InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Ain't Forgotten Easily ❯ So much to think about... ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11

Inu-Yasha froze. He stared at Miroku, barely breathing.

“W-what?” he croaked.

“Kikyo didn't die. She showed up at Lord Yamamoto's after your demise, saying she had missed the rocks at the bottom of the cliff and a nearby village had found and took care of her. She married him, but Sango and I were murdered shortly thereafter. We don't know what happened after that.”

Kagome stepped forward to catch Inu-Yasha as he stumbled. “Naraku…he never said anything. And there were never any letters…”

“Because I had them with me. I was on my way to deliver them when I was slain, so Naraku never knew.”

“Wait. Did you say Naraku?” Five sets of eyes turned to Shippo. “Inu-Yasha, wasn't that the weird…guy…from the night of the gala?”

That was it. The poor hanyou fell onto the floor.

“Honestly, Inu-Yasha, are you still that weak?”

***

Miroku, Kagome, Inu-Yasha, Shippo, and Myoga whipped around, causing poor Sango to blink. “Huh?”

“Sesshoumaru!” Inu-Yasha yelped. Sango dove and grabbed her amulet, watching as a tall, silver-haired figure came into sight next to the door.

“Yes, Inu-Yasha. I see you remain a fool.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Inu-Yasha was on his feet a second later. “Listen, Fluffy, I—”

The hanyou flew across the room and smashed into the wall. Sesshoumaru was glaring at him, evidently irked by something. “Call me that again and I will do far worse. And you're the one who needs to listen, little brother. Naraku was deceiving everyone—”

“How dare you!” Inu-Yasha picked himself up, growling. “Do not insult Lord Tsukino! You weren't even around this house.”

“Just because you did not see me does not mean I wasn't here.” Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. “And I speak the truth. Naraku was actually part youkai.”

“But his scent—”

“He concealed it very well. However, nothing can get past the nose of a full inu youkai. I knew immediately, and when I confronted him he killed me.” His fist clenched. “That damned hanyou killed me.”

“Hanyou?” Sango echoed. “You just said he was youkai!”

“He was an unnatural hanyou. He allowed demons to devour his flesh, and took their power in exchange. He was kind enough to tell me all of this before he took my life; he must've thought it would go to the grave with me.” Sesshoumaru barked a laugh, causing a chill to grip the spines of all those present. “Unluckily for him, I became a ghost. I would have slaughtered him when I was allowed to solidify, but he can see specters and fled beforehand.”

“Did he know I was still around?” Inu-Yasha asked, dinner plates for eyes.

“Yes, but he always made it seem as though he couldn't see us. When he vacated this house I followed him, leaving you behind.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I didn't want to deal with you even in death, brother,” the youkai ghost replied dryly. “Anyway, Naraku went on to ruin many lives. All the great villains of our history? Him. He's a shape-shifter.”

“So, what, you're on a quest to avenge all the horrid things he's done?”

“No, I'm not.”

“Then why are you being held as a ghost?”

“I am merely looking to take revenge for my own death. Why were you?”

“I have to find my murderer. I'm solid for the year, though.”

“Wait, Inu-Yasha.” Kagome turned to him. “Didn't you say Kikyo forced you off that cliff? If she was alive…”

“But she told me she was dead, and humans don't feel like that.”

“That is because Kikyo did die.” Sesshoumaru cut in. “Her story to Lord Yamamoto was a lie. She died on the rocks, and Naraku ordered her to be revived by an ogress witch, Urasue. She was a walking corpse.”

“But why did she want me dead?”

“Her father needed to be rid of you, and it didn't take much convincing to make her believe that her death was your fault. I was there for the meeting.”

Inu-Yasha's ears flattened against his head. “So Naraku and Kikyo are responsible for murdering me?”

“Yes.” Sesshoumaru nodded once.

The hanyou turned to Myoga. “So, what now? My killers are known, and my reason for staying is gone.”

“Assuming that this is correct, you will immediately pass on once your year is up.” The flea sighed. “Enjoy your time on Earth.”

“I'll finally be able to go?” Inu-Yasha's eyes widened. “Really?”

Myoga nodded, and the hanyou grinned.

“At last…”

“If the information's correct.”

“Quit trying to burst my bubble, Shippo.”

***

Deciding that enough info had been assimilated for the day, the group split up in different directions.

