InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Realization ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 13 )

Inuyasha patiently waited for Kagome's return from school sitting in the Sacred Tree. Besides Kagome's presence the Sacred Tree was the only other comfort he felt in Kagome's time. Maybe it was because it was sacred was the reason behind the tree not growing bigger. It amazed him that such a thing could happen but obviously it could for he sat in his proof. Inuyasha's ears twitched at the noises he could hear coming from Kagome's city surrounding him. He could hear what sounded like children screaming and laughing and talking. He could hear strange screeching noises that he could only imagine belonged to those metal things Kagome called automobiles. How noisy and smelly they are, Inuyasha thought, they call it progress but I think this world stinks. And it was true; to his sensitive nose he could pick up all the scents that apparently no one else here smelled. The only scent not present in the air was that of demons. If he were a betting hanyou he would bet that there weren't any demons in Kagome's world. No really, for the centipede and the mask had the power of the jewel pulling their strings. The mask itself already had a jewel shard embedded in it so that alone was enough to make the wood come alive. As for the centipede, after her original death the remains were tossed into the Bone Eater's Well and the well did what its named implied.

Inuyasha again wondered if there were any more jewel shards in Kagome's time, like the one the mask had. Though he knew if that were true he would more than happily go and retrieve the stray precious, he knew also that it would be only him and Kagome retrieving any stray jewel shards in her time. Miroku and Sango could not pass through the well and only he and Kagome knew the jewel still existed. So it would be just the two of them. All alone looking for jewel shards. Like in the beginning, just the two of them trying to adjust to the other's presence in their worlds. The idea of not having to worry about perverted monks following with them and groping her sounded good to him. Or some kitsune jumping onto his head and pulling his ears while he yelled into them.

Alone. They did okay alone. Better even for though he was comfortable around Sango and Miroku it was alone with Kagome that he could truly relax. Maybe it was the shared desire for each others company that made him relax. And speaking of company how long had he been sitting in this tree doing what he does best, waiting for Kagome? Hours, and figured he had about two more to go. He didn't mind her being gone for hours so much as days. It was her presence that let him sleep at night. Thinking of Kikyo kept him awake more than put him to sleep and before that, when he was a young boy he had been too afraid to sleep for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Twice he had almost been overtaken by demons due to his exhaustion, the second time he had committed his first murder. And his first kill had been by accident.

He had been asleep high on a branch of a cherry blossom tree, and it was an almost peaceful sleep since the death of his mother months before, when suddenly little Inuyasha felt himself yanked from his branch and painful pulled down, through, and over the branches below him. Trying to grab a branch on the way down, he realized someone was pulling him from the tree. All Inuyasha could manage to get a grip on was an old rotted branch of the tree and under the pressure it snapped and all involved fell to the grassy knoll below. Then the struggle was on, the perpetrator scrambled to get a better grip on his squirming victim. That not working he decided to try beating him into submission by hitting and kicking at him wildly landing some and not others. But Inuyasha felt the pain of each blow be it a lot or a little. Having lived on his own a good bit already, Inuyasha was no punk and tried his best to block as many of the blows as he could; that and he tried to block as many blows to his ribs as he could. He had realized early on that he could heal quickly but that didn't mean that it didn't hurt when he got badly wounded. He was no punk but also not a fan of pain. When his opening showed itself he returned as many hits as he could in kind. Inuyasha kicked and kicked and kicked and then finally landed a kick to the face and was suddenly free. Light as a feather and fast as lightning Inuyasha took off running. Run and run as fast as you can, Inuyasha said over and over again to himself. But apparently it wasn't fast enough because when Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder he saw his pursuer hot on his trail and gaining. Adrenaline unleashed itself and swept like fire through is blood and pushed him even harder. Running with all his might it was no wonder it hurt like hell when he was finally tackled. He was down but not out, even when he felt sharp claws pierce his skin he did not cry out, he struggled even more. The will to live was strong. If only I could get a weapon, Inuyasha cried inside. Suddenly realizing that he had claws of his own he struck back at his enemy catching him in the face.

"AAAAAHHHHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!" The demon screamed and hollered. He rolled away from Inuyasha, thrashing about on the ground, his hands covering his now blood ridden face.

Inuyasha eased himself up from the ground; the pain in his side was even greater than before from the effort. Holding his side with a now blood drenched hand Inuyasha spared his opponent a moment or two's notice before turning to make his escape but realized he just might be doomed as any quick movements caused him so much pain that it stole his breath. With his free hand he held onto a nearby tree for support while he struggled with what he was going to do next.

