InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Keeping Secrets ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
They had not managed to make it very far the next day before the fighting broke out again.
When informed of Kikyou's behaviors by Sesshoumaru, Sugimi had immediately warned his hanyou son that the dead one was not to be told of his presence.
That was all it took.
Instantly, he was on the defensive, and the worst of it was, it was clear to everyone that he knew he was fighting a losing battle - he knew what Kikyou really was. In truth, he wasn't fighting for Kikyou's honor - he was fighting the need to admit his knowledge of her betrayals - to himself.
In the midst of the shouting match between he and his father, Kagome suddenly broke in, sitting him, then dropped to her knees before him, the saddest look on her face that any one of them had ever seen.
"Inuyasha," she began quietly, her voice anguished, "this has to stop. If I had been the one passing along information to Naraku, you'd have branded me a traitor immediately... and probably killed me. Is she really that important to you, that you'd let Naraku win - just so you never have to really look at her, and see what she's become?"
The hanyou stared at her, unable to say a word - not knowing what to say. He could see a distance in her eyes that had never been there before, and it frightened him, but he couldn't bring himself to answer her question.
It was in that moment that he lost any chance of ever salvaging anything with Kagome - though it would be some time before he would realize it.
Sugimi watched as she nodded to herself, then stood up, and looking away, told the boy that if he tried to start another fight she would simply sit him until he was unable to cause anymore mayhem, and then walked off, continuing on along the path as though nothing had happened.
And yet, he could see the momentousness of what had just occurred - the miko had finally, completely, let any hold she had on his heart go... so that she could protect her own.
It was a telling moment, and as he also moved away from his son to continue on their path, he sighed, of two minds about it.
He hated to see his son lose something that gave him so much strength - but he was also not a fool, and he knew that he was attracted to her himself.
As they got to know each other more, if she truly were compatible to him as she seemed right now, he would court her - and it would be easier if Inuyasha were not holding her heart hostage.
He cast a sidelong glance at his eldest son, and wasn't surprised to see the disgust in his eyes for his brother's behavior. It was clear that he was fully cognizant of what had just taken place, though Inuyasha wasn't. And when he looked on the form of the miko...
"You have approval in your gaze when you look at her, my son," he noted quietly. "Why is that?"
Sesshoumaru was silent for a time, then said, "She has honor. When she takes action, it is because she believes that it is the right thing to do - there is no ulterior motive to search for in her. Those qualities are so rare in her race that they should be honored when they are found."
Sugimi considered Sesshoumaru's words as they walked, dissecting them and turning them over in his mind until he'd taken in every aspect of them. Kagome was an enigma to him - one he had every intention of deciphering, and this was part of how he would do that. He would ask leading questions of those that knew her, and the picture of who she was would slowly grow over time, only enhanced by his own growing knowledge of her.
It was much slower than the pace most inu would set when confronted with one they were attracted to, but Sugimi played for keeps, and he invested his time in things he felt worthy - and certainly, the onna that he would consider as a wife, or perhaps, even as a mate, would be worthy of having that time invested in her.
After all, he was in no rush - the more time she had to separate herself from her past feelings for his son, the better, and the more time she would also have to get to know him.
It was merely the icing on the cake, really, that she was as attracted to him as he was to her... he knew that he was not spending his time in vain before he even started.
His thoughts were interrupted when Sesshoumaru spoke again. "It has occurred to this one that you no longer have a sword, father. Perhaps we should be seeking Totosai out before we go to this well?"
Sugimi cocked a rather amused brow at his son. "Do you think yourself the only one capable of forming a sword of your own youki, Sesshoumaru? Do you wish to see my weapon?"
When Sesshoumaru nodded, he raised his voice and called out to the pack to come to a halt, and then, as they all trotted back towards him, he motioned them all to keep a certain distance, and took center stage.
They all stared, entranced, and wondering what was happening as a keening wind slowly swirled around the powerful daiyoukai, and the feel of gathering youki became strong.
