InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Keeper ❯ Connecting the Dots ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co.



The Keeper



Chapter Four: Connecting the Dots



It had been a day and a half since they had their run in with the Thunder Brothers, and had managed to go without any other incidents. Kagome had even managed to convince Inuyasha that they should stay the night in the next village that they came upon, though she didn't know he had his own reasons for wanting to retreat into a village. Shippo had seemed to cheer up since they moved on, mostly staying close to Kagome when Inuyasha would allow her to walk. Most of the time though they travelled with Kagome on Inuyasha's back and Shippo trailing behind or hitching a ride too.

Though, besides allowing the overnight stay in the next village, Inuyasha had become quite grumpy, constantly rushing the other two. Currently Kagome was walking with Shippo on her shoulder trailing closely behind Inuyasha, thinking while Shippo rambled into her ear.

Ever since we woke up this morning he's been grumpy, I wonder what's bothering him...

Inuyasha vaugley listened to the shuffling of the two behind him, cursing himself that they hadn't reached Sesshomaru yet, he had to be really close, he could smell him as if he stood in front of him. Also, there was no way he hadn't smelled him, or sensed the jewel, so even if they did stop at the village tonight he should come to them. I hope...

"I'm tired, can we take a break?" Shippo whined, and Inuyasha stopped and turned to Kagome and the kitsune.

"Why are you tired, runt? All you do is sit on Kagome's shoulder or hitch a ride on my back with Kagome." He suddenly had the urge to reach out and smack him up side the head, but he didn't when he looked at Kagome.

She looked like she too was tired, maybe they should take a small break, there haven't been any demon attacks within the last day. Luckily. "Are you tired, wench?" Her eyes widened when he spoke to her, and she smiled.

"Just a little bit, my legs are a little like jello right now." Inuyasha nodded his head and his nostrils flared at the smell of a nearby hot spring. Bingo. Looking at the young woman he noticed that she could definitely use the spring, her legs were filthy, her hair dissheveled and dirt marred her face.

"There is a spring nearby, I'll take you there and you can bathe, you could use it." Her heart pinged, though she knew he wasn't trying to be mean spirited, she knew he was right. She just felt disgusting and it was almost a relief to feel that was her biggest problem right now, especially with all the colossal mysteries that were impacting her life right now.

"Don't talk to Kagome like that, she smells just fine!" Shippo had lunged towards Inuyasha's face but was cut short when he heard Kagome call out to him.

"I doubt he was trying to be mean, Shippo." Kagome wrapped her arms around her body when she suddenly became self conscious of her appearance, turning her head towards Inuyasha as Shippo returned to her side. "Inuyasha, I think if you can smell the spring then surely Shippo can too, so maybe you could wait here in a tree or something." Pointing around at the trees she couldn't have him coming along when she was going to be stripping down to her birthday suit, no Shippo would do he was merely a child what interest would he have in her body.

Inuyasha was shocked, he couldn't let her go with only the kit to watch over her. "Kagome, you know I can't rightfully let you go alone with only Shippo to watch over you..." And suddenly it felt like he could, watching her eyes divert to the ground and away from his gaze he understood what she was getting at, and he understood. She needed her privacy, she was young but not quite a child. "Fine, I'll stay behind but I'll be close so if you need me, just call out for me."

Kagome nodded her head, appreciating his concern and obvious understanding, she tapped Shippo on the shoulder and he dropped to the forest floor leading her in the direction of her bath. I hope it's warm water, but it seems like they live in a time before hot water...please give me just this though.

He watched as she staggered after the kitsune towards fresh water to clean up, hopefully she would have a change of clothing soon too. That would have to wait until after they found his brother, the coins they had at the moment had to be used for food though, he knew he could survive of the forest food but she was a young woman. Inuyasha doubted she would like to eat a roasted rabbit that he ripped the throat out of.

When the two of them disappeared, he followed, there was no way he was leaving her alone.

When Kagome saw the clearing, she could hear water running from a stream a little further down the way, undoubtedly preceeded by a waterfall. Though she felt even dirtier when she saw the sparkling water of the spring that she had seen only in school books. She could hardly contain herself as she removed her shirt from her body, throwing it to the side while then working on her jean shorts. Shippo only watched as the young woman eagerly ran to the water butt naked, leaving her clothing for him to tend to. The only item she didn't remove was her half of the jewel.

