InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pure As Snow ❯ Curiousity and the Cat ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: Welcome to my first AU fan fiction. I hope you enjoy this first chapter. Just so you know, the only Inuyasha I own is a plushie doll. (Sighs dejectedly) Oh, well, at least I can cuddle with him.

 

A reminder: if you have any questions, comments, etc. you can e-mail me or leave them in reviews. Either one works for me. Enjoy!

 

Pure As Snow

 

Chapter 1

 

Curiosity and the Cat

 

Higurashi Kagome sighed as she stared listlessly out her bedroom window. It was the weekend and while all other 16-year-old girls were out enjoying their lives, Kagome was forced to stay home. She really couldn't blame her mother and grandfather for being overprotective. They were just afraid that they would lose her like they lost Souta.

 

`Gods, it's been almost 6 months and there hasn't been hide nor hair of him since he vanished.'

 

It had been the morning of her 16th birthday and a normal school morning as usual. She was running a few minutes behind schedule so Souta had left just before her. She had been surprised when she saw him standing at the door to the well house with a bowl of cat food in one hand.

 

“Nee-chan.”

 

“Souta, what are you doing? You're going to be late for school.”

 

“But, Buyo's down there and you know how gramps gets,” he whined.

 

She rolled her eyes. “Alright. But don't be late for school. Ack! I'm going to be late! Bye, Souta!”

 

And she had left. Little did she know that her brother disappeared shortly after and she had been the last one to see him.

 

`If only I'd stayed instead of running off like an idiot.' Kagome sniffled and swiped a hand over her eyes. 'It's not going to do any good to cry. It won't bring him back.'

 

Of course there were still posters with Souta's face plastered over the city, but after half a year, hope was thin.

 

“Kagome!”

 

Her mother's voice ringing through the house brought Kagome back to reality. “Yes, Mama?”

 

“I'm going out and your grandfather's in the storage rooms. I'll be back in an hour. Don't leave the grounds.”

 

Heaving a sigh at her mother's over-concern, she answered in a slightly exasperated voice, “Yes, Mama, I know.”

 

“Don't take that tone with me, young lady.”

 

She cringed at the reprimand. 'Ah well. Not much else I can do but finish my homework.'

 

But instead of pulling out her textbooks, Kagome found herself wandering over to her window. She had a view overlooking the courtyard between the family's house and the well house. `How ironic.'

 

Just as she was about to turn away, movement caught her eye. `Is…is that Buyo? No, that cat is too thin to be Buyo. I wonder whose it is.'

 

Kagome watched as the cream colored cat slunk across the yard towards the well house and its open door. `Wait. Open door? We always make sure it's shut just in case. I'd better go down and shut it before something else happens.' With that thought, Kagome turned and padded out her door to the stairs.

 

When she reached the well-house doors, the cream-colored cat was nowhere to be found. Thinking nothing of it, Kagome climbed the three steps to the door. A mew from inside the building grabbed her attention. `Whoa. Déjà vu much.' She slid the door the rest of the way open and stepped inside, intent on getting the damn cat out.

 

“Here kitty, kitty, kitty.”

 

“Mew.”

 

The sound was coming from down by the well. Kagome took a deep breath to settle her nerves and slowly made her way down to the well.

 

“Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Get your furry little butt out here.”

 

“Mew.”

 

By now she was standing in front of the well, staring into the blackness of its depth. `I thought Grandpa said the well was covered and sealed. Hmm.' She shrugged her shoulders and didn't even try to understand. Her grandfather had always been something of a loon when it came to…well, anything really, but mostly the shrine. She even remembered one time she had been sick with a cold and he had called it in as neuralgia. Go figure.

 

“Mew.”

 

Startled, Kagome whirled around. The cream colored cat was sitting on the steps leading out of the pit, just as happy as could be.

 

“There you are. Don't scare me like that. Come on, let's get out of here before we get in trouble and I`ll give you some cream, hmm? Would you like that?”

 

“Mew.” The cat blinked its reddish eyes and swished its tails in pleasure at the thought of a favorite treat.

 

`Huh? Tails?' Kagome stared in disbelief at the cat, who, on closer inspection, did indeed have TWO tails ringed in black. `What the heck?'

 

She was about to step closer to examine this phenomenon when the cat suddenly leapt at the unsuspecting girl. Since she was already at the edge of the well, it only took one step back for Kagome to trip and careen over the sides INTO the well. Before she blacked out from shock, she had one final thought.

 

`I wonder if this happened to Souta.'

 

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`Ow. My head.'

 

This was her first conscious thought upon waking. She had a splitting headache. `Wait till

I get my hands on that damn cat. Then we'll see who has the headache.'

 

Opening her eyes was the next order of business. She gently pried them open with her

fingers, seeing as they wouldn't open by themselves. `Why is it everything always seems so bright when you have head trauma?' Finally she managed to keep her eyes open without aid and went about trying to sit up. This wasn't so difficult as long as she moved very slowly.

