InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets Behind Too Much Power ❯ Reunion ( Chapter 8 )

The Secrets Behind Too Much Power

Chapter 8:

Reunion

 

Evening was setting in with little more than a whisper. Everyone sat contentedly in Keade's hut. The old woman herself was there, aiding Kagome in cooking all the ramen. It was rather quite since no one was talking. Kagome was thinking about everything. Naraku, the shards, Rin, her father, Shippou, Sesshomaru, cooking, it was all there in one-way or another. Miroku was meditating, truly meditating. Sango was brushing Kirara, thinking about Miroku, and his wind tunnel. A worried frown tugged slightly at her eyebrows. Inuyasha was annoyed and wanting his ramen. Shippou played quietly with Rin. Saiko relaxed, pondering the upcoming days.

 

“Ye food is ready,” Keade `awoke' everyone from their dazes.

 

“Keh! About time!” Inuyasha, greedy as always about ramen swiped the first bowl in a split second. Everyone else took his or her food much more politely.

 

Now conversations murmured about softly. Sango and Kagome casually talking, Rin and Shippou in her lap. Miroku asked Saiko about the other gods, and Saiko readily replied. Over the weeks the group grew comfortable with the god around, and even accepted him as a little part of their family…in some odd, twisted since. Only Inuyasha had any issues, and any he tried to voice were silenced. It was really grating on his nerves.

 

A little later everyone was content with food in their bellies and an apparently calm night awaiting them to embrace the sleep that was starting to call them. Rin and Shippou hugged against Kagome's side, and Kagome herself stifled a yawn. Everyone decided to call it a night. In the morning, they would once again embark on their quest. After the nice break, even with all the training, they all felt better, rested, and ready to continue once more.

 

As everyone tucked in quietly, a single entity enraged and storming through Feudal Japan, was brought to a sudden stop. On a wide road in the middle of a forest, Inuyasha's forest to be exact, this entity, an enormous white dog, paused in its rampage. The dog had its head lowered and nose glued to the ground. There were many scents, layers and layers to process. He would not have even bothered had he not caught a drift smell, Rin.

 

Sorting through almost a month's worth of scents from all the people that had wandered this road, Rin's scent was found. The dog walked in a couple circles and doing a figure eight picking up on any other scents from that same time. The first, right near where he discovered Rin, was Inuyasha's wench, Kagome. Then a few feet away was one of Naraku's golems; that brought for a furious growl. Lastly he found Kagura and Kanna whom, it seemed, had been battle Inuyasha and the others. He tracked the direction that they had traveled before finally lifting his head. The dog seemed to grin as it stared in the direction of the Village.

 

Glowing winds engulfed the Dog, and in its place stood the tall, godly Lord of the West, Sesshomaru. “This Sesshomaru is overdue for a family visit…” His deep voice rumbled pleasantly in the night air, as he started walking towards the Inu-Tachi, and Rin. Before the night was up, her would get his ward back.

 

At least that was the plan…

 

…With Inuyasha…

 

Inuyasha was perched in a tree some distance outside Keade's hut on the edge of the forest.. Anger practically poured off him like a waterfall as his gold eyes surveyed the silent night and his sensitive ears twitched taking in all sounds of the night. He was one guard, praying for an interruption, an attack, or something that would help him blow off his anger. Of course, said anger was merely his cover up.

 

Truth be told, the inu-hanyou was depressed. He had let himself be judgmental of the one person that truly did not deserve such treatment. He had condemned her rather than give her a fighting chance to prove to him what he had seen over the last few weeks. The proof that, though gods and goddesses are, indeed, quite vengeful beings, they are not spiteful and do not lash out without being provoked.

 

Kagome was still the same as when he first met her, only now she was fully a goddess. She treated him much the same as before, too. However, Inuyasha knew it wasn't the same. He had destroyed them. Never again would he go to Kikyou. In the afterlife he would see her and explain. In the afterlife she would be the true Kikyou. In this life, though, there was Kagome. Sweet, innocent, loving Kagome that had been his best friend for years now, without question, and had excepted him for who, not what, he was. The first time he should return the favor, and he throws it back in her face.

 

Even now, Kagome still accepted him, walked with him, talked with him, and smiled at him, but it was not the same anymore. It was different. It didn't hold the glittering love that she once held for him. Yes, love was still there, but it wasn't what it was before.

 

He needed to apologize, Inuyasha knew that all too well. But that's not his nature, not his way. If not for a growing fear, a nagging doubt in his mind, he wouldn't bother. He'd just be a little nicer for a while and go on. This time though he needed to say it. If not for her sake, then for his; he needed her to know how horrible he felt, how much he needed her. The nagging, the fear in his mind, it told him to tell her, tell her or lose her. That did not sit well with him. If he lost her, he didn't know if he could continue on.

