InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Separation ❯ Friends and Enemies ( Chapter 7 )

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

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or any of the publicly known characters, plot, etc.  I’m just renting them from Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, etc.   I do own the plot of this story and any original characters I’ve created.  I will make no money from this fic; I write for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers.


Fanfiction of the Week:  “The Colors of Life,” “Tangle Ambitions,” “Dumb Luck,” & “Ghostly Ambition,” a four-part series by DarklessVasion.  


Friends and Enemies


Following Inuyasha’s departure, Shippou spent the rest of the day exploring his temporary home.  At first glance, there wasn’t much to see, just bare rock.  But on the other side of the summit, the mountain sloped downward into a lush green highland plain where the dreadful mist did not reach.  He spent most of the afternoon here, climbing trees, chasing rabbits, and even swimming in the lake.  He did not return to Shinobu’s cave until after dusk, and found dinner waiting for him when he arrived.  He had no idea what the food was, but it smelled good and tasted even better.  Apparently the old demonness had decided to take her responsibilities as hostess seriously, and for that he was grateful.  Feeling drained from the activities of the day, he went to bed soon after supper in the same room he and Inuyasha had shared the night before.  

When he awoke the next morning breakfast was sitting by his bedside, and he gulped it down hungrily.  Sniffing the platter it had been brought in on, he caught Kasumi’s scent.  So it was she who’s been feeding me.  Deciding to thank her, he headed down to the plain and spied the young woman sitting alone in a field of flowers.  When the wind gusted, petals blew all around her, making her appear even more beautiful than she already was.  Then the breeze died down, and some of the petals settled on her head and shoulders.  She remained motionless throughout, continuing to stare into nothingness.  Inuyasha’s words came back to him: ‘she could use some company that’s not her mother.’   Sighing to himself, Shippou shuffled over to Kasumi and plopped himself down by her side.  Still she ignored him, her eyes never blinking nor budging.  Getting fairly annoyed now, Shippou spoke up.

“You know, it’s not safe to space out like that in the open.”  

She started, turning wide, frightened eyes in his direction, and he immediately felt guilt wash over him.  

“Uh, sorry…I shouldn’t have startled you like that.  And I wanted to thank you for cooking for me.”

“It’s nothing,” was her only reply before the pair settled into silence once again.  Sensing that she wasn’t interested in having a conversation, Shippou stood and turned to leave.  At least I tried.

“Tell me, Shippou, this Kagome person, what is she like?”  

Shippou froze mid-stride, turning his head to toward her.  He was surprised to find her looking back at him, her eyes filled with honest curiosity and something else that he couldn't quite put his finger on.  

"Uh, she's really nice...and kind.  She's always laughing and smiling, except when Inuyasha runs off to Kikyou."  Seeing her confused expression, he added, "Never mind."  He paused a moment, considering whether he should reveal any more, but decided there was no harm.  "Almost two years ago, my father was killed by youkai, and I was an orphan.  In order to avenge him, I tried to steal the Shikon shards from Kagome.  Inuyasha wanted to beat the crap out of me, but Kagome protected me.  In the end, Inuyasha ended up slaying the youkai and avenging my father's death.  Kagome said I could stay with them, and I've been by her side ever since.  She...she's like a second mother to me."  

Shippou lowered his chin while attempting to hold back his tears.  He had lost Kagome temporarily, but had faith that Inuyasha would find a way to bring her back.  He had his other friends as well, though they could never hope to replace the miko from the future who had become such a central part of his existence.  

"She must be a truly amazing person, to have captured Inuyasha's heart," Kasumi observed, the mysterious gleam in her eye returning.  This time Shippou realized what it was.  She's jealous?  Of Kagome?  No, she must be jealous of Inuyasha.  At one point in his life, he was just like Kasumi.  She must be jealous that he has found someone that accepts him, cares for him so deeply.  Coming to a decision, he nodded to himself in determination.  I can't give her that, but I can at least try to be her friend.  Now, how to go about breaking the awkward silence that had once again settled between them?  Kasumi had resumed staring off into space, and clearly wasn't about to say anything else without prompting.  He pondered a moment, finally coming up with an idea.  

