InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shards of Destiny ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 6 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, etc., of Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. This story is for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit.

SHARDS OF DESTINY

Summary: Naraku has crossed over to the modern era, and our heroes must band together to try and stop him. But what troubles arise as old relationships are torn apart by new, and the dark spider sits spinning new webs of deceit?

A/N: I don’t know if my Mom would ever be as good about the house as Kagome’s. (Grin.) Thanks for the continued reviews! I welcome the awesome suggestions. You people make me think! (So that’s the smoke coming out of my ears…)

Chapter Five

“So not worth it.” Kagome shook her head at the gaping hole where her window used to be. “My mom’s going to kill me.”

“Could be worse,” Yusuke offered, kicking loose debris into a pile. The Hiraikotsu had done a number on its way out. They were currently outside, trying to help clean up the mess.

“How?” she demanded.

“I got two apartments blown up. My mom refuses to let me live with her now.” He grinned at Kagome’s horrified look.

“That was a long time ago,” Kurama reassured the poor girl.

“Not that long.” Yusuke smirked, bricks tumbling out of his arms.

Kurama ignored him to suggest, “Although we’ve taped plastic over the hole, we should probably move your things to another room.”

Kagome sighed. “You’re probably right.” She pushed unruly black hair out of her eyes, unhappy with the thought. It was awful crowded already. She’d slept in a sleeping bag on the floor last night, giving Sango the bed. Inuyasha had shared her brother’s room with Miroku, since Souta needed the comfort of sleeping with their mom. Thankfully, they were both gone right now---Souta to a family friend, her mom to make final arrangements.

It was hard enough keeping everyone separated. As it was, Kagome had left Inuyasha guarding Sango’s door after the slayer declined Kurama’s help healing. The red-haired man’s offer had done a lot to quell Inuyasha’s anger, although the hanyou was far from reconciled. Thankfully, the dark demon had disappeared not long after with Yusuke, who returned alone to help clean up.

Kagome watched Shippou cart a heavy piece of rubble to the pile, chattering amicably with the giant Kuwabara, who towered over the little kitsune. Now there was one who didn’t have any trouble with the newcomers. The little kitsune was adapting remarkably to their new circumstances. Kagome wished the rest of them would take a lesson from the little kit, and quit acting like such spoiled brats.

“Boys,” she muttered under her breath.

“Pardon?” Kurama asked, casually leaning on his broom.

Some of them, Kagome rescinded, hardly qualified as “boys.” She blushed at the direction of her thoughts, and said airily, “Oh, nothing. Just worrying.”

“It will be all right,” the tall man quietly said, green eyes gentle.

“Yeah, I know.” Kagome blew hair out of eyes and shook her head. “I should go check on Sango, maybe go clean out some of my stuff.”

“I can go with you,” the man offered, putting aside his broom, “if you like.”

“That’d be…nice.” Kagome smiled.


Yusuke watched the two depart, lips quirked. Kurama sure was quick to take advantage of the situation. Hardly the fox’s style, but then, that was one sweet piece of eye-candy. He understood the motivation.

“They’re gone,” he said to the trees, grinning when Hiei appeared as if by magic on a branch of the big one.

“Hn.”

“Who’s that?”

Yusuke stared down at his feet, where the little runt’s bushy tail swished as he stared curiously.

“Trouble,” Kuwabara muttered, jaw thrust out. He was still angry over the whole attacking-a-girl thing. In the Kuwabara Rule Book, guys just didn’t go around punching girls. He ignored the fact that she’d been the one to attack first, or so Hiei related. If only to Yusuke, who tried to tell the big lug, but Kuwabara wasn’t buying it.

“He’s lying,” the big oaf flatly said. “’Sides, Urameshi, it don’t matter. You just don’t hit girls.”

Considering Hiei’s long-time lover was a fearsome demoness who could give as good as she got any day of the week, Yusuke wisely chose to remain silent.

“You’re a demon, aren’t you?” the little boy piped up. “Like me.” He puffed out his chest. Hiei didn’t look too flattered by the comparison. Yusuke smirked.