The cries of pain soon turning into that of extreme anger sadly pulled Inuyasha's attention. On the ground on all fours, Inuyasha saw for the first time the damage that could be done with his claws. Inuyasha had basically cut out the demons right eye, if not he would never be able to use it again. With one last growl he rushed at Inuyasha. He was so quick but in that moment it felt as if everything were in slow motion. Inuyasha realized that death was coming down onto him and hatred filled him. Had he survived the daily pain of having lost his mother, and being suddenly only in a world so large and making it somehow only to now die a terrible and painful death? Was he really helpless to do anything to stop someone so angry and so strong?

His grip on the tree tightened and he felt nothing but the hot blood on his hand. With angry and resentful tears falling from his tightly shuteyes he did the only hopeless thing he could do. With support from the tree he slung out his soaked hand and screamed. "LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!" and waited for impending death.

Nothing.

Inuyasha slowly opened one eye and nearly fainted at what he saw. There before him was the demon in pieces lying in its own blood. All Inuyasha could manage to understand was his would be killer was dead and that somehow, he didn't know how yet, he was responsible. He had committed his first murder and couldn't even figure out how. White as a ghost, freezing, and shaking uncontrollably Inuyasha slowly moved closer to the gravesite. "How the hell?" Inuyasha whispered. Squatting Inuyasha took a closer look at the damage done to the body when it was sliced. Tilting his head in wonder and moving a little closer Inuyasha looked at what appeared to be claw marks where the skin had been separated.

Inuyasha's look was that of confusion as stood back up and slowly made his way away from the body. Other demons should be coming soon to investigate the smell of blood in the air, Inuyasha told himself as his body told him that it didn't like the fact that he was on the move, if I don't leave now I might be killed yet. Inuyasha slowly made his way to his secret hide out. A place he reserved only for when he was hurt or hiding in a tree wouldn't do him any good. A cave, not far from a small village and an abandoned well, that wasn't in plain sight if you weren't looking for it. Tall grass made a field for a front yard for the cave and gave it even more coverage and concealment from prying eyes. It was perfect for him. There he could ponder how he had killed the man by clawing him when he never even touched him. Till then he focused all his attention on not paying attention to how much pain he was in with each step he took.

Slowly but surely he reached his destination and he eased himself onto the cool ground of the cave sitting in the darkest part of the cave. He felt safe in his hide out but when he was bleeding he didn't want to take any chances luring any other demons to him. With slow deep breaths Inuyasha waited for the healing process to finish and it didn't take long. After about two hours he hardly noticed the dull ache anymore and turned his attention back to the matter at hand. He had murdered someone.

It didn't feel as horrifying as he might have thought but then again maybe if he had seen the blow that he had apparently given he might have felt different. But all he felt was complete surprise at how such a feat was accomplished. Inuyasha had always known he was different. Even when his mother was alive he was shunned and ignored or treated badly by the villagers where they lived. His mother understood then what he understood now; they hated him for being different from them. He had thought that his being different stopped at his claws, hair, ears, and eyes. But he learned that he had healing powers and a great jumping and running ability soon after his mother died. He was a child alone, too many demons tried to hurt him daily for his weakness, so he was constantly nicking or hurting himself trying to run from or get free from an attack from either humans or demons. Humans would usually just throw rocks at him but demons tried to kill him, eat him even. Had he now found a new ability?

Inuyasha stared down at his hands. One clean one covered in dried blood. Then something clicked in him. Could it be??? Inuyasha struggled to remember what happened at that moment. He was holding onto the tree with one arm for support and holding his wound with the other, hot molten blood covering it. He remembered closing his eyes and trying to fight the tears of anger at having survived for so long only to die now and slung out his arm screaming the first thing that came to his mind. A slinging arm includes a slinging hand. A sling arm slinging a hand covered in blood. His hand covered in his hot molten blood. Could it be? But, how? How could that happen? He had been hurt before, when his mother was alive, and she had gotten his blood on her on accident sometimes but it never hurt her. Was it a combination of his claws and his blood? He would have to investigate further to find out and the thought didn't appeal to him for that would mean he would have to be bleeding from at least a deep gash to get enough blood for such experiments. He would just have to wait till his next fight for he wasn't willing to cut himself just to prove his theory. Until next time, he though sadly, stares at his hands knowing that it probably would not be long.