"Hey!  You wanna see what she looks like?"

"Hm?"

"Kagome!  You wanna see what she looks like?"  

Kasumi didn't reply, but she did turn her gaze his way.  Satisfied that he had her attention, he pulled a leaf out of his jacket and plastered it to his forehead.  A familiar 'Pop!' and a puff of smoke later, and he was looking down at the seated Kasumi rather than up.  

"This is what she looks like," he said, spinning around for effect.  "I'm sure when we get her back she would like to meet you...in...person?"

It began as a small quirk of her lips, then a girlish giggle that she hid behind her hand, and finally exploded into full-blown, cackling laughter.  Shippou stepped back, effectively weirded out by Kasumi and her dramatic change in demeanor.  

"Wh-what's so funny?" he grumped, a little offended.  Kasumi covered her mouth and attempted to control her mirth, but when she opened her eyes to answer him another wave of giggles overtook her.  Shippou rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, doing a very accurate impression of the miko whose form he was currently borrowing.  He tapped his foot, waiting impatiently for her to gain control of herself.  Finally, Kasumi calmed enough to speak, though she still giggled as she explained her amusement.  

"Sorry, Shippou.  But...does Kagome have a tail?"  

Shippou nearly smacked himself.  Ah, crap!!  He reached behind him and sure enough, his fox tail was sticking out the back of 'his' skirt.  Kasumi started laughing again, and Shippou had finally had enough.  He abandoned his illusion, and plopped down on the grass in full-on 'pout mode.'  Turning his back on the still cackling woman, he observed Shinobu watching them for a brief time in the distance, a strange smile pulling up the skin on her aging cheeks.  Then she turned and walked back the way she came.  Idly Shippou wondered when the last time Shinobu had heard her daughter’s laughter.  Suddenly he didn't feel so offended anymore.  Sighing, he turned around once he noted the sounds of merriment behind him had ceased...and found an empty clearing.  What the...where did she go?  When he spun to look back toward the mountain, he was met with red hakama filling his vision.  Familiar red hakama.  Gulping, he inclined his head until he locked eyes with his hanyou friend.  Inuyasha's own eyes seemed to glow like a predator's at night, and his lips were set in a murderous scowl.  Dah!  He hates it when I pretend to be Kagome!  He's gonna kill me!  Fear paralyzed the kit, even as the hanyou's clawed hand reached down...and affectionately patted him on the head.  

"Good boy!"  

Shippou's eyes flew open; he was sure the distinctly feminine voice had come from Inuyasha, but how could that be?  Duh!  I've been had!  Tricked by my own trick!  

"Y-you…how?”  

"What, you think kitsune are the only youkai who can perform illusions?" Kasumi asked, resuming her true form.  

"B-but— "

"I picked up a few tricks in my younger days.  Tell me, would you like me to show you how to conceal that tail of yours?"

"Would I?!"  Who knows, Shippou reflected as the lesson began, maybe my time here won't be so boring after all.

Inuyasha sneezed, unsure of whether the cause was something in the air or someone talking shit about him.  He was still feeling the effects of running through that blasted flower field this morning.  Braving that cursed mist again hadn’t helped either.  Yes, there were times when he did not enjoy having his sensitive nose, but he would never wish it away.  Being human one night a month was enough.  And yet, at one point in time…  He shook his head; he really didn’t feel like thinking about Kikyou at the moment, especially in light of their recent encounter.  Glancing up, he observed that the sun had begun its descent but was still high in the sky.  Almost another half-day to go; better not waste it.  So he surged forward again, quickly settling into a rapid yet maintainable pace.  He followed the directions Shinobu had given him, traveling the course of a small river and crossing a sizeable forest before once again breaking out onto the open plain.  He could see the mountain which was his destination now, rising up out of the horizon until it vanished into the clouds.  The herbs he was looking for supposedly grew along the base, so hopefully he wouldn’t have to climb very far.  He would find a suitable place to rest for the night, and then complete the journey in the morning.  Heh, the old hag said the trip would take a few days, but I’ll do it in a day and a half!

