InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Not My Fairy Tale ❯ Origin Story ( Chapter 9 )

Part nine

Origin Story

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The fire in the center of Kaede's home was small but cheery. Dinner was long gone and put away, night had fallen, InuYasha had banished himself to the outdoors, Kaede, Miroku and Sango had gone to bed.

 

It was a gentle, hushed quiet and a strangely soft dark that surrounded the little hut. Kagome was laid out on her stomach atop her sleeping bag, propping herself up on her elbows, chin in her hands. In front of her, in the same cute position, Shippo sprawled across her pillow. She smiled as the cub talked on and on about the adventures he'd had that day, while she was back in her own time. The fire crackled and snapped, as if chuckling along with her at Shippo's stories.

 

“And then Kirara scared all the butterflies and I had to chase them to the river but they flew across the river and I couldn't cross it `cuz the bridge was too far so I asked Kirara to take me but she said no and then Sango showed up and took Kirara back with her so I stayed and tried to fish but there's really not much to catch-“

 

“You couldn't catch a fish it if your life depended on it, brat!” Kagome looked up as Shippo frowned at the ceiling. InuYasha had apparently settled on the roof and was listening in on their conversation.

 

The kitsune jumped to his feet, fist raised and opened his mouth to shout. “Shut-” But Kagome pushed herself up and swooped him into her arms, covering his mouth before he could wake the others sleeping nearby.

 

“Hush, Shippo! He's just teasing you.”

 

Shippo grasped her fingers in his little hands, pulling them away from his mouth but hanging on so they wouldn't go too far. “I coulda caught something if I really wanted to, I was just playing earlier-“

 

“I know, you're very good at helping us out.” Kagome assured the fox cub in her arms. She glared up at the ceiling as she knelt on the floor, but when nothing further came from above she dropped her warm auburn eyes to the child she held. He looked up at her, a comically serious expression his face. Kagome grinned and settled back down, setting the kit on the pillow in front of her.

 

“Shippo, why don't you tell me a story?” The girl asked as she laid back down, watching the little boy light up at the thought of telling a real bedtime story. Kagome's smile widened at his reaction.

 

“Okay!” Shippo sat cross-legged before her, his face growing adorably solemn like a village elder sharing his wisdom. “My papa used to tell me that in the beginning of the world, everything was dark. Then the gods made the sun and the moon and the stars. And some gods made the land and the water and trees and mountains. Others made animals and youkai and humans.” Shippo paused in his story, looking up sneakily through his lashes to see if his audience was still paying attention. Kagome gave him an encouraging smile, her expression of rapt fascination made him return the grin and he rushed on obviously feeling very important and knowledgeable.

 

“One of the gods, the crow god was alone in the dark forest and was very bored and very lonely. He wanted someone to play with and talk to but was independent so he wouldn't have to take care of them like some of the gods had to take care of their creations. The other crows he made were very private and didn't want anything to do with him unless he needed them to make some really big and bad mischief.”

 

“Sounds like my kind of god.” The bamboo mat covering the door was pushed aside as a tall, red-clothed figure entered the hut. The hanyou didn't even look at them as he moved towards the corner behind Kagome's sleeping bag.

 

“Quiet, InuYasha, Shippo's telling me a story.” The schoolgirl scolded. InuYasha sat down behind her, up against the wall where the weak flickering of the fire couldn't quite reach him. She wasn't sure what had brought the half-demon indoors but she scooted over so he could see Shippo around her and listen to the tale as well.

 

She just hoped he had the smarts to keep his mouth shut. This was a part of Shippo's fox kitsune heritage, his history that his father had shared with him and he wanted to share with his new family. And if the inu-youkai couldn't respect that then she was going to TEACH him to respect it- the hard way.

 

“So one night when the crow was flying through the trees he noticed the many stars in the sky and he thought it would be a great game to steal the bits of fire from the sky.” Shippo hopped up, his arms wide as he showed her just how high up the crow had flown. “So he flew waaaaaay up into the sky and plucked a tiny star down with his beak and flew it back down to the earth. When he dropped the star on the ground the star had been given life and darted into the woods and hid. The crow god was upset so he flew allllllllll the way back up into the sky and caught another star in his beak. He flew this one down too and dropped it but it ran away into the woods too.”

 

At this point Kagome heard a smothered sound from behind her- she glanced back but InuYasha just sat there, conspicuously innocent, clutching his Tetsusaiga and cocking an eyebrow at her curiosity.

 

She turned back to Shippo who didn't even seem to notice the stifled snort and continued his story, bouncing around and hands flying till he was out of breath.