Myoga was returning to wherever he had come from, saying he had other business to attend to. Miroku and Sango had a previous engagement with friends, so they had to leave. Sesshoumaru floated away, telling them he was going to be staying in the house for a while. Inu-Yasha was less than thrilled at that aspect.

That left said hanyou, Kagome, and Shippo.

“Well!” She clapped her hands together. “What do you two say we go into town and find something to do there? Sota was begging someone to take him to the museum a while back.”

Shippo hopped up into her arms. “A museum? Really? I've never been to one of those before!”

“Then I guess I'll get Dad to lend me the keys to the car and we'll go.” She turned to go in search of her parents (who, miraculously, had no idea of what had gone on in the front hall) but paused, looking over her shoulder. “Inu-Yasha?”

His head jerked up. “What, wench?”

“Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to come, though if you're calling me that again you can forget about it.” She sighed. “Ah, who am I kidding? Inu-Yasha, do you want to come with us and unwind? You can keep brooding after we get back.”

He stared at her. “I don't know if I can leave the grounds.”

“Hey, Myoga said you had no ghost power left, so I would think you can leave like a normal person.” She wrinkled her nose. “Though I suggest you change clothes first.”

“Easier said than done, wen—uh, Kagome. I don't have any other clothes.”

“Then come with me.” She set off down the hall, fully expecting him to follow.

Seeing as he had no real choice, Inu-Yasha did.

***

“Sota! Get back here, you little brat!” Kagome tore across the parking lot in pursuit of her little brother, who was giggling madly.

Shippo, tail and paws concealed, sat on Inu-Yasha's shoulder. Both watched the girl as she grabbed the back of the boy's shirt, dragging him over to them.

“Shall we?” she asked cheerfully, dropping Sota on the ground unceremoniously.

“Um, sure.” Inu-Yasha pulled the kid to his feet and took off after her, not really wanting to incur her wrath.

***(A/n: museum is not crowded)

Inu-Yasha was impressed, to say the least. Like Shippo, he had never been to a museum. He'd read the books that the owners of the house had brought, and knew about dinosaurs and such, but…

Now that he was actually standing in front of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, he had to admit that it was far different.

Shippo was sitting on his head and staring in awe at the massive bones. “Wow…”

“Come on, you two!” Kagome's voice hauled their attention from it. “You've been standing there for ten minutes; there's still the whole rest of the building to go!”

The hanyou took one last glance and ran off to Kagome.

“Shippo, be careful!” he hissed. The bandanna was slipping.

“Sorry,” the kitsune replied, readjusting the hanyou's headgear. He opted to move back to the shoulder; they were worried they'd lose him if he didn't stay on one of them.

“Where to now?” Kagome asked. “Sota, you pick.” She knew her other two companions had no idea of where to go.

“The new weather exhibit!” And he was off.

Kagome followed, shouting for him to wait up. Inu-Yasha sprinted after, Shippo holding on for dear life.

They caught up outside Sota's destination, the human child hopping up and down in anticipation. “Slowpokes!”

“Shut up, Sota.” Kagome glared at him. “Now stay in this exhibit, okay? Don't leave until we all meet up again.”

“Okay!” He ran in, leaving the other three to tag along at their own pace.

“Can I go with Sota?” Shippo asked. “Please?”

Inu-Yasha pulled the kitsune off his shoulder and walked up behind Sota, who was currently staring at a board explaining thunderstorms. “You two stay together, got that?” he said, placing Shippo on Sota's head.

“Got it!” both replied.

The hanyou returned to Kagome, who was peering into a darkened room. He poked her in the side, smirking as he saw her jump.

“Don't do that!” she yelped.

“Scaredy-cat.” He walked past her into the dim space. “You coming?”

“Yeah!” She marched after him. This had been something for tornadoes, and she was kind of curious as to what it was.

There were several other people sitting on steps inside, and the pair sat next to them.

“I don't know what this is,” she muttered.

Suddenly the room started trembling, and Kagome screeched in surprise. She grabbed Inu-Yasha, looking about wildly as a recorded voice made to sound like a radio report told them there was a tornado warning for their area.

The hanyou snickered as Kagome kept a death grip on his arm. “Scared, wench?” he asked. The noise had startled him, too, but damn. This wasn't that terrifying.

“Shut up!” She glared at him. “It just surprised me is all.”