An unpleasant odor reached his nostrils, causing him to bare his teeth in disgust.  Wolves...  His snarl intensified even further when he recognized one scent in particular.  Sure enough, a dusty whirlwind appeared over a gentle rise in the terrain, signaling the arrival of someone who Inuyasha had really hoped to avoid.  The tornado came right up to him before the Kouga leapt out, the twister dissipating behind him.  

“Hey, Inu-kurro!” he called, amicably enough.  “What are you doing in my lands?”  

“Mind your own damn business, flea-bag,” Inuyasha answered in kind.  For once, he didn’t feel like fighting with Kouga.  Probably because the one they usually fought over was not here.   

“And where’s my Kagome?” the wolf asked, not showing any annoyance at the hanyou’s retort.  His demeanor changed when Inuyasha made no response, his eyes reflecting a genuine reluctance to answer.  Again, Kouga voiced his question, and again the hanyou failed to answer.  In a flash he was lifting Inuyasha by the front of his haori, growling dangerously up at him.  “I said.  Where.  Is.  Kagome?!”  

Finally Inuyasha snapped out of his stupor, returning the wolf’s snarl with one of his own.  “Get your fuckin’ hand off me or lose it,” he promised lowly, brandishing his claws, the sharp points glistening in the waning light.  

Kouga rumbled his displeasure one final time before throwing the hanyou back, intending to land him on his backside.  Inuyasha was having none of that; using his momentum he flipped over backward onto one hand and somersaulted the rest of the way back to his feet.  The wolf’s glare flickered for a split-second, revealing that even he was impressed.  

“Now where’s Kagome?!  I swear, if you let her get hurt, I’ll—”

“She’s fine!”  Inuyasha grimaced inwardly; this was why he had hoped to avoid running into the wolf.  He knew Kouga would blame him for Kagome’s absence, and rightly so.  Still, Kagome would be royally pissed at him if he injured the wolf over some petty quarrel, and if provoked Kouga might just get mad enough to start a serious fight.  He would at least try to be civil.  

“Relax.  Kagome’s safe.  We just, uh…can’t get to her at the moment.”  

“Explain,” demanded the wolf, eyeing Inuyasha warily.  

Inuyasha growled in annoyance; the simpleton seemed intent on not making it easy.  “Moron!  Do I have to explain everything?  Have you ever noticed the funny clothes she wears, or the weird bag she carries, or that strange metal contraption she rides—”

“Yeah, I definitely notice her more…exotic features.  What about them?”  

Inuyasha had to clench his fist to keep from sending it flying into Kouga’s chin.  He didn’t like any man talking about Kagome with that inflection in his tone, however revealing her ‘exotic’ clothing might be.  

“So,” he said, drawing out his words as if speaking to a toddler, “don’t you think that maybe if she was from around here she wouldn’t be so strange?”  

Kouga frowned in consternation, as if he had never considered the possibility that Kagome was a foreigner.  Inuyasha supposed it was understandable; how many foreigners did one see in feudal Japan?  But the hanyou did enjoy seeing his rival look so utterly dumbfounded.  Keh, the baka claims to love her, but he doesn’t know a damn thing about her.  His patience rejuvenated by the immeasurable comfort that thought brought, Inuyasha continued his relatively calm explanation.  

“Kagome isn’t from around here, you dumbass.  Her home is in another world.  She travels to this one through a portal so she can help me collect the Shikon no Tama.”  

Kouga turned thoughtful for a moment, processing all the new information.  “Another world, huh?” he muttered aloud, “I wonder what it’s like.”

“Feh!  The air smells bad and there are too many people.  Though it does have its good side,” he declared, thinking of his favorite pasta-based snack.  

“Hm.  hey wait a minute!  How the hell to you know?!”  

“What?  I didn’t tell you that I can pass through the portal too?”  Inuyasha knew he was wearing a foolish-looking grin at this point, but he didn’t care.  It was fun to hold something over on the wolf for a change.  Usually their confrontations ended with him eating dirt while Kouga sweet-talked Kagome and ran off.  

