Apparently Miroku hadn’t cared enough to care if it was the real Sango, or not, but he was going to make damn sure that the woman at his side was his Kagome before he let her come any closer.
Leaning in toward what he thought should be Kagome, he’d started sniffing furiously. Maybe he should have been a little more discrete with the locations that he chose to sniff, but once he confirmed his Kagome’s familiar scent, he couldn’t seem to get enough.
As he’d made his way up and down the miko’s body for the third time, he could tell he’d gone too far. He’d learned to see the signs, after all. So, making sure to stay as low as possible, he’d cringed while he’d waited for that word.
When the word hadn’t come he’d chanced a look at the woman standing before him. She’d still smelled like his Kagome. She’d had his Kagome’s eyes this time. So why hadn’t she said that word that his Kagome could be counted on to say in a situation such as this?
Following the pivoting of the miko’s head, he’d realized that Kagome had noticed two sets of slayers and monks, too. Maybe he should have thanked whoever was responsible for saving him from meeting the ground again, but he’d wanted to find the original members of his pack, first.
Grabbing Kagome’s arm, he’d marched to the closest of the pairs. Trusting his trustworthy sense of scenting, he’d determined that the monk was real, but the slayer had smelled like kitsune. The fake Sango ran inside the closest of the many inns as Kagome had explained to Miroku that he had been about to become intimate with an imposter.
So why the hell did the monk seem to be upset that they’d rescued him from the fake Sango? And just what did he mean when he asked if they couldn’t have waited a little longer to discover the deception? Was the bouzu really depraved enough to have wanted the attentions of the trickster? He’d be damned if he’d ever be able to figure out how humans thought.
He’d decided to let Kagome sooth the very upset monk, while he tried to remember which inn the real Sango was in. They’d all looked so much alike, and the smell of kitsune had been growing stronger by the minute. It had been enough to overpower his nose’s ability to sniff out the truth.
Taking no chances, he’s decided to check every inn in the village. Behind the first door, he’d come face to face with his own face. Disconcerting would have been the first word to come to his mind, but he’d been too disconcerted to be able to think of words with more than one syllable, or more than four letters. He’d let quite a few of those words lose, though. He’d known that if Kagome was close, he’d have to answer for his choice of words later, but right then he’d decided that he had to find the best way to grab himself.
Somehow that choice of words had brought enough unwanted pictures to his mind that his other self had been given a chance to escape. Now how in all the blazing fires of hell would he be able to keep the identity stealing bastard away from his friends? He could imagine all the trouble the pretender could cause for him.
As he’d thought of the confusing possibilities of the situation, he’d heard the voice of his miko’s angry voice just outside of the inn he was in. He tried to make a hasty exit, but just as he stepped out of the inn, he saw Kagome standing toe to toe with himself. He’d known what was going to happen next, but he’d been powerless to prevent it. He’d been able to see that Kagome was being pushed past her boiling point. He’d only had time to resign himself to the knowledge that it was his other self’s fault and not the miko’s when she’d said that word.
Keh!
She could have at least waited until he’d reached the softer ground outside, instead of the hard floorboards of the inn’s porch. Looking up, he’d seen a very confused Kagome looking at the retreating form of himself. He’d seen the look of enlightenment take over her face when she’d realized that it wasn’t the real him in front of her. Maybe the sound of him crashing onto his face had given her a clue. Who could say? He hadn’t been able to blame her, though. He’d almost been fooled by her double, hadn’t he? He couldn’t expect her to be as sharp as he was, could he?
When he’d rejoined the two others of his group, he’d been met with an embarrassed apology from the miko and a very long-winded explanation from the monk as to why Kagome should not be held responsible for her actions. He’d liked the way that Kagome had said that she would find some way to make it up to him. He’d like it quite a lot, as a matter of fact. He’d liked it even more when she’d told him he could decide how she should make it up to him.