“Then why don't you let go of me?” He looked pointedly at her hand.

It was as if she had been burned, scooting away from him until she ran into the next person down the line. Inu-Yasha burst into laughter just as everything calmed down, earning some odd stares as people walked by him.

“S-sorry,” Kagome stuttered.

“It's okay—Kagome!” She looked up to see—

“Hojo,” she replied flatly. “Hi.”

“I didn't know you liked museums or else I would have asked you to come with me!” He grinned down at her, and Kagome returned it half-heartedly.

“Hey, Kagome, is this guy bothering you?” Inu-Yasha was there a second later, a fierce look directed at the brown-haired boy.

“Um, not really, no.” Kind of. “Uh, Inu-Yasha, this is Hojo. We met at the party the other night. Hojo, this is Inu-Yasha.”

The human held out a hand, and the hanyou reluctantly took it.

“So, Kagome, would you like to see the museum with me?” Hojo asked.

“Uh, Hojo…” You're a nice guy, but you're just a little too boring for my liking. No, that won't work. “Hojo, it wouldn't be right because…Inu-Yasha is my boyfriend.”

Both males looked rather startled at this news, but Inu-Yasha recovered first and pulled Kagome up next to him.

“Oh.” Hojo looked a little put out. “I see. I'm sorry; I didn't know.”

With that, he walked out one exit and they walked out the other.

“Thanks for not protesting,” Kagome said. “It's just that Hojo is dull and all he did was talk about himself.”

“So he was that one, eh?” Inu-Yasha wandered over to a giant tank. “Wonder what this is…” He pushed a button.

“Neat!” She came up behind him and watched as a tornado started to form in the water. “I wonder how they get it to do that.”

Inu-Yasha quickly moved away, catching Kagome's attention and making her have to run after him. “Inu-Yasha! Wait up! What's wrong?”

She grabbed his hand. “Inu-Yasha?”

“It was nothing. That thing just reminded me of what it was like…under the water…” He shuddered. “Never mind.”

“But—” The ground started to shake, cutting her off. They had walked onto the earthquake simulator without even realizing it.

“Whoa!” Inu-Yasha, caught off-guard, tripped and fell, bringing Kagome down with him. She sprawled across him, giggling wildly.

She tried getting back on her feet, but the ground would always give a violent shake whenever she went to move and knock her back down. Inu-Yasha felt as if he was going to have several bruises on his torso.

“Ahh!” She fell again, this time accidentally ramming her elbow into his chest and knocking the breath out of him. He inhaled sharply, causing her to look at him with concern.

“Inu-Yasha?” she asked, shifting so that she was kneeling next to him. The `earthquake' had ended, but he made no move to get up as he gasped for air.

“Damn—you—wench.” He closed his eyes for a second and forced himself to breathe. By now several others had gathered around to see if the teenage boy was all right.

“What happened?” someone asked.

“None of—your business.” He was returning to normal. “I'm fine.”

Slowly they moved away, abandoning Kagome to her fate. A minute or two later, he finally sat up. His eyes opened and he glared at her.

“Sorry?” she offered, wincing. “I didn't mean to.”

He stood, pulled her up, and walked off the simulator. During this he was silent, and Kagome feared what he was going to say.

“I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha—” She shut her mouth as he whirled on her.

“Stop apologizing,” he ordered. “No damage done. Forget about it.”

“O-okay.” Her eyes were wide. Then she smiled. “Hurricanes next?”

***

After watching a pencil powered by wind impale a piece of wood, the two decided to track down Shippo and Sota.

They found the two kids leaving the `tornado shelter,' talking excitedly.

“Hi!” Shippo grinned. “You two ready to leave this section yet?”

“Are you?” Kagome countered.

“Yup!” Sota nodded. “We want to see the animal displays.” He grinned and took off with Shippo, the two older young people following.

***

“Remember, don't leave this part and meet us back at the entrance when you're done!” Kagome called. Her brother nodded, fascinated with the stuffed vulture mounted in a semblance of its original environment.

Kagome set off in the opposite direction, Inu-Yasha tagging along.

They meandered in silence, viewing the exhibits with their carefully preserved animals, until the hanyou flipped up an info pad and hit the button.

An elk call echoed through the room, making Kagome jump and Inu-Yasha fall backwards. She came and leaned over him.

“Wasn't ready for that one,” he remarked, sitting up. Fortunately there was no one else there to see him.