 

Gold eyes gazed up at a full moon, soon to go into waning, completely unknowing of the soft eyes the watched him for Keade's doorway…

 

…Kagome…

 

Sleep was elusive for the young godling as she shifted and turned slightly in her sleep, always careful not to wake Rin or Shippou. They would stir occasionally with Kagome, but only to adjust their position and stay close to her. Finally, Kagome gave up and very, very carefully extracted herself from the two little ones. After that near impossible feat was accomplished she headed to the door way and stood there looking out over the village. She knew Inuyasha was in a somewhere in tree watching over the village, but didn't say anything to him.

 

Actually she was slightly surprised he hadn't responded to her presence yet. Casting a glance at his sulking form, Kagome found an adoring smile settle on her lips. He was deep in thought. She wondered what could have him so deeply engrossed in thought that he was unaware of his surroundings. Maybe I should say something, she thought vaguely. However it was quickly dismissed. He would probably get mad and yell at her.

 

Kagome sighed. Almost a month and still he couldn't stand her. It hurt the little miko more than anyone realized. Her own thoughts darkened as they went introspective. She ducted her head, shielding watery eyes from basking in the pleasant moon glow, as she silently picked herself apart, letting her thoughts poke and prod every little flaw making it seem like a bright red pimple on a milky white face. One right in the middle of the forehead, too!

 

Without her notice, the gathering water spilled and streamed down her cheeks.

 

The scent of his mother's tears jerked Shippou out of his dead sleep instantly. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he nudged Rin and gently coaxed her to consciousness. She offered a sleepy confused look, but Shippou just grabbed her hand and headed for Kagome, knowing that something had her upset. She was crying, and he and Rin had to stop it.

 

The soft, “Mommy?” from Shippou, aroused the goddess from her mind, and unknowingly, Inuyasha was pulled from his thoughts as well for her had heard Shippou call. Turning his head he looked at Kagome and her `kids' wondering why none of them were in be where he had left them.

 

Kagome knelt down and looked at the two kids in concern, trying in vain to hide her previous tears. “What's wrong, sweetheart,” she asked softly, wondering why they were awake and out of bed. Shippou and Rin just hugged her and refused to let go. They gave all their love to Kagome in hopes of making her smile again.

 

Inuyasha saw the whole thing and his eyes softened greatly. Part of him wanted to be mad that he had been to deep in thought to keep track of his surroundings, and part of him wanted to be with the trio, hugging and loving each other. Inuyasha jumped from the tree to land beside them and knelt down.

 

“Hey, Kagome, what are you doing up? And same goes for you tyrants.” Inuyasha inquired softly, affectionately. Three sets of variously colored eyes met his with surprised looks and Inuyasha found his annoyance sparking, “Keh! It was only a question!”

 

Kagome smiled brightly and hugged Inuyasha while giggling softly, “Then we're okay now?”

 

“Not yet, Kags,” Inuyasha said and gave her a shadowed look that worried Kagome. More of her hope fell, but she waited, knowing he had more to say. And, indeed, he did, for Inuyasha took a breath and continued, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about everything. I've been a real fucking ass. You never once did anything but love me and stay by my side, yet I've been horrible to you, worst of all being recently with everything that's happened.”

 

Kagome started to protest, but a clawed finger on her lips silenced her voice.

 

“I'm not done yet. When Kikyou told me about you being a god, it was my chance to return the favor of not questioning you, my chance to accept you the way you accepted me, and I blew it all to fucking Hell. Gods, Kagome, I'm so sorry. Please. Please, don't leave me. I want - need - to make it up to you, and prove to you how sorry I am.”

 

Kagome, after pulling herself once more from the children's grasps, hugged Inuyasha close while stroking the back of his head and cooing softly in his ear. After a few seconds, Rin and Shippou joined the hug.

 

“You don't need to prove anything Inu! Kikyou twisted your mind…probably used a spell—“

 

Inuyasha cut her off, “For my sake, please, let me make it up to you.”

 

His pleading quieted Kagome's argument, and she relented, “All right, for your sake,” and she hugged him again. “Now you two, bed,” Kagome commanded lightly, knowing they were highly unlikely to listen. Both were wide-awake and would never get to sleep on their own. That and she could see in their eyes and poses that they were uncertain about Inuyasha's sincere words. They didn't believe him, and Kagome found she couldn't fault them, for she felt she should be cautious as well, but unable to bring herself to be so; at least not with Inuyasha. She did have half a mind to put a distance spell on Kikyo, though, to keep her away from him.

