InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Nature of Sacrifice ❯ Past and Present ( Chapter 1 )

I'm updating again today.. just because I've got a muse making me do it so don't get used to two updates in the same day! I can't always manage it!

 

Enjoy!

 

[[ DISCLAMER: I DO NOT, NOR HAVE I EVER, OWNED INUYASHA. I'm simply borrowing the characters and putting them through hell. ^.^ ]]

 

 

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The Nature of Sacrifice

 

By Evie Lovejoy

 

Chapter One:

Past and Present

 

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The scene came to her in black and white at first, the only color being the red of blood. Thousands of bodies scattered around her. Kagome sat in the center of the carnage, the silence of it unbareable. The worst part was that she couldn't cry, she couldn't make a sound. She sat there, mute, the complete and nearly pure Shikon no Tama in one hand, while the other ran through bloodstained silver hair. The ones she loved were around her. No, their bodies. Their faces at peace, while their wounds were hard to look at. So, she stared forward, afraid to look down to one in particular.

 

His golden eyes were still open. Glassy golden eyes, devoid of life, his last words echoing her in mind.

 

"Kagome.. you're.. safe.."

 

It was then the jewel began to glow, envolping her in it's pure light..

 

Sitting up with a start, trying to breathe, she held a hand to her chest. It was then she heard what had really woken her up, her cell phone. The Offspring's 'Why don't you get a job?' told her it was work calling. Bleary eyed, she grabbed for the phone and flipped it open.

 

"Hello?" She mumbled, closing her eyes and still catching her breath.

 

"Oh good! I thought you'd never wake up! That was the third time I called!" Sango's cheery voice answered, bringing painful images to Kagome's mind. Shaking her head to clear them, she forced some tone to her voice.

 

"I take it someone's sick and you need me in today?" She asked, pretending to be annoyed. Truthfully, she needed the extra money and there was way she would be able to sleep. Kagome said she was an insomniac. Really, she slept fine, it was the dreams and memories that kept her awake.

 

A pouting tone entered Sango's voice, "I'm sorry, darlin', you know I only call you on your days off unless it's important but.. Well, Ayame just walked out on us." Kagome had been taking a drink of water and looking at the clock, it read five PM, when she heard Ayame's name.

 

Coughing, she finally answered. "Ayame?! She's always on time and never misses a shift-"

 

"I know, but apparently that mate of hers is in the hospital. She just got called and literally ran out of here like the hounds of hell were on her tail, no pun intended." Sango chuckled a bit, while her family apparently was descended from youkai exterminators, they long ago held no disharmony toward them, but still studied them. Often, former youkai exterminating families became specialists in the race's field, still training in case one went insane or some such.

 

Ayame's mate, Koga, was a pack leader and ran a preserve for wolves. It was true he had tried to persue Kagome in high school, but she finally got it into his head that she wanted to just be friends. Sure, it took six years and Ayame to do it, but he was much happier with the alpha ookami youkai he had chosen.

 

"What happened?" Kagome asked, concern in her voice. He was still a friend, and she couldn't help but worry.

 

"Well, apparently his beta challenged him for dominance, at least that was what I could get out of her before she ran out of here. She called back while she was on her way. He won, but he was hurt badly enough to go to the hospital. But you know him, he's so stubborn that he won't be down for too long." Sango, with a smile on her face easily heard through the phone, changed the subject. "Anyway, I really need the midshift covered. Could you please come in this time? I'll make sure to give you tomorrow off to get you back into your overnight groove! Please?!"

 

Sango, being the manager of the front of the store, also did the scedule each week, which gave her the power to promise days off. And if it got shifts covered, she didn't care about disgruntled waiters and their tantrums over their shifts being changed. It warmed Kagome's heart to hear Sango so happy in this life, even as she begged for her to come in. Smiling wistfully herself, she nodded, even though Sango wouldn't be able to see it. "Yeah, I'll come in. Give me a half hour to an hour to get ready. Will you give me a ride?"

 

Sango grinned, "Of course. I'm about to get off, my replacement will get on, and I'll be out to get you, okay?"

 

Kagome chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck, silently glad for the distraction from her thoughts. Midshifts were never too slow, she always had something to do, which kept her from thinking. "Yep, I'll be out on the front step. See ya!"

 

"See ya!" Click.

 

It never occured to Kagome that in saying yes to that shift that she'd be cursing herself later.

 

*.*.*

 

After a shower and some makeup, Kagome almost felt awake, but at least she felt better. Not being able to afford her rent and food as well as a car, insurance and gas, the girl never bothered with getting her liscence. Besides, a call to work and someone would be more than willing to give her a ride. If she had errands, Sango or Ayame were always willing to help her out. They had been friends since high school, even after the year she had been out of school.

 

She never did tell them why she hadn't been in school when she hit fifteen. And unless something drastic happened, she wasn't going to.

 

Sango pulled up in the gravel driveway in her old VW bug, it had been yellow once, but was dulled with age and use. Standing, she scampered to the car and slipped inside, Sango driving off instantly.

