InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Synthetic Twilight ❯ XIII ( Chapter 13 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

"You didn't have to come," Kagome said, brushing a short lock of hair from her face.
"I know you can handle yourself, I just thought maybe you'd appreciate some company on the road to your first hunt alone. I stayed out of the way while you were fighting- priestesses using their powers creeps me out, no offense." Kouga held out his hands in a placating gesture.
"I guess I can understand why," she said laughing. "I'm not used to traveling alone, I think it's something that I should get used to. Maybe next time."
"Maybe." he said smiling. "Hey, there's a stream ahead, why don't we stop so you can rest? I'll go catch some fish to make for lunch, and we'll have my famous fish-on-a-stick!"
"Sounds like a plan," Kagome said agreeably.

Kagome sat against a tree, watching Kouga's look of concentration as he tried to catch the wriggling fish in the stream bare-handed. The week after his visit, she had told him she wasn't ready to have a romantic relationship. She had expected that to be the last she would see of him, but he had shown up the day before when she was leaving the village for her first hunt alone- and announced that he would be her escort.
"Look, I know that you said you weren't ready for a romantic relationship, but what about a friend?" he said almost shyly. "And when you feel ready, maybe- maybe you'd consider me?"
She sighed. She cared about Kouga, he was a great friend and ally, but it wasn't fair to string him along when she was still hung up on Inuyasha. Maybe I could move on if I had some sort of closure... She had spent the first few weeks in her time, after what she now refered to as The Well Incident, agonizing over what she could have done to Inuyasha for him to just grab her and throw her into her time with only an apology as consolation. After that? Bitterness.

Her mama had put her hand on her back and rubbed soothingly, "He probably did it because he figured it would be best for you to live in your own time."
"Bullshit!" she had screamed. "He got what he wanted. He got the jewel and Kikyo and didn't need me anymore!"
Her mother sighed in exasperation, "If you believe that's true, then why cry over him? Why are you upset that you can't go back? If it's true, you're better off here without him!"

In all truthfulness, she knew that really wasn't the reason why he'd sent her back, but it still stung. It would've been nice to have had at least some sort of explanation. Kouga gave a little cheer and held up a fish before tossing it on the bank. She laughed and clapped her hands.
"Go ahead and start a fire, I'll have the second one in a few minutes!" he called.
She blew lightly on the smoking tinder she'd gathered into a pit and a small flame rose before catching the rest on fire. Her lighter ran out of fluid a few days ago, and a few before that the batteries in the cd player she had brought- she'd thought she'd be a little more distressed at losing things from her time. So far away... she mused as she looked over at her pack, filled with tools she used for demonslaying, her payment and a couple rice balls wrapped in a skin. She smiled, being without things from modern-day Japan was okay- she felt she fit better in this time.


Two girls in ragged skirts with dirt smudged across their cheeks watched the pair across the stream eating. "Well we can't go into the village without her there! They'd go without her!" one said with her arms crossed.
"You just said 'demonslayer' what does it matter if this one doesn't go?" the other said gesturing at Kagome.
"Because, Natsuki-chan, if the priestess doesn't go, then there's no point in even getting the demonslayers at all!"
"You could've said that instead," Natsuki's human form pouted. "Well? What are we going to do then? I can only hold this until I get hungry, and I don't think we'll have enough time to go back to that inn so I can snack off that maid again."
"I've got it! We'll just go over and ask her instead." Shoga said grinning.
"Won't the wolf know what we're up to?"
"Of course not, how's he going to smell us over the humans?"
"I'm not really a human, Shoga-chan, you know how I work!" Natsuki whined.
Shoga frowned, "But that's an illusion, your smell isn't very noticable."
"You really think so?" Natsuki said, smiling. Shoga rolled her eyes. "Right!" Natsuki said, mussing up her hair, "What's my motivation?"
"Your..." Shoga supposed that they'd been backstage at one too many Kabuki theatres. Shaking her head, Now's not the time, she said, "We're two girls from a village that's being attacked by demons and we're in dire need of aid. Now.. when they take us to the village you're going to 'die'-"
"My character dies?!" Natsuki wailed.
Shoga looked nervously at the two across the stream, "Pipe down or he'll hear you!" She continued in a lower voice, "You're going to 'die' on the way to the village, yes. Do you want to be around a group of demonslayers when you lose that image?"
"Not really..." Natsuki muttered. "Okay! I've got it!" she said as she splashed through the stream and tripped over a rock. "Someone please help us!" she yelled.
"Act natural!" Shoga hissed, not far behind.
Kagome instinctively reached for her bow when she heard the yelling and Kouga rushed to help the flailing girl out of the water.
"D-demon!" she screamed and knocked his hands away. "I'd rather drown!"
With the wolf demon busy coaxing the screaming 'girl' out of the water, Shoga threw herself down at Kagome's feet. "You're wearing demonslayer's garb? You must help us! Our village is being ravaged! We'll pay you anything you want, just please, save our village!"
Kagome knelt down beside Shoga, "Why don't the two of you come with us? We'll talk to Sango, I'm sure she'll send out a group to check on your village."
The girl nodded vigorously, "Thank you, thank you! We must hurry!" she said standing quickly.
Kouga let Kagome and Shoga climb onto his back, "Are you coming?" he asked Natsuki expectantly.
"Not anywhere with you!" Natsuki screamed.
"Leave her, I'll return for her later" Shoga said gripping one of Kouga's shoulder's tightly, "We don't have much time!"
Kouga looked at the girl reluctantly but sped off with only two girls in tow. Natsuki winked and waved her quickly disappearing friend goodbye. She shrank to her normal form and headed to the deserted village where she'd next see her friend.


