InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Longest Journey ❯ Confrontations ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 13: Confrontations

"Inuyasha."

Miroku started to chuckle the moment he knew who was standing before them, and Inuyasha and the two women turned and gave him odd looks.

"I just find it amusing that, while we are busily chasing rumors of one supposedly 'dead' person, we stumble across one who was, undeniably, dead - and who obviously isn't now."

Inuyasha strode forward, moving closer to the figure of his father. "Yeah... how did that happen? he asked, suspiciously. "Dead people just don't usually wake up one day and start walking around. Especially after two hundred years."

Sugimi laughed at that. "You mean, they usually have help, like your mate did? That's true, I did have help - and I will certainly repay him for his impertinance."

The rest of the group moved slowly closer.

"Tell me, my Lord, are you the one that carries all the shards of the sacred jewel that I'm sensing?" Kikyou's tone was polite, but firm. Those shards should be handed over to her for safekeeping, in her opinion, no youkai should be allowed to possess them.

At that, a new voice rang across the road. A firm, strong voice, one with no doubt in her right to be exactly where she was, and demanding what she was about to demand.

"No, Kikyou, I am the one that carries those shards, and it is time that you hand over the ones that you have. They are not pure enough - Naraku can track you easily through them."

The shock in the minds of the people surrounding Inuyasha was immediate, and overwhelming.

Kagome took a deep breath and stepped proudly to her Lord's side, smiling gently up at him as he looked down at her with concern. "I'm fine, Sugimi. Don't be worried for me."

He smiled back at her, then looked back over at the group standing in front of them. Turning his gaze on his pup's mate, he said, "I would suggest that you do as she instructed, priestess, the shards belong to Kagome, and if you don't hand them over willingly, she will just call them to her."

The group all looked at each other, unsure what to make of this, all except Kikyou, whose gaze narrowed. Clenching her hand around the small cloth bag where she kept the shards, she hissed, "No! I will not give them to you, little copy. I was the one entrusted with the keeping of the jewel, not you! It is my duty!"

Kagome's eyebrow rose at that. "A duty, need I remind you, that you failed. That is why the kami had no choice but to bring me to this time - to correct your errors."

Sugimi chuckled and placed a hand on Kagome's arm. "Listen to me, pup," he addressed his son, "if you want to keep your mate in one piece, I suggest that you instruct her to hand over the shards. They truly do belong to Kagome, not your undead one." He turned a warning gaze on Kikyou as Inuyasha began to sputter. "And as for you - it would be best for you to understand that Kagome is not your reincarnation. She never was. She bears no relationship to you whatsoever."

Miroku and Sango had been quiet through this, both putting two and two together. With a knowing glance at Sango, Miroku stepped forward.

With a respectful bow, he spoke. "Kagome, it is indeed a joyful day for us to see you again. We have missed you greatly, Sango, Shippo, Kirara and I." As she smiled brightly at him, he turned and asked, "My Lord, am I correct in thinking that you are the Northern Lord?"

At that question, Inuyasha went dead silent, and his aura began elevating again, as everything that had just happened kicked in, and his mind began to process what he was dealing with.

Sugimi eyed his son, but nodded at the monk. "Indeed, you are correct."

Kagome, despite feeling Inuyasha's aura rising again, kept her gaze locked on Kikyou. "One more time, Kikyou. Give me the shards."

"No. I will not."

Kagome sighed, and holding up one hand, palm up, she closed her eyes, and pulsed her own aura just slightly. There was a high, clear ringing sound, and suddenly, the cloth bag that had held the shards shredded as all of the pieces that had been inside, floated over to Kagome, landing gently in her palm, to the shock of the people standing there. As soon as they touched her skin, all taint left them, and just as Kikyou had said they would earlier, they resembled nothing so much as pieces of broken glass.

Opening her eyes, Kagome took the shards, placed them in her own little bag, and patting them once, looked back up at a shocked and angered Kikyou.