“No, you didn’t!  Take me to this portal at once!”  

“It won’t do any good.  Kagome and I are the only ones who can pass through,” he said, positively delighting in the wolf’s rage.  

“What?  That…that’s fucked up!  I should be able to pass through, too!”

“Heh!  Deal with it!”

“Where is this portal?”

“Can’t tell you,” Inuyasha replied, still smirking.  

“Inu-kurro…

“It’s not my secret to tell.”  Inuyasha could practically hear that vein popping in Kouga’s forehead.  

“As Kagome’s future mate, I order you to tell me!”

“Fuck you!  Go ask her yourself.  Oh, wait, you can’t!”

“Because you let something happen to the portal!”  

“What the fuck do you think I’m out here for, sightseeing?  I’ll break Naraku’s seal even if it kills me.”  

Kouga lowered his head, hiding his face with his bangs, his shoulders trembling with rage.  “Did you say Naraku’s seal?”

“Uh…”

“So let me get this straight.  First you let that bastard find out about the portal, then you let him trap Kagome on the other side, and then you let him seal it?”  

“…”

“BAKAAAAAA!!!!!  Stupid, incompetent MORON!  I never should have left her with you!”

“You didn’t leave her anywhere, asshole.  Kagome’s with me by choice.”  
 
“Proof that even smart ones can be fools sometimes.  Fine, you’re going to break the seal?  I want in.”

“No way in hell.”  

“I said I’m going!”

“You’re not!  If you come I’m gonna end up killing you.  We don’t exactly get along.”

“Tch.  True enough.  But for Kagome, I’d put up with you.  Where the hell are you going, anyway?”  

Inuyasha folded his arms over his chest.  There was no way he would lose to Kouga in contest of stubbornness.  The wolf was not coming with him, end of story.  But telling the flea-bag to fuck off wouldn’t help the situation, so he decided to give a vague answer.  

“On an errand for someone.  She said she would help me if I did this.”  

“Someone…a youkai?”  At Inuyasha’s nod, Kouga added incredulously, “A full-youkai?”

“I said ‘yes,’ didn’t I?”  

“Don’t make me laugh!  What self-respecting full-youkai would agree to help you?  More likely she’ll just kill you when she’s done with you.”  

That comment did not hurt nearly as much as Inuyasha thought it would.  He knew two full-youkai who would gladly help him; one of them had in fact accompanied him to Shinobu’s home.  But he knew Kouga was talking about powerful, high-ranking youkai who had the knowledge and strength to counter something like Naraku’s curse.  It was true that he did not know any of those, but somehow the fact that full-youkai held him in such low regard seemed but a trifle now.  He imagined the miko for whom he was currently on this quest had a lot to do with it.  All the more reason to see her safely returned to his side as soon as possible.  

“Could be,” he admitted with a shrug.  He supposed it was possible that Shinobu would betray his trust, but he seriously doubted it would happen.  He would not have left Shippou with her if he felt otherwise.  

“Well, fine then,” declared Kouga, puffing up with pride.  “You go chase your tail somewhere, and I’ll find Naraku and kill him.  Then the seal will be released and Kagome will come back and finally realize how unworthy of her you really are.”  

The wolf sped off in a torrent of swirling winds, and Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief.  A weight lifted off his shoulders, or perhaps it would be more apt to say that a pain lifted off his ass.  He didn’t even care that Kouga’s final words had been completely true; he was unworthy of Kagome.  The fact that the wolf thought himself any more worthy of her than Inuyasha was truly laughable.  Neither of them deserved her, but the fact that she chose to stay by his, Inuyasha’s side meant everything.  

Smiling softly to himself, Inuyasha resumed his journey.  

