InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Devil Within ❯ Being Watched ( Chapter 1 )

The Devil Within

 

Disclamer: I own nothing

 

Chapter 1: Being watched

 

`Ah!' thought Kagome. `I can finally relax a little.'

 

She was back in her time and so she took a walk around her world to ease her troubled mind. Going back and forth was very stressful and tiring. She had decided to take a stroll in the park near the shrine. She loved going there: it was peaceful, calm and it reminded her of the quiet times in the Sengoku Jidai.

 

She had reached a small bridge when she chose to take a break. She walked so much whenever she traveled back that taking a break was always very welcomed. She stood, staring at the fishless with pure content on her face. Looking dazed, she thought, `I wonder what the others are doing right now…'

 

 

***

 

 

“I wonder what Kagome is doing right now…”

 

“Keh… probably studying for one of her `exams'…”

 

“… But she didn't mention anything about another exam!”

 

“Just shut up Shippo…”

 

Inuyasha was in a bad mood again. Every time Kagome left, they had to deal with a grumpy dog-demon. Not wanting a head-ache or having to beat-up the hanyo unconscious, Miroku took this opportunity to go back to his temple for the time being. Also taking his chances, he politely asked Sango to join him and to his pure delight, she had agreed without hesitation. Not wanting to offend the demon part of the group, he also asked both Inuyasha and Shippo to join them. He knew Inuyasha would refuse. However, he was desperately hoping the kitsune would too! To his luck, the little fox demon said he didn't want to go anywhere without his adopted mother.

 

So as quickly said, as quickly done.

 

Miroku ushered Sango and Kirara away from the group while keeping a firm grip on the taijia's waist: he didn't want her to change her mind out of fear for being alone with him for three wonderful days.

 

`Finally I can spend some quality time with my dear Sango without having to worry.'

 

Soon, all three had disappeared from site and were far away from the pending headache Inuyasha would have caused.

 

However, instead of Inuyasha causing everyone a major headache, the young kitsune was doing a mighty fine job all on his own.

 

“But why would she want three days to refresh her supplies! It doesn't make any sense to me!” Then he turned to Inuyasha with a furious yet questioning glare. “Did you do something again? Cuz if you did you better apologize!”

 

Inuyasha was trying hard to ignore the wailing kid.

 

“You must have done something! Cuz if you didn't… plus that you didn't even argue with her, so you must have don-” Something snapped…

 

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!” Before Shippo could get far, he was picked up by the tale. “I didn't do anything!!” and with that, Inuyasha threw the young fox demon as far away as half-demonly possible. Shippo cried at the roughness and ran straight to Kaede's hut yelling for Kagome to come back soon.

 

 

***

 

 

The little pool of water agitated as a hand pulled out from the inside of a basin. He's watched the world go on through the dark side of the moon. He's been watching for the past month or so, waiting for an opportune moment. None had risen and so he waited and watched carefully from the shadows. Not wanting to alert anyone to his presence, he never watched for more than a few minutes. Then he would disappear only to come back again.

 

Three days is what they said. He would have to wait for three days. He could do that. He's been waiting for over four hundred years so three days is nothing. He's a patient creature, a very patient man. He could wait. But he had to be ready just in case. `You never know just what might happen…' Touching the surface of his water-filled basin, he waited for an image to appear: the well. He would keep a close eye on that thing, and so he watched and waited, in the shadows.

 

 

***

 

 

Kagome shivered as the air around her suddenly went from comfortable warm to chilling cold. She hugged herself in a failed attempt to keep herself warm and finally decided to head back home. She couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched and frankly that freaked her out. She had thought on many occasions that they were being watched back in the feudal era.

 

But that was five hundred years in the past!

 

That was normal… Or as normal as it got.

 

Never-the-less, she didn't like getting that feeling when she was in her time, a place where she is supposed to be safe.

 

`I guess evil-doers won't cease to exist all together…' she thought bitterly, slowly making her way back home.

 

`Maybe I should go back tomorrow… Mention this to Inuyasha.' None of them seemed to have noticed anything unusual, so she had brushed it off as paranoia. `Besides, it would make a nice surprise and I don't have anything better to do here.' With her mind resolved on what to do, she hurried her pace and went straight home.

 

 

***

 

 

Since Shippo had left him alone, Inuyasha settled himself in his tree and tried to take a nape. However, he couldn't shake off the feeling that someone or something has been following them throughout their journey. It's been close to a month since he first realized something was wrong with their surrounding. The smell, the air, the tension… Everything clicked `warning' in his head. He had gone in search of this nagging source, but he always came back empty handed.

 

After the second week, he tried to ignore it. But in the end, it didn't even matter how hard he tried. The dreadful feeling remained, irritating him every minute. He had elevated his alertness to his surrounding and the others hadn't noticed a thing. Or so he thought. Miroku didn't mention any youki or evil presence; Kagome couldn't sense any shards; and he couldn't find anything at all. Maybe he was simply getting paranoid…

 

He tried once again to get some shut eye. For once he was happy Kagome wasn't around.