"If you haven't guessed by now, Kikyou, I am Midoriko's reincarnation, not yours. So the jewel really does belong to me - after all, it's just a physical manifestation of a part of my soul."

Finally, with a deep sigh, she looked over at a still shocked, but obviously very angered Inuyasha, and said, "As for you? I think you need to calm yourself down, Inuyasha. I don't know what has you so riled up, but it's not good for you, and I really don't want to have to watch Sugimi deal with you when you're in a snit and your youkai is throwing a temper tantrum. Follow us - we have a camp set up just a short distance away - and we all have a lot to talk about."

With that, she reached over and placed her hand atop the daiyoukai's arm, and turning, the couple led the way into the trees.

The group of people following them were all in varying states of shock, and some, in anger as well.

Sango just didn't know what to say to her friend at all. She'd changed so much, she was like a totally different person. And Shippo felt the same way - she wasn't quite the same person that had spent so much time with him before.

Miroku was intrigued, to say the least, and quite drawn to the beauty his friend had become, as well as impressed with her poise - she had always fallen to her feelings of inferiority towards Kikyou, but she certainly didn't react that way now. And of course, he was extremely curious... he could barely wait to hear this tale. He was sure it would be an epic one.

Inuyasha was still in shock, his mind struggling desperately to sort through all the information he'd recieved since finding out Kagome was still alive. But even more, was his shock at finally seeing her. She'd changed, almost beyond recognition in some ways. Physically, you could tell it was her, only better - she was all filled out and grown, no longer a young girl, but a woman.

And what a woman. She was absolutely gorgeous, from her head to her feet. Graceful, poised, she was everything any male could want, and his blood heated - but then, looking at her, arm attached to his father, he growled, that rage beginning to kick in. She was his, not his father's, and as he remembered what they'd been told about the Northern Lord, his anger only increased.

As soon as they stopped, he'd be setting the both of them straight. She belonged to him.

---zZz---

As they entered the clearing they'd camped in the night before, Kagome let go of Sugimi's arm with a squeal, and rushed over close to the fire. When the loud noise drew everyone's attention, they were all surprised to see two twin-tailed fire neko's curled up together, purring.

"Oh! They look so adorable! I wish I had a camera right now... I'd love to keep that picture for posterity." Kagome grinned as Kisho and Kirara both opened red eyes and purred louder.

'What's a camera, my Kagome?' Kisho asked.

'It's some weird thing she brings from her time, like a magic box, and it makes instant portraits of whatever you point it at.' Kirara yawned when she finished, obviously bored.

"You remember, Kirara! I'm impressed!"

Sango was staring from the neko's, to her friend, and back. "Um, Kagome, who is that second neko, and how are you talking to Kirara?"

"Oh... I'm sorry everyone! Let me introduce you. This is Kisho, he's Kirara's litter-mate, or brother, if you will. He's my protector. And I found out that fire neko's talk, but not out loud. They use mind-speech."

Kisho gave an aggravated snort. 'Why is it that humans are always so surprised? We aren't stupid, you know.'

Sugimi gave a snort of laughter at that, but before he could say anything, Inuyasha interrupted, angered at the easy cameraderie between his father and Kagome.

"Yeah, okay, whatever. Now I want to know what the hell is going on, Ka-go-me. You disappear, making us all think you're dead, and then, a year later, we start hearing rumors that you're still alive, and when I nearly kill everyone desperately searching for you, I find you all cozied up to my father?"

Kagome sighed, placing a restraining hand on Sugimi's arm when he growled and went to move forward towards his son. "Alright, why don't we all sit down and get comfortable. I have a feeling this is gonna take all night."

"Feh!" Throwing a disgusted look at his father, he walked over to Kagome and attempted to sit down right at her side... causing everyone in camp to flinch when a low, feral growl echoed through the clearing. Even Inuyasha's eyes widened when that was followed by the flaring of his father's aura in warning.

"I would suggest, whelp, that you go take a seat near your mate," he said, in a calm, yet deadly, voice. "You dishonor her with your actions."