Diving into the water, feet first of course, she yelled out as she realized he wish had been granted, the water was warm. Coming up from the water she pushed her hair backwards and wiped her face of excess water, smiling at Shippo who was currently dipping her clothes into the water trying to rinse all the traces of dirt. "You act as if you haven't bathed in years!" The kit giggled at her reaction, she seemed ashamed.

"No, just a little longer than I had hoped, I guess having this familiarity helps keep my mind off of home." Squeezing her eyelids shut she dunked her head under the water once again to scrub her scalp as clean as possible without the help of shampoo and conditioner. Rising from the water she let a lonely sigh escape her lips, her heart felt heavy knowing her family was probably worried sick about her.

"What do you mean?" Shippo asked when he realized she wasn't going to submerge herself under the water once again. She paused in her action of scrubbing her body with her palm, trying to remove the grime the best she could.

Shippo hung her clothing from a nearby tree branch, allowing them to air dry as their owner bathed. He then sat himself at the edge of the waters watching Kagome as she swam towards him, resting her head on her hands on the edge next to him. "The last four days have been my first, here in this strange world. Where I come from, there is only one sun in the sky. Many difference's but that isn't what really matters, what matters is my family isn't here and I don't know how to return to them."

Smiling up at Shippo she pulled away from the ledge and ducked under the water once again, trying her best to hide her tears. But he could smell the salt that clung to her tears, along with a certain hanyou who hid in a nearby tree watching her, with all good intentions of course.

"You'll find your way home when it's the right time, Kagome. Fate has a funny way of bringing us to our purpose, maybe this is your purpose, to come here and help us. I would have never avenged my parents if it weren't for you and Inuyasha." Those were the first words she heard when she threw herself high up out of the water, stretching. And Inuyasha would probably still be trapped to that tree...

"Thanks Shippo." Kagome swam to the ledge and prepared to pull herself from the water when Inuyasha suddenly appeared from nowhere, holding his fire rat out to her. He startled her, and she fell backwards into the water. "What are you doing?!" It was the first thing that came to her mind, and she voiced it.

"You're clothes aren't dry yet, you need something to wear..." His head was turned in the opposite direction while his free hand covered his eyes so that he wouldn't see anything. Seeing his effort to maintain her privacy she shyly smiled and proceeded to remove herself from the water, taking the robe from his hands.

Once she had slid into the robe and wrapped it around her body, tying the obi firmly around her waist, clearing her throat she spoke, "Thank you very much Inuyasha, I appreciate it."

"Keh, whatever..." He trailed off when he looked her over, ignoring Shippo as he situated himself on his shoulder. There was no way he was able to ignore her beauty now that she was cleaned of all the dirt and grime that had built up over the few days she had been around. Her long black hair, wet and sprawled over his red robe and those eyes of hers...

Snap out of it...you can't make the same mistake twice.

Looking at the sky he noticed the first sun was heading towards the horizon, that left them with, at the most, two hours before it was dark and no moon. Suddenly it wasn't difficult to pull himself from the dark haired light eyed beauty bestowed upon him. "Come Kagome, we must leave now if we expect to make it to the next village before sunsfall."

Crouching Inuyasha motioned for Kagome to join Shippo on his back so they could continue their travels. "What about my clothes?"

Shippo was who spoke, not Inuyasha. "I'm sure Yash will find you some new ones, proper I suppose. Until then I'm sure that will do." He nodded his head towards the apparel Inuyasha had once again placed upon her. Shrugging she figured she really didn't have a choice at this point and climbed upon his back, making sure the robe didn't open and show anything that need not be seen.

Once the three were situated, Inuyasha launched them into the tree and they were off. They travelled for thirty minutes before they even saw a village come into view, the final sun coming close to the horizon. Just in time. Landing with both feet on the ground on the outskirts of the town, larger than Engeve, Inuyasha could feel himself losing strength.

"Where are we now?" Kagome asked as her sandal clad feet hit the ground, Shippo landing next to her.

"Verdugo." Both Inuyasha and Shippo responded in unison. A little strange, but she couldn't careless right now, all she could think of was sleeping on something other than the dirt floor of a forest. She began approaching the town without wating for either of the two boys who accompanied her.

She didn't make it very far before Inuyasha stopped her, though Shippo rushed off ahead of her. Kagome yelped a little at the force he applied to her arm as he restrained her from moving any further. "You can not run off!" He harshly spat in her face, and she frowned.

