InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shards of Destiny ❯ Chapter Eight ( Chapter 9 )

[ 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?

WORDS

Hiraikotsu - Sango’s boomerang
Gonseikai - degree of study for a Shinto priest or priestess
Shakujo - Miroku’s staff

A/N: A hasty edit, but I wanted to get the chapter out before I have to go back to work and class. Thanks again for everyone’s kind words. (Fate)

Chapter Eight

“We can’t all go,” Kagome protested.

“We’re going,” Inuyasha stubbornly replied, arms crossed. He wouldn’t look at her. Hadn’t, actually, since she sat him.

“But Sango…” The miko’s voice trailed off as her friend emerged, no bruises or limp in sight. She wore modern clothes, her uniform stuffed into a bag and her Hiraikotsu slung across her back. Kagome blinked. “Sango?”

“Botan has healing powers,” Sango explained. “She felt it necessary that we all accompany the Reikai Tantei to Mushiyori City.”

“Reikai Tantei?”

“The Urameshi team,” Botan explained, joining them. She looked over at Inuyasha. “Isn’t he a little conspicuous for the bus?”

Scowling, Inuyasha slapped his baseball cap to his head, hiding the tell-tale ears.

“Hardly better.” Botan frowned. She brightened when Miroku came down the stairs, dressed casually in slacks and a loose, button-down shirt. Sango had on a white one, hung like a tent to cover the snug tank top and jeans provided by Kagome’s friends. Yuka’s pink Keds with the glittering silver stars on each heel looked odd on the slayer.

“Botan says they have rules about weapons here,” Sango said, hefting her sword.

“Just let ’em try and take my Tetsusaiga,” Inuyasha growled.

Kagome silently held out a paper sack.

Scowling, the hanyou took it. They’d been down this route before. At least the paper bag wasn’t as bad as walking around with a sword. Not great, by any means, but it had worked in the past.

Sighing, Kagome went and fetched a golf bag for her bow and arrows.

“Wow. You guys don’t exactly travel light, do you?” Yusuke entered the kitchen. He had exchanged the ill-fitting suit for his preferred T-shirt and jeans. That red jacket was almost as loud as Inuyasha’s.

“You never know what may come up.” Sango jimmied more supplies into her pack. “Kagome, should we take any provisions?”

“Provisions?” Yusuke’s brows went up. These guys weren’t kidding.

“Couldn’t hurt.” Kagome bit her lip, considering.

“Ninja food?” Inuyasha’s hat tilted as his ears perked. Trust that to get his attention.

‘Nice hat, Fluffy.” Yusuke chortled.

“That’s his brother,” Kagome distractedly said, emptying cupboards.

“What?” Inuyasha and Yusuke stared at her.

Realizing what she’d said, Kagome blushed. She would die before admitting her private nickname for Lord Sesshoumaru. It came with the furry boa he carried everywhere.

“You got a brother?” Yusuke turned to the hanyou.

“He’s a jerk.”

“Family usually are.” Yusuke smirked. Yet another bonding moment between them. Funny in what ways they were.

Startled with the idea, Kagome asked, “Inuyasha, do you think Sesshoumaru’s still around? Don’t youkai live for hundreds of years?”

“Maybe.” Inuyasha shrugged, indifferent. “Who cares?”

“He is your brother,” Kagome pointed out. And maybe he’d changed over the intervening centuries.

“Not that he’d ever admit.” Inuyasha brusquely turned away. “I’m going outside.”

“Bad blood?” Yusuke casually asked after he left.

“You could say that.” Kagome frowned, worried about the gruff hanyou.

“Should we be concerned?”

“Probably not,” she dismissed. Even five centuries might not be enough to change some things. And just five days could change others. Kagome looked up guiltily when her mother came in. Here she thought her traveling days were over, and yet here she was going off again with little notice and worse timing. She’d be back, though, and soon, she hoped. Definitely for Gramps’ final internment in thirty-five days. She couldn’t miss that.

“Mom,” she said, going forward.

“Hi, honey.” Mrs. Higurashi hugged her.

“Mom…” Kagome began, but Mrs. Higurashi only kissed her forehead.

“I know, sweetheart. Take care of yourself, and don’t be gone long. I trust Inuyasha to protect you. You go do what you need to, and don’t worry about us. We’ll be okay. The repairmen are coming tomorrow to give an estimate, and Souta has already decided to enroll in religious classes.” Mrs. Higurashi smiled tremulously. Her youngest child had always seemed more interested in soccer than Shinto rites, but each person dealt with grief their own way.