 

After a couple of minutes of not throwing up, Kagome decided to try to get out of the well. Looking around her yielded two facts. One, there was a vine clinging to the inside of the well that looked sturdy enough to climb and two, that it was so bright because there was no longer a ceiling to the well-house. She could look up and see blue sky, white clouds, and the occasional bird. `When did Grandpa do that, I wonder? It wasn't like that before and I can't have been knocked out that long.'

 

Judging that she was hale enough to climb, Kagome began her ascent out of the well. Upon reaching the top, she found that Grandpa hadn't just removed the roof, but had leveled the entire structure. And had also torn up the sidewalks and planted new grass and trees. `Okay now I'm confused. I KNOW I wasn't out for that long. So what's the deal here?'

 

A soft scuffling beside the well drew her attention. It was that cat!

 

“WHY YOU LITTLE…”

 

With a startled mew, the cat dodged Kagome's grasping hands and darted into the forest. She was soon in hot pursuit of the treacherous feline and so intent on catching the thing that she didn't notice her surroundings. All too soon, she was lost and the cat was nowhere to be found. Feeling a bit nervous now that she wasn't angry, Kagome began trying to retrace her steps. Unfortunately, she had become so wrapped up in her revenge, that she had no idea of where to go.

 

`Well it can't get much worse than this. No food, no idea where I am, and no aspirin. Not to mention that Mama and Grandpa are probably worried sick by now. What a mess.'

 

Kagome gazed around her, hoping that something would pop out and be familiar. Nothing did. Sighing, she flopped down on the grass in order to rest a bit. No sooner had she lain down, then she was asleep.

 

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`Why am I so cold?' Kagome patted around her body in search of her blanket so she could warm up, but her hand encountered nothing but grass. Slowly blinking awake, she stared dully at the ground and wondered why she was sleeping on it and not in her own comfortable bed. Then realization hit her. 'I'm not home. I don't know where I am.'

 

Sitting up, she took stock of her environment. `Trees, trees, trees. Oh, night. Trees, trees, trees, more trees, a campfire, trees…wait a minute. Campfire! Yes, I'm saved.' Now that she had some kind of destination, she felt better. Her headache was gone as well, though it was probably the sleep and not the prospect of salvation that cured it.

 

After dusting off her clothes, Kagome carefully made her way towards the light in the distance. She was lucky that the moon was a good portion of the way full and it gave her more light to navigate by. She only tripped on roots a couple of times and walked into only one tree. By her watch, it took almost a half hour to reach the firelight and by the time she came within distance, she was beginning to feel apprehensive. `I hope I don't get mugged or killed. Or even worse, stuck with boring people.'

 

The source of light was not a campfire as first expected, but rather a small hut. She approached the entryway and knocked on the frame. “Hello? Is anyone here? I'm lost and I saw your fire. Do you mind if I come in?”

 

No one answered her. `I guess they must be out somewhere, but they left the fire burning so they must be back soon. I'll wait inside and hope they don't mind.'

 

She pushed aside the reed mat covering the doorway and stepped into the first room. It was a quaint little space with only the necessary accoutrements. She slipped off the sandals she had put on before leaving her house earlier and stepped farther into the hut. There appeared to be two other rooms adjoining the front living space. She decided she may as well explore since she was there and set off towards the back rooms.

 

These were the bedrooms it seemed. Both rooms contained two trunks for clothes and personal items and a small closet to house futons when not in use. One of the rooms was slightly larger then the other, so Kagome assumed this was the master bedroom. The rooms were on opposite sides of a small hallway that lead from the front room to a locked door just past the bedrooms. `Hm. How odd to have a locked door in the back when the front door is completely open.' Shrugging off the mystery, she returned to the front room and contemplated the small fire pit in the middle of the area. Glancing around showed the makings for a simple dinner of rice and miso soup was ready to be prepared.

`It's the least I can do for having barged into their house.'

 

In a short while, the rice was cooking and the miso soup was boiling, so she opted for taking a short nap. There were several blankets nestled in the corner for cold winter nights and those would make a very comfortable bed so she could keep an eye on the food. Before she knew what was happening, Kagome was out.

 

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“Who do you think she is?”

 

“I don't know, but she's pretty.”

 

“You think everyone is pretty, Rin”

 

“I do not.”

 

“Do too.”

 

`Huh? What's all the racket? I'm trying to sleep.' She rolled over in her nest, trying to get

away from the voices.

 

“Look she moved.”

 

“We all saw her move, Shippou, you baka.”

 

“Shut up, Souten. Where's Kaede?”

 

“How should I know? She was walking just behind us with those two, so she shouldn't be too much longer.”

 

Kagome couldn't help but get annoyed at the bantering. There was something important she needed to remember and she couldn't with four people talking around her. She groaned and ignored the small gasps that sounded at her movement.

 

“What be going on here, children?” This was a new voice and seemed much older than the others.

 

“Kaede, we came home and she was just asleep in the corner. It looks like she made our dinner for us though.”

 

“Thank you, Kanna. Go help the others put things away and I will speak to this young woman.”

 

There was no answer, but she heard the shuffling of small feet disappear down the hall towards one of the bedrooms. A moment later, a hand gently shook her shoulder in order to rouse her. “Mm. I'm up already.” Rolling herself so her back was parallel to the floor and an arm was carelessly draped over the top of her head, she cracked open her eyes.

