InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lost and Found ❯ 8 ( Chapter 8 )

 

 

 

Six Months Later

 

 

Walking arm in arm down the sidewalk, Kagome heard her name being called. Turning she saw her old school friend Eri. Looking sideways at Inuyasha, she said mildly, “You might want to keep your ears close to your head. It's dark enough, they might not get noticed.”

 

He tightened his arm around her shoulder as Eri rushed up saying breathlessly, “Kagome, where have you been? And why did you drop out of…….Oh.” Noticing Inuyasha for the first time.

 

Eri, we're just visiting.” Stepping forward Kagome gave the girl a hug. Sliding her arm back around his waist, she continues “This is my husband, Inuyasha.” Pride evident in her voice.

 

Mumbling his hello he dropped a quick kiss on his mates head.

 

“Husband! Eri squeaked thinking, “Poor Hojo.” Then seeing how Inuyasha was looking at Kagome, she couldn't help but feel a bit envious. “How long have you been married?”

 

Inuyasha answered, “About six months.” Kagome added, “It was a small ceremony. We're here to see Kurama and Ryu.”

 

Feeling her mouth fall open, Eri said, “I guess you haven't heard. Ryu walked out on Kurama. It's been about three days now.”

 

“What!” They gasped in unison. “Itwasnicetomeetyou.” Inuyasha said in a rush. Then to Kagome, “We've got to go.”

 

Kagome agreed. Waving to Eri, they turned to go. As soon as she was out of sight Inuyasha picked her up and ran.

 

Soon they reached the doorstep of the small house that Kurama and Ryu shared. “I wonder what the hell happened,” Inuyasha all but growled.

 

Kagome shrugged, holding tightly to his hand, her eyes filling with tears.

 

Knocking forcefully on the door, they waited impatiently. Just when Inuyasha thought he'd have to break the door down, the sounds of a lock disengaging reached their ears. The door slowly opened. They stood in shocked silence at the sight before them.

 

Kurama looked like hell. His face was haggard, and pale. His beautiful eyes were sunken, and red rimmed. They had lost their sparkle. He had lost weight, his clothes hung from him.

 

The fox stared at the pair in front him. Trying to smile he said, “Inuyasha, Kagome. It's nice to see you.” Opening the door wider, “Come in.”

 

Walking into the house, Kagome leaned her head against Inuyasha, whispering so only he could hear. “There is something really wrong. There's more than three days tragedy riding his shoulders.”

 

Kurama swept his hand through his hair. “Have a seat. So what brings you here?”

 

Inuyasha, not usually known for his tact, kept quiet. Glancing up at him, Kagome could see him staring at the man in front of them in puzzlement.

 

She reached for Kurama's hand, saying softly, “We heard about you and Ryu.” The hand in hers trembled. “What can we do to help?” Green eyes filled with tears. Acting instinctively, she pulled him into a hug. Laying his head on her shoulder, he wept.

 

Listening as his mate spoke soothingly to his brother-in-law. Inuyasha took another sniff in their direction. Having spent a lot of time with both Kurama and Ryu, his scent was as known to him as the scents of the rest of his pack. There was something decidedly off about Kurama's.

 

Calming, he sat down heavily. Looking at the floor he said shakily, “It's not Ryu's fault. You don't know what she's had to put up with. I don't understand what's happening to me.” Raising haunted eyes to Inuyasha, he whispered, “I really don't understand.”

 

Kneeling in front of him Kagome said, “Why don't you start at the beginning.”

 

Twisting his fingers together, Kurama took a deep breath. “It started about two weeks ago. We were back in the Feudal Era. Ryu was visiting with Kaede. I had been working with Shippo, but our lessons had ended. I decided to take a walk. I remember walking in the general direction of the bone eaters well, then nothing until I woke up under a large tree.”

 

Inuyasha interrupted. “Were you injured?”

 

Shaking his head, “No. I awoke when I heard Ryu and Shippo screaming my name. Alarmed at the panic in her voice, I tried to sit up, but I was lightheaded, sluggish. I finally got enough energy to call out. That's when I learned they had been searching for me for nearly an hour.”

 

Putting her hand over his, Kagome asked, “You don't remember anything?”

 

“Nothing. No matter how hard I try, it's a blank.”

 

Inuyasha knew that episode alone would not cause the pain that was evident in the fox's eyes. “So what happened after they found you?”

 

Blowing out a breath Kurama continued, “They took me back to Kaede. She gave me herbs to help me regain my strength. When I felt better, we came home.” His voice faded. Running his hand through his hair, he was startled when he felt Inuyasha's hand on his shoulder. Gathering strength from that touch, he softly said, “I started having dreams, dreams of blood. In these dreams Ryu was my victim.” He paused as Kagome gasped. “I quit sleeping. I feel like I'm walking a knives edge. I have a rage inside me but I don't know where it comes from. I started seeing a betrayal in everything she said or did. For her safety I pushed her away, kept her at arms length. Then three nights ago she left me a note.” Pulling the note from his shirt pocket he handed it to Kagome.