Sitting down, Sugimi reached across and grabbed Kagome, pulling her pointedly down into his lap - and never taking his eyes off his son as he nuzzled his nose into her neck, still letting out that low growl.

Kagome frowned at Inuyasha. "What the hell is wrong with you, dog boy? You spent all those years mooning after your oh-so-perfect Kikyou, and now that you've got her, you're ignoring her?"

Sugimi spluttered with laughter even as Inuyasha began growling. "Dog boy, beloved?!" Is that what you call my son? And just what do plan on calling our pups, when we have them? I can't believe you, sometimes, Kagome. The things you come up with!"

The rest of the group, save Inuyasha and Kikyou burst into laughter, especially Shippo, who was finally beginning to creep out of Miroku's robes. As soon as Kagome caught sight of him, her attention was drawn away from Inuyasha, and she opened her arms, hoping Shippo would still come to her.

He did. As soon as he saw her open her arms and smile at him, he scampered right past Inuyasha with a muttered "Stupid Inuyasha", and right into Kagome's lap, little arms twining around her neck and holding on for dear life.

"It's all bakayasha's fault, K'gome, 'cause he's stupid and he chased that dead woman and then made you leave, I know it! I've missed you really, really bad!"

Kagome hugged the tiny kit with all her strength, tears in her eyes as she looked up at her friends. "Perhaps I should be the first to explain," she said, in a low, but firm voice. "Please, everyone, just listen, let me finish before you start asking questions, okay?" She waited till everyone nodded, though she frowned at the enraged expression on Inuyasha's face. She didn't understand what he was so angry at.

Sugimi did, and was pretty sure that things were going to get very ugly before too long. As much as he didn't want a bad relationship with his youngest pup, he wouldn't allow anyone to come between he and Kagome - and it looked like the only way to get that through the boy's head would be to beat it through. He sighed, and tuned into what Kagome was saying.

"... so, when I realized that Inuyasha had mated Kikyou, I knew that it was only a matter of time before he tried to force me back through the well - and I couldn't allow that." Eyes sad, she sighed deeply. "My destiny lies here in this time, not in the one I was born in - and the only way I could see stopping him from that, was to disappear. Kagome had to die." she looked up, catching Sango's and Miroku's eyes. "I'm so, so sorry that I hurt you guys like that - the only excuse I can give is the one you just heard, and I hope that one day you can forgive me."

Kikyou piped up. "So you just assumed that Inuyasha would try to make you go home, and that's why you did this?"

Kagome leveled her with a look. "And are you telling me I was wrong?" As Kikyou shifted uncomfortably, she nodded. "That's what I thought. And if he hadn't tried, you'd have suggested it, right? After all, why was I needed anymore, since now you would be traveling with them?"

Sugimi tightened his arms around her in comfort, purring very low at her to calm her. "Hush, now, beloved. I don't think your friends are angry at you." He looked over at them, and they shook their heads. "I believe they put the blame where it belongs; on my son."

Inuyasha who'd been silent while taking it all in, flushed a deep, angry crimson as his temper heated even more. "How the fuck is it my fault?!"

Sugimi's eyes narrowed, and his claws flexed. "Because you left the woman you'd sworn to protect, defenceless and alone while you went off to get laid, to put it bluntly," ignoring the blushes on the faces of the women. "You lost your honor that day, Inuyasha, and believe me, I will be making sure you pay for that mistake. It is only fortunate for you that she was not hurt."

Inuyasha jumped up, aura fluctuating wildly, eyes haloed in red. "Listen here, old man, what happened then is none of your damn business - it's between Kagome and I, so just butt the hell out." He growled loudly at his sire. "I also hear that you're courting my Kagome... is that true?"

Kagome's mouth dropped open in shock, and she watched as Kikyou got up and walked off into the trees, before turning and looking at her friends. They shrugged.

Sugimi's eyes had narrowed in rage, and they also were haloed in red now, as his courtship of his female was being questioned, and rising to his feet easily, even with Kagome, he set her down gently, then stepped closer to his pup.