Sugimi held his left arm out to the side as the youki began to move to surround it, and as it did, a bright light began to obscure his arm from the view of everyone watching.
But it quickly became apparent that the light was growing - it now extended out from his arm, down into his hand, and then quite a ways further, before flaring brightly outward, and then fading to leave a sword in its place.
It was not a katana, that much was obvious immediately. It was a larger, heavier sword, much like what Kagome remembered of Sou'unga. But unlike that one, this sword had no malevolent aura - it spoke only of the strength and honor of its wielder.
"What is it called, father?" Sesshoumaru wasn't surprised that it was not a katana - his father had always preferred a heavier weapon. While he could wield a lighter sword to perfection, he liked the feel of the heavier weight in his hands.
"Kumoriyaiba. The Shadow Blade."
Everyone in the group had stared on with awe, even Inuyasha - though his look was tainted by jealousy. Kagome understood why immediately, and pulled him aside.
"Inuyasha... be happy with what you have. You may not have created Tessaiga from your youki, but your youki has infused it and created attacks and powers within the blade that didn't come from anyone but you. There is very little difference between your father's new sword, and your own, except in actual creation. Be proud of that."
He stared at her for a moment, then nodded reluctantly and moved off, not saying anything.
Sugimi had watched that interaction with interest, and was surprised at her quick grasp of Inuyasha's mindset. She was obviously very intelligent.
Pulling his sword in to examine it, he had to admit he was pleased; the only thing needed was a good sheath. After the visit to the well, perhaps a visit to Bokuseno was in order. He slid the sword into his obi, then looked up, and smiled.
"I suppose we had best continue on - though perhaps we could travel swifter?"
Kirara immediately hopped down from Sango's shoulder and transformed, and Sango and Miroku climbed on. Shippo and Rin were already seated on Ah-Uhn, but the awkward part came when Inuyasha crouched down for Kagome to hop on his back. She was obviously reluctant, but with no other choice...
"I will carry you, miko, if you will allow it - I would know more of this future that you come from," Sugimi said.
Kagome swallowed hard, immediately nervous, but not knowing how to refuse without possibly offending, she cast a sheepish smile at Inuyasha and then bowed to Sugimi. "I would be honored, my Lord - but please, the name is Kagome. I hate being called by title."
"Only if you return the favor and drop the 'sama' from my name, Kagome." He held his hand out, and she took it, a little hesitantly, and he pulled her up even as his cloud formed beneath his feet.
Inuyasha, who'd been stunned at the stealing of his miko, scowled and began to complain, but she sent him a warning look, and he subsided, pouting. She shook her head at him, and he turned and launched himself off with a sulky look on his face.
"It seems that in my absence my son has become a very difficult person," Sugimi said softly as he watched the boy push ahead of the pack with leaps and bounds.
With a rather melancholy sigh, Kagome smiled slightly at the daiyoukai. "He's had a difficult life - it formed him to be what he is," she said. "I don't know if he'll ever change. The truth is, his biggest downfall is that he can't accept change."
Sugimi looked slightly taken aback. "Explain."
"He's unable to let go of the past - in more ways than one. We should always remember the past - but we can't live in it. Inuyasha tries, though. He clings to the past, destroying his future, and doesn't even realize it. I think, to be honest, that that's why he agreed to go to hell with Kikyou - because then he would never have to let go of the past - he'd be frozen in it forever."
Surprised, he stared at her. She's even more intelligent than I thought. "That was a very succinct summing up of the reasons behind his behavior, Kagome. I'm impressed, I must say."
She blushed a bit, and looked away, watching the red-clad hanyou in the distance. "As much as I understand what his problem is, I refuse to follow in his path," she said, softly. "It hurts, but... I intend to move forward with my life... even though he will never play the part that I had, at one time, wanted him to play."
