InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ phases ❯ What A Tangled Web They Weave ( Chapter 16 )

Ch.16

What A Tangled Web They Weave

Miles of tall winter grass rustled gracefully with the wind allowing it to take shape in the form of dulling wheaten waves. The peaceful melody it played as it traveled through the tall grass, drowned out by the rhythmic thrum of hundreds of tired marching feet. Emerald eyes fell shut as Shippou lifted his face towards the mid day sun, basking in its warmth as he allowed a small sigh to escape past his lips.

"Only one day..." Shippou let the words out in a single breath as he exhaled, cringing at the reminder of just how much longer he had to spend traveling in this unlikely caravan.'Inuyasha said this woud take a week and that's if we make good time...Of course it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to watch him make 'eyes' at Kagome every chance he got.'

"I find it funny...how alike they are." The soft voice succeeded in coaxing him from his thoughts, mourning the loss of reprieve his mind offered as he made his way back to the real world. The kit allowed his head to fall, his fair skin still longing for the warmth of the sun's rays as he turned toward the quiet voice. There Hotaru sat gracefully atop her horse as it trotted slowly beside his own, a small smile gracing her features as she looked ahead. "I can see now what Kagome-chan meant when she spoke of him."

Shippou turned to follow Hotaru's line of sight, once again becoming preoccupied by the sight of the white haired Dai-youkai. Shippou let his head fall to his horses black mane dramatically, his arms falling carelessly to the side as he sighed loudly. "Stubborness...is one of Inuyasha's most defining characteristics...unfortunately."

Hotaru laughed softly at the sour look on Shippou's face. Smiling gently as her gaze flitted across the crowd of villagers towards her friend. "Yes, but our young Onna is just as stubborn...in her own ways of course " Shippou's brooding mood diminished a bit at Hotaru's words, the corners of his mouth up turning ever so slightly setting into a sarcastic grin as he sat upright. "Hmm yes...Traveling across the countryside, the two of them too stubborn to give in, pretending to ignore the other. All while sending candid glances when they think the other isn't looking..."

Hotaru watched as Shippou turned towards her his handsome features scrunched into a rather amusing face. "Just like old times." Hotaru held her small hand up in an attempt to cover her soft laughter. Quickly regaining her composure as she looked towards the two once again. "Regardless of his exterior, it's plain to see that Inuyasha truly cares for her...her stories had led me to believe that perhaps her feelings were unrequited." Shippou sat quietly listening to Hotaru's melodic voice as his mind wandered into the past. The way Inuyasha acted then was different then what he saw now. He wasn't accustomed to seeing the gruff inu looking so...love sick.

"I'm happy to see though, that my assumption was wrong." Hotaru smiled softly as her friends blue eyes once again returned to their hiding place behind her curtain of ebony hair. 'For her sake.' Hotaru lifted her small hand to brush away silken strands of rebellious hair, her small smile growing ever so slightly as the silence stretched between her and the kit. 'My dear friend... it is easy to see there is a thread that ties you two together.'

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"I'm so tired, momma. Can't we stop?" The small voice made its way through the flood of falling feet, carried on by the freezing evening air to brush the ear of a young demon. His gaze turning towards the small woman riding along side him, silhouetted by the fading rays of the evening sun. Her fair skin raised by the chilling air wherever exposed.

"Have you heard from Yutto."

"hmm?" Shippou watched as Kagome lifted her head absently, slowly turning to meet with his questioning gaze. "Lord Yutto, has he talked to you? Has he said anything about when we will camp?" Her brows tightened in concern as she shook her head. "No...I'm sure it will be soon though. Daylight is fading quickly and soon enough what little warmth we had will as well. He wouldn't risk traveling too far into the night, regardless of wether or not we have demons to defend us." Shippou nodded his head in silent agreement as he turned to look out over the tired crowd.

"It's only been one day, Kagome. I don't know how much food Yutto-dono thinks these villagers have, but it wont last long." Kagome furrowed her brows at the statement, the gnawing ache in her stomach reminding her of just how right he was. "I know..." Kagome's frozen hands squeezed at the worn leather as the two grew silent, too occupied by their own thoughts.

She had tried hard not to worry too much over the many pitfalls that existed in this poorly planned exodus, in all honesty she was surprised that things weren't more of a disaster, but Shippou was right, soon the last rays of the sun would morph into dimly lit torches in an attempt to ease their travels in the bitter night air and they would be left hungry in a matter of days. 'How can we provide for such a large number? None of us even know where we are...It seems too overwhelming.'

