InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Past, Present, and Future ❯ Home and Family ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I don’t own Inuyasha. Viz does.









Chapter 3: Home and Family




Miroku woke to a huge need to use the bushes. He slowly, as to not wake Sango, lifted his left arm as he wiggled his right out from under her. As he stood up, he smiled as Sango, still asleep, turned over to feel for him. After finding Kilala, who was curled up sleeping next to her, she settled down. He smoothed down his robes and looked up at the sky. Dawn was coming soon, in the next half hour or so, so Miroku decided to take the pot to get water for breakfast on his way back to camp. As he went to the now extinguished fire from the night before to get the pot, he stopped in awe at the sight before him.

Across the fire, Kagome and Inuyasha were just as they were when everyone fell asleep. Inuyasha had his arm around her as she snuggled into his side. He had seen this just yesterday, but what made Miroku pause was the fact that Inuyasha was lazily stroking the kitsune’s hair with a smile on his face. Miroku had, first of all, never seen Inuyasha sleep so soundly before. Every time he had woken up during the night, the hanyou was wide awake. The other thing was that he had never seen him this happy and content.

Miroku slowly grabbed the pot and snuck out of camp. He turned back to see Inuyasha’s ears and nose twitch. Miroku sighed and continued as his needs made him leave the wonderful sight before him. As he ran, he thought ‘I hope someday you’ll be able to do that every night without fear of someone attacking you. People are cruel. It’s a shame.’

Back at camp, Miroku’s exit made everyone wake up. First, it was Inuyasha. He looked down at Kagome and Shippo, and hugged Kagome closer. His movements, in turn, caused Kagome, then Shippo to wake up. Sensing Shippo’s awakening, he sadly took his hand from his hair and placed it on the ground next to him. Kagome opened her eyes, stretched, looked up at Inuyasha and said “Good Morning.”

“Morning.” he replied. After checking to see that Shippo had not yet opened his eyes, he quickly leaned down and gave Kagome a quick kiss.

Kagome stood up and smoothed out her clothes. “I could get used to waking up like that.” she said smiling. Inuyasha smirked and went to reply when Shippo, still half asleep, rolled over and fell out of Inuyasha’s lap. Inuyasha shook his head and fought the urge to laugh as he shook Shippo’s shoulders.

Shippo slowly opened his eyes, stood up and stretched. He brought his hand up to rub his eyes. Yawning, he turned to Inuyasha and Kagome and mumbled “Mornin”.

Kagome smiled, and thought ‘He looks like a red headed Souta when he does that.’. She picked him up and told Inuyasha “We’re going to run down to the spring to wash up. We’ll be right back.”. He nodded and they left.

Across the camp, Kagome and Shippo leaving woke Sango up. Inuyasha watched as she felt for the man that was no longer there. He came over as she opened her eyes and yawned. She looked up at him and he told her “I think he went to get water, the pot’s gone.”

She smiled at him and told him “Thanks for telling me.”. As Sango stood and stretched, Inuyasha walked over to Kagome’s backpack and took out five packs of ramen. He turned towards the woods when he heard Miroku, Kagome and Shippo returning. His guess had been right as Miroku brought back the pot full of water. Kagome started a fire and Miroku put the water on to boil. They ate, put out the fire, got their stuff together and made their way towards Kaede’s.

With Inuyasha carrying Kagome and Shippo on his back and Miroku and Sango riding Kilala, they made it to Kaede’s hut by a little after noon. She hadn’t been expecting them for another week or so. They told her about everything that had happened. She whispered “Oh dear.” when told about the attack in which they almost lost Kagome and Miroku. When she heard the about the seriousness of their injuries and how Sakura and Tsubaki had healed them, she asked “How did they do it? If you would have come to me with injuries like that, I couldn’t have helped you.” knowing that Inuyasha had been with Kagome as she taught the younger miko all about plants and herbs and the art of healing with them. He knew everything Kagome knew, and then some, she suspected.

Across the fire, Inuyasha became nervous as Kaede asked her question. He knew it was coming, but he still became nervous about telling her anyway. Kaede noticed his nerves and knew he didn’t want to tell her something. At his silence, she asked, knowing he did “ Inuyasha, do you remember what they used?” When he didn’t answer her again, she started to ask again, but was stopped by Inuyasha sighing.

He turned to Kagome and she nodded. After another moment he spoke and surprised Kaede by saying “ They used the kassatsu herb.”

Kaede, in turn, surprised Inuyasha and everyone else by shouting “ What manner of demons were they?”

Kagome choked on her tea, coughed, and asked “Demons? They weren’t demons, they were human.”

