InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Past and Present Reconciled ( Chapter 3 )

Time After Time

 

By RosieBird

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. I'm getting counseling for that.

 

Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in awhile (in a month, as someone pointed out), but I've been busy. And then I lost my disk with the stories on them. Anyway, here be chapter 3.

 

Chapter 3 - Past and Present Reconciled

 

Kagome walked silently up the street towards Higurashi Shrine. She glanced over to her companion. Inuyasha was walking along beside her, starting fixedly ahead.

 

“It's really him,” she thought, “But he said his name was Chiko.”

 

“Kagome, I'm not going anywhere,” Inuyasha said suddenly, “You don't have hold on to my hand so hard.”

 

Kagome snatched her hand away, afraid that she'd hurt him. Inuyasha smiled slightly and took her hand in his again, holding it gently. They walked together like this for the remainder of the journey. They climbed the steps to the shrine. The setting sun bathed the rooftops in orange golds. They passed by the well house and Inuyasha paused to look at it.

 

“The Bone Eater's Well,” he said quietly, “You came to me through it.”

 

Kagome stared at the well. She hadn't tried to go through it since she came back 3 months ago. There hadn't been any reason to go back. Inuyasha's arm came around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. Kagome suddenly became aware of her heart pounding against her ribcage, almost painfully hard. Could he hear it?

 

“Let's go inside,” she said quietly, and she moved away towards the house. Inuyasha stared after her a moment before following her inside.

 

The house was dark inside. Kagome slipped out of her shoes and put her bag by the door.

 

“I'm home,” Kagome called. She was met with silence. She walked into the kitchen. Pinned to the refrigerator was a note from Kagome's mom.

 

Dear Kagome,

 

Souta had a soccer game tonight. We'll be home late. Help yourself to food in the fridge.

 

Also, you got accepted into Gakugei High School. You're new school uniform and a packet of school information is upstairs. I'm so proud of you!

 

Love, Mom

 

Kagome grinned, despite her confusion and despair. She was going to one of the best high schools around. And…

 

“This is the school Inuyasha attends,” Kagome said aloud.

 

“Congratulations,” Inuyasha's voice behind her caused her to jump. She whirled around to stare at him.

 

“I can't believe I made it into high school,” she cried and smiled. She realized how odd it felt to smile again. Inuyasha returned her smile.

 

“Why don't you go upstairs and change,” he suggested, “If you'd like, I'll make you something to eat.”

 

Kagome laughed. She could hardly mistake the sudden tone of his voice. She walked to the cupboard and pulled two Ramen meals from the shelf.

 

“Have at it,” she said. Then, she turned to go upstairs and change. Inuyasha smiled. He'd hoped she'd have some Ramen in the house.

 

****************

 

Kagome changed into an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of gray sweatpants. She ran a brush through her hair and noticed the clear garment bag on her bed. Her new school uniform. It was a blue plaid skirt, a white blouse, and a sleeveless blue sweater vest. She'd go through the packet of school information later on. She hurried downstairs and saw Inuyasha sitting on the couch, waiting. Two steaming cups of Ramen were on the table.

 

“You look nice,” Inuyasha said.

 

Kagome blushed. She hadn't really given much thought to how she would look and suddenly felt self-conscious in her sweats. She sat down on the couch beside Inuyasha and took a sip of soup.

 

“So, Gakugei High School,” Inuyasha said, “Funny how things keep working out to our advantage. So, you're probably curious about why I'm here.”

 

“That's the understatement of the century,” Kagome said.

 

“It's a long story. Sure you want to hear it?”

 

Kagome nodded. Inuyasha sighed and began.

 

*Flashback*

 

Kagome faded from Inuyasha's eyes as he and Kikyo descended into the earth. Inuyasha looked at Kikyo. She was silent and still, almost like a lifelike doll. She didn't move or speak or even seem to be alive at all.

 

“But then,” Inuyasha thought, “She never was alive.” And he realized how true it was. Kikyo had died all those years ago. But Inuyasha's desire to avenge the past had made it impossible for him to move on. He had realized too late that his heart belonged to Kagome. He had admitted once that it was Kikyo's spirit that he loved. But he now realized that he had wanted Kikyo's spirit to be in Kikyo's body. He'd been selfish and he knew it.

 

“Now I'm being punished for it,” he thought.