Her optimism took another blow as she watched the sun slip further behind the mountainous horizon. Her head fell allowing her long hair to create a curtain of privacy as she became lost in thought, her eyes fluttering shut as she let out a long sigh. All these years had done well in teaching her stress management, there was once a time when she would lose it over the simplest things. She would always be prone to episodes of course, her 'reunion' with Inuyasha was more than enough proof for that, but with all the things collecting all at once she found it surprising how calm she felt.

That of course excluded the way her heart raced every time she saw Inuyasha and the drop of her stomach at the searching look in Katsuo's eyes. She squeezed her eyes tightly as that gnawing feeling returned. 'I'm a horrible person...but I just can't bare to face him.' Her guilt gnawed at her more so than her hunger. She had told herself that she would stop clinging so tightly to the memory of Inuyasha, to stop holding up those walls she had built around her heart. Walls built from an unfounded sense of loyalty to a love she wasn't even sure ever existed.

So she had resolved to let herself feel for Katsuo the way she had felt for Inuyasha. She had thought at first the feelings he stirred within her were only due to the likeness he shared with her first love but it had been a foolish and fleeting thought as Katsuo proved to her it wasn't just his snow white hair that drew her to him...and then there was that night...and that kiss. She lifted her hands allowing her frozen fingers to trace her lips the way Katsuo had done not even a day ago. 'Katsuo...you dont deserve this.'

Her hands fell away, her fists tightening by her side as her jaw set in anger. 'I should have never...I souldn't have been so selfish...' She let her head fall, the color returning to her knuckles as she released them slowly. Content to let her conscience chastise her for such selfishness as she allowed herself to really feel the bitter cold that surrounded her but instead, she felt warmth, the familiar tingling that told you someone was watching.

Her eyes opened slowly, the blackness of her hair concealing her face from the steady gaze. Heart fluttering as she allowed her eyes to search the crowd through her curtain of hair. Her heart skipping a beat as her gaze settled on the source. She surprised herself when she felt the corners of her mouth pull into a small smile.

For all the hatred and sadness she felt for the way things had turned out with Katsuo, all the unresolved feelings she had harboured in her heart, she found it all faded away under the gaze of one man. Her heart soaring at the look in his eyes as she found her voice in a quiet, breathless whisper.

"Inuyasha."

In all her time spent in the feudal era she had found that there was one thing that could trigger such an immense sense of happiness despite whatever mood she was in.

The rare moments, just like this, when she could see him smile.

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Strands of white hair floated freely in the chilly breeze, highlighted into a luminescent shade of silver under the light of the burgeoning moon. Inuyasha sat high upon his horse, The chilling breeze tossing his long white hair as it fell from a high top not, the light of the moon transforming his golden eyes into translucent pools of soft yellow as he surveyed the land before him. He knew this land, he had traveled this path many times before, scouting, patrolling the borders that outlined the lands of the great Inu no taisho.

A small smile grew, disrupting his stoic features, amused at the irony he saw in the situation. He had traveled this path so many times before and hadn't the slightest idea that the young girl he used to know was living her life, changing and growing into a woman only a days trek away. He didn't believe in coincidence, he knew there was a greater hand at play. He knew from the moment that arrow was pulled from his chest that there was a purpose to everything, that destiny had had a hand in his very existence.

He fancied himself a pawn in a cosmic game of fate but he no longer held resentment at the thought, no longer resisted the flow that carried him closer and closer to his own predestined end. He didn't much care why or how anymore...he only knew that as long as their lives intertwined he was content to let destiny guide him...he wouldn't let that little girl from the future slip out of his life again. As long as 'destiny' understood that little fact he was fine, otherwise...well he was no stranger to fighting things much greater than he.

The moonlight shone down in steady golden hued streams coaxing Inuyasha from his thoughts as its softness fanned through the branches of evergreens covering the small mountainside. Leading the way as the trees began to give way to an opening. Inuyasha slowed his horse to a trot, clearing his throat, resigning his thoughts for later as the hooves of a nearby horse came closer. "This is the place, Yutto."

Yutto nodded solemnly. "This will do well, Inuyasha-sama." Inuyasha turned, his eyes focused on the massive structure looming ahead in the shadows, neglected by the light of the moon as it stood protected by the giant trees and rock wall of the nearby mountain. "Just up ahead is the fortress I had told you about. It's been vacant for hundreds of years but it still holds up well, it will give some shelter from the wind."