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly, with no further interruptions.  The mountain loomed closer now, perhaps standing a few hours away, and if he really wanted to he could reach it before the moon rose high in the night sky.  But it had been at least two days since his last meal, and his stomach was loudly rumbling its displeasure.  So, about an hour before dusk, he began sniffing the air for the scent of water.  In no time he found a wide, slow-moving forest stream.  Fish eagerly snapped bugs out of the air, forming ripples on the otherwise pristine surface of the water.  He followed its course for awhile, searching for a suitable place from which to catch some dinner.  At one point a fallen tree partially bridged the gap from the other bank, and Inuyasha leapt gracefully across the stream.  Removing his haori and kosode, he crept out onto the fallen wood so as not to disturb the creatures hiding underneath.  Inching forward until he reached the submerged end of the tree, he settled in to wait, his eyes scanning the water for any sign of movement.  For several minutes there was no prey to be found, but finally one unfortunate individual revealed itself.  Inuyasha moved with lightning quickness, shooting his clawed hand downward, spearing the fish and tossing it onto the bank.  Smirking at his efficiency, he returned to the task.  

Dusk had come and gone by the time he was finally ready to devour his catch.  He had forgotten how much work went into setting up a campsite; usually one of the others would gather wood, make a fire-pit, or clean the fish.  It’s been so long since I ate by myself…  There had been times during the past year when he would have wished for nothing more than some time alone, but now he found quite the opposite was true.  It was so boring without his friends.  He missed the kitsune’s constant chattering, the angry cry of the taijiya swiftly followed by the sound of flesh meeting flesh.  Hell, he even missed the dreaded ‘osuwari’ command.  And while he was being honest with himself, it wasn’t hard to admit who he missed most of all.  Kagome…  Life was a whole lot more interesting when she was around, that was for sure.  Between her moods and her amazing ability to find trouble, she kept him constantly on his toes.  What did he long for the most?  Her company?  The way she trusted him completely without any reservations?  That dazzling smile she reserved just for him?  How long had it been since he had smelled her sweet scent?  He had become so used to it, he reflected, that it had become almost like a part of him.  Just being in her presence made him feel incredibly relaxed and exhilarated at the same time.  Such conflicting feelings, but then again, he had a lot of those when it came to Kagome.  

He sighed deeply, inclining his head to stare up at the full moon.  He needed something to take the edge off his boredom.  Suddenly a thought struck him, a memory of a time long ago when he was similarly alone.  Back when he was just a child, an orphan looking for a way to ease the monotony.  A one-time project had turned into a short-lived hobby, a way to memorialize the only woman he had ever loved.  Those had been dark days, the only time during his long life when he had honestly doubted his ability to survive.  But being able to see her face, to believe she was still with him in spirit, had made all the difference.  

Hopping to his feet, he searched the dwindling woodpile for the perfect canvas.  There it was; a flat, roughly rectangular piece a little larger than his hand.  He grabbed the item in question and set to his task.  But his hands were larger, less dexterous than they used to be, and he found himself working and reworking the wood until it was little more than a thin, scratched-up slab.  Growling his frustration, he tossed the misshapen hunk of timber into the fire.  Stretching his arms above him, he bared his fangs in a powerful yawn.  Eyes drooping, he settled against a nearby tree and dozed off, the light from the dying fire dancing across his face.  

He rose with the sun the next morning and set off without eating, hoping to make it back to this campsite before dark.  He reached the mountain a little before noon, and started searching for the required herbs.  Most of them were easy to find; he just had to sniff along the base until he recognized a scent, and then place the plants into the special pouch Shinobu had given him.  One particular scent eluded him, however, and he spent several hours searching for this herb alone.  Tired and more than a little aggravated, he finally caught the scent when a strong gust of wind blew down from the mountain.  Looking upwards, he spied the sheer, vertical walls of a cliff, topped with what smelled like an upland plateau.  Rather than searching for another way up, he decided to brave the climb; it was only a few hundred feet after all.  The only thing that gave him pause was the other scent accompanying the smell of trees and flowers.  He grimaced, recognizing the scent as belonging to the Birds of Paradise.  He recalled how much trouble the youkai had been on their only previous encounter.  Oh well, if it does come to a fight, I’ll just massacre them the same as before.  He was, however, very glad that he had left Shippou behind.  