 

“The crow god got more and more mad every time this happened till finally he sat on a low branch and cawed sadly. Then out of the forest came all these living bits of fire, red and white and blue-white and orange and black. And they all sat in a circle around the crow god and grinned with all their teeth, laughing at their joke. One of the creatures stood and walked over to the crow. He had a bushy tail and fluffy hair and paws like an animal but hands and face like a human.” He paused there, looking quite thoughtful with his furrowed brow and hand on his chin. “Kinda like my papa. Or me.” He admitted after careful consideration.

 

“He introduced himself to the crow god and told him that they were the foxes and kitsune that he had given life from the stars he stole from the sky.” Shippo stopped and raised his hands dramatically. “And that's where the first fox kitsunes came from.” He ended dramatically, his little chest huffing. “Oh, and they all lived happily ever after. They were all really good friends and played all the time.”

 

Kagome clapped- softly- as Shippo blushed and gave her an embarrassed half-smile.

 

InuYasha's voice rose from somewhere behind them. “That's some imagina-“ He didn't get to finish his sentence. Kagome kicked him before he could ruin Shippo's happy ending. “Oi! Wench!” The back of Kagome's head started to burn with the searing glare he sent her way. She ignored it. He was lucky she didn't Sit him, a little shin-barker from a soft, frail human wasn't going to hurt her mighty Inu-chan.

 

“Shippo-chan! That was a wonderful story, I didn't know that's where foxes came from.” Shippo tried to grin again but got caught in a huge yawn instead. The brunette pulled herself up, thinking she should probably get them ready for sleep, or at least to send her little fox pup to bed before he either fell asleep where he sat or got too riled up and asked for another story.

 

She glanced around, taking note of the velvet night that had draped itself quietly around them. InuYasha sat protectively behind the two of them, sword across his lap, silent as the shadows embracing him. Even in the glimmering darkness of the failing firelight his eyes glowed, reflecting the smoldering embers, his pale hair gleamed a warm gold where it caught the soft light. Everything was dim, even his bright red haori was nearly black. He sent her a guarded glare when he caught her staring at him.

 

Kagome blinked and shook herself from her entranced reverie and turned back to the young kitsune. He yawned widely again, baring his little fangs before cocking his head to look at her curiously. She grinned and leaned over, catching her arm around him and pulling him into her lap. “To bed with you, Shippo-chan.” She ordered quietly and opened her sleeping bag, pulled the pillow over, and set the boy down in it's soft warmth.

 

“Aren't you coming too?”

 

“Uh huh.” She tucked the cub in and dropped a kiss on his forehead. He scrunched his face as he grinned. “I'll just be a few minutes.” She assured him. Not two heartbeats later he was snoring.

 

Kagome giggled as she stretched and eased herself backwards to sit up against the wall beside the quiet hanyou. She leaned half into him and half against the wall. As she settled into her one of her favorite comfortable positions- anything touching InuYasha rated a fave- she looked up at him, a question in her dark eyes. “Are you staying in for the night?”

 

“Keh.” Was his only response. He didn't seem to want to look at her. He was sure being awfully broody for some reason. He didn't even shift or react at all when she put her head on his shoulder, just remained stiff and tense.

 

`This isn't as comfortable as it should be.' She thought resentfully. “Not in a good mood, are ya?” Kagome asked wryly. The silver-haired boy just turned his head further away, shifting his Tetsusaiga closer. “Something wrong?”

 

“Nothin' for you to worry about.”

 

`Well at least he answered. Rude as he is.' She managed to smother her immediate scowl and calmly continue her inquiry. The middle of the night was no time for an argument after all. “What is it?”

 

“Nothin'.” He growled.

 

Kagome frowned, irked by his attitude. She shifted away from him, starting to feel distinctly unwelcome. “I'm just curious, no reason to bite my head off.” She paused, giving him another chance. If there was something he was upset about, she really wanted to fix it for him- “I only want to help- if I can.”

 

“You can't.” He replied shortly. It was her turn to growl. `Fine, see if I even care . . . If he doesn't want my help, he won't get it.' She stood, carefully dusting herself off. Maybe she'd just go sit outside if the inside was getting so crowded.

 

Kagome looked down at him out of the corner of her eye. He had frozen when he realized she intended to leave his side. His expression hadn't changed but she noticed this time that his brows were furrowed, with confusion? Worry? His lips were a firm line, his jaw tense and his hand on Tetsusaiga was tight though not quite a white-knuckled fist. Even his back was rigid, his shoulders hunched and stiff. He was anxious about something. She could read it in every line of his body, even if she couldn't see his eyes she was sure she'd see the same unease in their golden depths as well. He was really upset about something. “Not even gonna let me try?” She weaseled one last time.

