InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The worth of a friend ❯ Realisations ( Chapter 2 )

The worth of a friend

 

A/N: You know the drill. I don't own either of the inu brothers (boo hoo)

This chappie will be rated Y for bad language.

 

Chapter 2

 

“Geez Kags, why'd you pack so much stuff?” Hoshiko whined as she stood beside the old well. Looking down into it she couldn't stop the shiver going through her as she felt the ominous vibes coming from within.

 

Chuckling lightly Kagome adjusted the straps on her shoulders then checked her sisters as she felt Inuyasha come up behind them. Looking over her shoulder she saw her mother and brother standing at the top of the steps. “Well, I guess this is goodbye for now you two. We'll be back as soon as we can.”

 

Smiling warmly Mrs Higurashi pulled her little boy close and hugged him as she watched Inuyasha jump onto the side of the well before grabbing the girls by their packs and lifted them both into the air. “Keep them safe Inuyasha, and I wish you luck on your journey.”

 

Nodding silently in reply he ignored Hoshiko's pleads to be put down and dropped her and Kagome into the well before jumping in after them. Drifting through the time slip as the blue light surrounded the three he had to smile as he saw the girls latch onto each other in reassurance. With a few muttered `umpths' and a bit of stumbling they all landed on the other side of the well. Not wasting any more time he grabbed the girls like he did earlier and jumped out, causing Hoshiko to squeak out loudly in fright at the unexpected move. Placing them on the ground beside the well he quickly jumped out of the way when the now furious pink haired girl started to lay into him.

 

“Hey jerk, that's no way to treat a lady ya know!” Hoshiko ranted as she took another swing at him. Feeling enraged that he kept on dodging her blows she suddenly found herself blinking in confusion down at the hanyou as he stared up back at her in shock from his new position sprawled out on the grass at her feet. “Wha…what'd I do?”

 

Running quickly up to her sister's side as she saw and felt her rising panic she swiftly wrapped her up in a comforting hug while Inuyasha got to his feet. “Its ok Hoshi, no need to worry. I should have warned you about this earlier. I'm sorry.”

 

“What do you have to be sorry about Kags?” She whispered as she returned the hug, now realising that others had joined them in the small clearing around the well. Pulling away but keeping a grip on one hand she watched them approach.

 

“Lady Kagome, it is good to see you have returned.” Miroku greeted happily as he saddled up to her sister. “And who may I ask is this lovely lady you have brought with you?”

 

“Monk…” Inuyasha and Sango both growled out in warning together as they glared at the amorous lecher. Stalking up to him the demon slayer grabbed him by the back of his robes and pulled him away, shooting the new comer an apologetic smile.

 

Seeing that the crisis was now averted Kagome looked and had to smile as she saw that the little fox kit Shippo had already wooed his way and was now perched on Hoshiko's shoulder, talking happily about something and causing her to laugh in reply. Watching her sister she laughed with her as she suddenly let go of her and scooped up the child in her arms and gave him a loving hug.

 

“Oh Kags, he's so adorable!” She gushed, then blushed prettily when she realised that she was being watched by everyone. Smiling sheepishly she quickly stilled and held the young fox tighter as a powerful force raced up her spine. Looking to her sister she saw the surprise appear on the girls face and could see Inuyasha's darken as he growled threateningly in the direction that the others had come.

 

“What the hell is that bastard brother of mine doing here?” Inuyasha roared, his hands on his fathers fang as he bared his teeth at where Sesshoumaru's scent and aura was coming from.

 

“That's why we came when Shippo said he could smell you.” Sango replied from behind him. “Sesshoumaru wishes to talk to you.”

 

“Yes dear brother. Where have you been hiding?” The taiyoukai suddenly intervened as he appeared from behind a tree.

 

“That's none of your fucking business you bastard. So why don't you just turn around and get lost!” Inuyasha snarled and drew his sword, causing Hoshiko to gasp out in alarm as she watched it transform.