That feeling was reinforced about halfway through his climb.  The flapping of wings at his back alerted him to the enemy’s approach.  Holding on by one clawed hand, he swung to the right just as the creature’s giant head smashed into the rock where he had been.  Counterattacking with his free hand, he neatly sliced off the bird’s wing, sending it fluttering gracelessly downward to land with a muffled crunch.  Turning to look behind him, Inuyasha glimpsed a foreboding sight—at least a dozen other birds circling a short distance away, each awaiting its turn to strike.  This is bad…  On level ground he knew he could kill a hundred of them without even drawing Tetsusaiga, but on this cliff, where he could barely find reliable handholds, the birds had the advantage.  He resumed climbing, his claws tearing into the rock as he struggled to reach the safety of the plateau.  Several more youkai fell victim to his claws, their clumsy attacks easily dodged in one direction or another.  He was almost to the top when one of the birds decided to get smart.  

This particular bird waited until one of its companions made an attack, then followed immediately behind.  Just as Inuyasha dispatched the first youkai, he felt the talons of the second pierce straight through his gut, causing him to cry out in shock and agony.  The bird lifted him high in the air above the plateau, then released him.  Dumb bastard!  I can survive a fall from this height—uh oh…  The bird apparently knew what it was doing, because Inuyasha found himself plummeting toward the only large boulder sitting in the middle of the green field.  A very sharp boulder, its reddish discoloration indicating that it had been used to smash prey before.  There was no doubt the jagged points would run him through no matter how he landed on them.  Drawing Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha slashed downward, releasing the Kaze no Kizu.  The waves of youki decimated the rock, sending a great billowing cloud of dust into the air.  Inuyasha descended into this cloud, landing on his feet and rolling repeatedly to absorb the enormous force of impact.  When he rose to stand he was battered and bruised, but thankfully he had received no additional gaping holes in his body.  The remaining birds came down to claim their meal, and Inuyasha obliterated them with one sweep of Kongousouha.  

At long last he was able to locate and collect the final herb, then find a cool stream to make camp near.  There was no way he would make it back to his previous campsite by nightfall, even if he was completely healthy.  His wounds were not that serious, but they would need time to heal.  After shedding his clothes, Inuyasha waded into the stream to rinse off the dried blood and dirt.  He felt much better when he emerged, and settled down to let his youkai blood do its work.  He was asleep before the sun set, his ears and nose still on high alert for any new dangers.  

Katashi examined the motley crew assembled before him with a look of disgust barely concealing his rage.  Five of them had bandages wrapped around their heads, and one of them had a broken arm.  All were covered in bruises, their once clean clothing darkened to a brownish hue.  Pathetic.  He watched the men fidget nervously under his glare for several moments before finally speaking.

“You mean to tell me that the six of you were beaten by a single woman, and you lost our first shipment because of it?  Tell me, why shouldn’t I just kill you where you stand and save myself the trouble of paying useless men?”  

“P-please my lord!” one of them stuttered.  “She was no normal woman!  She fought with a giant boomerang, and—”

“What!” Katashi yelled, scaring the men half to death.  “A giant boomerang, you say?  Was there anything else she carried?”  

“Um…yes!  When we first tried to capture her she put on this mask, making her immune to our smoke.”  The subordinate produced said mask from his robe, and Katashi took it, turning it over in his hands.  I have seen this mask before, and combined with the boomerang there can be no coincidence.  Slowly his lips turned up in a vicious smirk, his expression becoming downright sinister.  His eyes burned with bloodlust, and flashed in anticipation.  The six subordinates shrunk back until they were pressed against the wall, more petrified by their leader’s smile than his glare.  

“M-my lord?” one spoke tentatively.  

“Go gather the men,” Katashi ordered.  “We leave at first light.”  

The six subordinates fled the room, happy to still have their heads.  Katashi chucked darkly to himself.  I don’t know how you survived the destruction of our village, but I’m glad for it.  Killing you will be a great privilege, one I will enjoy greatly…Sango.      


A/N – The second of the four stories by DarklessVasion mentioned at the top was the inspiration for the Sango-Katashi arc in this story.  Gotta give credit where credit is due.  It wasn’t a coincidence that I chose to feature her story in this particular chapter.