Sesshomaru took the jewel out of the box Totosai had crafted for him, and placed the pink orb in his robes. Outside he could hear Jaken squawking, "You can't just barge in here! No! You will not go in without milord's permission!" A loud THUMP! was heard, then Jaken moaning, "My head..." A few seconds later the sliding door to his office was thrown open with Inuyasha standing in the doorway.
"How good of you to drop by, little brother." Sesshomaru sniffed disdainfully, "You reek of dirty humans, have you forgotten how to bathe? You sully this Sesshomaru's house with your stench."
"Don't worry, I won't be here much longer." Inuyasha threw Tetsusaiga onto his brother's desk, "You have your prize. You can get Rin to move it around if you still can't," he sneered and turned to leave.
Tetsusaiga... Why am I doing this again? Oh right, family honor. Sesshomaru almost felt a whine leave him. "You're going to have to hold onto that for a few days longer, I'm afraid."
Inuyasha turned to look incrediously at his half-brother, "Why the fuck do you want me to keep it? You've been after it for years, you should be celebrating."
"This Sesshomaru will celebrate- when it is returned. I had Totosai make a container for the burden you've gifted me with," he said, reaching into his robe and pulling out the chain that held the jewel, "You will take it to him."
"I see you took no time in wishing that arm of yours back, did you wish for it to be able to wield Tetsusaiga too?"
"I did not. The jewel insults this Sesshomaru by growing it back of its own accord. Myoga?"
"My Lord?" came a voice from darkened corner.
"Escort Inuyasha through the short-cut to Totosai's, he seems to be in a hurry."
"Yes, my lord." came the weary voice from Myoga, who hopped on Inuyasha's shoulder. "It's wonderful to see you again, Inuyasha-sama."
"Now wait just-a-fucking-minute! I didn't agree to take that thing anywhere!" Inuyasha cried, outraged.
"You will take it to Totosai, little brother, or-" Sesshomaru swung the chain gently from a claw, "this Sesshomaru will return it to the elderly priestess."
"Bastard," Inuyasha cursed and grabbed the jewel from his brother. "Myoga, this short-cut of yours better fucking be quick."
"Of course, Inuyasha-sama." Myoga said, settling himself.
"Inuyasha, be sure to have Totosai polish my new sword while you're there."
Inuyasha cursed loudly, slammed the door shut, and stomped out of the castle.




AN: Emilo's story in the last chapter was completely made up. I would guess Emilo would be from the old country so to speak as most Americans see Europe as the old country (he's from Spain). I initially wanted the crew to sing "I'm Shipping up to Boston", but had to forgo it because I'm trying to stick around the time period where Inuyasha takes place... so there wouldn't have been a Boston to ship to =P
But if it's around the time period, like Kabuki that didn't start until a couple decades afterwards, I'll stick it in there if it fits.

I've never read the Alchemist, but I hear good things.

Thanks for stopping by!
I do not own any of the characters from the manga/anime Inuyasha.