As Kagome opened her mouth to yell at Inuyasha, Sugimi's gesture cut her off. "No, my mate. I told you that there was something I needed to deal with my son about - well, this was it. The whelp has decided that he wants you and Kikyou as his mates - both, and wants to try to convince you to be his secondary mate. You would be subordinate to the undead one for the rest of your life if he took you, you know, and I will never allow that."

Inuyasha snarled at that, too angry now to notice Kagome's reaction. That was a big mistake.

"Inuyasha!! Osuwari! Osuwari!! How could you even think I would go for something like that! I can't believe you, you arrogant ASS!!! Osuwari!" She was fuming, and Sugimi stood, for the first time that day, shocked speechless. Apparently there was something she'd forgotten to mention - and he couldnt help the snicker that passed his lips.

Osuwari?! No wonder she calls him 'dog boy'... I bet Sesshoumaru gets a kick out of this one - he's certainly sadistic enough.

Shippo, Sango, and Miroku all had wide grins on their faces - this was something they'd actually missed, and Shippo couldn't help jumping down from Kagome's arms and running up to the crater that the hanyou now lay in, groaning pathetically, and yelling, "Baka Inuyasha! You never learn!"

Kagome, on the other hand, was seriously upset. As Inuyasha raised his head from his crater, she glared at him, and his ears went flat back against his head, knowing it wasn't over.

What she said next, however, caught everyone off guard.

"How could you disrespect not only me, but Kikyou that way? Did you not notice that she left, you idiot?! She's your mate, and if your not careful, she'll leave you, and at this point, I think you'll deserve it!" She pinned him with a disgusted look. "You've been to my time, Inuyasha, and you know full well that taking two mates, or wives, isn't done, in fact, in my time it's illegal! I would never agree to something like that - that would make me a whore."

Inuyasha climbed to his feet, and stared at her. "It doesn't matter, Kagome. I won't give up. I want you as my mate, as much as I want Kikyou, and I can't help how I feel," he said, ignoring his father's growl. "No matter what you say, I can't give up. I love you as much as I love her."

Kagome sucked in a deep breath, totally blindsided by that, and suddenly, rage filtered through her mind, and taking a step forward, she let fly with her hand, slapping him hard across the face. "You bastard! How dare you say that to me - now! You have no right! You're a year too late," she said, as furious tears ran down her face, "because I don't love you that way anymore, Inuyasha. I'm in love with your father - and nothing you can say or do will ever change that." Spinning on her heel, ignoring his pale look of anguish, and her other friends shocked faces, she strode off into the trees in the opposite direction from the one Kikyou had taken.

Kisho hopped up with Kirara on his heels and followed after Kagome, assuring Sugimi that he would make sure she was safe.

Everyone left standing in the clearing turned angry glances on the hanyou, which he totally ignored, still staring wistfully off into the trees where Kagome had gone.

His attention was yanked back to his surroundings when he was struck, hard, in the chest, flying back against a tree, before dropping unceremoniously to the ground.

"Listen to me, whelp. You will not interfere with my chosen mate. And that is what she is, the only thing left is the formal marking. She has already agreed to be mine, we were simply waiting to kill Naraku first." He glared hard at his groaning son. "Let me explain something to you, boy. Do you know why, in the end, I was brought back? It was to meet her. Before my death, Midoriko foretold that I would meet her reincarnation - because she is my soul-mate. So give it up now, before you get hurt, because there is no way you will ever have her. She is mine, just as I am hers."

Miroku shot him a fascinated look, but broke off whatever he'd been about to say when Inuyasha pulled himself up onto his feet again. Head lowered, eyes hidden by his bangs, and ears flat against his head, he said, "I don't care what some long dead miko told you. I will not give up." He turned and walked off towards the road, and Sugimi let him go, despite his youkai blood screaming at him to destroy the threat to his female.

Sango and Miroku exchanged concerned looks.

This wasn't looking good.