InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love For a Demon ❯ Part 9 ( Chapter 9 )

Thoughts: '……'
Speech: "……"
Time/Setting Shift: ~*~

Memory Flashbacks: ~……~

~ * ~ Love For a Demon ~ * ~
by huntress © 2004
Part 9

Inu Yasha stared in disbelief and shock at hearing his name. For the first time that day, he was worried and a little bit scared. Scared that he had been tricked and had fallen into a trap, a trap in which there was no escape from.

'What am I going to do?' He thought. 'I need to join with them or I will never get my revenge on Naraku! This was my last hope.'

He eyed the three older people one at a time, not caring if they saw his distress and worry in his eyes. They were not what he had expected, his imagination picturing a council of at least five or six giant men and woman with long blonde hair, huge white wings, and traditional marks on their faces indicating their rank and status.

What he got was three elderly old people with wrinkles and grey, almost white hair. The one man on the left looked as if he swallowed something incredibly sour, making his lips poke out before his lips curved outwards ever so slightly and his eyes two sizes too big for their sockets. White hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, showing off the unusual pointed forehead and chin and a long, skinny nose. His white and pale blue robes almost looking like they were hanging off of his small body.

The other man on the right was more human looking; his face was more rounded and plumped. Though the frown on his face made him look like he was constipated, his top lip hidden behind a little moustache but for a small line just under his nose. His hair was a little bit darker than the others, with more of a grey shade to it than white, tied high on his head. His white and pale green robes looking almost too small on him, the fabric stretching a little too much a cross the chest then Inu Yasha found comfortable.

The third elder was a woman with an eye-patch covering her left eye, her body sitting between the other two elders. She was in no way near skinny nor wide, more of an average size a woman her age should be. She gave off a grandmotherly feeling towards Inu Yasha, her calm gaze both warm and welcoming. Her long grey hair had some white streaks in it as it was pulled back and tied in a low ponytail. Her white and bright red robes made her stand out more than the other two, identifying that she was the leader of the three.

"Do not look so troubled Inu Yasha." The woman said softly, trying to ease the worry from inside of Inu Yasha's heart that she sensed was there. "Please, kneel and we shall begin."

Inu Yasha was still unsure about the whole situation, but did as he was told. Kneeling down on the soft, smooth, off white rug, his body facing directing across from the old woman. He didn't like the looks that the moustache guy was giving him and he felt uneasy under the gaze of the sour face looking one.

"Thank you, Nobunaga. That will be all for now."

Inu Yasha silently watched as Nobunaga bowed respectfully before leaving through a sliding door off to the side of the room. Leaving him alone to talk with the elders in private.

"Ye seem a bit distressed." The woman said calmly, a small smile forming on her face to show that he was among friends here. "Ye need not to worry; no harm shall come to ye. I am Head Master Elder Kaede. These are my council men, Toto-sai and Koenkaru."

Inu Yasha bowed slightly as she introduced the sour face man first then the guy with the moustache. "I am honoured that you have agreed to see me. Tell me Head Master Elder, how is it that you have learned my name?"

Kaede frowned slightly. "It is not important; we are here to discuss the possibility in joining our team. Is that now why ye have come?" At Inu Yasha's nod, she continued. "Then… let us decide."

~ * ~

Kagome leaned against the wall, taking off some of the weight from her sore feet. She was getting sore from standing around and waiting for the elders to decide whether or not Memui would be joining their team. Couldn't the elders just have a vote?

She was getting bored, which normally wasn't a good thing for her. Her personality mixed with boredom was never really a good combination, as she would stop thinking about all logic and reason behind everything and do the first thing that came to her mind.

She could remember the last time she got bored being the first day she had moved into the Shrine. During that time Lady Kaede was her guardian and watched over her like a grandmother would her granddaughter, teaching her everything that the older miko knew about life, passing down her wisdom to Kagome.

Those were the days Kagome felt as if her life had no meaning, like everything that she held close and dear to her heart was forever lost. For three years she felt like that, living life day to day as if in a dream, only to wake up in the end to find it all real. The pain, the emptiness, the memories and finally the loneliness. That's when she started training, forcing her mind to forget as she took her life into her own hands and slowly began to build a new life for herself. And with the help of the elders she did just that. She became a new person with a new life and it helped give her a reason to live.

But the memories would not go away, following her from her old life to her new one. Torturing and tormenting her to almost insanity in horrible nightmares every night. Each dream showed something a little different, whether it be the sight, sound, or smell didn't matter. It always made her feel scared and helpless in the end, and so utterly and completely alone.

~ Mommy! ~

Kagome closed her eyes, trying as hard as she could to press the images back and out of her mind. It was too painful to remember, she didn't want to remember.

~ Mommy! Souta is crying, Mommy! ~

'Please stop…' She quietly begged in a small fearful voice. She couldn't allow them to consume her as they had done so often before in the past. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, Kagome squeezing them close tightly to stop them from running down her face, biting her bottom lips to keep the little cry of helplessness from escaping from her.