She pressed an envelope into her daughter’s hand. “Money---for the fare.”

“Mom…” Kagome knew how little they  could spare it.

“No worries. Your grandfather left an annuity. I go speak with the lawyers on Monday regarding it. And we still have the shrine. I’m a little rusty, but I am a gonseikai. Gramps might have been the senior priest, but I was his assistant for many years.”

Kagome hadn’t known that. Why hadn’t she known that? Too busy with her own concerns to realize how much she’d missed out on. Dropping her eyes, she bit her lip. “Thanks, Mom.”

A hint of perfume as Mrs. Higurashi hugged her one last time, and then she was gone. The others were waiting just outside, Sango with Kirara and Inuyasha with his arms crossed. Shippou hung off Miroku’s shoulder. The scene was eerily familiar, except for the slick-haired punk with the smirk on his face, hands jammed in his pockets. And the Tokyo skyline, lit up at night as a backdrop.

“Come on, Kagome!” Shippou waved.

“Right.” Settling her Hello Kitty backpack, Kagome resolutely turned from the shrine.     


They were joined at the base of the shrine steps by the others from the Reikai Tantei. Kurama stepped forward out of the darkness, pausing in front of Shippou. He held out his hand.

“A charm to aid illusion,” the fox said, kneeling in front of the little boy. Shippou’s eyes widened as the man pinned a leaf-shaped emerald to his lapel.

“Is that the Ambiguity Stone?” He gasped.

“Ambiguity Stone?” Kagome brushed hair out of her eyes.

“One of the thirteen Sorcerer’s Stones especially attuned to kitsune,” Kurama explained briefly. “Fox magic.”

Even as they watched, the little kit was replaced by a red-headed boy. Or was he dark-haired, with brown eyes? With features more human than sharp? Kagome shook her head, wryly noting the meaning of “ambiguity” was explained. Regardless of how Shippou looked, at least the tail and paws were gone.

“Thanks, Kurama!” Shippou enthused. “Now I don’t have to hide!”

“Don’t lose it. It’s very valuable,” the kitusne cautioned.

Shippou shook his head, awed. He possessively fingered the emerald leaf.

“There are many things,” Kurama turned to Sango and Miroku, who were staring around them in wonder at the tall lampposts, “that you won’t be used to. Try not to show how much they startle you; we shall try and explain as we go.”

Sango frowned at what she considered a slight to her self-control, then nearly jumped out of her skin as a car peeled by. She grabbed Miroku’s arm, eyes rounded as she watched the car speed off.

“Got it,” Miroku said grimly.

Stiffening, Sango stepped away from the monk. Kagome sympathetically grabbed her hand. It was cold in hers, but Sango gratefully squeezed back.

“Can we get going?” Inuyasha demanded impatiently.

“My sentiments exactly,” Yusuke seconded.

“Well, then.” Botan staunchly took the lead. “This way, team!”


The slayer’s eyes remained wide the entire trip to the bus station. Yusuke had to give it to her, she had guts. All this stuff was new to her, the monk, too. But they followed along, with only occasional lapses at a flashing sign or a bleeting car. Thankfully, the streets weren’t so crowded this late at night. As it was, they had to hurry to catch the last bus to Mushiyori City.

They got stopped at the ticket counter.

“What’s that?” the ticket-taker demanded, staring at the giant boomerang slung across the girl’s back.

“Jeez, man,” Yusuke said, thinking quickly. “Haven’t you ever seen a surfboard?”

“That don’t look like no surfboard.”

“Whatcha talking ’bout?” Yusuke demanded. “They’re all the rage in Australia.”

Dubious, the man ran a thumb along his grizzled jaw.

“Aw, come on. We’re getting her ready for competition. And hey, I don’t want to miss seeing her in a swimsuit, if you catch my drift.” Yusuke leaned in conspiratorially.

Eying the oblivious slayer, the man grinned, showing bad teeth. “Yeah. That’d be something.” He ogled the other girls, licking fat lips. “Them, too.”

He leered as he handed over the tickets and waved them through. Botan eyed him suspiciously, but didn’t say anything.

The bus was loading as they hurried to the gate. They got stopped again, this time by the driver. And again on account of the slayer.

“Is that a cat?” he demanded. “No live animals allowed on---”

“Relax, man,” Yusuke said. “Haven’t you ever seen a Furby?”

“Mew?” Kirara cutely inquired.

“Furby,” the man muttered, and waved them on.

Whew. That had been close.

“And what’s that?” He pointed at the boomerang. “A surfboard?”

