InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Southern Fried Hanyou ❯ Three ( Chapter 3 )

Three

 

Kagome walked home and poured her self a glass of Yadkin Valley's best red wine. She sat on the floor contemplating the sword.

 

Fuck it! What the hell. Isn't that what Inuyasha would say. Let's do it! I will sooner or later anyway. Might as well be now.

 

Hmmm. How do I release him? That was the question of the hour. She grasped the sword and called.

 

“Inuyasha! This is your Kagome! I order you to my side.”

 

Nothing.

 

Okay, what next girlie? Well just for kicks…

 

“Sit!”

 

All that happened was Kiki whined and fell to the floor in a disgusted pile of fur. Then she audibly sighed, “Humph”.

 

Kagome was gone a bit from the wine and she laughed.

 

“Don't like it either do ya girl? He really hated it.” She stood with the broken sword in her hands.

 

“Watch this Kiki! Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!” She howled and waived the sword about her den before remembering that was a power Inuyasha possessed, not the sword.

 

“Whoops! That wasn't it. How about this? Backlash!”

 

She spun around and fell over on to the soft plush carpet.

 

“That wasn't right either. Hmmm….” In her hazy alcohol induced cloud Kagome was careless and she cut the palm of her hand on the end of Tetsusaiga's rough blade.

 

“Shit! Blood. Kiki where do I keep the Band-Aids?” Kagome stood and stumbled up the stairs to her master bedroom. She stood in the bathroom and ran cold water over her hand. Then she dried it and wrapped a bandage around her palm. Tomorrow I am going to feel so stupid.

 

And that was when she heard it. The soft noise of a foot step on her stairway. Ever since she was forced to live alone she was careful to note every little noise. Just in case. This one was human. Or at least human sized. She shook her head to clear it. What had she just read in the Charleston Post and Carrier? A man was breaking into the homes of single women and raping them? Yeah, that was it. Where was Kiki when you need her? Hmph. That was easy. She was either helping her new friend steal me blind or was cowering in the corner somewhere. Golden Retrievers were simply the WORST guard dogs.

 

Kagome reached behind her door for the baseball bat she kept handy. She'd wanted a gun but remembered something Hojo had told her. “Women with guns are more often over powered and killed with their own weapon than not.”

 

She griped the bat so tightly her knuckles turned white. She listened with all her might. The footsteps stopped. She quietly entered her bedroom but it was empty. Okay good. It's all clear in here. She wiped the sweat from her brow and turned to face her bedroom door.

 

The door was clear. She proceeded with caution to the door way and peered out.

 

The hall was empty as well. But she spied a tall shadow on the stairs. Whoever it was probably thought they were hiding but she knew the stairway well enough to recognize what didn't belong. It looked as if the intruder had the Tetsusaiga. Kagome smirked. The joke was on him. That broken sword was no match for her wooden bat.

 

She backed into her bedroom and slunk along the wall until she felt the door to the old servant's stairway. She quietly opened the door and slid silently down the stairs to the kitchen. She was wearing socks without shoes and this was to her benefit as she padded across the tiled kitchen floor. She peered out the kitchen door and slipped into the den, stealthily slipping up on her intruder from behind.

 

She was in the den and had her back to the wall and crept up on the front staircase. She saw the man's shadow and knew he had not moved. She took one more step and he was in plain view.

 

Kagome's breath stopped. She dropped the bat onto the newly refinished wood floor and fell to her knees. The man with his back to her was wearing a red kimono made from the fur of a fire rat.

 

Her head spun. She should have known her blood would be the key. It's always about the blood isn't it? I can only pray I did not make an egregious mistake. With that her face fell to the floor and Kagome lost herself in a temporary void of blackness.

 

 

“Witch! How dare you imprison me in my own Tetsusaiga?”

 

Oh, my skull will never be the same. I really should give up alcohol all together. Wait. Tetsusaiga? It's really him and he's really pissed. Well no big surprise there. He was pissed the last time I freed him by pulling the arrow loose that held him to that damned tree.

 

Kagome heard the sound of his bare feet against the wood floor as he approached her. Good. I must have only been out a moment. I'd hate for Inuyasha to see me faint. I'd never hear the end of it. Damn her! She was reacting as if she'd seen him only yesterday. Girl, get a grip! She scolded herself.

 

She could almost hear him sniffing the air. He knew something wasn't normal. Then it happened. What she had spent the last thirteen years waiting to hear.

 

“Kagome? Is that you?”

 

His feet stopped right before her nose and she was happy to note they were a bit fuzzier than the last time she'd seen him. Maybe he'd been older than twenty when he was sealed into his own sword. She drank more than she had first realized and the fall to the floor hadn't helped.

 

She moaned slightly and started to push herself up from the floor. But Kagome needn't have bothered. He was right there and rolled her over onto her back.

 

She gazed up at him and squinted in the light trying to get a good look at him. The face that swam above hers was not bearded but it was not that of a youth either. She remembered Sesshomaru and realized he never seemed to have any beard or stubble either. Maybe yokai don't have to shave?