“But you’re only a half-demon, right?” Shippou turned to Yusuke, brow furrowed.

“Sort of,” Yusuke said.

“Your energy feels weird.” The kit frowned.

“He’s a Mazoku,” Hiei growled, jumping down.

“Wow.” The kitsune’s green eyes rounded. “So you’re actually a demon. A born-again demon.”

“Something like that.” Yusuke scratched the back of his head.

“Your ancestor must have been someone really powerful,” the kit said. “Your aura’s stronger than even Inuyasha’s, but not as strong as Kagome’s.”

Yusuke stopped in mid-scratch. “Huh?”

“You can’t tell?” the boy asked innocently.

“He ain’t got my superior psychic senses.” Kuwabara thumbed his chest.

“I got enough to still kick your ass,” Yusuke returned.

“That’s hardly a fair fight,” Hiei drawled, “since it wouldn’t take much.”

“What was that, Shorty!”

“Not so shorty, now.” Yusuke smirked.

“You guys always like this?” Shippou asked, disgusted.

“Like what?” Yusuke asked.

“Hn.” Hiei leapt back up to his perch.

“You could help, you know!” Kuwabara waved a fist after him.

“He is, dummy,” Yusuke said.

“How?” Kuwabara demanded. “He’s just sitting up there, doing nothing, while we clean up his mess!”

“What, your eyesight suffer from all that book-reading the past three years, Kuwabara? Can’t you tell Hiei’s up there using the Jagan?”

“Whatcha talking about? He ain’t got that creepy thing open---” Kuwabara peered up at the tree, where a ghoulish green glow pulsed behind the bandana Hiei used to cover his third eye. “Woah…”

“Imbecile,” Hiei muttered, eyes still closed as he let the Jagan roam.

“I heard that!”


“So you wanna tell me what’s really going on?” Kuwabara demanded later as he and Yusuke returned their clean-up tools to the shed. The little kitsune had disappeared inside the house to go check on Kagome. Yusuke thought it might be to go snag a treat.

“What do you mean?” Yusuke pretended innocence.

“Come on, Urameshi! I ain’t that stupid! Hiei wouldn’t voluntarily leave the Demon World without a damn good reason.” Kuwabara dropped his rake with a thud against the wall.

Huh. Maybe the big lug wasn’t as thick-headed as he used to be. Seems all that studying to get into college had rubbed off on him. Although it hadn’t gotten rid of that ugly red pompadour.

“Well, maybe he’s got one.” Leaning against the wall, Yusuke folded his arms. “And I’d say it was a good one.”

“Oh, yeah?“ Kuwabara said. “What is it?”

“Hiei saw something, in Demon World, where the border between worlds just happens to be a little bit thinner than anywhere else.”

“What do you mean?”

“You should remember, Kuwabara, since it was you who created it.”

“Huh?”

“The Devil’s Cave Mouth ring a bell?”

“Uh…” Kuwabara considered. “Wait a minute! Wasn’t that the place where that crazy Sensui tried to build a tunnel to Demon World?”

“Bingo! Point for Kuwabara! So you aren’t as stupid as you look.”

“You’re really asking for it, Urameshi, you know that?” Kuwabara thrust his jaw out. “But you still ain’t explained what got Hiei all hot and bothered.”

“Ugh! Hiei hot and bothered? There’s a disturbing thought.” Yusuke shuddered, then reconsidered. “Though come to think of it, Hiei usually is hot and bothered about something.”

“Or anything,” Kuwabara muttered.

Yusuke chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve missed the little guy, too.”

“Speak for yourself, Urameshi!” Kuwabara frowned. “I never understood that guy. He only comes around when there’s something in it for him. He doesn’t care enough about anyone to actually do anything to help ’em out. So what is it, huh?”

“Maybe just the chance to kick a little tail.” Yusuke grinned, rather proud of himself for that one.

It took Kuwabara a good minute to get it, then he exploded. ”You mean, that little bastard kicked her, too?” The big man’s fists clenched. “Bad enough he busted her jaw! I’m gonna kill him!”

“Calm down, Kuwabara.” Yusuke soothed. “I don’t think he hit her that hard. Not as hard as she hit that monk for groping her ass.”