Inuyasha say up in the Sacred Tree staring at his claws as well as he felt his mind flood with memories, it had been so long since then it amazed him to realize how young he truly had been when he learned about his Claws of Blood. He remembered how shocked he was when he killed again with his blood because this time he watched as the body was sliced into pieces as if the bones and muscle of said person was nothing but air. And it was always messy, so terribly bloody and messy. He threw up the first few times he used his technique. But if his life was on the line and it came down to him or them, he chooses him every time. But killing was avoided at all costs. Inuyasha found that he didn't like the feeling it gave him to see a dead body in a bloody mess and to know that he had caused it. To just leave such a mess and not know who or what finds it and what they think or do scared him as well. All he needed was an angry demon brother trying to take revenge on him, so he buried the bodies.

"Meow." Buyo's voice brought Inuyasha out of his ponderings. Looking down he saw Kagome's fat cat stand on his hind legs and sharpen his claws on the bark of the Sacred Tree.

"Oi. What do you think your doing? Stop that." Inuyasha said defensively. Then frowned when Buyo paid him no attention. "Where you been anyway? I haven't seen you since breakfast." Inuyasha questioned. Buyo just meowed again and took off in the opposite direction of the house.

Thinking about breakfast reminded Inuyasha of that morning's meal. It had started out almost like any other day, except Inuyasha hadn't been awake greeting it for about an hour or so already. Seeing as he was more anxious during the days that Kagome was absent he felt relief and exashaution from his efforts after her return, so he rested more the first day or so that she was back. And man had he slept good last night. He hadn't had a full nights sleep since his mother was alive and his body felt so much the better for it. But a groan from Kagome snapped him awake instantly and fearing Kagome might realize that he slept better in her presence tried to act like he had been awake the most of the night, but Kagome's reaction to his remark made him think that she knew better now than to believe half of his macho talk. And instead of calling him on it offered to make him breakfast instead and something different for a change. Not that he hated Ramen, far from it, but he sure did eat a lot of it. Most days he had it breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He could still fondly remember Mrs. Higarashi's steakie. Eggs, toast, and cold cereal is what he got though and he had to confess that it wasn't half bad. Eating the cold cereal seemed almost like a challenge as he eyed the eating utensil Kagome expected him to eat it with. A spoon she called it. Giving off tale tell signs that he didn't know what to do with it good old Kagome stepped in to the rescue and showed him how. Despite the fact that he had really enjoyed his cold cereal he didn't taste the first bite. All the smelt, sensed, and tasted was Kagome, her scent and her close proximity presence. She stood so close to him that he felt goose bumps cropping up on his arms, she made his heart beat faster and she made him forget about anything and everything except how nice her hand looked holding his while showing him how to properly hold the spoon. The way he could feel the muscles of her arms contract as she directed them to bowl to spoon out some food. When she shifted to make sure she didn't poke him in the face it took all that was inside him not to groan at the rubbing contact. God, she feels good, he thought as he absent-mindly followed her directions of opening his mouth, and taking his bite. When Kagome made her `Aum' sound Inuyasha flushed at the sensations he felt when her body echoed the sound she made and it seeped into his. He saw her flush too out of the corner of his eye but he wasn't sure if it was for the same reason as him. When she moved and he lost her warmth he nearly dropped the spoon but managed to keep it from falling to the floor at the last minute.

It took Kagome almost ten minutes to make their breakfast. He stopped her only once to make him another bowel of the cereal because being a half demon he had an appetite on him. He felt that Kagome sensed it too especially after she grabbed extra eggs to cook. Soon the smell of eggs and buttered toast filled the air and it made Inuyasha hungrier

"Bout time." Inuyasha grumbled raising himself up in his set some while Kagome tried to sit down with the plate of eggs. Seeing him trying to drool on them she held them away.

"Your are so greedy sometimes. I haven't had anything where you've had two bowls of cereal already. Didn't that satisfy your appetite any?" She questioned.

"No." He said honestly and held his empty plate up to her to put eggs on. Kagome's responding laughter brought warmth to his heart as he watched her give him five eggs and three pieces of toast.

"Enjoy." She said, taking the rest and she slowly started eating. Inuyasha decided that since he was in Kagome's time he would let her set the pace here and tried to follow her slow eating motions. He found the whole thing frustrating really, Kagome's breakfast was turning out to be better than he could have imagined and he wanted to scarf it down but at the same time liked that he was actually able to enjoy what she made by eating slower. Kagome must have sensed the conflict in him for she asked, "Something wrong?"