Though Kagome was unable to reply before a third party spoke before they even realized it had arrived.

"Is there a problem here Miss?" Both of their heads swivelled to meet to face of the voice that had intruded their conversation. Kagome took in the man's appearance, he wore a long purple and black robe that drug along the ground, his sandal feet slightly sticking out from under the fabric. His left arm was encircled in cloth and beads, while in his right hand he steadied the pole of his staff, marking him as a holy man. He had mischevious violet eyes and ruffled black hair that was pulled together at the nape of his neck.

"NO." Inuyasha gruffly responded to the strangers question before Kagome could speak. But the man's eyes never left Kagome's sky blue ones.

"I believe I was speaking to the lady." She was shocked to say the least, she didn't expect anyone to take notice of their prescence, let alone approach and speak to them. Inuyasha released the hold he had on her arm turning his back on the two trying not to lose his control.

Smiling she decided she should speak and hopefully he would leave them in peace, the less mess the better for all of them. "Oh yes, everythings fine kind sir. We were just having a small disagreement, but I'm sure we'll settle it soon enough." Her eyes left the newcomers and drifted to her hanyou companion who was trying to ignore both her and the man. So immature for being centuries old.

Then a thought occured to her, she really didn't want to spend another thirty minutes or so searching for an inn in this vast village. "But sir, there is one thing I would like to ask of you."

He bowed his head indicating her to continue, "Anything, fair maiden." She blushed and she swore she heard a growl of displeasure come from Inuyasha's direction but continued anyway.

"We came to this village looking for a place to rest for the night, could you possibly give us directions?" She subconsciously pulled the robe tighter around her body when the wind picked up making the edges of the material flutter up to show off her bare leg in the final sun's waning light.

Before he could respond, she heard a grunt come from Inuyasha, and she realized the pick up of the wind was from Shippo returning. "What was that for you little runt!" Inuyasha released his rising anger at the kit, knowing it wasn't the boy's fault that he couldn't smell him coming. The light was fading faster from the sky and he could feel the changes happening more rapidly.

Panting the child looked from him to Kagome, and then to the stranger, cocking his head confused as to the intentions of this strange looking man. "I was coming to tell you I found an inn." Kagome's eyes widened as she could hardly contain her excitement, she was really looking forward to sleeping on something soft tonight.

"Well then, if my service is no longer a need here, I will be on my way." The kind holy man bowed to the three strange individuals before him as a farewell and turned to take his leave back into the town. But he stopped in his tracks when the young lady called out to him, his eyes drifting to the chain around her neck, taking notice for the first time the jewel that rested against her chest.

Only half? I was always told it was whole...

"What's your name, I'm Kagome. Just in case we might need your help again." Pointing to her male companions she spoke, "That's Inuyasha and the small one is Shippo." He smiled at her delayed introduction.

"My name is Miroku, and I shall be in town for a few days, so if you need anything just ask around I'm sure someone will be able to tell you of my whereabouts." Again he tilted his head in farewell and this time disappeared into the town. Though his thoughts never strayed from the half of a jewel he had only heard stories about that hung from her neck.

Turning to face her companions, Kagome was startled at the sight before her. The last light of the final sun had disappeared once it had slid behind the horizon and no longer was Inuyasha in front of her. Instead a human man with facial features similiar to Inuyasha's stood before her, with long black hair and his same outfit.

"What the hell happend to you Inuyasha?!" Shippo called out cowering away from him, expecting to be slapped, but the blow never struck.

Inuyasha? Oh my, he's...human...

"What happend? You're human...and your ears." Her lip quivered, his adorable puppy ears were now gone and as she approached reaching out she noticed he had human ears now too. "Is it permanent?"

He couldn't help but sigh in frustration he had hoped they could have been in the inn before this happend but of course, nothing could go his way. Not today at least. "No, it's not permanent, I'd rather not talk about it right now though. Can we go to the inn and get settled?"

Kagome didn't speak she only nodded her head as she met Shippo's gaze, the three of them beginning their trek through the village to the inn that Shippo had found for them. For the first time though, they weren't stared at as they travelled through the village. With Kagome wearing something similar to the women in town and Shippo residing in her arms looking like a stuffed animal, and Inuyasha being human they blended in quite well as they followed the lantern lit path to the opening of the inn.

She hardly paid any attention to the innkeeper as Inuyasha checked them in and they were all led to a room that held three futon's. The space was small, but a sliding door was placed on the other side of the room, most likely leading out to a small patio to admire the garden.