 

He smirked. “And risk making it worse?” He finally met her gaze, silent laughter buried in his liquid amber eyes. Now he was teasing her?! And as suddenly as a water balloon popping, he was as laid back and nonchalant as he normally was. And all she had to do was let him make fun of her. Great.

 

As easily as flipping a switch, it was as if he'd just let go of whatever was bothering him. Talk about mood swings- Kagome was instantly brought to mind of the time of the month and worried about how soon the new moon might be coming again.

 

Then she remembered his mocking words, her face contorted into a wounded pout, his sarcastic words catching her off-guard. “Mou . . .” She turned away, still intent on leaving the hut- and his incivility- behind.

 

The boy snatched her hand and pulled her back down to sit beside him. She let him; if he wanted to be playful now or apologize or do whatever he was up to, she'd let him. She hadn't really wanted to leave his side anyway- But she didn't have to let him know that.

 

“You're a jerk.” She stated, punching him in the shoulder, collapsing against the wall behind her, arms resolutely crossed.

 

“You're annoying.” He stated just as matter-of-factly. Kagome's jaw dropped and she made a strangled sound, unable to voice her surprise at the quick insult. She pursed her lips and drove her gaze down to her socked feet, wrapping her arms tightly around her knees. What was he teasing her for, she only wanted to help! `See if I ever help him agai-'

 

When he chuckled quietly, she looked back up, her glowering expression breaking into a smile like the sun through storm clouds. His demeanor had changed so completely; he was happy now. What had she done to make him smile where he had only scowled before?

 

Kagome was abruptly struck by a wonderfully intuitive insight, a beautiful epiphany. Unexpectedly, his earlier angry moping and his complete one-eighty to mischievousness and joking made surprising sense to her.

 

“Missed me, didn't you?” She saw his answer in his wide-eyed hesitation. `Ha! He DID! He really does miss me when I go home . . .'

 

He paused only half a second before he answered. “About as much as I miss Naraku's-“

 

“Ack!” Kagome again was caught choking in utter shock by how low the dog boy could stoop. “Keep this up and I'll go right back home right now!” She threatened, moving to stand once more, her face flushed with genuine resentment, fists clenched at her sides. It was one thing to make fun but he was getting downright insulting!

 

Again, his clawed hand darted out to grab her wrist, his palm warm and firm, stopping her dead without even the slightest application of pressure. Just his touch was enough.

 

“Now that really would make things worse.” Kagome was getting tired of this game, him ticking her off then apologizing without actually saying anything and her forgiving him over and over. Because she did, and she would, every time. `And who's the baka here? Him or me?'

 

“You're mean. It wouldn't kill you to be nice for once.”

 

“Fine. I'm bored when you go home. The brat's annoying, the slayer's not very entertaining unless Miroku pulls something- I can't go anywhere without you to help find the shards, there's no point in doing anything.”

 

“Oh.” Kagome's heart grew heavy, a burgeoning excitement pressing on her chest as she took in his words. Despite his phrasing, she understood what he was really saying. He liked having her around.

 

`Wow, he's never actually said that before.' Her gaze slid away to the dying fire but she didn't really see it. `He takes it for granted that I'll always be with him- he really believed me, that I would always stay, as long as he'd let me- He really likes having me here.' Well, it wasn't a confession of undying love but it was definitely leap in the right direction for a certain emotionally scarred, antagonistic hanyou. He wasn't just tolerating her presence, he didn't mind that she wished to stay with him, even if he didn't really want her to, but maybe he did. Enough that he missed her when she left for a few days.

 

“I'm glad I keep you entertained.” She smiled resignedly. She'd be content with that. If he missed her when she was gone, that meant he thought of her, she was on his mind and she might have a tiny space in his heart. That which had been solely held by Kikyou, now held a place for her and that was heartening thought. She yawned, satisfied with that small admission and proceeded to fall asleep leaning against him, her head on his soft shoulder.

 

InuYasha watched the schoolgirl sleep, the light dancing on her skin, her raven locks tumbling over her shoulder. Once upon a time he'd thought she looked identical to her incarnation. But now he could barely see it anymore. Kikyou was paler, her hair a cold blue-black, her eyes a hard, emotionless gray. The girl who reminded him of Kagome had died a long time ago. They were different- really different, and his memory of the woman he'd have spent the rest of his life with was tarnished by her new imitation existence and it faded in the brilliant light Kagome gave off. It made the rest of the world seem washed out and dull without her- sharp and colorful when she was by his side.

 

Now if he could just keep her there.

 

“Damn, thoughtless girl, you keep breaking your promise to me . . . You promised to stay by my side and never leave until I told you I didn't want you. I haven't said it yet and you still keep leaving me behind.”