InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Once Beloved, Yuuka ( Chapter 22 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: kanna37 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.25.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 397 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.25.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 397 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 22: Once Beloved, Yuuka
“Seriously! You two sound like little kids instead of really, really...” she eyed them with a strange glint, “old women. I've heard human children come up with better insults than you two, and if you can't do it right, then don't do it at all!” she growled, obviously annoyed at them.
Both the women had gasped, enraged at her comment about their age, and were giving her the evil eye.
It was easy to see that she wasn't the least bit impressed. “Oh, give it a rest. Neither one of you old biddies scares me a bit. I'm already irritated, and not in the mood for listening to the Alzheimers and Adult Diaper brigades whining.”
Satori drew herself up and glared down her nose at the human girl and her strange words. “You make no sense, girl, and as for your comment on my age, I suppose I would look old to one so young as you, you are, after all, still a child.”
Kagome waved a hand at her with a little laugh. “Yes, I suppose I would look young to one of your truly ancient status. But don't think I don't know that you 'elders' spend time staring with envy at my youthful skin and clear complexion, thus noticing your own wrinkles and age spots even more.”
Satori and Kana both spun to face the door at a male snort of laughter, catching sight of fire-rat red and puppy ears perked and listening to them exchanging insults. When he realized they were all looking at him, he sauntered into the room.
“That was a good one, Kagome – and the truth, too. They could only wish they still had their youthful looks.”
She shook her head and giggled at the even more outraged faces of the two women. “I know... how they thought that calling me young was an insult, I'll never know. Like I was supposed to what... want to be called old, or maybe cry? These two don't seem too bright,” she finished, linking her arm through her best friend's, happy to be on speaking terms again, and not inclined to question the reason he was speaking to her.
At that, Kana woke up and decided to have her say. Moving quickly, she attempted to intimidate Kagome by crowding her. “Listen here, you little bitch. I may be older than you, but there is no denying I'm far more beautiful than you, too. And sooner or later, Sugimi's going to remember that no one ever gave him more pleasure in bed than I, and he will come running back. Remember that, girl – that's the only thing a male wants from a woman, really – and no one is better at bed play than I.”
She was taken aback when Kagome's eyes widened and she laughed, hard. “Oh my gods... I can't believe it. The Southern Lady has just named herself a whore, good for one thing and one thing only. So tell me, then – who really rules the south?” She gives new meaning to the term 'sperm bank', that's for sure...
There was no denying that Kagome had gotten her on that one, because even Satori laughed at that, unable to keep from enjoying just how much the little miko had just twisted Kana around into thoroughly insulting herself.
“Ya know, Kana, you ain't all that bright, either. Most males aren't just looking for a good lay, we want a real woman. But until we find one that is, soiled bitches like you will do for a quick fuck. That's the difference between you and Kagome – you're good for a quick fuck... but Kagome's the one you mate.”
Blushing, Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, one brow quirked in surprise. “Wow... you seem to know quite a bit about the subject, Inuyasha.”
He shrugged, a bit of a smirk crossing his face as he took in Satori's laughter. “Let's just put it this way... been there, done that.”
Wide-eyed, Kagome stared at him, and then shuddered. “You know what – I don't want to even know.” She turned to a dangerously pissed off Kana. “Listen up, so I don't have to repeat myself again. Sugimi is off-limits to you. He has told you repeatedly, and now I'm telling you. If you keep causing problems, I'll purify you, and then I'll be the Southern Lady. And you know what? As much as it's obvious you hate Satori over here, I'd give the title to her just to spite you. Are we clear?”
Two gasps filled the room, but for very different reasons. Satori got her wits about her first. “You would give up power like that on a whim?” she asked, stunned.
“Not everyone is after power. I'm a miko, and I have reiki. I didn't ask for it, I was just born that way.” She shrugged. “Power comes with responsibility, ne? I've got enough of that with being a miko – I don't want to add any more. Call me lazy, but I'm really not interested in world domination – I don't want to carry the weight of the world on my back. Personally, I think the lands are getting along just fine by themselves, they don't need any help from me.”
Satori blinked, then blinked again, not sure what to make of the miko her ex-husband wanted to mate – but beginning to think she couldn't be so bad if she was able to put Kana in her place so well. Perhaps her son had been correct... this miko was certainly interesting, if nothing else.
Kana, though, was shocked speechless that the chit of a girl would dare to threaten her. It took her a few to regain her wits, but when she did...
“You would dare to threaten one of the Cardinal Rulers? Do you know what you have done?” she demanded. “I outrank all of you in this room, and I could demand your head for your disrespect!”
