InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Something to Protect ❯ The Past ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five: The Past

 

Inuyasha watched curiously as his redheaded companion turned around and was swiftly grabbed up into an enormous giant crazy bear hug. Inuyasha blinked in surprise as the mysterious man set her back on her feet and she stared at him dumbly. “Rossi?” she asked, and he man flashed a grin. Inuyasha stared hard at him and suddenly his heartbeat increased tenfold. It… it couldn't be. He'd… he'd been dead for nearly 450 years…

 

“Miroku.” he murmured

 

Neither one of his current companions heard Inuyasha speak however. Jessica was currently smiling brightly at him and asking him over and over how he could possibly afford such a long, expensive flight at this time, and of course he would be staying with her. Her oddly familiar friend simply chuckled and answered her simply and calmly, almost as if he'd been around her long enough to know exactly how to respond to her. Inuyasha knew he was probably staring like an idiot, but he couldn't help himself. This guy had Miroku written all over him!

 

While there was obviously modern clothes present and no jingling staff or wind tunnel, this man called Rossi was the spitting image of his long-dead friend from the Sengoku Jidai. He had shaggy, long, dark brown hair that fell a bit past his ears, and wide, intelligent blue eyes that always seemed to be sparkling with amusement at some secret joke. No ponytail held his hair back, but this man… if he didn't know any better, he'd think that Miroku himself had fixed the Bone-Eater's Well, climbed out and went shopping for a new wardrobe. It was appalling.

 

Finally, after a few more hugs and smiles, Jessica turned to Inuyasha. “This is Rossi.” She explained. “He's one of my best friends from America, we grew up together.”

 

Inuyasha blinked himself out of his daze and gave a small, polite smile, shaking Rossi's outstretched hand. Jessica smiled, obviously pleased. “And Rossi, this is Inuyasha. You already know-“

 

“Ah, the famous Inuyasha.” Rossi said with a gleam in his eyes, before reached forward to clap Inuyasha on the shoulder. “I want to thank you for taking care of my lovely Jessica whilst I was otherwise occupied.”

 

Jessica rolled her eyes. “Give it a rest.” She muttered, and he actually listened, turning away from the growling Inuyasha, and smiled at his friend. Jessica tilted her head curiously and observed him. “Not that I'm not overjoyed, but what's the deal? Why are you here all of a sudden?”

 

The man's features sobered considerably. “Jess, it's about your father.”

 

Jessica's heart skipped a bit and she stared at him with wide eyes. “W-What?”

 

“If you'll excuse us for a moment…” Rossi said, before taking her arm and leading her a few feet away.

 

Lucky for Inuyasha, the man couldn't see his true form. The concealment spell he was wearing made him appear to be a normal, dark-haired Asian, but in reality he was still hanyou, and could overhear what they were saying. He probably could've guessed by their tense body language, anyway.

 

“… have to see him. I mean, we knew it was going to happen.”

 

“You knew?!” came Jessica's voice, shocked. “Well then, why didn't you-“

 

“It's hard to explain. But you need to trust me.” came Rossi, sounding tired.

 

“Why should I?” Jessica challenged. “If you saw fit to keep this from me, then what else?“

 

“Please believe me.” The man said, a bit softer. “I wanted to; I really did, but Paige...”

 

“Oh, so she was in on this too?!”

 

“That's not the point.” Rossi said, cutting her off. “We did our best, you know. We did what we had to protect you. We didn't want you to suffer anymore.”

 

“Good job!” she barked, and Rossi fell silent. A brief pause passed and he heard her sigh. “I'm sorry.” She said softly. “I'll see him, I will. I'm just… this is a lot to handle.”

 

“I know.” came Rossi's voice, and he watched him take a step forward and touch her arm gently. “But, Jess, I promise, everything's going to be okay.”

 

Jessica looked away from him then and looked at Inuyasha helplessly. The hanyou's protective instincts flared instantly, but cooled a bit as she gave him a small smile.

 

“That's what you always say, Rossi. Please don't end up lying to me again.”