Kagome giggled. “Yet it was funny.”

“Glad you thought so.” He climbed to his feet and slung an arm over her shoulders, smirking as she glared. “Next room?”

Sighing, she let him steer them through the next doorway.

“Oh,” she breathed, pushing his arm off and walking up to the glass. “They're beautiful.”

“They're wolves.” He came up besides her. “I don't care much for wolves.”

“I don't care, I think they're gorgeous.” She stole a glance at him. “Though you could almost be related. Their fur is the color of your hair…almost, anyhow.”

“Feh.” He meandered down to the next one. “There you go. A big, cuddly bear.”

Kagome rolled her eyes as she took in the polar bear. “Ha ha, Inu-Yasha.”

“What, you don't want one to keep you warm at night?” he asked teasingly.

“And what, have him eat me?” She smiled at another couple that had laughed at her reply. “Frankly, Inu-Yasha, I think you want me dead.”

“Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.” He kept moving.

“You watched that movie?”

“Correction: the people that owned the house before you were the ones who did.”

“Ah. And you just happened to pass by at that certain line.”

“I was looking to cause chaos!”

“Sure…” She ducked the claws aimed at her head. “Hey!” She launched herself at him, making him stumble backwards. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“No, wench. I was just trying to teach you a lesson.” He shoved her off and pinned her body between his and a wall. “Don't make fun of me.”

“Wouldn't dream of it.” Was it just her, or was the distance between them getting smaller? Oh, gods, was he going to—?

“Woo! Go, Inu-Yasha!” The shout snagged the hanyou's attention, and he turned to see Sota and Shippo standing twenty feet away, the latter having called out.

“What are you two brats talking about?”

“I was wondering when you were going to put the moves on my sister!”

Inu-Yasha's head snapped back around to gaze at Kagome's crimson face. It was then he noticed how they must look to any bystanders.

He gulped and jumped back.

Then he whirled, snarling at the two boys.

“Ahhhhhhh!” Sota screamed and ran from the room as fast as his legs would carry him as Inu-Yasha crossed the room, a dangerous glint in his eye.

Still red as a beet, Kagome tailed them.

***

Sota and Shippo, each sporting a lump on their heads, had disappeared into the dinosaur exhibit the moment they approached it.

Inu-Yasha and Kagome—a five-foot gap between them at all times—trailed at a slower speed.

He stared at a trilobite fossil, his focus elsewhere. Was I really about to kiss Kagome back there? I've only known the girl for a little over a month, but…

Kagome was thinking along the same lines…kind of. I can't believe he was about to kiss me! That cheeky boy's barely known me for a month! She went red. Though I don't think I'd really mind all that much…I didn't yesterday.

She shook her head to clear it of the thoughts, turning around to progress to the next display of fossils.

However, she didn't see the other person standing there and crashed into him. She would have fallen, but a clawed hand shot out and caught her arm.

“Clumsy wench.” Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes. “Watch where you're going.”

She gave him an angry stare. “Why don't you take your own advice?”

“Because I don't need to.” He released her, watching as her leg caught on a divider that separated the main exhibit from the Staff Only rooms and fell. He walked over as she sat up and held out a hand.

She took it, but yanked back. He went down, pressing her into the floor.

“Well, that wasn't very nice.” He propped himself up on his hands and gazed down at her. “Do I want to know why you did that?”

“Because you deserved it. Now get off.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “I'd rather stay and make you squirm.”

“What? I do not!” She tried wriggling out from underneath him, only to be thwarted as he pinned her down. Her struggles ceased.

“Comfy?” he asked, smirking.

“How can I be, dog-boy? You're crushing me!”

“Weak.” He climbed off of her and held out his hand. This time she used it to pull herself to her feet.

Before she could react, he pulled her up against him. She turned her head up to look at him and was quite startled as his lips brushed over hers.

Yeek! He actually did it! she thought as he leaned away, a light blush staining his cheeks. Okay, who would've thought my first kiss would come from a guy who used to be a ghost?

Inu-Yasha cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. Um, you ready to move on, wench?” Why in the hell did I do that? She's going to kill me!

“S-sure.” She pushed past him, head bowed. Shaking off the embarrassment, he flipped off a group of guys snickering at them and went off after Kagome.

