InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ It Must Be Destiny ❯ Chapter 6

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 6

Inusouta gave her a grin, making her breath catch with how the simple expression increased his good looks tenfold. He turned to the glowering man, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

(“What? What was she saying about my old man?”) Inuyasha grumped.

(“She would like me to inform you that she finds it `neat' that you are named after… yourself,”) Inusouta replied.

(“Myself? What the hell does that mean?”) The older hanyou looked confused.

Inusouta smirked. (“She believes you are named after the Inu no Taishou's `legendary' hanyou son, Inuyasha, Otousan. Naturally you are that hanyou, but she is not aware of that.”)

Kagome cleared her throat, trying to remove the small smile from her lips. (“Excuse me- dog boys? Perhaps you should consider what we are going to do about evenings around here?”)

The grin faded from the young man's face. (“We will discuss it later. Let me get Amber-san settled first, Okaasan.”)

(“Keh!”) Inuyasha snorted, earning him a look of surprise from the American. (“Just as long as we do it before nightfall.”)

Inusouta gave his father a slight bow. (“Hai, sir.”)

He then turned to Amber. “We are now going to your apartment, Amber-san, and we will return with your possessions promptly.”

The girl blinked. “Um… how will you know… which one is mine?”

He almost winced. He couldn't possibly tell her that his father would be able to tell which apartment was hers by her scent. “We would need that information before we leave,” he replied, thinking quickly.

“Oh,” was all she said.

His golden eyes stared at her for a moment. “Does that mean you are willing to stay here, then?”

“Yes… I mean, hai,” she nodded.

He gave her a devastating grin. “Excellent. This might make your search for your ancestors that much easier.”

Kagome gave the younger girl a glance. “If you're willing, Ryoushi-chan, while these two get your stuff, I'd like to talk with you about what you know about your ancestors. Maybe I could help, somehow.”

Amber nodded politely. “Hai, Mrs. Higurashi-san. That sounds good.”

She turned to Inusouta and gave him her apartment number. He gave her a formal bow, which caused her eyes to widen slightly- what was with the formality? As he straightened, however, he winked at her.

Her heart stopped. She was certain of it. But then, in a moment, it began beating once more, only stronger against her ribcage. She stared after him as he and his father left the house.

“He sure is a handsome dog, isn't he?” his mother quipped.

“Truly aptly named,” she breathed, not taking her eyes off the door they had closed behind them. Catching herself, she flushed, bowing in apology to Kagome. “Oh, I'm so sorry! I… I didn't mean…!”

A sparkle in the older woman's eyes indicated she knew better. “Would you like some tea while we talk?”

Afraid of opening her mouth again for fear of putting her big ol' foot in it again, Amber nodded mutely.

A few minutes later Kagome and Amber were outside, sitting under Goshinboku and enjoying the warm weather. Amber stared at her teacup as Kagome gazed up into the branches of the great tree, remembering times gone by.

“What… would you like to know, Mrs. Higurashi-san?” Amber asked quietly.

Kagome glanced at her with a smile. “Well, what time period are you looking for? How far back do you plan to search?”

Amber shrugged. “Pretty far back, I think. My obaasan is the one who asked me to search for them, and the only thing she would say is that one of my ancestors was reputed to be a monster fighter in something called the... Sen…go-ku… Ji..dai?” she said awkwardly.

Kagome's breath stopped briefly. Impossible. (“Sengoku Jidai?”) she repeated.

The golden-haired girl nodded. “I said it right?”

“H-hai.”

The girl's name. Searching for ancestors beginning during the Warring States Era- 500 years ago. A monster fighter- could that be a... taijiya? Something was clicking into place.

Criminy. What if this girl was Sango and Miroku's descendant?

That might explain the extremely slight nagging feeling she kept getting around her. The feeling that Ryoushi-chan was more than just an ordinary human girl.

For now, she would have to put her suspicions on hold- even if it turned out she was searching for Miroku and Sango. The girl couldn't even speak the language, so there was no point in considering any other options until Inusouta had fixed that particular problem.

Instead of voicing any of her thoughts aloud, Kagome gave her a pert nod. “Well, that's somewhere to start, certainly. What other clues do you have?”

Amber looked rather nervous. “J-just… my name…” she muttered.

Amber. "Kohaku" in Japanese, where it was more commonly a boy's name. The name of Sango's younger brother, killed and then brought back to life via a jewel shard, forced into servitude by Naraku's evil.

“How is `Kohaku' a clue?” Kagome asked gently.

The girl gave another shrug. “Every firstborn of the new generation is named Kohaku, whether the baby is a boy or a girl,” she explained. “It goes back as far as anyone can remember.”

“I see. So we are looking for someone in the Warring States Era with the name `Kohaku'?”

“I think so.”

Well… that changed some things. Sango and Miroku's firstborn child had been a girl, named Hidama. Perhaps they were not her ancestors after all.