 

Just as she had suspected, the kids protested loudly and in the most whining voices they could muster. It made Kagome chuckle, and their pouting faces made her laugh. After all she was the queen of pouting, and thus completely unaffected by it. That for certain annoyed the kids and they turned their pouts into scowls. As the laughter continued Kagome found herself tackled by two little bodies.

 

“Ah!” Kagome laughed helplessly as Rin and Shippou tickled her, “I-Inu-ya-sha! Help!” Drowned, were her words, in the laughter. The sight to Inuyasha was enough to lighten his melancholy and even chuckle a bit. That chuckle was enough to freeze all actions. Rin and Shippou turned and looked at him with surprised faces. Yes, Inuyasha could laugh, but this mirth was so much more that just laughter. Deep in that chuckle they all felt his love and affection. It surprised them a good deal, to say the least.

 

That surprise was immediately replaced as Inuyasha swept up Rin and Shippou, giving Kagome time to get up and go in for tickling them.

 

Kagome's pale hands never reached them, as another arm was firmly secured around her waist and pulled her away rapidly, and so suddenly that she was knocked out of breath. Vaguely, she recognized Inuyasha's horrified, and enraged, call of “Sesshoumaru!” When the name of her captor sunk in, life instantly returned to her, and she tossed her head over her shoulder to peered into frozen amber eyes. A gasp escaped her, and so it seemed, did one escape Sesshoumaru.

 

Now several yards away from his brother and the kids, Sesshoumaru stopped and scrutinized the wench in his arms more closely. Sesshoumaru had only seen Inuyasha scoop the kids up, and then a woman on the ground stand. When she launched herself in a seeming attack, Sesshoumaru snapped. That was Rin and a defenseless kitsune pup! The very pup that Inuyasha's wench looked after. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but question is brother's integrity for offering up two innocent lives for some greedy demoness.

 

Now, however, the great demon lord was confused. When the woman he had grabbed, looked up at him, he instantly recognized her as his brother's wench herself! He also realized that she wasn't a demon, but a goddess! What's going on here?

 

Several drawn out seconds passed as Sesshoumaru glowered at Kagome, studying her new self. The words of Inuyasha, Rin, and Shippou did not reach him. For, though Sesshoumaru would never in his life admit it, as a Human Kagome had gained his interest. She was human, yes, but she was incredibly strong willed, loving, selfless, and beautiful. Easier to mock and insult, than for him to admit liking, perhaps even loving on some level. Now that she was more than human, though he felt something cold settling heavily upon his chest at the absolute terror in her gaze.

 

Sesshoumaru no more got to start pondering on this and then he heard Rin calling to him. Crying and begging that he not hurt her `new mommy.' Every so often the child threw a shout at Inuyasha to release her. Shippou was much the same, begging for his mother. Both children used the same word; it annoyed him, yet he didn't know why. They were kids, orphans, which had become attached to one that treated them like family, with love. They were devoted to her, the fox and her little Rin. That's what annoyed him.

 

Silver hair swayed faintly, as Sesshoumaru lifted his head to look at the shouting trio. His golden eyes narrowed before he spoke silkily and deadly, “Silence, Inuyasha, and the kitsune, too. Know that I have no qualms silencing you myself if need be.”

 

Instantly, they all shut up, even Rin. With the distance, it was almost unnoticeable, but still there. Sesshoumaru's threat had been heeded and taken straight to heart. They were afraid, and that knowledge registered with Kagome, making her severely angry. She remembered that she is not a weak mortal, she is a magnificent goddess, the daughter of the God of Power, Saiko. Her power roused and gave her strength to face one of the people that, at one time, would have effortlessly killed her. That stirred more anger, and she built up a growl. Come hell or high water, Sesshoumaru was threatening her best friend, and her child! He had even scared Rin, his own ward. Yet, she felt no remorse for his action coming from him. This would not stand with her.

 

The frightfully rapid rise in her power, and the menacing growl emanated by the girl in his arms, nearly cased the great demon lord Sesshoumaru to get whiplash, he turned to look at her so fast. Kagome was pissed off and everyone could see it. Fleetingly he considered throwing her a good distance from his person, but his pride said that would be cowardice. So he held on, awaiting her move, that came quick. A kinetic blast of energy slammed against his chest while taking advantage of his momentary loss of focus to pry his hand from her neck. She fell and he stumbled back. A split second later, both raised fierce eyes to the other, a silent battle beginning.

 

Sudden cries arose into the night air once more. Rin and Shippou could no longer listen to Sesshoumaru's words. They cried out begging for his mercy, pleading that he let Kagome go. They swore to do or give anything for this. With terror flooding him, Inuyasha fought to shush them.

 

Unfortunately, their cries gained Sesshoumaru's wrath. Kagome saw, and between the two an unspoken understanding passed. He was going to attack; she had to hurry to protect them...