“They had to have been. Demons are the only ones capable to use that herb with any success.” At their shocked faces, she continued. “Somehow demonic energy activates the healing powers of the herb. That’s why I told you never to use it, Kagome. If a human uses it, nothing happens. So, I ask again, what kind of demons were they?”

Kagome went to tell Kaede that they weren’t demons again when Inuyasha stopped her by whispering “ Kitsune.” When everyone stared at him in confusion, he explained “Remember when Chokyukai kidnapped Kagome and Shippo transformed into a woman to distract him?” when they nodded, he continued “Well, while he was transformed, Shippo didn’t smell like a kitsune, he smelled like a woman. Even if he didn’t do it consciously, he changed his scent. Sakura and Tsubaki must have hidden their kitsune scents. That’s why we thought they were human.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. In Kagome’ s lap, Shippo sighed. Inuyasha barely heard the mumbled “Guess I’m not that strong. I couldn’t even keep that tranformation for ten minutes, they kept theirs for almost three days.”

Sango and Kaede were the only ones shocked when Inuyasha reached over, grabbed Shippo, and brought him to his lap. He ruffled his hair and told him “ Don’t expect to do what they do, you’re only seven. For them to keep that transformation that long, Sakura had to have been at least fifty and Tsubaki, thirty.” After looking around at his friends, he decided to openly no longer fight what his instincts had been telling him ever since meeting the kit and finding out about his situation. Ever since that battle with the thunder brothers, his instincts told him to care for and protect the kit. The instincts had been growing stronger with every demon they encountered. He started to stroke Shippo’s hair as he absently wondered ’What if he finds any of his real family?’

Kagome watched as Inuyasha’s face changed as he began to pet the kitsune. It was almost like he became saddened by what he was thinking about. She broke the nearly suffocating silence by asking Kaede for more tea. Inuyasha realized where his thoughts were leading and quickly pushed them aside, but didn’t stop stroking his hair.

After a few minutes, Shippo fell asleep in Inuyasha’s lap as they talked about the rest of their journey with Kaede. Miroku and Sango kept their night at the spring the night before to themselves, though they had a feeling Kaede could tell. Inuyasha told everyone that Kagome and he were going to go back to her era for a couple of days. Miroku smirked, but kept his mouth shut. When they returned, they would stay, rest up and train for a few days before leaving the village once again.

By the time they had finished talking, it was time to make dinner. Inuyasha hated to wake Shippo up, but they had to go in order to make it on time for dinner at Kagome’s. He let him sit on his shoulder as they walked to the well with Miroku and Sango. They said their goodbyes and watched as they walked back towards Kaede’s hut. Smiling, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and jumped into the well.

Shippo ran in front of Miroku and Sango playing with Kilala as they reached the rice paddies. He came to a dead stop as he heard Kagome’s scream. They looked at each other for about a second before running back towards the well.

When they reached the clearing, they saw Kagome in Inuyasha’s lap, sobbing into his haori. Shippo ran to Kagome first, with the others close behind. Noticing Inuyasha was looking at someone, she turned to see Shippo by Inuyasha’s feet, while Miroku, Sango, and Kilala were behind him. With tear filled eyes she yelled “The well’s closed!” and hugged Inuyasha once again.

Sango kneeled down on Inuyasha’s right as Miroku kneeled down on his left. As Inuyasha rubbed Kagome’s back, Miroku stroked her hair and Sango wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. Kilala went and sat on her lap, rubbing against Kagome’s hand in sympathy. Shippo perched himself on the lip of the well and leaned against Inuyasha’s shoulder. He watched as Kagome’s feudal era family helped her grieve over the loss of her modern era family.

Inuyasha looked up when he felt Miroku laid his right hand on his left shoulder as Sango laid her left on his right and they both gave his shoulders a squeeze. They knew he had to also have been hurting at the loss of Souta, Takashi, and , for Inuyasha most of all, Keiko. She had been the closest thing he had to a mother since his own had died almost two centuries ago.

A while later, Kagome’s cries died down. Everyone got up and Inuyasha put Kagome on his back for the trip back towards the village, wanting to get away from the well. They walked back in silence. Right before they left the forest, Kagome whispered into Inuyasha’s ear “Can we go to the Goshinboku, Inuyasha? Please?”

He nodded and he stopped Miroku and told him. He nodded and led Sango and everyone else back to Kaede’s.

Inuyasha slowly walked towards the tree, holding Kagome tightly to him. She was grateful for Inuyasha being there. If she would have been by herself, she would probably still be trying to dig her way home like she did for the first few seconds after realizing the well had stopped working. Inuyasha had to physically pull her away from the bottom of the well. She had tried to pull away from him, but he turned her around and simply told her “Stop.”. She looked into his eyes and she lost it. He held her close for a moment before jumping out and leaning against the well, and that’s when Shippo and the others found them.