"I agree." Inuyasha nodded politely before pulling back to join his men. "We will make camp here. Spread out and help in any way you can." No more was said as he watched his men pull back, dispersing into the crowd of villagers. He became lost in thought for only a moment before pulling his horse to a stop and dismounting, watching as the crowd siphoned off into multiple directions as villagers began to set up camp.

He chuckled silently amused at his thoughts as he turned to his horse, relieving it of the extra load. He brought his hand up, patting the mare's neck in thanks. His eyes searching the clearing for a single figure as he flung the large bag over his shoulder, humming uncharacteristically as he walked under the soft moonlight.

There was once a foolish boy who met a pretty girl...

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Kagome brusquely brushed strands of hair from her face as the winter wind picked them up in a tangle of raven threads. Her face flushed from the cold breeze that assaulted her, lifting her hair exposing the skin of her neck to the chill. She watched listlessly as her breath took shape in the freezing air, there before her the once steady stream of villagers began to slow to a trickle, coming to a stand still as they began to prepare for the long night ahead. The light of steadily burning fires spotting the landscape as the weary warmed their tired bodies.

Stopping momentarily, she let out a deep sigh as she turned her face towards the moon smiling softly. Tomorrow there would be no moonlight to shine upon her face or ease the darkness of night. Tomorrow the darkness could fall swallowing everything around her but she couldn't bring herself to worry, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that they would be safe.

Her musings came to an abrupt stop as a familiar presence flitted around the edges of her consciousness. "You can stop skirtin' around in the trees...Shippou

"I wasn't 'skirtin'..." Shippou slowly made his way out of the brush, his hand lifting to brush through his bangs. "I was on my way to see Yutto-dono. Shouta mentioned something about a meeting." The kit stopped momentarily kicking a bit of packed dirt from his shoe before quickly regaining speed. Kagome furrowed her brows as she turned to look in Shippou's direction, pulling stray strands of hair from her lips before speaking.

"A meeting?" The kit raised his arms above his head, stretching as he yawned. "Yeah, I'm not surprised considering how 'much' time went into planning this thing." Kagome turned away her eyes falling to watch her feet as she lost herself to thought. The two of them continuing through the maze of shoddy tents and campfires silently. She barely registered the choir of voices as she rounded the corner of one of the small tents.

She lifted her head as the clearing grew silent. "Kagome." She bowed politely returning Yutto's gesture. "Yutto-dono." Kagome quickly moved to the side willing away the uncomfortable silence and even more uncomfortable stares. "Now that everyone is present I think we can start."

Blue eyes shimmered beneath thick lashes as they scanned the clearing. Light from the fire played across the faces of all who were present, sending shadows dancing around the clearing. She lifted her head in an attempt to control her gaze as Yutto's deep voice rang out throughout the small crowd.

"As I am sure you all know...today has been hard on the people. Unlike us they are not accustomed to traveling such a long distance and it will only get harder. As for food...the reserves we were able to salvage won't be nearly enough. Even supplemented, it will last nearly a week." Yutto stopped, adjusting his footing before speaking again.

Kagome watched closely seeing the faint traces of fatigue play across his handsome features. She wished she could convince him to rest but she knew from experience he would have none of it. "I have spoken to Lord Inuyasha and I believe he has found a reasonable solution to our problem." The air grew still as every face turned seeking out the young demon lord.

Kagome held back a smile when she found him, arms crossed, his golden eyes meeting the crowd with a sense of authority, daring the nay sayers with a fire all his own. "I think the best thing we can do is split into groups. Five groups, one demon and two or three of your men to about thirty villagers. It will be easier...less confusing if we know who we are responsible to keep track of and provide for."

He was right, thirty to three would be less overwhelming than sixteen to a group of almost three hundred. "All you would need is to organize the groups. Pair off the men and assign a demon."

Kagome turned to Lord Yutto, happy to see his features soften with the loss of a heavy burden. "I agree wholly, Lord Inuyasha." Yutto paused a moment as his large hand moved to smooth back strands of hair that had fallen from his top not. "Seems now's a good a time as any to pair the men. Most of the villagers are already divided into groups of larger families. There may be one or two that will need to be mergered, but we can see to that tomorrow."

Lord Yutto moved forward coming to stand close to Inuyasha. "Lord Inuyasha and I." Yutto paused a moment as Akio pushed his way forward, clearing his throat loudly. "...and Akio-sama." Kagome held back a smile as Akio nodded curtly, grunting his consent. "Shouta-sama, I will pair you with Daisuke and Isao." The large youkai nodded, bowing politely to Daisuke and Isao as they came to stand beside the giant. "Hideki..."