 

Sango was clad in a pair of old blue jeans and a magenta 24/7 t-shirt, as was the uniform, her ponytail high, as it had always been. All the t-shirts were different colors, Kagome's being kelly green today, and a pair of comfortable dark blue low riders on her hips, her hair put in a high bun.

 

Sango always drove super fast with the windows open, and Kagome wondered if it was because she missed riding Kirara through the air. Disrupting Kagome's thoughts, Sango turned down the CD player, which had been playing some classical music. "I set you up for tonight, unless you get slammed, you shouldn't have to do any sidework." Kagome nodded, yawning a bit. Sango glanced over at her as they hit a red light, her voice soft. "I really didn't mean to wake you up.. but you were the only one that would come in."

 

Chuckling, the passenger shook her head. "Oh don't worry about it. I never sleep for very long."

 

"Exactly, you need more sleep. I worry about you, Kags." Sango said, speeding away from the now green light, her eyes on the road. "We all do. You've been more and more distant.. You'd tell me if there was anything wrong, wouldn't you?" Grey eyes glanced over at her, almost testing her.

 

Kagome internally winced. A strong part of her wanted to confess, tell her everything, Kanna had made her want to do the same. But she couldn't, because she knew it might awaken their own memories. And she wouldn't wish her sleepless nights on anyone she cared for. Forcing a smile, she shook her head again, her eyes focusing on the plaza where they worked as she was pulling in. "Of course, Sango. You're like a sister." In a way, that was her way of telling her exactly the problem. You protect family.

 

Sango frowned deeply, just knowing there was something behind Kagome's eyes. It was as if she had known Kagome for eternity. Actually, almost everyone she knew it was the same way. Kagome, Kanna, Kagura, Ayame, Koga, Miroku, Inuyasha.. even Sesshoumaru, though he was even more distant than Kanna on a good day. She had met them all in high school, and now in their mid to late twenties, they were a part of her. They always had been. She just knew Kagome was holding back, but if she badgered her, she would close up. Ever since she was fifteen, it had been like that. She wanted the old, innocent Kagome back.

 

Pulling up in front of the restaurant, Kagome moved to open her door, but Sango reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You are my sister, Kagome. Which means you can tell me anything and everything." Kagome stiffened before giving a final, strained smile.

 

"Please Sango.. don't ask." Giving her a tight hug, Kagome dashed out of the car and into the back door of the restaurant. Sango watched, sitting there for a moment, something steeling inside her. Kagome was going to tell her what was wrong. She would help fix it. If it killed her, she'd get her to open up. With that thought, she drove off as Kagome clocked into work.

 

*.*.*

 

As she opened the backdoor, she could see a figure in a violet shirt behind the grill, making her smile. Miroku was a good cook, and a good server, but since he hit on every female that breathed, they kept him in the kitchen. She turned, grabbing her time sheet. It had been too long since she had worked midshift.

 

Being so concentrated on clocking in, she didn't hear the footsteps behind her. Feeling a stroke along her bottom, she started to grumble, "Miroku.." But a loud thump followed it, causing her to spin around to look on the scene behind her. Miroku was crumpled on the floor, holding his head. Inuyasha, his long silver hair in a braid stood over him, growling, the red bandana covering his ears matching his uniform shirt.

 

"Ya damned pervert! She's not even clocked in and you're already groping her?!" His gruff voice was softer than it had been in his previous life, and she couldn't help but smile at their familiar antics.

 

"I was just admiring her beauty!" Miroku cried, rubbing the top of his head with a near pout.

 

Clearing her throat, she crossed her arms over her bust. "And just who is watching the front end right now?" They both looked a little startled that she was still there, and golden and dark purple eyes widened at her words.

 

Inuyasha growled, "Damnit, bitch, you just have to let him grope you.." He started to walk away before she reached out, stepping over Miroku to do so, and tugged at his braid.

 

"HEY! I don't ask for him to grab my ass! Now stop being a angry puppy and get out there!" She pushed him a bit, garnering a growl, him spinning around, his eyes narrowed at her.

 

"I. Am. Not. A. PUPPY!" He growled, nose to nose with her.

 

Narrowing her eyes as well, forgetting about the front end again, she tugged on one of his dragon tails. "Then stop acting like one!"

 

Pushing them both away from each other and placing himself between, Miroku cleared his throat. Looking to Inuyasha, he spoke calmly. "You. Go out and check on your tables." He turned to Kagome, smiling. "And you, get a drink full of caffiene and calm down." He pushed them both out of the kitchen and shouted. "And stay out of my kitchen unless you need something!"

 

Both sighing, purposefully keeping their eyes averted, went their seperate ways. She grabbed a glass as he walked out onto the floor. Filling her glass with Mountain Dew, she leaned her forehead on her forearm. A single thought crossed her mind, 'This is going to be a long night..'

 

***

 

There's a little taste of things to come.. be patient, people! This story will have MANY layers!

 

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

 

~Evie

 

Oh, and PS, I'm looking for a good beta reader.. I try to keep my spelling and grammar correct, but everyone's got faults.. If you're a good editor, please contact me through my reviews or my profile.

 

THANKS!