“There’s another one,” Kuwabara muttered darkly. “What kind of guy goes around feeling up defenseless women?”

Crossing his arms behind his head, Yusuke whistled tunelessly, carefully avoiding the big lug’s sharp gaze.

“You didn’t!” Kuwabara said in horror.

“Hey, it was junior high! Who doesn’t grope the girls in junior high?” Yusuke demanded.

Kuwabara looked at him.

Yusuke rolled his eyes. “Okay, so you’re a saint. Sue me.”

Kuwabara looked like he was trying to make up his mind whether he should, even as Yusuke tapped a finger to his cheek and smirked. “And hey, you can’t exactly blame the guy. That ass was pretty sweet. Badonkadonk.”

“Urameshi!” Kuwabara was aghast.

“And it was just hanging out there, all bootylicious. Can’t blame a guy for staring.”

“Urameshi!”

“What sort of underwear was that, anyway? What kind of girl wears a jock-strap?” Yusuke shook his head. “Like a damn sumo wrestler. Maybe I should just go double-check to make sure she’s actually a girl. She might be like that transvestite in Tarukane’s compound.”

“Urameshi! Don’t you dare!”

“It can’t hurt, just to make sure…”

“You’re sick!”

“What, jealous?”

“Awh!” Raising his arms defensively, Kuwabara tried to distance himself and fell back against the shelves, knocking several items off.

“Now look what you done!” Yusuke accused, staring at the mess.

“Don’t you come any closer!” Kuwabara shouted.

“What the hell?”

“Get away from me, Urameshi! I’m warning ya! Don’t touch me! Don’t even think about touching me!” Seeing an opening, Kuwabara bolted.

Yusuke stared after him quizzically, then thought about it.

“Awh!” he shouted, trying to wipe the horrible image out of his head.


Someone knocked softly on her door. Knowing who it was, Sango ignored it. She turned on her side, wincing slightly, to face the wall as the door creaked open.

Miroku poked his head in. “Sango?”

“Go away, Houshi-sama,” she said. Or croaked, rather, since her throat was sore.

“I, uh, brought you some tea.” Crockery jingled as he set a tray down on the desk. The room, although definitely a boy’s, was decorated similarly to Kagome’s with a bed and a desk. “I thought it might help.”

Maybe it might, but she’d be damned if she would accept anything from Miroku right now. Sango still burned with humiliation every time she thought about that pervert groping her in front of everyone, including that jerk responsible for her injuries. Especially that jerk responsible for her injuries.

“I’m really sorry, Sango,” Miroku offered after a long moment. “I couldn’t see any other way to break the tension.”

“The tension?” Sango whirled back around, hissing as the sudden move brought new bruises to life. Even Kagome’s aspirin wasn’t helping. Sango had outright refused the red-haired man’s help, not trusting anyone allied with that demon.

Besides, the pain only served to remind her how stupid it was to attack someone before thinking about it. But it’d been pure reaction on her part. Half-fuzzy with drugs, she had spotted the demon kneeling in the God’s Tree, apparently spying on them. The feel of his aura had been so black with hate, she couldn’t help but think him sent by Naraku.

So she acted first, and paid for it by getting her butt kicked. Humiliating enough. But then to have her butt groped…!

Miroku had already gone too far on too many occasions. And she wasn’t always the target of his maniacal hand. No, there were plenty of other women---some who even seemed to welcome the houshi’s furtive squeezes.

Sango’s heart tightened painfully. She had put that aside with the knowledge that Miroku could never be faithful. It wasn’t in him. At least, not to her. And maybe, not to anyone.

Sometimes that hurt worse. Miroku persisted in going after her, even when they both knew and acknowledged that what once lain between them in hasty promises easily abandoned (at least, on his part) had only been friendship, and maybe a touch of desperation, for the unspoken threat of Naraku ever loomed.

“Careful,” Miroku chided, kneeling done beside the bed and placing a gentle hand on her arm. He ignored the way she reflexively tensed beneath it. “You don’t want to hurt yourself again.”

