InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Centre ❯ Unexplainable Bonds ( Chapter 40 )

Chapter 40: Unexplainable Bonds

"Is he coming round?" someone asked.

"He's been twitching a bit ever since his hanyou powers returned."

Inuyasha groaned as he tried to open his eyes. They wouldn't budge.

"Souta, can you get me a bowl of ramen?" he heard Sango ask.

"Sure," the youth replied uncertainly. Soon the smell of boiled noodles reached his noise as the sound of clanking pots filled his ears. Then the smell of powered broth mixed with water whiffed into his nose, causing his stomach to grumble in response.

"You have got to be kidding me," Miroku's voice said somewhere near Inuyasha's head. "Ramen smelling salts?"

"His body is suffering the effects of temporary purification which takes a lot of energy. He'll be ravenous."

"Souta," Miroku said. From the way his voice sounded, he was shouting behind him. Inuyasha began to suspect he was on a couch. His whole body hurt, but the shouting didn't help the pounding in his head or the pain in his ears. "You might want to keep making those. He can eat ten bowls when he's hungry."

"What do I look like? Iron Chef?" Souta said as a clank on the stove suggested he had put another pot on.

"Lift him up, would you Miroku?" Sango asked.

Inuyasha felt hands grasp his shoulders and hoist him up, cushions suddenly pushed under his back. He managed to open his eyes weakly, thin golden slits regarding the demon slayer kneeling next to him. Soon the bowl of ramen came within view, steaming noodles like a bowl of water before a man too parched to drink.

"Hopefully it's not too hot," Sango said, blowing on the noodles. She moved to test the temperature when a low growl interrupted her.

"Just give him the noodles," Miroku said. "It doesn't matter if he burns his tongue…it'll heal."

Sango quickly held the bowl before the half conscious Hanyou. Inuyasha lifted a weak hand and took it from her, not even bothering with the proffered spoon. He simply tipped it back, inhaling noodles, broth and all.

"Damn…." Sango swore. "Souta!"

"COMING ALREADY!" he shouted from the kitchen. Shippou came teetering from the kitchen, a bowl in each paw as he desperately tried to keep them balanced.

"Where is she?" Inuyasha asked after draining the two bowls.

Sango looked at Miroku, uncertain of what to tell the weakened hanyou.

"We don't know….and she doesn't want you to come after her. Midoriko told her to stay away from demons….all demons. Even you and Shippou."

"Keh," Inuyasha responded, taking another bowl from Shippou. "Like that damn power affects us."

"I don't think he remembers," Sango said softly to Miroku. Inuyasha's ears twitched, picking up on the conversation.

"Remember what?"

The two of them didn't meet his eye. Strong clawed hands grabbed their collars, pulling them within inches of a snarling face.

"You will tell me everything," he snarled, eyes flashing in annoyance. "Now!"

***************************

"Kagome has disappeared?" Rin repeated in shock through the cell phone. She stopped cleaning the sink and went to sit next to Sesshoumaru who was at the dining room table, bent over what appeared to be important documents.

"Sess, Midoriko transferred power to Kagome. Inuyasha went nutters and now she's disappeared," Rin told him, leaning over his shoulder.

"Fools," he said, not looking up. "With that fading mark upon her shoulder and their uncertainty, they make their lives more dangerously complicated than necessary."

"As if everything you've ever done was perfect?" Rin retorted, quickly dialing another number on the cell.

"That better not be the number I think it is," the demon said, his voice low and deadly as he recognized the number sequence. Rin ignored him.

"Inuyasha? It's Rin. Come over here when you get a chance. It's about Kagome."

Sesshoumaru looked up at the woman who was once his ward, now his bed mate. Her brown eyes caught his and dared him to argue. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on in her head, but it involved his half-brother invading his territory, so he didn't like it one bit. However, a fight with Rin would be even worse. Damn he hated being so attached.

"Where could she have gone?" Rin asked no one in particular. "Naraku will be after her soon."

"Let him," Sesshoumaru said coolly. "In her present state she'll probably drag him to hell."

"I'd prefer she live through the experience," Rin said dryly. He regarded her lithe figure clad only in a thin top and short shorts. For such a tiny woman she had the determination of a demoness.

"You delight in making things more difficult," he commented. "Inuyasha is here."