"Hideki and Hideyoshi." Lord Yutto turned to see Inuyasha glaring at the brothers. "Don't make me regret it either." Inuyasha hissed, turning to Yutto as he spoke quietly. "They work best when they are together...most of the time." Lord Yuuto nodded slowly. "...Ok then. I will pair the two of you with Arata and Koichi. The younger of Akio's sons."

Yutto scanned the remaining men, mentally pairing them into groups as he held his large hands behind his back. "Yuudai-sama, You will be with Eiji and...Takeshi." Kagome lowered her head silently relieved that she hadn't been placed in a group with Takeshi.

"My lady..." Kagome lifted her head, smiling softly towards her adopted father figure, as he stood before her. "Minoru and Katsuo." She nodded in acceptance, pushing her feelings to the side as Yutto smiled back happily before turning to adress the crowd.

She lowered her head once again allowing the wind to cover her face with a web of black hair. Her mind wandering as Yutto's voice faded into the background. She knew she would have to face Katsuo sooner or later but to be honest she had sincerely wished it would be later when her feelings weren't so tangled up. Kagome shivered bringing her hands up to rub the gooseflesh from her arms knowing no amount of rubbing would relieve it, the fire had been enough to chase away the chill of night.

She could feel the eyes on her, intense and unwavering as she stood among the men. She breathed deeply, taking in the scent of the crackling fire as she resolved to face her observer. Kagome lifted her head, her eyes following, turning up to look from under her lashes. She stopped mid breath, cobalt eyes meeting with the familiar deep burgundy of Takeshi's. The fire casting dark shadows upon his face turning his familiar happy smile into a chilling grin. She shook her head slowly, tearing her eyes away as her heart began to race.

Her right hand reached for the hilt of her sword, finding a sense of comfort in the feel of the smooth fabric that weaved along the handle. Around her the crowd began to dissipate quickly she turned her head making it a point to keep her eyes from Takeshi as she disappeared into the crowd.

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The night was filled with an air of silence, blanketing the camp in a warm sense of peace as the moonlight shone down in a soft haze. The silence only broken by the quiet crackling of burning wood as the flames worked to warm the air around it. Snow white hair floated in the soft breeze coming to life in hues of silver under the moon as he sat quietly, arms drapped over his knees as he leaned towards the fire, the flames only audience as they flitted in and out in a timeless dance.

His breath evened as he drew further and further into his mind, his golden eyes reflecting the light of the flames as his mind drew him in. '...ten years...She's grown...' His stoic gaze was shattered as he drew his brows. His gaze faltered only fractionally as he remembered the way she looked when he had first seen her. He didn't see it then...how young she really was. 'She was only a kid...why couldn't I see it then. She was so much more than I thought.'

White ears swiveled backwards as he caught the quiet sound of a limb breaking, Turning his head to see a glimpse of white as the figure ghosted through the brush. 'Feh took you long enough.' The demon stood, looking around the camp before leaping into the trees, weaving silently through the canopy of evergreens as he followed the lone figure.

oOo

She stood silently, her feet bare, her pale skin raising at the caress of the cold night wind as she stared into the stillness below, gazing at the the ghostly figure before her, the wind tossing her hair, reflecting in the water like the blackest of inks. She sighed softly, turning her eyes away as the cool wind warped the mirror image with soft ripples.

Her mind wandered, and she mused to herself, not for the first time, that she spent most of her life wandering around the vastness of her mind. She let her shoulders fall as she let out a long breath, letting the fabric that covered her shoulders fall to her waist, her fair skin protesting in a wave of gooseflesh.

Her heart stopped for a moment at the sound of quiet footsteps, her momentary fear washed away, replaced by a soft smile as she gathered her hair over her bare shoulder. She knew if he intended, she wouldn't have heard a thing.

She let her head turn slightly, catching from the corner of her eye as he moved into the moonlight. She turned away feeling the warmth of a blush. 'Why must he be so handsome...' She drew her hands to her chest pulling her thin yukata over her bare shoulders before breaking the silence. "Have you made it a habit...to follow young women into the woods."

Her blush deepened sparking a smile at the sound of his deep laughter rumbling through his chest. She found that it was one of the few things that could make her heart feel so light. "No...only one." She could hear the smirk in his voice as she bowed her head, hiding the smile he ignited. "So...you admit...you were following me?"

The breeze trailed strands of hair to tickle her shoulders as she listened intently to the sound of his approaching footsteps. 'one...two..three.' The footsteps ended as his voice broke through the silence. "Actually, no I wasn't."