 

“Inuyasha?” She whispered.

 

“Kagome!” He pulled her to him and hugged her against his chest. She sat limply in his embrace.

 

“Hojo…” She said.

 

“What?” He asked without bothering to move her.

 

“Hojo found you. He brought you to me.”

 

He stiffened. “Kagome, is Hojo here?”

 

She sniffed. “No, he's dead.” Then all her worst nightmares came true and she broke down into a sobbing mess. He held her in blessed silence while she cried.

 

_-_-_

 

Kagome wasn't sure how much time passed. He must have so many questions yet here he is just holding me, being with me. Giving without question or complaint. Her tears subsided and she became aware of his prayer beads pressed against her cheek. He never removed them and he hated them so much. She fought for composure and pulled away to study him.

 

Inuyasha's face was more defined than she remembered. The roundness of his features had diminished. He was no longer a boy. A scar cut across his eyebrow and from a distance it would appear as if he had pierced it. His hair was still silver and flowed freely down his back. His golden eyes glowed and his pupils were the same black slits. Unconsciously Kagome ran her fingers through his hair over his head. Her fingers found his still furry ears and she smoothed her palms over them. He sat completely still even though he had to be burning with protest and outrage.

 

Still a hanyou ? He had the stupid jewel the last time I saw him, what did he use it for?

 

“Ahmen,” he cleared his throat giving her a subtle hint. When did he learn restraint? Her Inuyasha would have howled and slapped her hands away.

 

“It's really you.” She whispered.

 

“Yeah, that's what they keep telling me.” He muttered.

 

“How… how did you get into the sword?”

 

His voice swelled with pride. “Sesshomaru. When he realized he'd never defeat me he got Jaken to do the next best thing.”

 

Kagome sighed and closed her eyes before she could roll them. “Still fighting Sesshomaru? Some things never change.”

 

“Yeah, well when I get back,” he gave a wicked vulpine grin, “he's in for a nasty surprise.”

 

“Back? Inuyasha, there is no back.”

 

“Kagome?”

 

“You are not out of your time. I found the Tetsusaiga here in my era and released you. This is your era too now. There is no going back. Even the well, it's still sealed.”

 

He sat back on his haunches in stunned silence and Kagome recognized a bit of the lost youth she'd known thirteen years ago.

 

“Maybe now isn't a good time to discuss that. Tell me about your life. How long has it been since you tossed me back down the well?”

 

Inuyasha closed his eyes but answered so quickly it was obvious he knew the answer without even thinking.

 

“Thirty years”, he whispered.

 

“Thirty years? But you aren't much older than I am!”

 

He opened one golden eye to glare at her. “I'm only half human. Remember?”

 

“Why is that? I always assumed you made good on your dream to become a full yokai.”

 

He sighed. “I nearly did.”

 

“Kaede? Did she stop you?”

 

“No I never tried. As a human I was too weak and defenseless. As a yokai I could never trust myself not to hurt….you. So I stayed like this.”

 

“But you knew I was leaving. Hell you even kicked me out.” Kagome tried to keep an even tone. It happened so long ago why does it still piss me off?

 

He gave a half grin exposing the tip of his left fang. “Yeah but ya always find a way back don't ya?”

 

Kagome gave him a light punch on the shoulder. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and huffed. “Keh to you too!”

 

Kiki decided now was an opportune time to leave her safe hiding spot in the kitchen and investigate the strange house guest. She bolted into the den then dropped down on her belly and growled. Inuyasha snorted.

 

“Nice dog you got there. What's her name?”

 

Kagome grabbed the dog by her collar and ordered her to relax. “Shh it's okay girl.”

 

She turned to Inuyasha. “This is Kiki.”

 

“Kiki hmmm?” He lifted a dark brow. “That sounds an awful lot like Kikyo. You didn't?”

 

Kagome was outraged. “Of course not! I'll have you know Kiki is a very popular American name!”

 

“American.” He sounded the word out thoughtfully. “That's the country across the ocean. I remember your school books…”

 

Icy dread crept up Kagome's spine. “America.”

 

He smiled, “That's right America.”

“Umm about that…” Damn! I've reverted back to my teenage self. She cleared her throat and started again.

 

“Inuyasha, we aren't in Tokyo. Hojo and I moved here to America five years ago.”

 

“Oh” was his only reply.

 

Inuyasha, your whole world has been turned upside down. Did I make the right decision? How will I ever know?

 

His next question surprised her.

 

“Where you married?”

 

“What?”

 

“Hojo? Was he your husband?” he was looking at Kiki and avoiding her gaze.

 

“No. He became ill after our engagement. Then he called off the wedding.”

 

Inuyasha smiled softly. “And I suppose you fought him about it.”

 

“Yes.” It was her turn to look away.

 

“Stupid Kagome, why do you always fight those who only wish to protect you? He knew you needed more than he could give. Why didn't you accept it?” Inuyasha was surprisingly insightful. How come I never noticed?

 

“I wanted to help him” she muttered.