Sure enough, a knock soon followed the demon's words. Rin simply shook her head with a grin.

Demons were such stubborn creatures.

**************************************

"Eggs?" Mrs. Higurashi asked her sleepy daughter.

"Thanks mom," she said with a smile.

"How's Souta doing in school?"

"He doesn't seem to mind living with me," Kagome carefully lied. "He's staying with Sango's brother, Kohaku."

"That's nice," her mother said happily, totally oblivious. "What brings you for a visit?" Kagome's hope plummeted. Her mother maintained an overly optimistic personality, but few important things escaped her. Her daughter's haggard look and unannounced visit meant something important.

"Man troubles," Kagome said, looking down at the plate of eggs.

"That nice Hojo boy you talked about last New Years?"

Kagome blinked in surprise. Hojo? The guy in her office? Gods….she hadn't seen him or thought of him in ages.

"No….I met another guy….at work," she finished lamely. Well, it was true, sort of.

"Oh, is that the nice Hanyou Souta's been talking about? Inuyasha?" her mother asked.

"Hanyou?!" a shout from upstairs came. Something heavy was dropped above them. "Kagome is dating that hanyou now?!"

"It's not like that gramps!" Kagome shouted up, hoping the man hadn't thrown out his back or anything. Kagome pushed the plate of eggs away and sighed. "I can't be with him anyway. My power….changes him. It's not safe for me to be around him. Or any other demon. That's why I came to the shrine."

"I see. How long is this going to last?" Mrs. Higurashi asked, a light frown upon her face.

"Until I either learn control or the adversary is gone."

Her mother gave a sigh and smiled.

"Then I guess we better put the sheets back on your bed."

Tears collected in Kagome's eyes. Gathering her daughter in her arms, Mrs. Higurashi didn't say a word as Kagome cried. Something had really hurt her daughter. Due to the nature of her job, Kagome could not tell her everything….but Mrs. Higurashi suspected there was a lot more behind all these tears.

It certainly wasn't the first time Kagome had been in tears over her present occupation's requirements. One day the council would ask too much of the sweet tempered girl and Kagome would crack. Or die.

***********************************************

"Not him again," Inuyasha growled, arms crossed over his chest. He stood in the forest clearing with Rin and Sesshoumaru, next to Bokusenou who had yet to show his face.

"There's something very odd going on between you and Kagome," Rin said.

"No shit," Inuyasha snapped sarcastically. "I hadn't noticed!"

"And," she continued, ignoring his outburst, "it needs to be fixed."

Inuyasha looked up at the tree, defiance burning in his eyes. He had no idea what suddenly caused Kagome to run from him. It was as if all trust was gone. Was it his youkai blood that she feared? Just why had Midoriko told her to stay away from him?

"Well?" Inuyasha asked, his foot beginning to tap impatiently.

Rin and Sesshoumaru looked at each other like parents did when dealing with an unruly, annoying child.

"Still no patience I see," Bokusenou said, his face appearing from the side of the tree. Rin let out a sharp gasp as she saw the long jagged gash along one side of his bark-like face.

"Naraku!" Rin swore, fist shaking.

"No, no, although I wouldn't put it past him to try," Bokusenou said with a laugh. "As embarrassing as this is, this is the result of a fight with a squirrel."

"A squirrel?" they asked, incredulously.

"Damn thing was eating his nuts in my branches and leaving his little squirrel poop all over my branches. Disgusting."

"You are a tree," Inuyasha pointed out.

"Yeah…but does that mean he has to poop on me? I have to live here you know! It's not like I can move or anything! Now stop trying to avoid the reason you actually came here, whelp."

"How about I sharpen my claws on your bark you sorry excuse for a squirrel litter box?" the Hanyou retorted.

"Do that and I won't tell you why your mate ran off."

"I think I can figure that one out on my own, thank you!"

"Maybe we should leave these two alone," Rin whispered to Sesshoumaru who made no argument. The two of them carefully slipped away, leaving Inuyasha to argue with the old tree demon.

"You're as blind as you are young," the tree demon snapped once the dog demon and his bitch were out of range. "Now sit down and shut your mouth. I rarely give such help or information without a heavy price, but considering your lack of cooperation and the fact that your part in this is more necessary than anyone thinks….I find myself forced to break my own rules."