 

It seemed like an eternity before they finally stopped falling. Inuyasha looked around him. This was nothing like the paintings of hell he'd seen. This was a barren, empty wasteland. There was nothing here. He felt neither hot nor cold. He felt nothing. Glancing around, he saw Kikyo moving off and he quickly followed her. Where could she be going?

 

“Kikyo,” Inuyasha said, “Where are we going?”

 

She did not answer. She was, to coin the phrase, as silent as the grave. Inuyasha followed her all the same. Inuyasha's mind drifted off and back to the world of the living. Kagome was probably home by now, in her own time. She would be taking more of those tests she was always so worried about. He smiled sadly. She was safe and could go on with life. Kikyo stopped short and suddenly. Inuyasha looked around and saw nothing for a moment. Then, seemingly from a misty fog, stepped a dark figure. It was barely distinguishable under the many cloaks and capes, but Inuyasha could see plainly to gleaming emerald eyes. Inuyasha gripped his Tetsusaiga tightly, knowing full well that it would be of no use here.

 

“Welcome, Lady Kikyo,” the figure said, “You have brought the half-demon. Very good. But where is your reincarnation?”

 

Kikyo was silent. Inuyasha realized suddenly that without Kagome's soul, Kikyo was truly a lifeless shell. But the dark shape before them seemed unaware of this and nodded slowly.

 

“I see,” it drawled lazily, “But no matter. This half-demon will suffice to our plan. You!”

 

Inuyasha started, thinking perhaps that the dark shape was addressing him, but then he saw a quivering lump of flesh hunched beside him. It seemed to have been trying to get away and move toward Kikyo.

 

“Give you shape?” the dark form laughed, “Onigumo, death has not altered your perspective on life. You could not embrace her in life, so why should you embrace her in death?”

 

“Onigumo?” Inuyasha thought. But the dark figure had raised his hand over the huddled body and it glowed green. A moment later, a man, naked and shivering, was curled up on the ground. Thin and skeletal with long sandy brown hair, the man rose to his feet and opened his eyes.

 

“Onigumo?!” Inuyasha roared, “I'll make sure you stay dead this time!”

 

But he never got a chance to move forward. Kikyo had began to walk forward, into Onigumo's arms. The two embraced as lovers would and kissed passionately.

 

“K-Kikyo?” Inuyasha whispered in a bemused voice. Suddenly, he felt as though he'd been pinned to a wall.

 

“Inuyasha,” the dark shape said, “Welcome to your hell.”

 

“Who are you?” Inuyasha snarled, struggling against the invisible bonds around his body.

 

The dark shape gave a cold, cruel laugh and pulled back the hood. Inuyasha stared in surprise. He knew that face. He'd seen it once in the Demon Slayers cave.

 

“You?” Inuyasha said, “Midoriko? But that isn't possible!”

 

“I am not Midoriko,” she said, “But yet, I am her all the same.”

 

“Don't start talking in riddles,” snapped Inuyasha, “Tell me who you are.”

 

“I am Shiho,” she said, “I am the demon whom Midoriko battled so many years ago. That foolish priestess thought she could win by encasing me in the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls, but she could not escape herself. Since that time, I have waged war with Midoriko, neither winning nor losing. Then, the Jewel fell into the hands of Onigumo, who had become Naraku. Because of his evil nature, I grew stronger and began to control him. Soon, Midoriko became weak and I took over her body and became master of the Jewel. But that mortal woman, that Kagome, purified the Jewel and my demon power was extinguished. But Midoriko's spiritual powers were not. Now, I am trapped here until I can gain the Shikon Jewel.”

 

Shiho traced her long finger across Inuyasha's cheek before slicing it into the skin. Inuyasha hissed in pain. Shiho laughed and turned her back to face Kikyo and Onigumo.

 

“I will grant you a new soul, Kikyo,” Shiho said, “And you will serve me.” Shiho raised a hand and Kikyo's body glowed with the same green light as Onigumo's body had. Kikyo opened her eyes and stared, unseeingly, at Inuyasha.

 

“As for you, Inuyasha,” Shiho said, turning to face him again, “I wish for you to join me. I will regain the Shikon Jewel and use it to return my demon powers. Then I will grant you your heart's desire.”

 

Inuyasha couldn't help it. He began to laugh. He laughed until he thought he would choke on his own voice.