Brow rising into his bangs, he looked over at Sesshoumaru, who was floating along near them, to see him staring at her in something close to surprise, as well.
It looked as though he'd been right...
She was a very interesting woman, indeed.
---sSs---
Kikyou stood under the spreading boughs of the Goshinboku and stared at the damaged skin of the tree with blank eyes. She refused to touch the tree, though - it held a powerful spirit that did not approve of the darkness she carried - the darkness she'd succumbed to.
Just like the hanyou she'd died over, this tree protected the girl who was her copy.
She didn't really hate the girl, per se - that would be like hating herself. No, what she hated was that she was trying to take over her life. Her duties, her hanyou, even her family, and her enemies, were being taken over by Kagome - and she wanted it to stop.
To that end, she was hoping that by giving information to Naraku, he would continuously attack, and she'd finally just give up and go home.
So far, however, it wasn't working - and she was beginning to get desperate.
She no longer cared about anything else - but she refused to give the girl her Inuyasha. He belonged to her, and Kagome needed to move on and find someone else to bother. Or, she needed to die.
At this point, she was beginning to not even care which it was.
But right now, she was agitated. Something had happened. Because her hanyou had disappeared, along with his group - and she had no idea what had happened. He hadn't come to her and told her where they were going - they'd just vanished. He was supposed to have shown up and spoken to her of their plans, and never had.
At first, she had assumed that Naraku had done something - but then he'd shown up for more information, and been markedly unhappy that she had none. So it hadn't been him.
Could it be that her reincarnation had finally gotten him to believe that she, Kikyou, was a problem? Had he forsaken her?
It had already been four days, and still, no sign of Inuyasha or his companions.
She would wait for two more days, but if he didn't come to her in that time, she would leave, and head south. That was the last direction she'd known he was planning to head in before he'd disappeared, so maybe...
With a shiver, she folded her arms around herself.
I pray that he hasn't chosen her over me... because I will never allow him to be with her. He's mine...
Mine.
Converting /tmp/phpZYDmIR to /dev/stdout
When informed of Kikyou's behaviors by Sesshoumaru, Sugimi had immediately warned his hanyou son that the dead one was not to be told of his presence.
That was all it took.
Instantly, he was on the defensive, and the worst of it was, it was clear to everyone that he knew he was fighting a losing battle - he knew what Kikyou really was. In truth, he wasn't fighting for Kikyou's honor - he was fighting the need to admit his knowledge of her betrayals - to himself.
In the midst of the shouting match between he and his father, Kagome suddenly broke in, sitting him, then dropped to her knees before him, the saddest look on her face that any one of them had ever seen.
"Inuyasha," she began quietly, her voice anguished, "this has to stop. If I had been the one passing along information to Naraku, you'd have branded me a traitor immediately... and probably killed me. Is she really that important to you, that you'd let Naraku win - just so you never have to really look at her, and see what she's become?"
The hanyou stared at her, unable to say a word - not knowing what to say. He could see a distance in her eyes that had never been there before, and it frightened him, but he couldn't bring himself to answer her question.
It was in that moment that he lost any chance of ever salvaging anything with Kagome - though it would be some time before he would realize it.
Sugimi watched as she nodded to herself, then stood up, and looking away, told the boy that if he tried to start another fight she would simply sit him until he was unable to cause anymore mayhem, and then walked off, continuing on along the path as though nothing had happened.
And yet, he could see the momentousness of what had just occurred - the miko had finally, completely, let any hold she had on his heart go... so that she could protect her own.
It was a telling moment, and as he also moved away from his son to continue on their path, he sighed, of two minds about it.
He hated to see his son lose something that gave him so much strength - but he was also not a fool, and he knew that he was attracted to her himself.
As they got to know each other more, if she truly were compatible to him as she seemed right now, he would court her - and it would be easier if Inuyasha were not holding her heart hostage.