 

Not wanting to cause her sister any more upset at the moment Kagome quickly stepped in. “Sit boy!” Ignoring the grumbling curses from her hanyou she took hold of Hoshiko's hand and dragged her towards the path that lead to Keade's village. “Come on you guys, why don't we discuss this back at Keade's.” Breezing past Sesshoumaru she didn't see his cold golden gaze latch onto her sister, or the slight widening of his eyes as their aura's brushed against each other.

 

Even though she's human she holds tremendous power. The taiyoukai thought as he turned to follow them, ignoring the rest of his brother's pack as they fell in line behind him.

 

Half an hour later found them all sat in Keade's hut, with a bristling hanyou spluttering in the corner after numerous sits and with Kagome sat on his back trying to calm him down.

 

“There's no fucking way he's joining us. No way!” Inuyasha growled, then yelped when the girl on his back pinched one of his ears in reprimand. Looking over his shoulder at her he snarled out `bitch' under his breath, then yelped again when she sat him in return.

 

“Inuyasha calm down would you.” Kagome breathed hotly and scratched his ears just the way he liked to sooth his barks. “It does sound like a good idea even to me. And with him around me and Sango can take Hoshiko aside and teach her some things without having to worry about being attacked constantly.”

 

Looking up at her sister Hoshiko frowned in confusion. “Teach me what exactly Kags?”

 

Getting up off of Inuyasha after hearing his mumbled promise that he'd behave she took hold of her sisters hand and motioned for Sango to follow. “You guys stay here while us three chat ok.” Not waiting for a reply the three ladies left the hut.

 

Walking between her sister and Sango Hoshiko couldn't help but fidget as she let them lead her to a small river. “What do we need to talk about?”

 

Squeezing her hand Sango pulled her to the side. “Since you will be coming with us on our quest me and Kagome will teach you how to defend yourself. And since I noticed your carrying a weapon already I will show you how to wield and use it properly.”

 

Feeling relieved that it wasn't anything bad Hoshiko could only smile and nod in return, and pulling out said blade she watched and listened intently as her new friend walked her through her first self defence lesson. An hour later when the others came to find them they were shocked to see that Hoshiko was holding her dagger that had grown in length and was glowing faintly. Sesshoumaru watch quietly from the shadow of some trees as the human girl duelled with the demon slayer, their blades clanging together as they met.

 

“That's good Hoshiko, your doing really well.” Sango applauded, ducking a slash to her head and on reflex she lashed out at the girls unprotected left arm.

 

“OW!” Hoshiko suddenly wailed, her hands dropping her weapon as she fell to her knees. Reaching up her right hand to the hurt on her upper left arm she pulled it away and gasped in fright as she saw it come away stained in blood. Feeling her heart race her mind was suddenly thrust back to when the thief plunged his knife into her chest, and the sharp pain she'd felt from the blow. Closing her eyes at the memory she felt her whole body quake as her emotions flew out of control.

 

“Oh no, Hoshiko, I'm so sorry!” Sango gasped in alarm as she sheathed her sword and took a step towards the downed girl.

 

“DON'T!” Sesshoumaru suddenly bark as he sailed into the clearing from his hiding position. He had felt the girls power skyrocketing and knew what was about to happen.

 

Gasping in fright and catching on to what was coming Kagome grabbed Sango's arm and dragged her to a safer distance. Seeing the ground around the fallen girl swirl and pick up dangerously the demon slayer didn't object and quickly ducked behind a tree.

 

Not being able to take any more of the mental pain Hoshiko threw her head back and screamed to the sky, letting go of her anguish and bottled up emotions she kept locked up deep within her those past couple of weeks. With a deafening boom a large portion of the ground around her exploded violently, her aura blasting out around her in a mixed colour of pink and white. Not moving from his position Sesshoumaru just shielded his face with his arm as the girl unleashed her power. When the dust and debris final settled he looked around them to see the damage she had caused, and was silently impressed as he took in the split earth and felled trees.

 

Interesting. And all this of her own powers. Knowing the others they will think it is the jewel that has done this. Fools.

 

“HOSHI!” Kagome shouted worriedly as she ran to her fallen sister. Dropping to her knees she pulled the limp girl into her lap and swiftly checked her over.