~ Run Kagome! Run and hide! ~

'No more… stop… please…'

~ My lord? ~

'I don't want to remember, please… just stop…'

~ We must keep our identities a secret… ~

'LEAVE ME ALONE!'

"Lady Kagome?"

Kagome's eyes snapped open with a start. Memories… that's all they were now. Taking a slow deep breath, she told herself over and over again that that's all they were and that they could no longer hurt her. She was a new person with a new life now, the past was behind her.

She turned towards the voiced that had called to her, her eyes landing on Nobunaga standing in front of the open doors to the elder's chamber. She could tell by the worry look on his face that he had been trying to get her attention for a little while now and could do nothing but smile slightly at him.

"Yes?"

Nobunaga knew that something deep was troubling the girl, but didn't press for any details. He knew what it was like to fight your own demons that lived deep inside of you in past memories that were unable to be forgotten.

"Head Master Lady Kaede wishes you to join them."

Kagome nodded and straighten, taking a few more deep breaths to calm her racing heart before stepping forward. She had to be strong, there was no way she could go in there and show any kind of weakness in front of the elders or in front of Memui.

"Kagome," Miroku gently touch her shoulder to stop her for a moment. "Are you alright?"

Kagome smile softly at the caring and worried look in Miroku's eyes as well as the soft look she could see in Sango's features. She nodded. "Yes, I'll be fine."

Miroku didn't stop her as she continued to follow Nobunaga, his heart telling him that when she was good and ready she would seek assistance and comfort for her pain. But until then, there was nothing that he or Sango could do to help her. She would come to them when she could find the courage.

Kagome walked slowly into the room. The silence making her feel a little uneasy at first as well as the way the three elders sat quietly for her to reach them. Memui was standing a little off to the side, arms crossed over his chest and an unreadable expression on his face.

She stopped beside him, looking closely at him for a moment before turning to the elders and bowing respectfully. "You wished to speak with me, Lady Kaede?"

"Yes." The older woman studied the girl, or more woman now, standing before her. It filled her old heart with great joy to see how well the young girl had grown into the caring and brave woman that now stood before her. Though it saddened her when she could still sense the sadness and pain that stilled seemed to consume the other woman's heart. "As ye know, Inu Yasha has wished to joy our team."

Kagome blinked in slight confusion, looking up into the eyes of her mentor. "Inu Yasha, my lady?"

She followed where Kaede mentioned with her hand, her eyes coming to rest on Memui. She was confused again for a moment then realization dawned on her. She could not see any denial from inside his golden orbs; instead she saw truth, pride and honour.

'He's a Takahashi…'

"As I was saying, Inu Yasha has wished to join our team and we have allowed him to do as such." Kaede held up her hand as Kagome opened her mouth to speak. "Do not trouble yeself with questions, it has already been decided."

Kagome closed her mouth and bowed her head, showing her submission and respect of the elder's decision. There was nothing that she could do to change their minds, but would she even want to? Just because he was Takahashi didn't change anything did it?

She mentally growled at herself. Of course it did! If she would have known he was a Takahashi she would have never brought him back to the temple and saved his life. She would have left him in that alley where he belonged and walk away to allow him to slowly bleed to death.

'He lied to us…'

"Inu Yasha, would ye wait outside for a moment as I speak with Kagome."

Inu Yasha bowed to the elders before turning on his heel and walk from the room. He could smell the anger flowing off of Kagome's body once she learned of his real identity, knowing full well that she was wishing that she left him to die. He was unsure about how to go about the situation with her, so he gladly agreed to Kaede's request to speak with her alone. Hopefully with some miracle, she will be able to calm Kagome down a little before he was faced with talking with her.

Kagome waited silently for Kaede to speak, her hands clenched tightly by her sides as she fought for control for the second time that day. And it was all because of the same demon.

"Kagome, ye must understand that we need Inu Yasha's help. Without him, I am afraid that we are fighting an already lost war."

"I understand."

Kaede sighed at the defeated sound in Kagome's voice. "There is something ye must know as well." Her brown eye met with soft blue eyes, shining with sadness. "Inu Yasha has agreed to join, but only if certain demanded terms were met. His first term was that he got to be paired up with ye on missions and patrols," Kaede held her hand up once again to stop Kagome from speaking. "the second was to be enrolled in the same high school as ye as well, to have all the same classes and to pose as ye's girlfriend. Lastly, he had requested that ye not to be very far without him close around at all times. Now, the last one is up to ye, as well as the girlfriend part, but we have already agreed to the other two."

Kaede felt guilty upon seeing Kagome's body trembling lightly. She never wished for anything like this to happen to her young pupil, but none of them had any choice. They needed Inu Yasha's help or all would be lost.

"Kagome," Kaede started again, in a softer tone. "I know it is hard for ye due to ye's past. It was never my intention to put ye though this. Please try to understand why we must do this."

Kagome stopped trembling and looked at the elders with cold, emotionless eyes. "I shall do as the elder's wish of me."