 

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The next few moments were awkward, to say the least. Jessica sat solemnly between Inuyasha and Rossi on a nearby bench, and the two had taken to glaring at each other over the top of her petite form. Inuyasha's arm had been wrapped around her shoulders, to support her. He was worried that with all the stress she'd undergone that she'd collapse or something. He frowned down at her, but bristled as Rossi reached down and wrapped her hand in his. Glaring daggers at each other, mentally fighting for possession of their broken friend, neither noticed when Jessica's slight quivering increased to full-blown shaking. She knew that she had to face her father that night, and it terrified her. Instantly, she was yanked from Rossi's grasp and Inuyasha held her small frame against him, combing through her hair and shushing her, his nose gently pushing against her temple. She relaxed in his arms, and he smiled a bit to himself, relieved.

 

Jessica listened to his strong heartbeat, repetitive and comforting. Time disappeared and she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding onto him for dear life.

 

“You can do it.” He said softly, reassuringly. “I'll be right here, and I won't let anything happen to you.”

 

“Nor will I.” said Rossi gently, and she felt his hand on her shoulder. Inuyasha stiffened, but she paid it no mind.

 

She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and nodded. “Alright.” She murmured, and slowly pulled away from Inuyasha, smiling at him sadly.

 

“Uhm, hello? No.”

 

All three spun around to see a woman standing there, her arms crossed over her chest. “No way. You are so NOT going to do this without me.”

 

Inuyasha noticed that her comment was directed at Jessica. But when he turned to look and see her reaction, he discovered she was gone.

 

“…..”

 

He blinked in surprise, and looked up to see that his red-haired companion was hugging the other woman tightly and both were chuckling softly. “Paige!” she squealed. “Gosh, Paige, I missed you!”

 

Inuyasha smirked slightly. He thought he'd recognized that voice somewhere. Stepping forward to get a better look, Inuyasha found himself completely shocked for the second time in a span of about twenty minutes.

 

Jessica now held Paige at arm's length, and the two girls were chatting amiably. Inuyasha peered at the other girl.

 

Although she had blonde hair, there was absolutely no mistaking who this girl was, or rather, used to be. Her dark eyes were rightly accented by a lush pink eye shadow, and she held herself in such a way that suggested she was extremely athletic. Her longer-than-most blonde hair was cascading over her shoulders, held back towards the middle of her back by a ribbon. This loose ponytail, along with the flash of determination in her eyes and personality (as he remembered from their short phone call a few days previous) it was almost scary… `Sango! But… How…?'

 

Paige was sporting a rather large messenger bag over one shoulder. She explained to the others that there was a cab out front, with both hers and Rossi's things in it, waiting to drive to Jessica's apartment. Having already spoken before, Inuyasha and Paige skipped the formal introductions and immediately, Paige's attention was drawn to Rossi, whom looked as if he'd just been caught trying to steal drugs from the pharmacy. “Rossi Michael Moore!” she shouted angrily, stomping over to him. “You big fat jerk! You can't just expect her to waltz right in there and greet her old Daddy dearest!”

 

He winced visibly as the woman rounded on him. “But Paige, I-“

 

“Have a heart, would you?!” she barked. “She's so not ready for this! Are you?!” she shot to Jessica, who looked a bit frightened herself. “Er, uhm… no?”

 

“See?” she snapped to Rossi. “She's going to go HOME. And we're going to explain EVERYTHING. Later. Got it?!”

 

Rossi was now cowering behind a rather large plotted plant. He gulped “O… okay.”

 

Paige crossed her arms and glared at him, about to yell at him more, when a soft `mew' caught everyone's attention and their eyes fell on the small, fuzzy being that was currently poking its head out of Paige's bag. Paige's cheeks dusted pink with embarrassment. “I, uhm, sorry.” she explained, looking sheepishly at Jessica. “I know pets aren't allowed in the hospital, but… It's a little chilly out there and I didn't want her to get cold…”

 

Jessica waved it off, her eyes still trained on the cat that was looking at her with wide, intelligent, blue eyes. She smiled. “Hey there, Coral.” She said warmly, reaching down to scratch the cream-colored cat behind its black-tipped ears.

 

Inuyasha stared once again. It was official: he was losing it. If that wasn't Kirara, he'd eat his shoes. The only problem was, she only had one tail. Inuyasha shook his head briefly. `I need to sleep more.'

 

Jessica tried to subtly yawn, hoping not to catch the attention of the others, but everyone, including Coral looked at her. “That's what I thought.” came Paige's concerned voice, and she stepped forward to take her friend by the arm. “Let's get you home. You can face your father another time.”

 

Jessica nodded sleepily in agreement and leaned heavily against Paige as the quartet walked out to the waiting cab. And Inuyasha couldn't help himself; he almost felt like he was back with his friends, and it made that hidden, long-dead part of his heart start beating again.