"No, why?"

"You don't like it do you?" Kagome said, sounding on the disappointed side.

"Why do you say that, Kagome. It's good." He insisted. Why would she think that he didn't like it, he was eating it after all, wasn't he?

"Yeah but your eating so slow."

"What I can't enjoy the breakfast you made?" His voice raised itself a notch or two.

"Keep your voice down." She warned. "And yes you can enjoy it but you usually eat so fast that I thought maybe something was wrong with it."

"Nothings wrong with it. So leave me in peace." Inuyasha said turning his attention back to his plate hoping that she would drop the subject. Inuyasha was almost finished with his breakfast when movement from Kagome caught his attention. On her plate she still had one unfinished egg for she focused more on her toast and cereal, but now Kagome was picking up the whole egg with her fork and with one swift movement flung it onto his lap with a splat. Horrified looks spread across both their faces as they looked down at the egg soaking Inuyasha's pants with its yolk. Silence filled the room and then laughter. Kagome's laughter.

"What the was that for? Why are you throwing food at me?" Inuyasha asked with indignation.

Kagome's laughter kept her from answering though try as hard as she could. She finally managed an "I was giving it to you."

"No you weren't. I saw you. You scooped it up with that holed up spoon and flung it at me." Inuyasha said trying to keep some sounds of anger in his voice while he tried to hide his own laughter at the way Kagome was reacting to the whole thing.

"No, I swear. I wasn't going to eat it so I thought I would give it to you and when I tried to lift it off my plate to put it on yours my FORK lost its grip on it. No, wait, don't. I didn't mean it NNOOOOO!" Kagome screamed as Inuyasha picked the egg up off his lap and made as if he was going to throw it back at her.

A real live scream snapped Inuyasha out of his hours of contemplating. What was that, he thought, and then he heard it again. "NNOOO!"

"Kagome?!?" Inuyasha said jumping down from the tree and racing in the direction he heard the scream come from. Inuyasha took the steps that lead to the Higarashi shrine two at a time on the way down as he followed the scent of Kagome he picked up. When he heard sobbing Inuyasha jumped the rest of the steps, landing on the streets ran around the corner to see Kagome sitting in the middle of the street crying.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha said rushing over to her. And was surprised at the site before him. There was Buyo lying in the middle of the road, obviously hurt for her growled and groaned and cried out as he tried to stand on back legs that wouldn't move.

"He was hit by a car, Inuyasha." Kagome said crying more. Pointing to the other side of the street she said, "He was over there and when he saw me coming down the street he started to cross over to me and this car came out of no where and hit him. They ran over my poor baby." She cried as she leaned over Buyo's heard and wept more and more tears.

"Kagome, we are going to get run over if we don't get out of the street." Inuyasha said looking first down one side of the street then down the other then back again.

"I'm not leaving him here." Kagome said sternly.

"I didn't say that. Get up and out of the street, I'll grab the cat. Just get out of the street." And with that Inuyasha helped Kagome to her feet with a hand under her armpit. With as much care as he could manage considering Inuyasha picked up Buyo and moved him out of the street. When the cat let out a pitiful and painful sounding meow Inuyasha started to feel that the situation was serious. What to do? He questioned.

Not wanting to risk more damage Inuyasha gently placed the cat back on the ground. Buyo then started to thrash about and attempted to walk but found it to be to painful so settled for lying there crying in pain.

"What should we do?" Inuyasha said turning his attention to an in shock Kagome.

"He's been a part of the family for more than ten years." And with that she again sat down next to her cat trying to give it comfort.

"I said what should we do?" Inuyasha said, coming to squat next to them.

"We.. we need to get him to a vet." Kagome said, as if coming to her senses and realizing that she needed to do something more than cry for her cat. "Stay with him while I go and get his carrying case and some towels and we can box him up and go. Oh, and I'll also grab you a hat to cover your ears." And with that said, Kagome took off running to her house.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha turned his attention back to Buyo, and watched as the cat again tried to use his legs to no avail. "It's okay buddy." He said softly, stroking him on the head. "Kagome knows what to do, she'll take care of you you'll see." Inuyasha continued to stroke the cat's head including behind his ears and the back of his head. Buyo seemed to take comfort from. "That's right. If you calm down it won't hurt as much." And Inuyasha sat there waiting for Kagome's return offering what comfort he could.