Sango made a noise, almost a snort, almost a laugh.

“I was worried about you,” Miroku admitted softly, blue eyes gentling. “When the Saimyousho stung you, I thought…”

“Stop, Miroku.” Sango’s voice caught. Gods, it hut too much when he did that. Why did he always have to do that? It just made everything harder to deal with. “I’m fine. I’ll survive.”

“Thanks to Kurama, yes, you will.” Miroku’s tone changed as he sat back.

Sango frowned at the light scolding in his dry voice. Miroku busied himself pouring a cup of tea, and then helped her to sit up so she could drink it. He tried to hold it to her lips, but she glared that idea down. The monk gave her a sheepish grin as if to say “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

Yes, she damn well could. She wasn’t an invalid. Although her hand shook slightly when she raised it. Sang willed the weakness away, and gripped the cup steadily enough.

The warm tea felt wonderful on the bruised tissues of her throat. She probably had an ugly necklace of them. That demon was strong. Too strong, actually, for her. The truth sat sour on her stomach. Sango hated admitting weakness.

“That’s quite the bruise.” Miroku stared at her jaw, which thankfully wasn’t broken, just hurt one hell of a lot. Not as much as her pride, though.

“I’ll do,” Sango answered testily.

“You should really let Kurama see it. He has a special affinity for plants. He added some herbs to the tea to help soothe your throat.”

Sango made a noncommittal sound, although she took another sip of tea. It did feel better. She wasn’t as trusting as Kagome and Miroku, but not nearly as bad as Inuyasha. She just preferred to make up her own mind in her own time.

“You know, they’re not so bad,” Miroku said, making himself comfortable on the floor. “At least, not all of them,” he amended with a grin at her look. Reaching out, he petted Kirara, who was curled on the end of the bed, purring lightly.

“They helped heal Kirara. And me.” He shrugged his right shoulder, almost good as new. Still a little tender, but Botan had promised that would pass.

“But who are they, Miroku?” Sango demanded. “What are they? That Kurama isn’t entirely human. Neither is that other guy. The one with the weird hair.”

“The carrot-top?” Miroku asked mischievously.

“No.” Sango was not in the mood for teasing. “The one with the intense stare.” She shivered just recalling it.

“Well, they can’t all be bad. Minus that demon with the terrible manners.”

Sango snorted. Typical of a demon. Arrogant asses, the lot of them.

“They did save us from Naraku,” Miroku said. “And you from the Saimyousho’s poison.”

Sango frowned, disliking the reminder.

“Kagome trusts them,” Miroku added.

“I know.” Sango sighed. Kagome could always trust so easily. Sango envied her that.

“And if it helps, they’re on God’s side.”

Sango raised a thin brow at the monk’s smirk. “I met a ferry-girl. Botan. A rather fetching creature, I must say. She is one of the guides for the dead over the River Styx, and she seems to know these people pretty well. She also works for the son of King Yama.”

“King Yama?” Sango yelped, nearly spilling tea in her lap.

Gently taking the cup, Miroku smiled. “Maybe it’s time I explain.”


“I really think Souta will want his room back.” Kagome frowned, considering. “There’s always the guest room…”

She hesitated, not wanting to intrude on her grandfather’s study. It felt…disrespectful, somehow. He had always spent a lot of time there. But better his office than his bedroom. Kagome shivered. That just felt wrong. “Study it is, then!” she decided.

She led Kurama down the stairs, back through the living room and into the tiny room beyond. It was little more than a cluttered work-space with a pull-out love-seat. It’d have to do for now.

The tall redhead helped take the first load down, but they were interrupted while gathering the second. Miroku, slipping out of the room next door, stuck his head in.

“I think Sango’ll see you now.” The monk nodded at Kurama, who was holding a box for the miko.

Kagome popped her head out of the closet. “Shippou should go with you.”

“It wouldn’t be a problem for me to---” Miroku protested.

“Shippou?” Kagome pointedly ignored him.

“Sure!” The young kit bounced up. Kurama smiled as the boy led the way, chattering nonstop. Miroku grinned wryly even as Kagome nodded towards the box.