Kagome looked up when she felt Inuyasha stopped walking. They reached the tree. He let her down, but still held her around the waist. She leaned into his side as she looked at the tree. Kagome watched as the wind blew and shook the leaves that were still there 500 years from now. Several birds had made their nests on some of the higher branches, she noticed.

She pulled away from Inuyasha and walked up to the trunk. Inuyasha watched as she ran her hand over where he had been pinned. He smiled a sad smile as he realized what she was trying to do. It was possible, but he doubted it would work. He remembered the time when he and Kagome were separated by time and they were able to be together, well at least their minds were, when they both had touched the tree. Inuyasha sighed and went up to Kagome.

He grabbed her hands and brought them down, holding them gently. Shaking his head, he told her “ I don’t think that will work again. We were different.”.

She looked up and smiled. “I know, but I just had to try.”

He smiled back and they sat down at the base of the tree, Kagome in his lap. They sat just watching the forest. As they sat, a thought entered Kagome’s mind. She blushed as she quietly asked “What about… you know? You said you won’t be able to control yourself soon.”

Smiling, he shook his head and thought ‘Man, she’s always thinking about others.’. “It’s alright. I’ve got at least a couple of weeks before something would happen. I just figured that if we did it in your era, it would be safer. We’ll just have Miroku and Sango watch out for us, like we did for them. In a few days we’ll discuss it with Miroku and Sango, when your feeling better.”

Kagome startled him by leaning up and kissing him. Even though he had told her different, he was very upset about not being able to be with her tonight in her era. She moaned as Inuyasha began to kiss her neck and started to pull at her uniform. He went to go further, but had to stop as he sensed a demon coming. He gave her one last quick kiss and told her “Someone’s coming. A demon, but I don’t know who. They’ re disguising themselves.”

The demon walked into the clearing just then. Noticing Kagome’s disheveled clothes and seeing the last kiss Inuyasha gave her, he chuckled and asked “Mating before bonding, Inuyasha. Shame on you.”

Kagome gasped and turned to see Sesshomaru in front of them. They stood up and Kagome smoothed out her top. Inuyasha got upset and asked “Bonding? What the hell are you talking about?”

Sesshomaru actually sighed and shook his head and replied “ You really don’t know anything about your heritage, do you?”

Inuyasha became defensive and yelled back “It’s not like anyone was there to tell me, was there?! I’ve been alone for most of my life! The only times I’ve ever seen you was when you’ve tried to take my sword!”

Sesshomaru listened to him and knew every word was true, but now was not the time to talk of family squabbles. He was there for a reason. Raising his only hand, he stopped the hanyou’s shouting. “ I am not here to fight you. I’m here to tell you of Naraku’s whereabouts. Kouga and I have both been searching for him for the past couple of weeks. Southwest of here, we’ve spotted him. Apparently, he has gone back to the castle we fought him at when Rin was taken by Kohaku. He’s hidden the castle and put up strong barriers, but we know he’s there.”

Kagome smiled, but looked as if she could cry. Grabbing Inuyasha’s arm, she looked into his eyes and whispered “We know where he is.” Her smile turned evil as she spoke a little louder “Let’s get the bastard.”

Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were shocked at Kagome’s reaction to the news. Inuyasha got over his shock quickly and chuckled saying “I knew there was something I liked about you. Your on. Let’s get everyone and then, let’s get him.”

As they went back to Kaede’s, Kagome held Inuyasha’s hand. Her evil grin was still on her face as her mind was raced with all the different ways they could kill Naraku. Inuyasha squeezing her hand told her that they were back at the hut. Looking up at him, with the talent of a seasoned actress, changed her expression back to her normal cheery smile. He nodded in approval and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. Inuyasha went inside and told everyone what Sesshomaru had told them.

As everyone collected their things for the journey, Kagome sat on the steps outside Kaede’s and watched the smoke rise from the villagers’ huts as they made dinner. She looked past the huts at the paddies and the forest. She took a deep breath, stood up and stretched. Everyone came out of the hut and Inuyasha looked for Kagome. Their eyes met, she nodded and returned to the group. Kagome took her bag from Inuyasha and gave a quick glance at everyone before grabbing Inuyasha’s hand and walking towards Sesshomaru and Kouga’s camp.

Just before they got there, Kagome stopped and looked up at Inuyasha. He gave her a quick smile, nodded and gave her a gentle pull towards their destination. Sesshomaru greeted them with a nod as they reached the clearing. As they set their things down, it finally hit her: this was her home now.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t upset about it.