 

He didn't argue with her when she wanted to leave: he was worried. How could he protect her when he can't figure out what was going on, let alone who was behind it all. Three days was good. If the feeling wouldn't disappear by then, he just might go stall her a little longer, or just long enough for this impression to vanish.

 

For now, he just wanted to take a short break and ease his own mind.

 

 

***

 

 

Morning had come and a nice long bath had followed for the teenage girl.

 

`I'm not due back for another two days, so I might as well take my time and relax.'

 

Kagome took a deep breath and decided she was ready to face the past once again. So she got out, got changed and went to get her breakfast. Noticing the time, she thought better. `How about brunch instead.'

 

After eating, she thought about when exactly she should show up. `Why don't I show up with some freshly cooked food… Yes! That's what I'll do!' It was rare they had any good meals and one can only eat so many of the same food over and over again.

 

`At least Sango-chan, Miroku-sama and Shippo-chan will be pleased to eat some of my cooking…' she thought as she remembered how Inuyasha favored those damn noodles over anything. `Oh well.' With those final thoughts, she set about the kitchen preparing a whole bunch of food.

 

A couple of hours later she was done.

 

Everything smelled so good and all she had to do was pack them up all nice and neat for the trip. Kagome was proud of her creations! `Another meal ready to go, another few days ready to be spent.'

 

By the time she was done packing all of it and carefully stuffing them into her yellow bag (along with everything else…), it was practically evening. She quickly made her way out of the house, first making sure Sota would behave while mama was out. Half way to the well-house, someone was calling.

 

“Kagome dear!” It was her mother. She must have just gotten back from her shopping.

 

Turning around, Kagome waved at her mom.

 

“Kagome, could you help me bring these in before you leave?”

 

“Sure mama!” At her mother's request, Kagome put down her bag by the God tree and went to her mother's aide. `It wouldn't hurt to help,' she thought. `I'm so rarely home to help her do anything, so I might as well do this.'

 

 

***

 

 

Inuyasha was still stretched out in his tree just staring at the fields watching over the town they'd go to for shelter. He would never admit it, but he enjoyed being there. The villagers seemed to have grown fond of him and him of them. He knew he'd never be fully accepted by anyone because he was a half-breed. But at least they gave the impression of respecting him.

 

`Either that or they're just too scared to disrespect.' Inuyasha let his mind wonder about and so he did not notice the little demon approach him from behind.

 

Slowly, it climbed up his back using its victim's kariginu as leverage and stopped once it reached the inu-youkai's shoulder. In one swift move, it jumped up to the cheek and stuck its mouth into flesh.

 

Inuyasha felt something pinch his cheek and out of reflex…

 

~ SMACK ~

 

The flea demon slowly floated down into his master's lap, squished thin. Inuyasha watched it make its descent and so he put out his hand to catch the blood sucking youkai.

 

“What do you want Myoga?” He knew whenever the flea showed up it was to give him some kind of information, be it good or not.

 

“Can't this loyal servant of yours visit his lordship?” Myoga sounded crushed at the unwanted tone accompanying Inuyasha's words.

 

Being a little skeptical at the flea's question, he came up with the most logical and truthful answer. “You never come for visits.”

 

Myoga crossed his arms, looked away and pouted back, “That's not true!” Turning back to face his master once again, he continued. “Anyway, I simply wanted to have a taste of that delicious blood of yours!”

 

“Hey! My blood is my blood! Not yours for leisure drinking!!”

 

“Yes, yes my lord. It's just been a long time since we last ran into each other… I was in the neighbor hood and since tonight is the first night of the new lunar month…”

 

“Lunar month!?!” He had forgotten that was tonight! He was always uneasy on that one night, so how could he forget! He normally didn't sleep. More over, he had a hard time staying awake. `Great…' he thought. Just perfect indeed… With only a kit barely one tenth of his height who knows what would happen.

 

`At least Kagome is back in her time…' That notion gave the hanyo an idea, but he wasn't sure about the consequences. `Since when do I care about that?!'

 

“My lord? What is it?” Making his presence known, Myoga stared at his master who seemed to be lost in his mind. Inuyasha looked down at the flea in his hand and got another idea.

 

“Myoga, I've got a job for you…”

 

 

***

 

 

`Hmm… I better not underestimate this hanyo… He may be a lot smarter than he seems…'

 

With his left hand, the creature of the moon disturbed the surface of the water before him.

 

`Maybe it would be best for me to leave tonight and tomorrow well alone.'

 

He took one last glance at the rippled surface before him. The basin showed him many things, but not all. The flea demon had come into the region and yet he hadn't noticed.

 

His gaze still on the basin, he chanted out a few words. The color of the water changed in a swirl of colors. Once done, everything went quiet. He turned around and walked away from his only connection to the world.

 

 

***

***

 

Japanese Vocabulary

 

Kariginu: A wide-sleeved samurai hunting jacket. I read in a story (Fallen Souls by Cassandra) that this is the right turn to use for Inuyasha's top. If there is a problem with the definition of this Japanese word, please do inform me. I am not Japanese and only know as much as I read or hear.