“It would be hard to demand anything if you were nothing but a pile of ash,” Kagome returned blandly, inspecting her nails with a bored expression. “Have you ever heard the term, might makes right? Most of the time, I don't hold with it, but in this case... the bottom line is that your title is just that - an empty title. At any given time, I could kill you, and there is nothing you could do to stop me. Now, I'm going to say this once, and no more. Yes, you are far more beautiful than me. But beauty is only skin deep, and once a person gets past that, they can't stand you. That's why Sugimi dumped you before. Because once he got past the surface, you were empty and cold inside where it counts.”
Inuyasha chuckled at that. “And I can guarantee you, wench, he ain't goin' back for another try. Most men don't like their dicks to turn blue and fall off from being close to a frozen wasteland like you. I think your mother was laying with someone other than your father, because for all that you claim to be a fire elemental, all I see is one big endless sheet of ice.”
Satori laughed, and walking forward to stand next to Inuyasha, she stared at the almost incoherently fuming female she'd always hated. The woman was beautiful, true, but she was shallow, and loved to rub all her conquests into other women – especially if she had already slept with the female's husband. Satori had listened to her for centuries, and hated her with a passion – she actually hated her more than she hated humans, and that was saying a whole hell of a lot.
She glanced over at her ex-husband's younger son, and smiled a bit. “I never would have thought to hear you come up with such excellent put-downs, Inuyasha. You are a great deal smarter than I had ever thought,” she chuckled.
Brows disappearing into his bangs, his ears flicked forward and he looked at her, truly looked at her, for the first time ever. “I didn't say anything that wasn't the truth. Some males might be drawn to wenches like her, but if they've got any brains, they quickly get out. Like I said... some females are good for nothing but a quick fuck... and she's one of them. Kagome is the kind you get your hands on, and never let go of.” He turned to a blushing and wide-eyed Kagome, and sighed, a contemplative look crossing his face. “I'm not as smart as you seem to think, either, Satori-sama,” he said, oddly polite. “Because I was too stupid to figure it out while I had a chance with her.”
Blushing, Kagome waved his words away. “Let's not worry about that now, Inuyasha, what's done is done.” She turned a narrow-eyed glare on Kana, who was looking shell-shocked at the treatment she was getting. “Truth hurts, eh, Kana? I bet you're not used to being told the truth – especially when it comes to your behavior. Now, I can tell you aren't stupid. But, I can also tell that you are one of those that likes to take a girl's man just to prove that you can. Problem is, this time you've already had him... a long time ago, and since he doesn't want anything more to do with you that's proving to be a problem for you.”
Kana didn't answer; strangely it was Satori that sighed, and said, “Besides, Kana, you know that neither of us really poses any kind of threat to Kagome as far as Sugimi is concerned. Only Yuuka possibly could. What was between them was more than there ever was for you, or I, or even Izayoi. Only Sugimi himself knows where his heart truly lies between the two.”
Kagome stiffened as she heard what Satori was saying, though she didn't say anything. There was no way she was going to admit that she didn't know anything about yet another woman to either one of the women here.
“Look, for all the insults and words we've been bandying back and forth, we aren't getting anywhere but pissed off. I don't know about you two, but I've got enough to worry about with dealing with Naraku – I really don't want to have to be dealing with all this, as well. Naraku's much worse than anything anyone else can dish out, so, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go spend some quiet time thinking about how to defeat him, okay?” With that, she turned on her heel and left, the very picture of serious contemplation.
And that was all it was, too – a picture, as Inuyasha could attest to.
Yuuka? Who's she, and why did Satori say that? She acted as if this Yuuka and my father had a lot of deep feelings for each other... and something happened between them.
Kagome was deep in thought as she walked away from the room, and not happy thoughts, either.
Now what? This is all so much more complicated than I think I can deal with. Maybe I should just take Sesshoumaru up on his not yet offered, but hinted at offer. At least he doesn't seem to have women of his past lurking around every damn corner.
She made her way out a side door and noticed a small gate, stepping through it, she realized it led into a small section of forest inside the walls of the shiro, and wanting nothing more than to be alone, she took the somewhat overgrown path, disappearing under the trees.
-sSs-
Inuyasha, very much on edge, tracked his father's aura to the dojo, and found him cheerfully sparring with Sesshoumaru. Pulling out Tessaiga, he reached in between the two with the sword, catching both males blades on his, surprising them both.
“What do you think you are doing, Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru growled.
Ignoring him, Inuyasha turned a hard gaze on his father. “Just who the hell is Yuuka?”
The silence was deafening as Sugimi's expression for one moment was pained, with sadness echoing in it, and then his eyes went hard. “Where did you hear that name?”
Inuyasha sheathed Tessaiga and jerked his thumb over his shoulder at Sesshoumaru. “His mother brought her name up to me, Kana – and Kagome.”