He cast a sidelong glance at his eldest son, and wasn't surprised to see the disgust in his eyes for his brother's behavior. It was clear that he was fully cognizant of what had just taken place, though Inuyasha wasn't. And when he looked on the form of the miko...
"You have approval in your gaze when you look at her, my son," he noted quietly. "Why is that?"
Sesshoumaru was silent for a time, then said, "She has honor. When she takes action, it is because she believes that it is the right thing to do - there is no ulterior motive to search for in her. Those qualities are so rare in her race that they should be honored when they are found."
Sugimi considered Sesshoumaru's words as they walked, dissecting them and turning them over in his mind until he'd taken in every aspect of them. Kagome was an enigma to him - one he had every intention of deciphering, and this was part of how he would do that. He would ask leading questions of those that knew her, and the picture of who she was would slowly grow over time, only enhanced by his own growing knowledge of her.
It was much slower than the pace most inu would set when confronted with one they were attracted to, but Sugimi played for keeps, and he invested his time in things he felt worthy - and certainly, the onna that he would consider as a wife, or perhaps, even as a mate, would be worthy of having that time invested in her.
After all, he was in no rush - the more time she had to separate herself from her past feelings for his son, the better, and the more time she would also have to get to know him.
It was merely the icing on the cake, really, that she was as attracted to him as he was to her... he knew that he was not spending his time in vain before he even started.
His thoughts were interrupted when Sesshoumaru spoke again. "It has occurred to this one that you no longer have a sword, father. Perhaps we should be seeking Totosai out before we go to this well?"
Sugimi cocked a rather amused brow at his son. "Do you think yourself the only one capable of forming a sword of your own youki, Sesshoumaru? Do you wish to see my weapon?"
When Sesshoumaru nodded, he raised his voice and called out to the pack to come to a halt, and then, as they all trotted back towards him, he motioned them all to keep a certain distance, and took center stage.
They all stared, entranced, and wondering what was happening as a keening wind slowly swirled around the powerful daiyoukai, and the feel of gathering youki became strong.
Sugimi held his left arm out to the side as the youki began to move to surround it, and as it did, a bright light began to obscure his arm from the view of everyone watching.
But it quickly became apparent that the light was growing - it now extended out from his arm, down into his hand, and then quite a ways further, before flaring brightly outward, and then fading to leave a sword in its place.
It was not a katana, that much was obvious immediately. It was a larger, heavier sword, much like what Kagome remembered of Sou'unga. But unlike that one, this sword had no malevolent aura - it spoke only of the strength and honor of its wielder.
"What is it called, father?" Sesshoumaru wasn't surprised that it was not a katana - his father had always preferred a heavier weapon. While he could wield a lighter sword to perfection, he liked the feel of the heavier weight in his hands.
"Kumoriyaiba. The Shadow Blade."
Everyone in the group had stared on with awe, even Inuyasha - though his look was tainted by jealousy. Kagome understood why immediately, and pulled him aside.
"Inuyasha... be happy with what you have. You may not have created Tessaiga from your youki, but your youki has infused it and created attacks and powers within the blade that didn't come from anyone but you. There is very little difference between your father's new sword, and your own, except in actual creation. Be proud of that."
He stared at her for a moment, then nodded reluctantly and moved off, not saying anything.
Sugimi had watched that interaction with interest, and was surprised at her quick grasp of Inuyasha's mindset. She was obviously very intelligent.
Pulling his sword in to examine it, he had to admit he was pleased; the only thing needed was a good sheath. After the visit to the well, perhaps a visit to Bokuseno was in order. He slid the sword into his obi, then looked up, and smiled.
"I suppose we had best continue on - though perhaps we could travel swifter?"
Kirara immediately hopped down from Sango's shoulder and transformed, and Sango and Miroku climbed on. Shippo and Rin were already seated on Ah-Uhn, but the awkward part came when Inuyasha crouched down for Kagome to hop on his back. She was obviously reluctant, but with no other choice...