“How’d you guess?” Yusuke challenged. “Latest and greatest at the Australian Open.”

“Isn’t that tennis?” Kagome whispered.

“Like he’d know that.” Yusuke returned.

“What’s tennis?” Miroku asked.

“God help me.” Shaking his head, Yusuke neatly took Sango’s arm. “Don’t worry, bub, we’ll take it to the back where it won’t be in anyone’s way.”

“Damn straight you will.”

His scowling eyes followed them in the mirror as they made their way to the back. People muttered and ducked as Yusuke hefted the damn thing over his head.

“You’re more trouble than you’re worth,” he told the slayer, who flushed.

Yeah, right. Yusuke grinned. He lived to make trouble.

“Is this thing safe?” she asked.

“Safe as anything.”

“We cudda walked.” Inuyasha scowled behind them, nearly cracking someone in the head with his crumpled shopping bag.

“Hn.” Hiei managed with more finesse to slip down the aisle. Yusuke was surprised the demon had deigned to join them, rather then going his own route over the trees.

Passing a homeless man with his shoes off---which explained why the back of the bus was so empty---Yusuke wedged the Hiraikotsu against the window in the last seat. Loathe to part from her weapon, Sango slid in beside it. Nothing doing, Yusuke dropped down beside her.

Eying him oddly, Kagome indicated Shippou should take the seat in front of them, sliding in beside him. The others quickly grouped themselves around the back.

“Ah! A whole seat to myself!” Kuwabara grinned smugly, eying Yusuke and Sango squashed into the seat beside him.

“Yeah. All alone.” Yusuke neatly hooked an arm over the back of his seat. The slayer edged closer to her weapon. He easily swallowed up the space, his thigh pressing against hers. She opened her mouth to protest, but jumped as the door hissed shut and the bus lurched to life.

Startled, the girl grabbed the seat-back in front of her as the jarring movement pressed her against him.

“No worries.” Yusuke grinned down at her, enjoying her discomfort. “I got you.”

Her eyes narrowed.

Parking his arms behind his head, Yusuke spread his legs out. This was going to be one enjoyable ride.


Dogs got car sick. That happened all the time. One just didn’t expect a five-foot-six, half-human-dog to get bus sick. Repeatedly.

Kagome didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Inuyasha’s green expression. Thankfully, he had the paper bag with him so he could empty his stomach. Wrapping her coat over the rusty Tetsusaiga, the miko solemnly handed it back to him. Inuyasha curled on his side, moaning.

“Gross!” Kuwabara pronounced as the poor hanyou retched. Again.

“Indeed.” Disgusted, Hiei got up to find a seat in front.

“Hey, did he just agree with me?” Kuwabara gaped.

“Well, that’s helpful!” Kagome scowled after the departing figure.

“Maybe these will.”

She gratefully took the antacid tablets from Kurama. And the bottle of water. Was he always so prepared?

“Thanks,” she said, smiling. And then spent the rest of the trip trying to coax Inuyasha that no, he wasn’t going to die, and yes, they were almost there, and no, he never had to get on another bus the rest of his life, and yes, they were almost there.

And thank God, finally they were.

“The bus trip from hell,” Kagome muttered, climbing off the damn thing. Even her bright spirits were momentarily squashed. She felt rumpled and tired, and quite out of sorts. Inuyasha was never an easy patient to deal with at the best of times. Shippou on a sugar-high from all the candy Kuwabara slipped him was nearly worse.

The boy was out cold, sleeping soundly in Kurama’s arms. Though, boy, was that sweet, how the tall man was so patient with the little kit. He didn’t mind carrying him, smiling slightly when Kagome worried about waking Shippou up.

“It’s late,” he just said, and picked him up.

Yes, it was. Very late. Kagome hadn’t realized just how late until they stumbled out of the bus depot and into what looked like the bad side of Mushiyori City. Inuyasha was still a bit unsteady on his feet, but she instinctively crept closer to him as beady eyes watched them from the dark.

Well, bus depots were never in the best part of town. Especially at night, when they became the haunt of people who’d be better home than out making trouble. She blushed at the pair of prostitutes idling on the far corner and avoided looking at the shifty man in the trench-coat.

Yusuke seemed in his element. Glancing around, he grinned like a kid in the candy store. Kagome hoped it wasn’t for the prostitutes now looking their way. He turned to address the group. “Okay, kids. Just a couple more blocks.”

They fell out, Kurama with Shippou, Kagome beside Inuyasha. Sango strapped on her Hiraikotsu as Kuwabara hefted the golf bag containing their weapons. Hiei, in typical fashion, disappeared to roam ahead as Botan hesitated.