And Kohaku, the one Kagome knew of, Sango's brother, was long dead, having given up his jewel shard to Kagome to purify and protect from Naraku.

Kagome was starting to get a headache. This was getting too weird for her. Instead she stood up, with Amber quickly scrambling to her feet as well. “Well, that's a great start," Kagome chirped, perhaps a bit too brightly. "For now, until the boys get back, I've got some chores you can do while we're waiting,” she suggested. “How are you with sweeping and dusting?”

Amber nodded. “I've done those for my obaasan countless times over the years,” she replied.

“Good! Follow me,” Kagome said, leading the girl to the storage shed. “You can dust the shelves and artifacts in here then sweep the floor when you're done.”

“Hai, Mrs. Higurashi-san.”

.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.

Inusouta flicked a glance at his father. (“That… was somewhat disconcerting.”)

(“Keh! Call it what you want- I call it annoying as hell.”)

The unsavory buffoons that lived in Amber's apartment building were enough to make both hanyous wince- Inuyasha from the stench and Inusouta from the living conditions.

Amber's actual apartment, however, seemed to be a tiny slice of heaven compared to the hell just outside her door. It was neat and clean, with only the barest of necessities on hand. She seemed to live out of her suitcase- as if she were about to leave at any moment.

Well, she had indicated that as soon as she found out whatever it was her grandmother had urged her to discover that she'd be heading back to America. Something about not having enough money to stay any longer than necessary.

His gut clenched slightly at that thought. She shouldn't have to leave so quickly. She should stay here, in Japan…

With you?

No… so that she can find out more about her heritage. This has nothing to do with me.

Are you so certain?

(“Oi, pup! Let's just get this stuff back to the shrine before it gets dark, okay?”)

Inusouta barely stifled a sigh. He refrained from reminding his father, yet again, that he was no longer a `pup.' (“Hai, sir”) was his only reply.

Amber's “things” consisted of only her suitcase, a smaller duffel bag containing female toiletries, her art supplies conveniently stored in her portfolio, and an old stuffed animal, slightly dingy with age. It was an orange-red and white fox with black feet, its green eyes only barely hanging onto the thin “fur” via fraying threads.

Inusouta had actually chuckled when he found the creature sitting on the semi-shabby sleeping mat, looking forlornly up at him. Somehow the small, well-loved animal fit Amber-san's personality perfectly. He smiled at the memory.

Amber-san… her name conjured a vision of a precious gemstone, nestled on a black velvet pillow. Her scent… ah, her scent was like roses and coconut, drawing him in like ramen drew his father.

Grinning like a fool, yet not realizing it, he walked silently beside his father, his mind on the golden-haired female waiting for them at home.

.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.oOo.

Later that evening, Kagome lay in bed, waiting for her mate to join her. The hanyou paced around the room, looking distinctly agitated. His white ears were flattened slightly out to the sides of his head and every so often he'd growl under his breath.

(“I don't understand the problem,”) Kagome said softly for the sixth time that evening. (“So our son was smiling… he was probably happy.”)

(“That's just it!”) Inuyasha nearly exploded- only the knowledge that everyone else was asleep kept him from completely combusting. (“He was probably happy because of her, and there's no way my pup is getting involved with someone related to that lecher. I don't care how many damn centuries have passed.”)

The miko tried to soothe him. (“Now, Inuyasha, we don't know for a fact that Sango and Miroku are her ancestors,”) she said practically. (“There's no reason for us to be concerned about this in any way, shape, or form. If he wants to pursue a relationship with Ryoushi-chan, we have no say in the matter.”)

(“We sure in the hell do!”) he growled back. (“She's an American, she can't speak the language, she can't even fucking defend herself, and for all we know, she could be that blasted hentai's descendent. Who knows if their pups would turn out to be perverts like him?”)

Kagome shook her head in disbelief. (“For Kami's sake, baka,”) she muttered dryly. (“They're not even dating and you've already begun to worry about any babies they might have.”)

(“Keh! Better now than after he's already knocked her up.”)

(“Do you even listen to yourself? No wonder Izayoi rebels against you so much. You've got some truly medieval thinking going on.”)

He grinned, flashing white fangs. (“Arigatou. That's one of the nicest things you've ever said to me.”)

(“Baka inu.”)

(“Lazy wench.”)

She giggled. Opening her arms, she beckoned him to join her in their bed. (“Aishiteru, dog boy.”)

His grin widened as he pulled off his clothes and jumped into the bed, delightfully naked. She smothered a squeal as he reached for her, wrapping strong arms around her slender form. He slid a hand down her rounded hip. (“How much?”)

Her brown eyes sparkled. (“Shall I show you?”)

Hooking a claw under the waistband of her aqua sleep shorts, he pondered slicing through it to get to the enchanting flesh underneath that much faster. Golden eyes flashed as they stared into hers.

(“I think you shall.”)