“Since you’re free…” she coaxed.

“But of course.” Miroku gallantly picked up the box. “Where shall I start?“

She kept him busy, emptying out dresser drawers, until he opened one too many. “What’s this?” he asked, intrigued. “Pink?”

“I like pink,” Kagome idly said, poking her head back out. Then turned pink as she saw her panties in the monk’s hand.

“Miroku, you hentai!” Snatching them, Kagome closed the drawer with her hip. “Out!”

“But Kagome-sama,” Miroku protested weakly.

“Out!”

“But I was having such a delightful time---”

The door slammed in his face. Furious, Kagome dumped the rest of her undergarments out, picking the box up and hurrying downstairs with it before Miroku got any bright ideas.

 Dropping the box into a chair, Kagome wearily slumped on the couch. She’d have to go scrounge up some sheets. She and Sango would have to share, unless the slayer wanted to bunk in the last remaining room. Which was Gramps. Kagome didn’t know if she could even ask her mother’s permission.

Bad enough she had to explain about the big hole in the back of the house! She could just picture it---

“Honey?”

Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin.

“M-Mom?” she squeaked.

“Is everything all right?” Mrs. Higurashi asked, coming inside the room and eying the stuff piled haphazardly over the chair and along the wall.

“Uh, sure!” Kagome said brightly. Too brightly. Her mother was giving her That Look. The one that said she knew full well something was up.

“Where is everyone?” she asked, carefully folding her coat over her arm as she sat down on the love-seat beside her daughter.

“Oh, they’re around. Mostly outside,” Kagome said, mentally adding, *Helping to clean up.*

“Where's Souta?” she asked instead, hoping to distract her mother.

“Staying with the Yamamoto’s.” Her mom frowned. “Kagome, honey, why is all your clothing down here?”

“Uh, funny thing about that, Mom…” Kagome nervously twisted her fingers together, not quite sure how to explain. “You see, ah…”

The door slammed open as Inuyasha strode through. “There you are, Kagome! I was wondering where the hell you got to.”

“Inuyasha!” Kagome fumed.

“Why, hello, Inuyasha.” Mrs. Higurashi smiled. “I’m glad to see you doing better.”

“Oh, ah, yeah.” Inuyasha felt uneasy around the older woman. His eyes softened. “How ya doing?”

“Inuyasha,” Kagome whispered, heart warming at the gentle look in his eyes.

“As good as can be expected,” Mrs. Higurashi said. She had an even bigger heart than her daughter, and that was saying something.

“I’m sorry,” he offered awkwardly. “About the old man.”

Mrs. Higurashi looked over at her daughter. “Thank you. We all are.”

“I’ll get the bastard who did it. I promise.”

“Uh. Thank you.” Mrs. Higurashi blinked.

Kagome shook her head.

Uncomfortable, Inuyasha abruptly changed the subject. “So, Kagome tell you about the house yet?”

“Ah…”  Mrs. Higurashi looked sharply at her daughter as Kagome glared, then smiled sheepishly.

“Well, ah, about that. Eh-heh. See, there’s this big hole in the back of the house…”

Mrs. Higurashi blinked.

“It wasn’t our fault, promise. Well, mostly. See, Sango was just trying to defend us, or so she thought, from this demon. She thought he was sent by Naraku. But we found out later that he wasn’t, that he was one of the good guys. Well,” Kagome considered, “at least I think he’s one of the good guys. Although I don’t know about him. He seems awfully cold. And he did attack Sango. Rather viciously, actually. But then, she attacked him first, so you could say he was only defending himself. Although he really took it way too far, if you ask me…”

Kagome’s voice trailed off as her mother held up one hand for silence. She looked rather stunned. Well, it was a lot to take in, on top of everything. Kagome worried her lip, uncertain how her mother would react.

“So,” Mrs. Higurashi said slowly. “Should I set another plate for dinner?”

Shocked, Kagome stared at her mother, at the tired amusement in her warm brown eyes. And then threw herself into her mother’s arms, hugging the incomparable woman tight.

“You’re the best, Mom,” she whispered hoarsely, tears in her eyes.