InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ phases ❯ Leaving It All Behind ( Chapter 15 )

Ch.15

Leaving It All Behind

A hazy mist blanketed the land in silence as the darkness of night began to give way ushering in the predawn giving up its fight as it faded into various shades of blue. The light of the full moon casting everything into silhouette as a silent figure made his way through a forest of barren trees, pushing away a large branch before turning to usher in a trail of people. The demon cringed as the first cries rang out breaking the silence that had enveloped the clearing. Women and children mourning the loss of their homes as they wept, men falling to their knees in disbelief as the moon looked down in silence.

Jadeite eyes fell closed as he turned to leave, the wails of the homeless following him through the fog. Katsuo made his way towards Yutto's castle as he wandered through the thick haze, gripping his left shoulder in pain as the stiff joint continued to heal from it's previous wound. All around him were the tired faces of soldiers who had worked all through the night clearing the remaining debris from the town, the raging bonfire on the edge of town burning away the last bit of demon remains that had littered the town.

The suction of the earth below as he lifted his feet testament to the amount of blood that had been spilt that night. Katsuo lifted his head as his feet fell on solid ground, his eyes scanning the entirety of Yutto's humble castle, the only thing left wholly untouched in the siege. The tiny settlement had started out as a job, a resting place as he carried out his orders, but something had changed, now it was the home of Kagome, the little onna that had captured his affections.

'Kagome…' His eyes lowered as he tried to shake away the images of her, the images of Kagome wrapped in the arms of his Lord. He knew he had no right to question what he had seen, the obscure relationship between the two. He gripped his shoulder, his mind refusing to forget what he had been witness to. He needed to know, to ease the feeling bubbling below the surface but he had no right. Inuyasha was his lord, general and friend and dared not question him. And Kagome, he had no ties to her, no claim other than what he had felt for her.

"There is no point in assumptions…" Katsuo trudged his way up the slope leading to the gardens that lay outside Kagome's shoji, stopping short when the screen clicked open. He watched silently as Shippou made his way out of the small room turning to close the screen once again making his way solemnly down the wooden deck that wrapped around the castle, disappearing as he rounded the corner.

'Shippou knows her best of all…Maybe…I can have my questions answered.'

Xxxxx

The dawn had come and gone, unnoticed by the weary as it stayed hidden behind a curtain of gray clouds and mist. Wheaten eyes wandered up gazing at the cloudy sky. "There won't be much time before the first snow fall." The armored demon looked down scanning his eyes over the battered town, the people left homeless with little more than an ashen skeleton to call 'home'. He looked away, his muscles tensing as he tossed another corpse into the hungry flames. "I think that was the last of them. Inuyasha nodded silently at Yuudai's words, turning his attention towards the castle on the other side of the town. His hands rubbed at his face before motioning for Yuudai and the brother's to follow. "What do you think will happen?" Inuyasha turned as Yuudai pointed in the direction of shocked villagers. "Winter is coming; it won't be long until snow begins to fall." The demon gripped the handle of his sword, squeezing his eyes shut as he drowned out the voices of his men.

There was too much that needed to be thought about, to be solved, but he couldn't keep from thinking about her. Her soft voice as she called his name, the way she fit perfectly in his arms, the unchanging scent of her as he held her tight against his chest. 'She was right there and the first thing I do is yell at her…What the hell happened to all those things you had planned, huh asshole?'

A sigh escaped past his lips as he remained lost in thought, cursing himself for his insensitivity and lack of self-control. He shook his head almost amused by her reaction. 'Well at least I know she's ok.' He looked up as they made their way closer, Yutto's castle only yards away. Nine years of separation and the only thing between them were the walls and screens of this small castle.

"Head back and see if the others are done. I need to find Yutto." Yuudai and the brother's nodded silently before making their way back to their designated rooms. Inuyasha turned back making his way up the stairs and into the warmth of the small castle. He made his way through the halls in search of Yutto. His large form overwhelming the halls as his heavy footsteps echoed through the lightly lit walkways.

He stretched his senses as he made his way through the maze of halls; his footsteps slowing as a familiar warmth slowly invaded the edges of his consciousness. Without a second thought he swerved off course entering an adjacent hall wandering quietly as he searched her out. He slowed as he came upon a small shoji his hand reaching out towards the screen before pulling it away and turning to let his back rest against the wall, his head bowing as he cursed himself.

He lifted his head as he heard a small sigh, turning to find a lean figure appearing from the shadows. "It's been awhile." Inuyasha smirked as he nodded silently, looking up to see Shippou looking back down the hall. "Do you mind?...I don't want to wake her." The inu pushed off from the wood wall making his way towards Shippou before heading back down the hall.