 

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“It's time for you to die, Naraku!”

 

Inuyasha ran up to stand beside Kagome, supporting her as she nocked an arrow, aiming it right at their enemy's chest. He smirked at her confident stance and determined expression. He drew Tetsusaiga and positioned himself in front of her. Naraku simply laughed, deep and threatening. “The only ones to die tonight will be the two of you.”

 

Unfortunately, Sango and Miroku were in her village for repairs. Having taken Shippo and obviously Kirara with them, it seemed that it was just the original duo. Not that he was complaining, he had spent the past couple days alone with Kagome and enjoying her company and attentions all to himself.

 

He smirked at his archenemy and was about to say something degrading when, without warning, a tentacle shot out from Naraku, aiming straight for Kagome.

 

“Kagome!!” he shouted fearfully, but he was too late.

 

Kagome barely had time to register what was happening before the tentacle had knocked her to the ground, missing its target ever so slightly and tearing a large gash right through her chest. She let out a strangled yelp of pain and terror, one hand flying to her wound to prevent it from bleeding, the other trying to push the youkai's poisonous appendages away from her. "I-Inuyasha!" she cried out hoarsely. "Help!!"

 

But Inuyasha had stilled, breathing heavily. His bangs covered his eyes as he stared at the ground. Kagome watched with bated breath as his body violently pulsed, almost in slow-motion. He looked up then, at Naraku, his eyes bleeding red. Kagome gasped. `He's…. his youkai is surfacing! Even though he has Tetsusaiga! I have to help him!'

 

Furiously, Kagome struggled to at least sit up, but the amount of pain and blood loss was rapidly affecting her and she was becoming more and more weak and lightheaded. "Inuyasha..." she whispered hoarsely, reaching around for her arrows. But she could barely move and as the poison in Naraku's miasma began to take affect she crumpled back down, the earth rapidly rising up to meet her as she hit with a satisfying thud. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from vomiting.

 

Inuyasha began clawing, slicing and dicing every stray youkai that came his way. Even when Naraku lay dead in a heap, the completed jewel glowing in his mangled chest, Inuyasha continued to fight anything with legs and a heartbeat.

Kagome's vision was becoming cloudy.

"Inuyasha..." she whispered again, hoping, praying he would hear her, even in his blood rage. “Come back to me. I need you!” `I don't want to die!!'

 

Kagome finally managed to prop herself up, breathing heavily, tears streaming down her face. Slowly, she lifted her dark eyes to look at him and gasped. "I-Inuyasha!" she uttered and half stumbled, half crawled over to him, ignoring her pain for the most part.

"Inuyasha!"

She grabbed on to the front of his haori, looking into his crimson-hued eyes. "Inuyasha, come back to me! Please!!!"

 

Inuyasha snarled and tossed his head, before stilling and growling down at her, his youkai pulsating with evil.

Fear struck Kagome, and suddenly she knew what she had to do. Quickly, she leaned up and crushed her lips to his in a searing kiss.

 

Inuyasha stiffened completely, his body going completely rigid, not too much unlike how it did before, when he was under Kaguya's spell. Slowly the heat, anger and blood clouding his mind dissipated and, he fell into her arms, her kiss, completely clueless to what had happened. He forgot Kikyo, Naraku's corpse, the jewel, everything. All that mattered was her.

 

Kagome sighed in his arms and after what seemed like an eternity, they broke apart and she looked at him sadly, yet lovingly. "Inuyasha... the jewel." she whispered, motioning toward the glowing thing with a slight tilt of her head. Inuyasha shook his head. “That doesn't matter now.” he reassured her. “Now, we need to get you some help…”

 

“Don't.” she murmured, fleetingly reaching up to touch his face with her fingertips. She was fading fast and she knew he was the only thing keeping her from crumpling to the ground. He held her tightly as physically possible without hurting her, and gazed down at her, tears and worry filling his amber eyes to the brim. “Kagome?” he whispered softly, afraid for her.

"Inuyasha... you need to know..." she whispered her voice forced and raspy, a mere shadow of the melodic tone he'd grown to adore. “That I... I have always... for... who you are."

 

His breath caught in his chest and his heartbeat increased. “Kagome…?”

 

Slowly she looked up at him, a smile forming on her shaking, almost blue looking lips. Her face was already ashen with death and she trembled slightly, holding him as tightly as she could. Struggling, but somehow finding the words, she softly managed to whisper.