 

Reading it out loud. “My Dear Kurama, I want to find out what's happening to you. I need to find out how to help you. I know that this isn't you, you are the gentlest person I know. There is something unnatural going on. Please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. I will be back in a couple of days. I love you, my mate.”

 

“Do you know where she would have gone? Inuyasha asked quietly.

 

Kurama nodded, “She would first go to Yusuke for help. Then probably get him to take her to Genkai.”

 

Kagome gasped, “Yusuke? You mean Yusuke Urameshi?

 

Kurama chuckled weakly at the look on Kagome's face. “Do you know him?”

 

“No. I don't know him personally.” Grinning she continued, “But he's a legend in the halls of any school.”

 

Inuyasha wanted to know, “Is he part of your team?”

 

“He's the leader of our team. Ryu has known him along time.” Kurama hung his head. “I met her when I joined the team.”

 

“Ok, so who's Genkai?” Kagome asked.

 

“She's Yusuke's sensei, but she is more than that.” Kurama shrugged. “Genkai is hard to explain. She's human, but incredibly powerful. Uniquely tuned into the world behind the barrier.”

 

“If you think you know where she is, why don't you just go get her?” To Inuyasha this was a logical thing to do

 

The fox's eyes filled with tears. “I couldn't. I don't know what I'd do. She has been nothing but patient with me. Reminding me that she loves me, worrying. She has shown no fear of this new side of me. But the day she left….”

 

Lifting his head he said, “Long before we became mates, Ryu has trained with another member of our team, Hiei. He's a fire apparition, who has no love for humans. He too is a skilled swordsman.” Smiling a little he continued, “He is not her teacher. They train together because they're about evenly matched. I have watched them spar many times.” Dropping his head again he said softly, “But the day she left, I thought I was going to kill him. I barely got under control. And I did that by running and hiding. I was afraid I would turn on her. Do you want to know why I was so out of control?”

Anger had entered Kurama's voice. “Because she smelled like him. That's all. I sat and watched them train, proud of her. I saw everything. I knew there was nothing dishonorable in anything she was doing. But I still couldn't stop the blood lust that boiled up. So I ran.”

 

Inuyasha stood up, making a decision, “Whatever happened to you, happened in the Feudal Era. We need to get you back there. Miroku and Kaeda may know what to do.” Looking at Kagome, “We need to speak to Shippo.”

 

Kagome, realizing something, said quickly. “What about Youko?” Kurama had explained his unique relationship with the demon inside him. “Have you asked him what went wrong?”

 

The man beside her said quietly, “He's not answering me.”

 

Inuyasha had heard enough. Pulling the fox to his feet he said “Do you need to take anything with you?” Seeing Kurama shake his head, “We're going home.”

 

********************************

 

Miroku sat with Sango outside Kaede's small hut; smiling at the secret game Shippo and Kirara seemed to be playing.

 

“Sango, when we defeat Naraku, have you given any thought to where you would like to settle down?”

 

She shook her head. He no longer said `if' they beat Naraku, but she knew he still worried.

 

“How about here, in this village? It's the closest thing either one of us has to a home now.”

 

Sango's reply was cut short as the excitable young fox, lifted his head, “Mama, Papa!” Before taking off towards the old well.

 

Kaede came outside “It would seem that Inuyasha and Kagome are home.”

 

The couple stood in alarm as Shippo came running back shouting, “Uncle Miroku, Papa needs you! Uncle Kurama is hurt!”

 

Watching Miroku run towards the well, Kaede said, “Sango help me prepare a place for him.”

 

Slowing as he reached Inuyasha, he was stunned to see the state Kurama was in. Turning to Kagome, Inuyasha said, “Run and help Kaede.”

 

Watching Kagome run towards the village, Inuyasha said to Miroku, “He is uninjured physically. Something has happened to his mind. It happened when he was here last. We need you and Kaede to try and see if you can figure it out. Me and Kagome need to talk to Shippo.”

 

Slowly walking back to the village, Kurama roused himself to say quietly “Hey Monk.”

 

“Don't worry Kurama, we'll get you settled, and then I'm afraid you'll have to relive it all. I need to know, so we can figure it out what happened.”

 

Reaching the hut, they found that Kaede had fixed an herbal tea. Handing the cup to Kurama she said, “Drink this, it will help you rest and keep your dreams at bay.” Watching him finish the drink, she led him inside.