 

A kindly old face met her gaze, the only odd thing being the patch covering the right eye. Kagome allowed her own eyes to widen and take in more of the personage. The old woman appeared to be around sixty and was stooped with her age. As a result she stood no higher than Kagome's shoulder. Despite her stature and age, or maybe because of it, the woman radiated calm strength and patience. She was immediately respected and liked by the younger girl.

 

“What be your name, child?”

 

Even the old woman's voice was pleasant and soothing. “Kagome, ma'am”

 

The old woman smiled gently, “I am Kaede. What brings you to this wood this night?”

 

Kagome sighed, “It's a rather long story, but the short of it is, I'm lost. I saw the light from your fire and made my way here. In repayment for entering your home uninvited, I prepared supper. Then, I fell asleep in this corner. Forgive me for my presumption.”

 

“There is no need for forgiveness. All who travel are welcome in my home and those who are lost, even more so. Now come, you shall meet the rest of the household. Children!”

In answer to Kaede's call, four small bodies launched themselves out of the hall. They managed to not destroy anything in the small tornado that ensued, which was a feat in itself. When they finally collapsed on the floor, Kagome received a small shock. Three of the kids were youkai! The boy and two of the girls had the jyaki that Kagome had been able to sense ever sense her grandfather insisted on training her to be a miko. The third child, a young girl dressed in an orange and yellow checkered kimono, with her black hair tied half up and to one side and soft brown eyes, was purely human and cute as anything.

 

“These are my wards. The youngest is Rin.” Kaede indicated the human girl.

 

“Hello, Rin. I'm Kagome.” She smiled at the girl, who blushed and hid behind the youkai boy.

 

Kaede chuckled at Rin's antics. “She's a shy one at first, but don't worry. The one she is hiding behind is Shippou.”

 

“I'm a kitsune.” The boy stated proudly. And sure enough he was. If the bright red hair, brilliant green eyes, and pointed ears weren't enough, he also had a fluffy tail and little fox feet, in place of human ones. He was short, no taller then Kagome's knee and was wearing the old-fashioned hakama and kimono, covered by a fur vest. A blue bow pulled his hair back into a ponytail.

 

“Funny. I thought you were a tanuki.” It was one of the youkai girls. She had her neat black hair pulled back into two buns at the base of her neck and reddish-brown eyes, plus the telltale pointed ears. She was attired in a mini version of formal armor, which almost made her look like a boy.

 

“Shut up, Souten. At least it's better than being a stinky thunder youkai.”

 

“You take that back, Shippou.”

 

“Children, hush. There will be no fighting in this house. Am I understood?”

 

Both youkai sheepishly avoided Kaede's gaze and mumbled agreement. Kaede turned to Kagome, an apologetic gleam to her eye. “I'm sorry, Kagome. Shippou and Souten are usually at odds with one another. Shippou's parents were killed by two thunder youkai and Souten lost her kin in the battle for their vengeance, though neither is to blame for either catastrophe.”

 

“No, of course not. So they're orphans?”

 

Kaede sighed, “Yes. All the children who stay with me are either orphans or have nowhere to go. There are two other boys, but they are out chopping firewood and should be back momentarily.”

 

“I see. And who is this little one?”

 

Kagome glanced to the final youkai girl. She was almost eerie in her appearance with snow-white hair, pitch black eyes, and almost no expression on her face. She clutched a mirror to her chest, as if it were attached to her hands. Her manner expressed either extreme politeness or complete lack of emotion. Her dress tended to bring to mind the latter as the outfit was pure white with no color whatsoever. Even the flower adorning her hair was white.

 

“This is Kanna. She is not a normal youkai. She was created rather than born. Her creator instilled in her the properties of Void,” Kaede explained.

 

`That explains the white, the mirror, and the almost nonexistent jyaki.' However Kagome didn't think it would be polite to bring up such issues at the moment. “And what of the other two, Kaede?”

 

Crunching of twigs and the laughter of young boys answered her inquiry, as Kaede turned to greet the final members of her patchwork family. The first to enter was a lanky youth of about 12, with freckles dotting the bridge of his nose and his dark hair pulled into a high ponytail. He was dressed in a plain yukata.

 

“Ah, Kohaku. I would like you to meet our guest. This is Kagome.”

 

The boy blushed and muttered his greeting.

 

Kaede looked behind Kohaku to the mat. “Kohaku, where is…”

 

“Here I am. I was just putting the wood in the shed.”

 

Kagome froze at the sound of the other boy's voice. 'It can't be. After all this time.'

 

The final child entered the hut and didn't even notice the shocked girl in the corner. He looked almost the same as last time she saw him, if not a bit taller and with slightly longer hair. He would be ten now, as his birthday had passed while he was gone.

 

Tears began to roll down her cheeks as all conversation in the hut was blocked from her ears. 'Souta.'

 

“Souta.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he somehow heard her. Swiveling his head to see who had called his name so softly, his eyes locked onto her face, astonishment overtaking the curiosity in his gaze.

 

“Nee-chan?”