Once the door shut behind the three of them, Shippo threw himself into the nearest futon and started gushing. "It's so soft Kagome, now I know why you prefer it to the floor of the forest!" She smiled but was distracted as she watched Inuyasha pull the sliding door open and step out onto the dimly lighted patio, closing it behind him.

"Stay here, Shippo." Her eyes never left the door as she spoke, moving forward and placing her hands on the warm bamboo, pushing it to the side so she could join her protector in the night air. "It's not permanent right?" She really wanted him to tell her it wasn't, how would he protect her if it was.

"No, when the first sun rises in the morning I'll return to normal." He was quiet after that and never turned to look at the young girl in his prescence. Instead he just looked forward into the moonless sky as he felt her join him at the ledge of the patio. Her eyes bore into him, and he could feel it, she wanted an explanation he knew. "Every hanyou, half human half demon, has a time where they become completely human. Mine is when there is no moon, due to the lunar cycle when I was born."

Silence.

To her that made sense, well why he suddenly decided it was okay for them to reside in a village for the night. "So that's why you were okay with coming to a village for tonight?"

He shook his head in a yes manner. "I felt it would be safer for you in a village while I was in human form. I had hoped we would meet up with Sesshomaru, before this happend that way there would be someone to protect you while I couldn't. But, this will have to due for now."

Kagome could feel the seriousness of the situation and it was weighing her down, she would rather not think about her problems at the moment, but she did wonder. "Do you think your brother, Sesshomaru, will know how to get me back home?"

Inuyasha's head turned, and his eyes met with hers, realizing for the first time really how well she was coping with the changes in her life. He shrugged though, he didn't know if Sesshomaru would know how to send her back home. "I don't know, I guess that's something we'll have to ask him when we come across him." With the jewel being involved he wasn't even sure if she would be able to return home to her family. And for once, with that very thought his heart ached for this young woman.

"I hope, because I already know I can't go back the way I came." Her head hung low, her sorrow and obvious longing to be with her family radiating from her body. She had to change the subject before she broke down crying in front of this man she barely knew. "Did Kikyou, know of the self less wish?" Her last dream came back to her and she knew they had talked about it, but did she tell him what it was?

He froze, why did she always bring her up. That was apart of his past that he had tried everyday for over a hundred years to forget, but it seemed it would be impossible at this rate. "She thought she did, but after a while I highly doubt it was self less..."

Kagome just watched him until it was obvious he wasn't going to freely divulge the wish. "And? What did she think it was?"

He sighed, it always made his heart ache thinking about it. What she wanted him to wish for was obvious she disapproved of his heritage. "She wanted me to wish to be human for her..."

Why? Kagome didn't get to ask aloud before the ground began to shake startling her, and without thinking she threw herself into Inuyasha's arms that in turn wrapped themselves around her holding her close. Together they wobbled backwards a bit as the ground began to shake harder and crack causing the garden to be destroyed and disarrayed.

"Damn it!" Inuyasha called out, cursing his luck that they would be attacked when he was vulnerable and unable to protect Kagome. A large centipede type demon rose from the ground, her body was like the insect but a human face resided at the top of the body, smiling mischeviously.

Darting forward it spoke, "The jewel, and nobody to protect it, perfect timing for little old me." Kagome's heart jumped into her throat as she dug her face into Inuyasha's shoulder, for sure that these would be her last moments alive.

"Go inside you two, now before you get hurt!" Inuyasha and Kagome's heads both snapped up and behind the body of the centipede who also looked at the newly arrived voice. Shockingly to the both of them, it was the holy man, Miroku, who they met earlier who had come to their 'rescue'. He began to unravel his beaded left arm, bewildering the two who stood on the patio. The centipede only laughing at him.

"Oh, are you going lash me to death with those beads?" Maliciously she laughed in the holy man's face, not fearing what should be feared. As the beads fell from his hand though her eyes bulged out of their sockets as she was being not too gently pulled towards the revealed hole in his hand.

As the wind picked up, Inuyasha and Kagome decided to heed the man's advice and retreat back into the room. Slamming the door shut behind them, Inuyasha threw Kagome down onto one of the futons and flattened his body against hers.

"What are you doing!" Shippo called out to them, to him they were acting foolish and just plain weird.