 

As they waited for Kaede to return, Inuyasha paced, his hands clenched in fists. He was furious. He was so wrapped in his fury, that he was startled when Kagome laid her hand on his arm. “Inuyasha, we'll find a way to help him. He'll be ok.”

 

Inuyasha all but snarled, “Someone did this to him! What's going on with him isn't natural. There is only one reason someone would target Kurama. He's part of MY pack!” He suddenly pulled Kagome close. Her presence calmed him. “I will not have a member of my pack, of my family threatened.”

 

Kaede slipped out of the hut. “He's asleep. I don't know how long he has been without sleep, but it may be awhile before we get answers.”

 

Kagome looked at the young kit curled up in Sango's arms. “Shippo, we need you to answer a couple of questions, ok?” At Shippo's nod, Kagome then asked, “Do remember when you and Aunt Ryu had to look for Uncle Kurama?” Seeing him nod again, she went on, “Do you remember anything odd when you found him?”

 

“Well, there was a funny kind of smell and some kind of hazy light. But it went away pretty quick. The smell stayed around, but we were so worried that I didn't give it another thought.”

 

Kaede and Miroku both looked thoughtful. Miroku finally said, “Until he wakes up there's nothing we can do.”

 

Inuyasha looked at Kagome, “We need to get back and find Ryu. If she goes home and Kurama's not there, she may think the worst.” Turning to the group, he said, “We will be back as soon as we have Ryu. Take care of him, and watch yourselves. One member of the pack is hurt, I don't want to come back to find something else has happened.”

 

Walking back to the bone eaters well, Inuyasha caught a glimpse of the grin on Kagome's face. “Want to let me in on it? I could use a laugh.”

 

“It's nothing really. You've never been so open with your feelings about your pack before. In fact, you've never been so open about us all being a pack before. I mean, you mentioned it before the ceremony but nothing since then.” She held his hand. “Did you notice that neither Sango nor Miroku looked surprised.”

 

Inuyasha kissed her hand, thinking. “I never thought I'd have a pack. Not a half-breed”. But Kagome `s love changed him. He no longer thought of himself as worthless, not as often anyway.

 

Reaching the well, he said as they prepared to jump. “I don't talk much about it, because it's still to new. I have a wonderful mate, and a family that accepts me as I am.”

 

With that the blue lights of the well surrounds them.

 

Pulling themselves out of the well on the other side, Inuyasha said, “We have to figure out where to look for her.”

 

Puffing out a breath Kagome said, “I may know where to find her.”

 

Surprised Inuyasha said, “Really? Where?”

 

“Do you want a hat or can you keep your ears down?” Watching as he laid his ears close to his head, she said. “Remember her music case? She has always said that music soothes her soul. For the last couple of years she's volunteered at a small radio station.”

 

“Lets go see if she's there. And what's a radio station?”

 

It took almost the entire time walking, to get him to, mostly understand.

 

Entering the building she pointed to a small door. “She will be in there.”

 

Cracking the door open her voice drifted to them. “Damn Yusuke, I don't know what else to do. After my broadcast is done, I'm going back to the Feudal Era, see if I can find Inuyasha and Kagome. Maybe they'd know what to do.”

 

Quietly they entered the small room, seeing Ryu hurry to sit down at the desk. In a chair in the corner sat the young man she had been talking to.

 

 

Pulling the microphone to her, she started speaking, “This is Keiko Minamoto, your late night DJ. Your listening to oldies on 106 X. Tonight we're celebrating the `70's. It's time for a long block. Come in and stay with me awhile.”

 

Yusuke settled back in his chair to listen to her speak. Kurama was one of his best friends and he was content with his Keiko, but he loved to listen to her broadcasts. She had a voice made for late night radio. Sensual, and intimate. Smooth as chocolate, deep as sin..

 

She still had not noticed them when she heard a voice say, “Hey pup.”

 

Gasping and looking around, she launched herself forward grabbing Inuyasha around the waist. Mumbling incoherently into his chest she let her tears fall.

 

Kagome walked further in the room smiling at the stunned man in the corner. “You must be Yusuke. I'm Kagome and that's Inuyasha.”

 

“Her new found brother and sister. She told me about you two.”

 

Inuyasha pulled Ryu away from his chest so that he could look at her. “We have Kurama. He's with Kaede right now. You need to come back with us, we have to figure out what happened.”

 

Nodding to show that she understood, she bit at her lip as she looked back. Understanding the look, Yusuke said, “Go. I'll finish out the shift. Just let me know what's going on, ok?”

 

“Ok.” Snagging her purse and taking Kagome outstretched hand. They left.

 

 

 

 

 

A/N 106X is a real radio station in Redding California. They play rock not oldies.