"I will carry you, miko, if you will allow it - I would know more of this future that you come from," Sugimi said.
Kagome swallowed hard, immediately nervous, but not knowing how to refuse without possibly offending, she cast a sheepish smile at Inuyasha and then bowed to Sugimi. "I would be honored, my Lord - but please, the name is Kagome. I hate being called by title."
"Only if you return the favor and drop the 'sama' from my name, Kagome." He held his hand out, and she took it, a little hesitantly, and he pulled her up even as his cloud formed beneath his feet.
Inuyasha, who'd been stunned at the stealing of his miko, scowled and began to complain, but she sent him a warning look, and he subsided, pouting. She shook her head at him, and he turned and launched himself off with a sulky look on his face.
"It seems that in my absence my son has become a very difficult person," Sugimi said softly as he watched the boy push ahead of the pack with leaps and bounds.
With a rather melancholy sigh, Kagome smiled slightly at the daiyoukai. "He's had a difficult life - it formed him to be what he is," she said. "I don't know if he'll ever change. The truth is, his biggest downfall is that he can't accept change."
Sugimi looked slightly taken aback. "Explain."
"He's unable to let go of the past - in more ways than one. We should always remember the past - but we can't live in it. Inuyasha tries, though. He clings to the past, destroying his future, and doesn't even realize it. I think, to be honest, that that's why he agreed to go to hell with Kikyou - because then he would never have to let go of the past - he'd be frozen in it forever."
Surprised, he stared at her. She's even more intelligent than I thought. "That was a very succinct summing up of the reasons behind his behavior, Kagome. I'm impressed, I must say."
She blushed a bit, and looked away, watching the red-clad hanyou in the distance. "As much as I understand what his problem is, I refuse to follow in his path," she said, softly. "It hurts, but... I intend to move forward with my life... even though he will never play the part that I had, at one time, wanted him to play."
Brow rising into his bangs, he looked over at Sesshoumaru, who was floating along near them, to see him staring at her in something close to surprise, as well.
It looked as though he'd been right...
She was a very interesting woman, indeed.
---sSs---
Kikyou stood under the spreading boughs of the Goshinboku and stared at the damaged skin of the tree with blank eyes. She refused to touch the tree, though - it held a powerful spirit that did not approve of the darkness she carried - the darkness she'd succumbed to.
Just like the hanyou she'd died over, this tree protected the girl who was her copy.
She didn't really hate the girl, per se - that would be like hating herself. No, what she hated was that she was trying to take over her life. Her duties, her hanyou, even her family, and her enemies, were being taken over by Kagome - and she wanted it to stop.
To that end, she was hoping that by giving information to Naraku, he would continuously attack, and she'd finally just give up and go home.
So far, however, it wasn't working - and she was beginning to get desperate.
She no longer cared about anything else - but she refused to give the girl her Inuyasha. He belonged to her, and Kagome needed to move on and find someone else to bother. Or, she needed to die.
At this point, she was beginning to not even care which it was.
But right now, she was agitated. Something had happened. Because her hanyou had disappeared, along with his group - and she had no idea what had happened. He hadn't come to her and told her where they were going - they'd just vanished. He was supposed to have shown up and spoken to her of their plans, and never had.
At first, she had assumed that Naraku had done something - but then he'd shown up for more information, and been markedly unhappy that she had none. So it hadn't been him.
Could it be that her reincarnation had finally gotten him to believe that she, Kikyou, was a problem? Had he forsaken her?
It had already been four days, and still, no sign of Inuyasha or his companions.
She would wait for two more days, but if he didn't come to her in that time, she would leave, and head south. That was the last direction she'd known he was planning to head in before he'd disappeared, so maybe...
With a shiver, she folded her arms around herself.
I pray that he hasn't chosen her over me... because I will never allow him to be with her. He's mine...
Mine.
Converting /tmp/phpZYDmIR to /dev/stdout