“Oh, my.” She eyed the prostitutes, one who had an impressive amount of cleavage on display. Enough to give Miroku pause.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Botan neatly hooked her arm through his, dragging him away.
“But---”

The ferry-girl ignored his protest. Kagome could only shake her head. Once a hentai, always a hentai.

The streets were relatively deserted as they crossed lighted intersections. It had to be almost two in the morning, and Kagome fought a yawn as she wearily followed Kurama. The sway of his long hair was almost hypnotic. How did he keep it so tangle-free?

She’d always had a thing for guys with long hair. Glancing sideways under her lashes at Inuyasha, Kagome sighed.

She ran a thumb under the strap digging into her shoulder, and wondered how much further they had to go.

“Not much,” Botan answered. She must’ve spoken the thought aloud. “There’s the park now.”

Trees dotted the green expanse. It was bigger than she expected. Their footfalls faded as they hit the grass, climbing up a short rise. The quarter-moon was a little brighter away from the streetlamps, but quickly hidden behind trees. It was really dark under there. Botan’s bouncy ponytail became an indeterminate grey, her smart ensemble faded. The three girls now walked together, Kurama and Miroku ahead, Kuwabara and Inuyasha behind.

A tumble of rocks exposed the Devil’s Cave Mouth. Now there was a name to give one nightmares. Kagome shivered, eying the black maw. A broken fence warded people from entering.

“We have to go in there?” she demanded as the group straggled together.

“It’s not so bad. We brought torches.” Botan held up a flashlight.

“You okay, Sango?” Miroku softly asked.

Kagome turned to look at the slayer. Her mouth was set in a grim line. She nodded, once, back stiff. Kagome bit her lip. Sango didn’t like going underground. Understandable; she‘d once been buried alive. Still, there was no help for it, and Sango wouldn’t appreciate their pity.

“Problems?” Yusuke asked, brow raised.

“Nope.” Inuyasha’s eyes flicked to Sango and then belligerently held his. The hanyou was clearly over his bout of indigestion. Inuyasha’s ability to heal never ceased to amaze Kagome. “We going, or what?”

“You gonna barf again?”

“Ew!” Kuwabara took a convulsive step back.

“No.” Inuyasha scowled.

“Good.” Yusuke’s teeth flashed in the darkness.

“You’re wasting time,” Hiei snapped from the darkness. Kagome hadn’t even seen him standing there. When the hell did he arrive? She didn’t like the way the demon could just pop up at any moment. Gave her the creeps.

“Who appointed you headmaster?” Yusuke scoffed, but looked at the others.

“Just give me a minute.” Sango disappeared into the bushes. Yusuke smirked, but Kagome knew it was just to change into her slaying outfit.

“Anyone else gotta go?” he asked. Nobody moved, so he went by himself, circling around behind the caves.

“Might as well dig out the weapons,” Kagome said, and Kuwabara dropped the golf bag. Securing her bow and arrows, she handed the slayer her sword when she reemerged.

“Kirara?” the slayer asked, and flames surrounded the little kitten. When they dissipated, a giant, saber-toothed cat stood in her place. She crouched, coming to Sango’s waist even while kneeling.

“Now that’s a kitty-cat,” Kuwabara breathed, impressed.

“Useful,” Kurama said, draping a sleeping Shippou on the nekomata’s back. Bells tinkled as Miroku screwed the two halves of his new shakujo together. Kagome had found it in storage, as the monk’s had been left behind in the Warring States Era. He looked odd without his blue and purple robes. He smiled at her, as if reading her thoughts.

“Ready?” Yusuke asked, as Botan handed flashlights out and Kagome stuffed the empty golf-bag into her over-filled backpack. She had difficulty zipping it up.

“There!” she said, triumphant, and stood up.


“You guys really don’t travel light,” Yusuke wryly observed, standing beside Hiei.

“No. We come prepared,” Kagome emphasized.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, familiar with the argument. One he’d given up long ago.

“This is completely ridiculous,” was Hiei’s sour opinion.

“Don’t get your panties in such a twist,” Yusuke said, for his ears alone. Hopping the fence, he shouted, “Last one in is a rotten egg!”

“Hey, wait for me, Urameshi!” Kuwabara barreled after him.

“Now wait a stinkin’ minute!” Inuyasha was no slouch. Hiei had already vanished.

“They’re completely incorrigible.” Botan shook her head. Flicking on her flashlight, she said, “Come on, girls!” and led the way around the broken fence.