What had set his temper on edge was how Miroku had gone on and on about how unfair it was to hold someone responsible for falling prey to a deception that was perpetrated against them. The monk had seemed to think that it would only enhance the wrong that had been done to him if either of them were to tell Sango of his reluctance to be parted from the slayer’s willing double. The bouzu had gone on about it so stridently that Inuyasha swore that if he heard one more word about not being fair or responsibility, he was going to lose his temper like he’d never lost it before!
He’d only been able to shut the monk up as they approached the last inn of the village. He hadn’t been prepared for the conversation that had been going on as he walked through the door. When he’d seen the face of the monk telling Sango that it wouldn’t be fair to hold him responsible for his past actions now that he’d decided to follow a new path, Inuyasha had lost all control. He’d lunged at the pseudo-monk with a ferocity that he’d never shown before. He’d meant to teach the non-lecherous version of his friend a lesson that the pretender wouldn’t soon forget.
While he’d been in midair, just about to put Miroku’s double in its place, he’d heard Kagome say that word.
Keh!
Laying on the floor, he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. What the hell was she talking about? What did it matter if the imposters hadn’t caused any real harm or not? This particular kitsune-in-monk’s-clothing had to be taught a lesson, didn’t he? He’d reached the end of his patience with this village of inns and illusions. If he didn’t get to pound someone soon, he would explode!
And he would have thought that Sango would have been glad of their intervention. Why did the slayer have to let them know how disappointed she was that the reformed hoshi wasn’t her hoshi.
So maybe he should have been able to figure out that it wasn’t a good idea to go after one of the monks as soon as the rosary’s spell wore off, but he had to teach someone a lesson. How could they think it was his fault that he’d gone after the real Miroku and not the double? It just wouldn’t be fair to hold him responsible for that mistake, would it? They did look alike, after all. But why did she think it was worth saving the monk by saying that word?
Keh!
While he’d been stuck to the floor, the monk’s double had shifted back to its natural shape, and explained that the group had wandered into a kitsune training village. The town was used by the young kitsune to hone their skills between examination times.
It seemed that Shippou had been instrumental in letting the other kitsune know what type of illusion would be most effective on each member of the group. The brat had been the mastermind behind the whole thing, yet he was the one to suffer the punishment. How was there any justice in that?
So now he found himself with the damn book in his lap, instead of the woman that he wished was here to share the romance of the sunset with him. He would simply have to get this done as soon as he could, and see if any of Kagome’s guilt could still be salvageable.
Looking at the blank page, he began to write:
I found that sometimes it’s best not to force humans to accept the reality of their lives. They’re so hard to understand, but I’m getting better at it. What they say they want and what they really want aren’t always the same thing.
Looking at his writing, he couldn’t help thinking about the last line, and wondering how his miko would react to it. It said:
p.s. Kagome, remember you promised to let me decide how you would make up for that sit. I’ve got some ideas that I’d like to talk to you about.
He didn’t know exactly what reaction to expect from Kagome as she read his entry, but he could honestly say that he hadn’t expected the reaction that came. Taking his hand, his Kagome led him away from the others, and said, “You’re right, Inuyasha. It’s about time that we had a nice long talk. We might even have to talk all night, so don’t expect us back, guys, okay?”
Smiling as he walked, he decided that he just may have finally figured out the one human that was most important to him.
8-8-8-8
A/N: this sat on the computer half finished for over a month and a half. I think parts sound forced, but it was time to wrap it up. I’m marking it complete, because the chapters seem to be harder and harder to write. I will be going back through the chapters to correct all the mistakes, so ignore any update notices that come through. The way this story was designed, I can always add another chapter if the spirit moves me. But it would have to move me really hard.
I would like to thank all the wonderful friends and reviewers for your interest in this story. Isiaha still checks how many hits and reviews come in on it. He’s thrilled with the readers from other countries, too.
As I promised, Kagome did read the entry and sympathize with Inuyasha at the end of the story. Happy endings are always nice, aren’t they?