"Oh" Her voice grew quiet as she picked quietly at her fingers. Inuyasha couldn't help but smile at her small voice. "...I was waiting for you." Dark blue eyes flew open as Kagome spun around regarding him with disbelief. "How did you know I would be here?" She found herself wanting to smile as he filled the air with laughter, his mouth upturned into one of his brilliant smiles. "Some things never change..."

Her face softened as he searched her face, blue melding with gold as they locked eyes. She found herself pulling her hands to her chest in an attempt to ease her pounding heart as the towering demon before her inched ever closer. 'one...two...three.' Looking up questioningly as he stopped yet again. His voice barely more than a whisper in the silence of the night. "Why do you think I chose this place to stop?"

She searched his face as she struggled to push away the tightness in her throat only to find it in a whisper of her own. "Why?" She knew he could hear the tears in her voice as she struggled to keep them from her eyes. "I thought maybe...old habits die hard." She found her smile as she looked away trying to hide the tears that shone in her eyes. "I'm surprised...I seem to remember you complaining about my bathing habits."

"There was only one reason I complained...and it wasn't for the reasons I gave you..." She looked up managing a small, wistful smile. Repayed for her effort as Inuyasha closed the gap between them bringing his hand to brush away her unruly hair, coming to rest gently on her cheek. The moonlight shone reflecting against the tears that flooded her vision, unable to hold them back as she lifted her small hands to his. "I've missed you...so much."

His heart ached as her tears fell, unable to keep from wiping away her tears. Before he found himself pulling her into his arms, burying his face into her hair, finding solace in their embrace. "Kagome...There's so much I want to say...so much I want to tell you." He lifted his head as he felt her pull away their eyes locking once again, his heart lost to her smile. "I know...me too."

She tore her gaze away as she layed her head on his chest, taking note of every new detail committing them to memory just as she had done before. Her small hands traced the metal of his chest plate before burying into the softness of his moko-moko. She smiled softly pulling away to look at his face. Her face softened as she moved her hands to cup his, gently tracing the soft blue color that marked him as full youkai. She allowed her eyes to roam his face, smiling wistfully when two fuzzy triangles stood out from the snow white hair he had learned to pull to the top of his head. She lifted herself onto her toes reaching out for the fuzzy appendages. Inuyasha quickly complied, smiling softly as she lovingly rubbed them between her fingers.

Inuyasha watched her carefully as she pulled away, the silence building between the two before she finally found her voice. "Wait...just until we get to where we're going. There is too much for just one night." Inuyasha nodded silently, content to hold her in his arms for just a bit longer. Taking one last deep breath he let his eyes fall closed as his he tightened his embrace. "Thank you...Kagome."

She lifted his face as she smiled. "For what?" He didn't have to say anything more, he knew...because he knew her. He smiled softly before letting her go, reluctantly turning away as he made his way into the cover of the trees. His footsteps stalled for a moment as his ears swiveled to catch the sound of her voice. "See ya later...dog boy." He shook his head his mouth twisting into a smirk.

oOo

Kagome stood quietly as she pulled her yukata from her body letting it fall to the mossy stones below. Lowering herself into the clear water of the onsen she caught his voice. "Later...wench."

She couldn't help the girlish giggle as she slid into the water immersing herself completely in the water.

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Inuyasha leaned comfortably against the sturdy rockwall, watching the flames at the jumped and leaped at the sound of crackling wood. His eyes caught sight of the small pack he had been carrying since the day he left Miroku and Sango's. He lifted himself away from the wall, reaching out for the small pack he slid his hand over the canvas sack concealing whatever lay waiting for him.

The moonlight streamed through the trees acting as a spotlight as his sharpened claws tore away at the fabric letting it fall to his lap. His smile grew as he uncovered something he had sen many times in Kagome's room when she was young. A photo, she said they were. One her mother had taken of the two of them. He turned the photo over feeling as a piece of parchment fell from behind the photo.

He unfolded it slowly, smiling at her neat handwriting.

Dear Inuyasha...

A/N:

Yes, I'm still alive Ya'll! Now I know it took me FOREVER to get this chapter out (trust me, it's been eating at me.) I recently got a job on top of going to college, not to mention I have two minions (a.k.a. my babies :)) to look after when I'm not doing either of those.

I really hope you guys like this chapter and even more I really hope you guys are still interested...otherwise I would just be incredibly depressed. Anyway Hope you like this lil' bit of Inu/Kag fluff :)