***

To finish off their trip, the foursome went into the physical education and human body section. At a small computer station, they typed in their names—Kagome had to explain how to use the keyboard to Inu-Yasha and Shippo—and were given small cards for which they had no idea of the use.

At least, until Kagome approached the weight and height place. She stepped onto it and saw the screen instruct her to put the card in the slot. She obliged, and it flashed the words to remove her shoes and stand up straight.

“Okay…” She did as such and hit the button. A few moments later, the screen flashed her height and weight and spit her card back out. She took it, stepped off the platform, and pulled her shoes back on. “Inu-Yasha, you next.”

“Do I have to?” he muttered, but she shoved him up. He took off his shoes and placed the card in the slot. Straightening, he hit the button.

It's weird not being weightless anymore, he thought, reading the screen and taking back his card. Slipping the infernal shoes back on, he smirked at Kagome.

“So, wench, how much do you weigh?” he asked, enjoying the flush that crept across her features.

“That's not polite, Inu-Yasha!” she shrieked. “Of course, what else can I expect out of you, dog-boy?”

“You going to answer or what?” He strode past her, almost feeling the venomous glare aimed at his back.

“No.” She stalked after him.

***

When they were done and had met up at the exit, they discovered they could put the cards in another slot and have their information be printed out.

Inu-Yasha swiped Kagome's before she had the chance, hearing her indignant squeak. He held it above her head, reading the information as she attempted to grab it.

“Inu-Yasha!” She grabbed his arm and dragged it down, finally grabbing her paper. When he wasn't looking she snagged his, scanning it quickly before he yanked it back.

With a self-satisfied smirk, he dropped his card in the recycling bin and walked out, the other three following.

“I can't believe you're only 171 pounds,” Kagome muttered. “And six foot?”

“You're 130 and 5'6”,” he shot back under his breath. She reddened.

“Tell anyone and I slaughter you,” she hissed.

“I'm only 48 pounds!” Shippo cheered. “And the computer said I was 2'1”!”

Ahh! He knows! Curse that kitsune hearing! Kagome thought wildly. I hope he heard my threat to Inu-Yasha and knows that it applies to him too!

Inu-Yasha slung an arm over her shoulders, causing her to “eep” and stiffen. “Calm down, would you? Shippo has no one to tell.”

“Besides my brother.”

“True, but you can live with that, can't you?”

“You really don't understand how Sota's mind works. If he has info on me, he will use it for blackmail! Now move your arm.”

“Nah. It's resting.”

“Get off of me! Whoa!” She looked down as Sota and Shippo shot by. “Where are you two going?”

“We're racing to the front door! Meet you there!”

“Be careful!” she hollered back, knowing it was useless to order them to stop. “Baka kids. Now get off of me.”

“Hojo's following us. Stop telling me to let go, unless…” He turned his head to look at her. “Do you want to `break up' so he can escort you home?”

“No!” At that, Kagome wrapped her arms around his waist. “Anything but that.”

“Anything?” Hearing the amusement in his voice, she tipped her head up to glare at him. He was grinning.

“Hentai.” She smacked him lightly on the chest. “Wasn't it enough yesterday?”

Both went scarlet the instant she said it, looking either away or down at the floor.

They strode towards the door, silent, and were almost there when—

“Eek!” Something tripped Kagome as another thing slammed into Inu-Yasha's back. The two youths pitched forward, him landing first.

“Sorry!” Kagome yelped as she fell on him.

“Damn clumsy wench,” he groaned, pushing himself into a sitting position. She tumbled backwards, a tube of chapstick rolling from her bag and landing at the feet of a very startled brown-haired teen boy. He leaned over and picked it up.

***

“Oh, no! Shippo, he's going to talk to her! Abort, abort!” Sota hissed.

The kitsune bounded out and intersected the human. “Thank you for picking that up. I'll make sure Kagome gets it,” he said, grabbing the chapstick.

Sota peered over at his sister and Inu-Yasha. The boy was helping her to her feet, his expression annoyed but not too badly. He even helped to brush her off, much to his sister's great mortification.

Shippo, managing to shoo away the overzealous noble boy, came back over to Sota. “That was close. Well?”

“I think Operation Get-Kag-And-Yash-Together has been set into motion without a hitch.” He watched as Inu-Yasha pulled Kagome towards the exit. “Come on, we better go catch up with them.”

“And hope Inu-Yasha didn't realize it was us who knocked them over.”