"Get down Shippo!" Inuyasha yelled out as the door that they had come from was ripped from it's resting place revealing the destroyed garden. Shippo wasn't able to retreat as he was being pulled through the air towards the black void in the strange man's hand. The centipede screamed as it was being sucked into the abyss, and once it's head disappeared Miroku sealed his hand before the fox kit could be lost.

His body thumped to the ground, and standing up he realized he stood in a large crater where the inn's garden used to be. Looking around the only person he could see was Miroku, the man they had met earlier, and he was confused.

"What the hell was that!"

And apparently he wasn't the only one, looking up Shippo saw Kagome and Inuyasha standing at the edge of the crater staring at the two inhabitants of the new landscape.

Miroku sighed, scratching the back of his head not really looking forward to the explanation he was going to have to give for his ability. Climbing out of the crater, he knew he owed it to them though, considering they had something he was interested in. Dusting his robes off as he securely placed both feet on the ground above the crater, "Maybe we should retreat to my room, and we can discuss everything over tea?"

"So you're telling me, a demon, cursed your family with that air sucking hole in your left hand?" Inuyasha crossed his arms, uncomfortable that this man knew about his vulnerable night, but dealt with it because he had saved his Kagome. His? Well she was his to protect so it only made sense, right?

Miroku shook his head, "His name was Naraku, a shapeshifter. Tricked my grandfather in a cruel and unusual way."

"Well Miroku, it's not his fault that your family has a lecherous way." Kagome spoke, pointing out that had his grandfather been a little stronger willed, it could have probably been avoided. Though the shapeshifting demon brought a familiar sense to her, she wasn't quite sure why though, it's not like she knew much about demon's let alone any that were in this world.

"My point is, that I am using this curse to try and avenge my family!" Miroku placed his right hand over his heart, closing his eyes and bowing his head, trying to be respectful. But once his hand had made contact with Kagome's bum, the affect was lost.

"Hey, you better watch it you pervert!" Shippo called out from his corner in the room, he had taken it upon himself to be the demon protector for Kagome since Inuyasha was kind of out of commission for the time being. Inuyasha though looked as if he could rip the man's throat out, whether he had his claws or not.

Once the air had cleared of his wandering hands he chanced speaking once again, "I had hoped to ask you, Miss Kagome, about half the jewel you wear around your neck." Kagome was startled, and her hand grasped at the piece of what caused the trouble in her life.

"What is it to you, holy man?" Inuyasha's face was only inches away from Miroku's his hand around his throat, ready to press down against his windpipe if need be. Maybe he could still protect her in human form...

"I...only wished...to...know...what happ...end." Inuyasha released Miroku's throat when he heard Kagome's sharp intake of breathe.

"It broke! Things break you know, it is a pretty old jewel." Shippo spoke up, not wanting the man to know about the Thunder Brother's getting hold of it. He merely wished to not relive his failure to protect Kagome.

And Miroku knew that was all he was going to get from the three before him, and decided that for now it was good enough. Standing he straightened his robes and made his way over to his futon that was spaced further away from the spare ones they had moved into here since their room had been destroyed by his vortex. "I'll be retiring now, you three should do the same."

Shippo followed his example, but Kagome and Inuyasha only sat in silence, contemplating that night's events. Inuyasha, waiting for the first sun to rise, needing to feel reassured he would be able to protect Kagome by himself once again.

"You're face was the last one she saw before she died, did you know that?" She had been thinking about the shapeshifting demon, and was starting to form an idea in her head. Though she knew he was confused as to what she was talking about when he looked at her. "Kikyou..."

Inuyasha was really confused now, when Kikyou had died he wasn't even present at the palace, he was sent word of her death and the disappearance of the jewel. He never even returned after that, he was out on patrol and only retreated after that. "I wasn't even present at the time of her death, and when I found out I never even returned to the palace not even for her funeral." He felt slightly guilty when he shared that information.

"Did you ever find who killed her?" Her question was answered when his head cocked to the side and his eyes lowered to the ground in shame. "Did you even look?"

"We didn't know what he looked like! Apparently he could take many forms though..." Inuyasha trailed off at that thought and she knew then he was on the same train of thought she was on now, but she wasn't the one to connect the dots aloud for him.

"Naraku..." The two of them looked over at Miroku who had sat up in the middle of their conversation, once he realized what Kagome was trying to put together.

"Naraku." Inuyasha repeated to himself as he caught Kagome's eye.