"I… love… you."

With Kagome Higurashi fell limp in her guardian's arms, leaving him behind along with the rest of the world.

 

Trembling violently, hot tears slipped down Inuyasha's cheeks as he gritted his teeth. `No…. no…… KAGOME!'

 

Inuyasha threw his head back, and howled.

 

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With a start, Inuyasha awoke from his dream, shaking and trembling. That nightmare had been recurring a while back, and it had been a century or so since he'd had it. It shook him to the very core, and made his heart break all over again. Still shivering from fear, guilt and heartache, he rolled off of Jessica's couch, where he'd stationed himself and padded softly into the kitchen to get something to drink. It must've been 2 in the morning. He was careful not to wake Rossi, whom was curled up with blankets on the floor, or Paige, whom was snoring in the guest room.

 

He approached the refrigerator quietly. His shaking, clawed hand reached for the door, but he couldn't open it. He was too upset to concentrate. He slumped down on his knees in front of her fridge and squeezed his eyes closed, still trembling violently. `Kami, just go away! Stop!'

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

A soft, melodic voice sounded from the doorway and it made him jump. “Kagome?!” he gasped, perking up and spinning around.

 

The hour-glass figure of a woman was standing there, looking at him with worried eyes. He blinked a few times, coming out of his haze, and realized…. It wasn't Kagome.

 

“Jessica.” he breathed, his voice shaky and weak. `Stop torturing me! Kagome is dead!'

 

In an instant she was beside him, on her knees, pulling his figure to hers, holding him protectively as if he were a small child and she his mother. He clung to her like second skin and buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. Her scent soothed him slightly but he still trembled.

 

“You had that dream again, didn't you?” she said softly, and he nodded against her. She rubbed his scalp gently, soothing his ears and brushing what part of his face was exposed with her fingertips.

 

“I couldn't save her.” He managed, and she tightened her grip slightly. “I… I was too weak, I… she died…. Because of me…”

 

Jessica frowned and kissed his temple to relax him. “No, no, Inu.” She murmured, swaying a bit as she held him. “You did everything you could, it was meant to be. Maybe now you can save her, and not have to kill Naraku all over again.”

 

He gave a deep sigh and clutched her all the tighter, inhaling deeply once again. They were silent for a moment, Jessica continuing to soothe him. After a few minutes, Inuyasha sat back just enough so that he could look into her deep gray eyes. She looked at him a bit surprised, she'd never seen his amber orbs look so intense and sincere before. He took both of his hands and held her face gently, rubbing his thumbs, feather-light, over the smooth texture of her cheeks.

 

“I will never,” he spoke firmly. “-never, let anything happen to you. Do you understand? I will never let you get hurt, not as long as I live.”

 

Jessica gave him one of her best smiles, even though her lower lip was trembling slightly.

 

“I promise.” he said softly, looking her straight in the eyes. “Do you trust me?”

 

A crystal tear slid down her cheek but she managed to hold back the sobs. Gently, his calloused, clawed thumb reached over a bit to gently wipe it away. She nodded and briefly, her eyes fluttered closed, before opening again. “I trust you with my life.” She answered honestly, and in that instant he pulled her to him and hugged her tightly, as if afraid that she would disappear at any second and he'd be alone again.

 

Now, her nose was nestled in the crook of his neck and they held each other for a long while. Finally, they stood and she took Inuyasha into her bedroom with her, in case he had another nightmare. She lay next to him, her head on his shoulder and one hand flat on his chest. It didn't take long for her to fall into sleep, but Inuyasha stayed awake, one arm wrapped around her, stroking her silky red hair fanned out around her. His clawed fingers toyed with her smooth ones briefly, before he shifted a bit so he could see her face.

 

He'd made a few close human friends over the past 500 years that he'd been waiting. He'd made them, lost them, mourned them, and moved on, their memories tucked away gently in his heart. But Jessica, she was different. It was inevitable that he'd lose her one day, but he was afraid that he couldn't piece himself together after that.

 

So, for the rest of the night, Inuyasha stayed awake and stared at the sleeping girl, as if to memorize every detail of her face. He'd need these memories, of course, for later. They would help him remember how she changed him, and help him not to miss her so much when she was gone.

 

~*~

 

Aww. *sob*

 

Review! Plot twist, eh? =]