Kaede sighed in regret and guilt. There was nothing that she could do or say to make Kagome see the reason behind their decision and there was no way that things could be reversed now. Reaching into her robes, Kaede pulled out a rosary necklace of dark purple beads. They glowed a soft pink as she concentrated some of her energy into them, the soft colour disappearing as she held them out in front of her.

"Takes these with ye my child." She smiled a little as Kagome took them from her hand. "Have Inu Yasha wear them as they well create a sense of disguise for him. However, they also will bond ye with the demon. If he is ever to get out of hand, just use the word of submission to hold him captive."

Kagome looked strangely at the beads, feeling the miko energy pulsing from deep within them. Strong enough for them to work, but just weak enough for a demon to miss. What was it that Lady Kaede meant about word of submission?

"Now go my child. Join ye friends and share the news. And remember, Inu Yasha must wear those beads."

"As you wish, Lady Kaede."

Kagome bowed one last time before retreating back towards the hallways where the others were waiting for her, as well as Inu Yasha. The mere thought of him made her blood boil hot. How dare he lie to them and tell them a false name!

Slipping her emotionless mask back on, Kagome walked through the open doors out into the hallway. Her eyes immediately meeting that of gold. She could tell that he knew that she was mad at him, but didn't say anything about it. Instead, all she did was through the beads at him. His arm coming up and catching them in midair with ease.

"By order of the elders, you are to wear these beads as a symbol of agreement of our contract. Do you accept or decline?"

Inu Yasha looked at the necklace in his hand, a million different kinds of questions passing through his mind as he second guessed his actions. Was he doing the right thing? Was this really the only way that he could avenge his family and live up to his father's name? Would his father approve?

He felt his heart twist in pain, sorrow flashing in his eyes briefly. What did it matter what his father and fellow demons thought? It didn't matter anymore any way; he was already exiled from the clan. He already brought shame and dishonour to his father by not being able to protect his own… and for letting his brother die at the hands of another demon.

It didn't matter any more… Join or not, he would never see his family ever again.

With numb arms, Inu Yasha lifted the rosary up and over his head, allowing the dark beads to fall on to his chest. Their light weight only furthering his pain and sorrow that he felt inside. Reminding him of everything that he had lost and everything that he was now fighting for.

He looked at her then, his golden eyes showing no signs of any kind of emotion. He looked lost, sadden almost. Like the life and fire from inside his soul had suddenly been diminished from existence.

It angered Kagome that at one glance she felt sad and sorry for him. The desire of wanting to comfort him and be there for him over powering the hatred and anger that she felt, making her feel weak and human. She hated that feeling.

Then he did the one thing that almost caused her to lose control over herself, bringing her rage back at full force.

He turned his back on her and started to walk away, leaving her and the others alone to stare after his retreating figure.

"Tell them." Kagome was surprised to hear her voice cut through the silence, causing Miroku and Sango to look at her for a split second before returning back to Inu Yasha. She ignored them, focusing all of her attention on the demon in front of her. Her eyes staring coldly at his back until he turned ever so slightly to gaze back her, his eyes still blank and empty. "Or I will."

Kagome waited for what it seemed as a life time for him to answer her. Her heart beating faster and faster as the seconds slowly ticked by, her nerves making her shake ever so slightly.

"It doesn't matter."

Kagome felt her blood turn cold at how indifferent and distant his voice sounded. It was the voice of a stranger to her and when the tears started to form in her eyes, she knew that there was no stopping them.

"Don't turn your back on me, Inu Yasha Takahashi!" She screamed, making him stop dead in his tracks and the tears to fall down her face.

Miroku narrowed his eyes. "Inu Yasha Takahashi? As in thee Inu Yasha Takahashi, second son to Toga Takahashi and heir to the underworld?"

Inu Yasha nodded.

"You lied to us…" Sango hissed.

"Can you blame me?" Inu Yasha shot back. His looked at each and every one of them until his eyes landed on Kagome, his golden orbs locking and holding onto her icy blue. "If you knew who I was you would have left me there in that alley to die without a second thought. Without giving me a chance. Yes, I lied to you. Yes, am a Takahashi. Big deal, it's not important anymore, so get over it."

Kagome felt something in the back of her head snap upon hearing his last sentence. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself standing in front of Inu Yasha. She wanted to say so many things to him, to try and make him understand that it was important that he was a Takahashi and that it did matter. She couldn't think of anything to do or say to express what she was feeling. So instead of talking - she reacted; and without even realizing it, she felt her arm shoot out as fast and as hard as it could. Her fist connecting with the side of his jaw, forcing his head to snap to the side.

Inu Yasha stood still in shock for a moment, the bitter-sweet taste of his own blood fresh and thick in his mouth. He licked his bottom lip and turned his head back to the girl standing in front of him, shaking out her hand that she had struck him with.

"Welcome to the team."

And with that, Kagome walked away. Leaving a very shocked demon to stare after her with a fat, bleeding lip.

~ * ~