Inuyasha cringed inwardly at the long silence that stretched between the two as they turned back into the main hall. "You know…I have to admit…I really didn't see this coming." Inuyasha smirked at Shippou's words taking in how much the kit had grown in his absence. "I forgot how fast the years can change things." The kit ran his hand through his hair as they turned another corner. "That tends to happen when you live as long as you have; demons just don't perceive time the same as humans."

Shippou came to a stop as the two stood before a decorative shoji. "Inuyasha…Don't push her." The red headed kit turned to look Inuyasha in the eye for the first time in nine years finally able to see him on an equal level, no longer needing to look up. Inuyasha furrowed his brows in contemplation, looking away as emerald eyes grew in intensity.

The silence grew as the tension thickened with the words that remained unsaid, Shippou sighed softly his arms falling to his sides breathing deeply before softly speaking. "You know...I used to hate you...Inuyasha." The inu looked up, cringing inwardly at Shippou's words, it was something he had expected but they stung nonetheless. "You left us...you left me to watch her cry for you, begging for you to come back until she cursed your name. I was the one there when the well rejected her, I was the one left to watch her fall apart because of you. I had hated you for breaking her heart and her spirit...She was never really the same person afterwards."

Shippou ran both hands through his red hair, sighing as the anger drained from his face. "I had hated you, but I knew you...Inuyasha. I knew out of everyone...you loved her most...you were just never really good at showing it." Inuyasha lowered his head squeezing the hilt of his sword as he held his tongue listening intently as Shippou spoke. The kit glanced over at his old friend before turning back towards the screen. "She loves you Inuyasha, I know she does...and as much as she believes otherwise...I don't think she's completely forgiven you...only because she never really gave herself the chance to accept what had happened."

Shippou snorted in aggravation as he searched for the right words. "I don't want to confuse you, Inuyasha. It's not that she still holds it against you...she just sort of bypassed everything after you left. After the well closed she just packed up and left...I never really heard her speak about you again." Shippou turned to Inuyasha emerald eyes meeting with gold as the kit smiled sadly. "You know how Kagome is, she puts on a smile and hides what she feels...to be honest, I don't think she let herself, really feel. She just pushed it all to the back and kept going."

The kit turned away looking back down the hallway before he turned his head motioning towards the screen. "Yutto's waiting." Inuyasha nodded watching as Shippou's tall form made his way down the hall, stopping briefly as he cleared his throat. "Give Kagome time, give her a reason to want to feel." Shippou sighed making his way back down the hall, listening as the elaborate shoji clicked open and shut only moments later his mind wandering back to the day he saw Kagome with Katsuo. 'This time...if you lose her, it will be for good.'

xxxxx

"Where did you get it?" Kagome lay still as she listlessly toyed with the fabric of her quilt her gaze faltering as she waited for her answer. "It wasn't that hard to sniff out, Kagome. Don't be mad at me...you needed the rest." The small woman slowly turned under the quilt to lie on her back, looking up at the ceiling above. "I know." She listened as Shippou slowly made his way through the darkened room, letting the fogginess of the herbs he slipped her wear off as he worked to stoke the dying fire.

"Yutto asked for you, he said to come when you were ready." Kagome sighed softly before pushing back the covers, letting in the cool air of the dark room. Shippou listened as Kagome moved around the room, slipping behind her dressing screen before emerging again in a midnight blue kimono pulling her long black hair into a loose braid. "Well let's not keep him waiting any longer." Shippou looked after her as she walked out of the room quickly forcing him to quicken his pace.

"Kagome..." The onna hummed softly as she continued down the hall. "He's there...I just...I thought you should know." Shippou frowned when she made no move to acknowledge what he had said continuing with the same pace as the two made their way silently down the hall. Kagome stopped quietly as she made her way to the shoji stealing herself before she slowly opened the elaborate screen.

Her heart dropped with the first glimpse of crimson, her eyes helpless in the fight to look away as she made her way into the small room, Shippou not far behind. Her breath hitched when her gaze met with gold she turned away brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she moved to greet Yutto. "Kagome, I am glad to see you are well." Kagome bowed softly as she fought to keep from looking back, the feeling of Inuyasha's gaze causing her skin to raise.

Inuyasha watched intently as Yutto smiled softly as Kagome quietly took her place among the men. It was useless to try and keep from watching as she glided gracefully through the room his eyes were stuck to her as he took in how much she had changed since he had been gone. "Hey." Inuyasha turned as he heard the faint whisper to find Yuudai eyeing him suspiciously. Inuyasha glared before turning back towards Yutto, missing the look in Katsuo's eyes as he watched from his place against the wall.