 

“He probably wanted to know you'd be okay.”

 

She sniffed. “Probably.”

 

“So are ya?”

 

“Am I what Inuyasha?”

 

“Are ya okay?”

 

“I guess so. There is no Naraku or Mistress Centipede here so yes I am okay.”

 

“Good.” He jumped to his feet.

 

Wow, I'd forgotten how fast he is.

 

“Cause I'm hungry! What the hell do ya have to eat around here?” he headed to the kitchen with a cowed Kiki following in his wake.

 

As she watched him Kagome was struck. I hope he eats less than he used to. I don't know if I can afford to feed him!

 

In the seconds it took Kagome to reach the kitchen Inuyasha flew through all of her cabinets and the fridge and was utterly disgusted by their lack of contents. She found him chewing on a straw as he sniffed a Chinese take out menu.

 

“Mmmm, order several dozen of whatever this came in!”

 

Kagome laughed. It's been thirty years since he's seen modern times but he's never forgotten the concept of take out.

 

She strolled up to him and snatched away the menu. He growled playfully and she held it out of his reach and he jumped at it. Kagome was over come with an irresistible urge.

“Osuwari!” She said crisply.

 

Kiki's furry butt hit the kitchen floor but Inuyasha remained on his feet. He gave her a burning look of triumph.

 

“Keh! I fixed that a LONG time ago.” He glanced down a Kiki and snorted. “Stupid mutt.”

 

“How did you do that?”

 

“Kaede” he answered and left it at that. He tossed her an unopened box of loose green tea leaves. “This was all I found.”

 

Kagome filled her beloved cast iron tea kettle with cool water and set it on the stove. She procured a block of cheese left over from some gift basket someone sent her weeks ago and a few crackers. She arranged them on a plate and was not surprised when Inuyasha ate them without complaint.

 

Kagome poured the tea into a matching set of Scooby Doo mugs and sat across from Inuyasha. He drank his tea while keeping an eye on her. She glanced at the stove clock and saw it was 2:55am. My God I will never make it tomorrow without sleep. I wish I had never had those last glasses of wine. Shit. Shit. Shit.

 

“Inuyasha.”

 

He looked up and was for once silent.

 

“You had the Jewel of Four Souls. What did you wish for?” I know him too well to think he just gave it away.

 

He traced the out line of Shaggy's head with his claw. “Sango lost more than anyone so I decided to free Kohaku. I didn't want to risk having Naraku killing him before we got there.”

 

There are no words. My heart is breaking all over again. Sango. It was the perfect gift for a tragic heroine.

 

Kagome felt tears prick her eyes and blinked them away.

 

“Was Kohaku…was he okay?”

 

“Physically he was back to normal but he was never right. Sango cried.”

 

They sat in silence while she reflected on the gravity of his decision and how much it must've meant to Sango.

 

“Naraku?”

 

His face lit up with a chilling grin. “Dead, I scattered his remains all over the countryside. Just in case. Miroku helped us purify what was left.”

 

“Miroku and Sango?”

 

“They married and moved to distant village of Youkai slayers. Things were boring for a long while after they left.”

 

Kagome smiled. “You never were one to lie around. Always something going on.” She was happy for Sango but to distracted by her new house guest to dwell on it.

 

He drank his tea. “Hmph, you can say that again.”

 

Kagome leaned forward, “Tell me Inuyasha, what did you do all those years beside fight Sesshomaru?”

 

He frowned. “I fought.”

 

“Fought who?”

 

“After we killed Naraku other yokai assumed I kept the jewel and his powers for myself and they came for me, one at a time.”

 

“Oh” It was so sad. Even after it was over he still wasn't free.

 

“Even when it became known I did not have the jewel they still wanted to challenge me. It only lasted fifteen years or so. After that the yokai became rare and rarer. Then the samurai came.”

 

“I'm so sorry Inuyasha.” I always thought after the Jewel was destroyed all of our lives would be perfect. I was a fool.

Her apology offended him and he cut in. “No. It was my choice and I stand by what I did.”

 

Thoughtlessly she put her head in her hands. I got my wish but what do we do now? One day at time, that is the only way. “I'm sorry the kitchen is empty, I haven't felt like cooking or eating for that matter in awhile. Tomorrow morning we will go grocery shopping.”

 

“Shopping” This brought a fast smile. “I haven't forgotten about the Ramen.”

 

She had given up eating them because they reminded her of him, “I haven't either.”

 

He asked, “Do they have them in here in America?”

 

“Oh yes and now in even more flavors.”

 

_-_-_-_

Kagome settled Inuyasha in the guest room and stumbled her way to her own bed. She glanced at her laptop as she climbed into bed. He is very clever. How can I help him acclimate faster? The language barrier will be a blessing until he is more comfortable here but it really isn't fair to him…

 

She pulled up the computer and ordered a set of Japanese to English language tapes. It wasn't quite the same as his medieval Japanese but it would do. She would cherish the time she had before the tapes arrived. It might be the last peace she would have for a bit. Somehow that didn't bother her at all.