Startled, Inuyasha did as he was instructed.

"First, Midoriko never trusted youkai. Not even me. She was a master of manipulation and a born leader. As the first miko, she was perfect. However, her solitude was her weakness and ultimately her downfall. Luck kept her from total failure. Unfortunately, she never did realize that. She thought solitude made her stronger."

"When she transferred the power to Kagome I turned full demon….even with Tetsusaiga."

"Tell me, Inuyasha," Bokusenou said gently. "Does she still bear the mark on her shoulder?"

"It's almost gone, but yes. I can still feel her…faintly."

"When Kagome first got the power she was struggling to control it. Some of that power leaked through your bond. Demon power calls demon power. Tetsusaiga would not have been able to contain such power. For that reason Midoriko warned her against you. However, she failed to tell her that once the power was under her control, it would not affect you. Then again, Midoriko knew little of your bloodline."

"Bloodline?" Inuyasha asked, confused.

"Inu youkai, especially ones of your bloodline, are not affected by the power that draws lesser demons."

"Huh?"

"Let's put it this way. Offering a sandwich to a man eating a steak is pretty useless. The power you would get from Kagome would only lessen your own powers, not increase them. Midoriko never did believe she wasn't at the top of the food chain."

"So Kagome ran to protect me?"

"You're finally catching on, whelp. Not bad for someone under a century old."

"HEY! This shit is confusing! Give me a fucking break! You try having your blood take over and not remembering a thing, then wake up and have everyone tell you different versions of what happened, then have to figure out what the hell really happened and THEN figure out what the fuck to do."

"What you need to do is protect Kagome from Naraku. If he doesn't already know, he will soon enough. He knows she is no match for him alone. He'll hit hard and fast."

"I KNOW!" Inuyasha snarled with annoyance. "That doesn't help me find her. The bond is too weak for me to tell where she went. It'll be gone in less than 24 hours anyway."

"You should have made a more permanent bond…but what's done is done."

"What the fuck?!" Inuyasha snapped. "Why the hell is everyone so concerned with us? What did you all expect me to do? Bend her over a table in a moment of temporary insanity? Life bonding isn't something you should rush. IF Kagome WANTS to be my mate, then she will and not before!"

Bokusenou smiled, bark-like crinkles lining his dark face.

"So you do have patience…in some areas."

"Shut up."

"Tell me Inuyasha. If you were a distraught young woman who couldn't go back to her apartment where would you go?"

"How the fuck should I know?"

"Think cheesy, chic flick," Bokusenou supplied.

"They run to their mother's house, eat fattening desserts and cry a lot, why?"

Bokusenou looked at the Hanyou expectantly. `Any moment now,' he thought, watching Inuyasha frown. `5…4…3…2…1…..0….-1…..damn this mutt can be dense….maybe I should have started from 10…..scratch that, 20.'

"Are you trying to tell me Kagome is at her family shrine pigging out on ice cream?"

"I don't know about the ice cream but-" Bokusenou didn't waste his breath.

Inuyasha was already gone.

*************

"She's the bearer huh," Hakudoushi said to himself with a laugh. "Picking off that little miko will be cake. And Naraku doesn't even know yet!"

"No," a voice said from behind him. "He doesn't."

Hakudoushi's eyes widened as sharp claws closed around his throat. Golden eyes regarded him coldly as the steel grip around his throat tightened. The small human looked at him with equally emotionless eyes, perfectly happy to watch the demon choke him to death.

Rin didn't even flinch as Hakudoushi's face turned a dangerous purple, his white hands trying desperately to dislodge the fierce grip. Sesshoumaru only tightened his grip until there was a satisfying crack and sickening crunch. Confirming death by nose, Sesshoumaru dropped him without a second thought. Rin looked slightly disappointed.

"Aww, Sess, you broke your new toy," she joked, a light smile on her face. Sesshoumaru stopped but didn't look down at her. His clawed hand rested on the hilt of Tenseiga.

"We could always put him back together and break him again," he suggested, face completely serious.

"Sess…" Rin ventured. "Did you just crack a joke?"

The demon did not respond as he continued on his way out of the forest. Unknown to them dark eyes watched them leave the forest, narrowing beneath the dark branches of the tree he was concealed in.