Yutto cleared his throat as his grey eyes scanned the room. "I'm sure this meeting comes as no surprise to any of you here. Last night's events have required us to find another course of action before the first snow fall." The silence in the small room grew as the Lord paused. "The attack devastated the town and wiped out most of the soldiers posted at the lookouts...despite those major losses there were only three reported casualties."

Kagome turned to Shippou her brows furrowing in confusion at Yutto's mention of the lookouts. Shippou shook his head softly as his gaze fell. "We have Lord Inuyasha to thank for that. " Kagome looked up as the room turned their attention to the decorated demon waiting to hear what he had to say. 'Lord?...Inuyasha?'

"Lord Inuyasha's warning gave us just enough time to defend the town...if he had not come when he did, I am sure the enemy would have succeeded in their goal."Inuyasha-sama, you mentioned you had some information?" Inuyasha turned his gaze from Kagome his arms crossed upon his chest as he addressed the crowd. "While In Musashi I came upon an outpost being attacked by a group of demons, when I questioned one of them he told me they had been sent under orders from a Lord Hiromasa in the east." Lord Yutto placed a hand on his chin as he mulled over the new information.

"What is your opinion on the matter, Lord Inuyasha?" Inuyasha let his arms fall to the side as he turned his gaze to Yutto. "I think it's obvious this Lord Hiromasa doesn't plan on wasting the winter. I think it's time we stop waiting for him to make the move." Kagome watched from across the room as Inuyasha walked towards the large map that lay on Yutto's desk. "As soon as we can I suggest we escort the town further west. The first snowfall won't be long from now and last night's attack left the town homeless. I know a place a few miles south of my brother's castle that can house them for the winter...It shouldn't take more than a week to reach."

The room erupted in quiet conversations at his suggestion, everyone present reluctant to leave their homes behind but in agreement with the demon's observation. "We can decide from there what our next step will be." Inuyasha turned slowly away from the map his eyes meeting briefly with Kagome's before she turned away. "You heard him. I want a troop to be sent to the town to help pack the carts, take only what is necessary I want to head out before nightfall."

The small crowd filed through the shoji as Yutto excused the meeting. Kagome gripped tessaiga's hilt as she watched the men leave, squeezing her eyes shut as she heard Inuyasha's deep voice as he spoke to Yutto. "Kagome?" Blue grey eyes flew open to see Katsuo standing beside her, her heart dropping as she looked into his eyes. "Excuse me..." Katsuo watched as the small onna pushed her way through the crowd of men, making her way out of the room as she slipped past the shoji, his mind wandering yet again to the night before.

'Kagome...'

xxxxx

Inuyashabreathed softly watching as his breath colored the cold night air with a hazy mist his ears ringing with the chorus of a hundred different voices as he floated in a sea of people. Wagons and carts filled to the brim with the remnants of home for hundreds of newly homeless villagers. The demon secured the last of the large food barrels to a sturdy cart before making his way back towards the castle's stables. He brushed back his bangs as he came upon the group of samurai. "It looks like everyone is ready, well be on our way before midnight."

Katsuo nodded quietly as he continued to saddle his horse, securing the small packs that held his belongings. "Yuudai and the brothers have already packed their things, I sent them to help Yutto and the princess." Inuyasha grunted in acknowledgement, brushing the neck of his horse as he finished securing the large saddle his mind wandering to a time long ago as his eyes looked on unseeingly. "How were things while I was gone?"

Katsuofurrowed his brows as he hung his head. "Fine." He turned away when he saw Inuyasha begin to turn towards him struggling to keep his questions to himself. "I'm going to see if anybody needs help." Inuyasha looked on as Katsuo walked away disappearing behind the wooden structure. The demon turned back securing his only sack to the brown horse, distracted when he saw Kagome struggling to tie her bed roll to the tall horse. He patted the horses neck before cautiously making his way across the field. "Here, I can reach it better." His hands reaching out for the heavy roll as it fell to the ground.

"I don't need your help Inuyasha, I'm not that useless." The demon stepped back his brows drawn in confusion. "I don't need you lecturing me on how weak I am as well as dumb." Kagome pulled her pack back from him pushing it into place before wrapping a cord to secure it. "Kagome, I didn't mean..." Inuyasha growled inwardly as Kagome walked her horse away, watching as she disappeared into the crowd of Yutto's samurai. Inuyasha turned away cursing himself for the reaction he caused. 'Damn me and my mouth.'

A.N.

Ok Kagome doesn't hate Inuyasha she's just mad at his earlier comment of her being an idiot and trying to get herself killed. We all know how these two are and I kinda think Inuyasha and his big mouth would ruin what could have been a sweet moment lol

Bare in mind these two are extremely stubborn and Kagome even more so now because she feels she has something to prove.

I hope you guys liked these two chapters, thanks for being so patient. :)