 

“Hate to break it to you, pal, but the Jewel is worthless to demons now,” Inuyasha said, still laughing.

 

“What!” Shiho roared.

 

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Inuyasha said, “Oh, well, actually, I'm not.”

 

“You fool!” Shiho screamed, “Kikyo, kill him!”

 

Kikyo surged forward, her hands crackling with her spiritual powers. Inuyasha felt his bonds give way, but knew he couldn't escape Kikyo in time. His heart broke as he thought of this woman and what she had meant to him. He squeezed his eyes shut, prepared for the attack.

 

But it never came. Inuyasha cautiously opened his eyes to see Kikyo laying on the ground, while Onigumo cowered beside her. Shiho stared with fury and Inuyasha realized that he was bathed in the glow of the Sacred Jewel.

 

“How can this be?” Shiho screeched in rage.

 

“I already have my heart's desire,” Inuyasha roared with victorious laughter and they vanished from his sight.

 

*End Flashback*

 

Kagome stared at him as Inuyasha finished his story.

 

“The next thing I knew,” Inuyasha said, “I was being held in a woman's arms. I realized that I must have been reborn. But I remembered everything about who I was.”

 

“But how?” Kagome asked, “Three months ago, I watch you drop into hell with Kikyo, then I meet you in a diner in modern day Japan.”

 

“Didn't you ever wonder why the Jewel's power was diminished?”

 

Kagome shook her head. Inuyasha found himself uneasy and lowered his gaze.

 

“I made a wish on it,” Inuyasha said softly, “I wished that I could stay with you for the rest of our lives.”

 

Kagome was so silent that Inuyasha thought she might have left. He looked up and saw Kagome staring at him in disbelief.

 

“I knew when I kissed you,” Inuyasha said, “I knew that no matter what I owed Kikyo, I couldn't deny what my heart felt.”

 

Kagome turned her head to hide her eyes, which were filling with tears. She had never heard him speak so tenderly, except when speaking to Kikyo.

 

“Do you still see me as Kikyo?” Kagome asked and only realized too late that she'd spoken aloud. She quickly turned to see Inuyasha staring at her in surprise.

 

“You are Kagome,” Inuyasha said, “I couldn't think anything else. But I feel bad that I've treated you so unfairly.”

 

“No, it isn't that,” Kagome said, “I just so wanted much to be recognized for who I am that I couldn't accept that fact that you still loved Kikyo.”

 

“Kikyo is gone,” Inuyasha said, “I've let her go and I've got a new promise to keep.

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome's eyes opened wide as pulled her into his embrace.

 

“My name is Chiko,” Inuyasha said, “It means pledge. I pledge myself to make up all our fights. I pledge myself to you.”

 

“You don't need to,” Kagome said, blushing heavily.

 

“I'd feel better about it,” Inuyasha said.

 

“No, you don't have to.”

 

“Yes, I do.”

 

“No, you don't!”

 

“I do too!”

 

They continued on like this until Kagome's family came in. They stared at the squabbling couple.

 

“Kagome!” Kagome's mom cried over the fight.

 

Kagome and Inuyasha stopped and turned toward them. Kagome's mom, grandfather and brother, Souta, stared at them.

 

“Inuyasha?” Souta asked.

 

“I'm Chiko Tekeshi,” Inuyasha introduced himself to Souta.

 

“You look like a friend of Kagome's,” Souta said and turned to go upstairs. Kagome was talking to her mom about high school.

 

“Well, Kagome,” Inuyasha said, “I'd better get going. I'll see you at Gakugei.”

 

“Wait, I'll see you to the door,” Kagome said and hurried out with him. The moon was in its first quarter outside as Kagome and Inuyasha stood outside. They didn't talk.

 

“Well, I guess I'll see you around,” Kagome said.

 

“You're going to my high school soon,” Inuyasha said, “You won't have a choice.”

 

Kagome smiled and hugged him. Inuyasha returned the embrace before turning to walk down the steps. Kagome watched him leave before she went back in the house. Neither of them saw the three dark shapes watching from one of the taller buildings surrounding the shrine.

 

To Be Continued…

 

Okay, it's a cliffhanger, I know, but I gotta keep you guys interested. Thanks for all the reviews. I'm working hard on this story, so thanks also for being patient with it. Chapter 4 coming ASAP. In the meantime…

 

Stay cool everyone! From here on in, this will be fun! ^_~