"So you gave it to the little miko, Midoriko? Why not hand it to me while you're at it?" Naraku said with a dark smile, pulling the baboon head over his face.

**********

"Miroku, get the boys. We're dropping them off at Kaede's," Sango said, hanging up the phone. "Kagome's at her family's shrine."

"Are you sure we should be getting into this?" he asked.

"If I know Naraku, he won't play fair. Any help we can give Kagome won't be useless. Inuyasha is already on his way."

"But-"

"No, I thought something odd was going on. We need to go, now."

Miroku weighed his options. He could argue with her….but it didn't seem worth it. And what if she was right?

"Alright, I'll get the boys. Meet me out front in ten minutes," he said, tossing her the keys. Sango looked at them, a slightly worried look on her face.

"Let's hope I remember how to drive…."

*****************

"Kagome! There's someone on the phone for you!" Mrs. Higurashi called out.

"Huh? No one is supposed to know I am here," Kagome said. "Who is it?" Her mother didn't answer, but the hum of the vacuum below suggested Kagome's words had gone unheard. She looked at the phone, uncertain if she should actually pick it up. Not even Souta knew where she was. Who could be calling? The light on the side was still blinking, telling her the person was still holding.

Tentatively she reached for the phone, her fingertips barely touching the receiver. Suddenly afraid, she drew back her hand.

Nothing happened.

"I'm just paranoid. The wards on this shrine are over a hundred years old and I double checked them just last month. What harm could a phone do?"

Taking a deep breath she gently picked up the cordless phone, her thumb reaching to push the talk button.

"KAGOME!!!!!!" came a familiar cry. Startled, Kagome dropped the cordless. The light on the phone suddenly turned off. Whoever it had been hunt up. Kagome felt her eyebrow tick as she walked over to the open window.

"Jii-chan! Did you have to yell!" she yelled out the window. Her grandfather was standing at the shrine stairs, old broom in hand, looking utterly terrified. Following his extended hand, Kagome looked out past the wards. Her eyes widened in horror.

Naraku looked back at her, his eyes narrowing as his lips formed a sinister smile.

"Nice place, Miko."

Kagome looked down at the wards. Her grandfather had dropped the broom and was now pulling her mother under the big tree in the central courtyard. It was the center of the shrine's spiritual power. She had to get to that center.

"Nice wards," Naraku commented, fingering the one along the shrine entrance. She felt the wards react to his touch. Naraku merely frowned and placed his hand over the ward. The barrier reacted, straining to hold against him. Then Kagome felt it snap like a bow string, whipping back to the sacred tree in a backlash of power.

`If he can break wards that easily….just how much power does he have?' she thought. `And there's no one else here! Why did I think I could do this on my own?'

Running down the stairs of her house, Kagome raced out of the side door. She had to get to that tree. However, Naraku easily blocked her way halfway between her and the tree.

"Kagome!" Mrs. Higurashi gasped.

"Midoriko gave something you to, miko. Something I want."

"What she gave me is not something I can just hand over to you," Kagome argued. "And even if I could, I wouldn't give it to the likes of you. You abuse power."

"Abuse? I suppose you would see it that way. Don't worry, I know how to get what I need from you. There is a downside," he said, cocking his head to one side, his grin widening. "You have to die."

A purple haired demon stepped from behind Naraku, a mask across his face and collar around his neck with a chain that Naraku held the end to. Ruthless eyes met hers, narrowing to focus on her and promising a slow, painful death. Kagome looked unimpressed. A demon like this could be easily dealt with.

"Not so fast, miko," Naraku said with a smile. Frowning, she watched as he extended his left hand. Miasma began to fall, coating the shrine square with hissing impurity. She watched in horror as it began to spread, eating away at everything it touched like acid. It hit the barrier around the sacred tree with a sharp hiss, the barrier crackling all around it.

Kagome changed her focus. Concentrating on the barrier, she strengthened it, placing multiple layers upon the barrier so as one fell another took its place. Her mother and grandfather watched with worried eyes, their faith never wavering, but they knew the same thing Naraku knew.

She couldn't do two things at once.

"And here's how we play this game. Who will die first?" Naraku asked, laughing as he released the chain, the heavy metal resonating upon the stone as it hit.

`I can't do this alone,' she thought. `Midoriko…you were wrong. I need Inuyasha. I need him now more than ever!'