 

“I'm sorry Kagome, I didn't mean to injure her.” Sango pleaded as she knelt beside her. Reaching out a hand she looked at the wound on the girls left arm. “The cut isn't that deep and won't require stitches. Lets take her back to Keade.” Motioning Kilala over she picked up the girl and placed her on the transformed neko's back. With the others following them they headed back to the small hut.

 

“I wonder why Lady Hoshiko reacted the way she did?” Miroku thought out loud as he watched Keade treat her wound.

 

“At first I thought it was the jewel that caused her strength and such to increase.” Kagome began to explain while she smoothed pink hair from her sister's forehead. “But when I look back on it and on her life it doesn't really fit.”

 

“What do you mean Kagome? Surely it has to be the jewel shard that's causing this, just like its done the same for Kouga and any others demon and human alike that has had a shard in them.” Sango replied.

 

Shaking her head and sighing Kagome went on. “But with Kouga the shard just enhanced what he already had. And the others were just corrupted by the power the shard offered them. But Hoshi is different. I know she still hurts from what has happened to her with her family, but she doesn't hold any ill feelings in her any more. And from what I can remember from when we were little she never showed anything out of the ordinary.”

 

Getting tired of them all beating around the bush with the subject Sesshoumaru intervened from his position standing next to the door. “It is because her powers were so well hidden and lay dormant miko. And when you placed that shard inside her body the power it wields brought them to the surface. Now she will find it very hard to control it every time she becomes too emotional.”

 

With a snort Inuyasha locked eyes with his older sibling from his position sat against a far wall. “And what do you suggest she do Sesshoumaru? Train with you? Ha!”

 

Ignoring the remark from his idiot brother he turned to leave. “Precisely. I will be back.”

 

Looking at each other they all had the same surprised expressions on their faces as they looked from where the taiyoukai had been to Hoshiko still laid out on the floor.

 

“If what he says is true then we must remove the shard from young girls body, and quickly.” Keade broke in, before standing to go and retrieve the items she would need.

 

“Wait Keade! Won't she die if you remove it?” Sango asked frantically, the situation reminding her of the predicament her own younger brother was in.

 

Looking at the demon slayer Keade sighed and shook her head. “No dear child. From what Kagome told me her sister was still alive when the shard was placed in her body. All it did was speed up the healing process on her fatal wound.”

 

Somewhat satisfied with the reply Sango sat back down and petted Kilala in her lap, her gaze never straying from the still unconscious Hoshiko as Kagome laid down next to her and hugged her close. The females didn't once look up or notice when Inuyasha and Miroku left the hut quietly.

 

~*~*~

 

With everyone bedded down for the night in Keade's hut Kagome placed a gentle hand over the small cut on her sisters chest as she snuggled up closer to her still sleeping form. Resting her head on Hoshiko's shoulder she sighed tiredly though wouldn't let herself fall asleep. Looking again at the other companions in the small hut she saw little Rin and Shippo sharing a futon next to theirs, and that Miroku had shuffled closer to Sango's in his sleep, his cursed hand inching towards her backside as she lay on her side facing away from him with Kilala curled up by her. Wishing that Inuyasha was in here and not sleeping in a tree outside with his brother she sighed again and laid still. Looking back on the past few hours since the shard was removed from Hoshiko's body she had to smile again as she remembered the look on Sesshoumaru's face when he came back with his pack in tow to find Keade pulling it from the small slit in the girls chest, and was even more surprised when Sango suddenly appeared in front of him and called him a hentai for ogling the girls bare chest. She didn't think the taiyoukai's eyes could become any bigger!

 

“Kags….”

 

Looking quickly at Hoshiko's face she was glad and a little disappointed that the girl was only talking in her sleep, and pulling the cover over them a little closer she wrapped her arms around her and whispered reassuringly in her ear.

 

“I'm here Hoshi…your safe.”

 

Finally letting her eyes drift closed she didn't notice the twin pair of glowing golden eyes that watched them from their perches outside in the trees.

 

~*~*~

 

A/N: Well that's it for this chappie, I know It's a little short but the next one I'll make longer. Remember RNR people!