Sugimi cursed, sheathing his sword and obviously trying mightily to hold in his temper. “What did she say?”
“She basically said that neither she nor Kana posed any threat to Kagome where you are concerned, and that only Yuuka possibly could, because no one could tell where your heart lay between the two. Now, my question stands. Who is she?”
Sugimi met Sesshoumaru's gaze. “Does she still reside in that protected bit of forest here on the palace grounds?”
Sesshoumaru nodded.
“Damn,” Sugimi sighed. “I suppose I should go see her, and have Kagome meet her, too. Why couldn't your mother keep her big mouth shut?”
His oldest son shrugged elegantly, sheathing his own sword as it was clear that their spar was over. “You can answer that as well as I, father.”
“What I want to know, is how many damn bitches have you been fucking? I mean, damn, every time Kagome turns around lately, she's tripping over another one!” He shot his father a smug look that Sugimi was hard pressed not to knock off his face. “Keh. If this keeps up, I won't have to try to get back in her good graces, she'll come back to me on her own.”
As Sugimi stared at his son with warning in his eyes, Sesshoumaru spoke, and both males turned to stare at him with shocked eyes.
“Indeed, father – I warn you now – if she refuses your suit after all this, I will offer my own, instead.”
And then he turned on his heel and walked off, heading for his bathing room.
Sugimi turned to Inuyasha with carefully controlled ire. “Where is Kagome, Inuyasha?”
He shrugged. “I don't know, she left the room before I did, and she was shielding, which meant she wanted to be alone.”
He watched with shadowed eyes as his father moved away, obviously going to find Kagome.
You'd better hope this comes to an end, old man... or Kagome will be lost to you.
~oOo~
So who is Yuuka, anyway? I mean... obviously, from what Satori was saying, he must have loved her. Like, really loved her. So what happened, and why is he chasing me instead of her?
Frustrated, hurting, Kagome started to cry as she wandered amongst the towering trees of this seemingly ancient little protected bit of forest.
“Dammit! Why do I keep getting slapped around? What did I ever do to anyone...” and then she thought about it. Great. I'm being punished for being Kikyou in my last life and treating me like crap. Wonderful. How the hell do the gods keep track of such a twisted mess?
Stumbling over a half-buried log in the forest floor and feeling her ankle twist, she sat down on it, shoulders slumping as she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling cold despite the warmth of the air. “I really, really, need to go home and talk to mom. Or maybe I should just go home and seal the well as soon as we defeat Naraku, and leave Sugimi to his plethora of women.”
“I highly doubt that would make him happy, young miko,” came a soft female voice, and Kagome looked up, shocked. She hadn't realized there was anyone else out here.
“Oh!” she sniffled, “I'm sorry – I didn't mean to bother you. I didn't know anyone was there.”
“It's no bother, dear. I couldn't help but notice you come into my woods, and then I heard you talking about Sugimi. I'd heard he had returned from death – not surprising, really, there wasn't much he wasn't capable of either doing or planning,” the woman said again.
“Um, yeah,” Kagome said, feeling oddly awkward. With the way the woman was still back in the shadowed portion of forest, and she herself was sitting in a small burst of light, she couldn't see who she was facing, and that was unnerving. “May I ask your name, my lady?” she asked politely.
A small chuckle was heard, and the woman stepped forward, finally allowing Kagome to see her. “There is no need for formality, miko, I'm not one to stand on it. My name is Yuuka,” she said, holding out a hand to assist her to stand. “Come, are you able to stand?”
Kagome, frozen at mention of that name, shook herself awake and answered, not wanting to appear ill-mannered. “Oh, hai, I'm fine, just a little pulled muscle.”
“Still, I would feel better if you would let me wrap it. A pulled muscle, or sprained ankle is nothing to sneeze at. Please, come back to my home and let me help you?” she asked, sounding almost desperate to please. Kagome didn't have the heart to say no, and curious as to whether this was the same Yuuka that was mentioned by Satori (though she was pretty sure it was) she nodded.
“Ok. Lead the way, then,” Kagome said, trying to be cheerful when all she really wanted was to disappear into the ether with everyone on this side of time forgetting she even existed.
Within moments, she was sitting inside a cute little cottage – it was nothing like the huts more commonly seen in this era and country.
“So... why do you want to run from Sugimi, miko-sama?” Yuuka asked, even as she cleaned and wrapped Kagome's ankle.
“Oh, it's just...” she trailed off and sighed, unable to even decide where to start. And with who she suspected this Yuuka was... that made it even harder.
The other woman stood and slid her hood back, stunning Kagome into silence. This woman, while looking to contain the cold beauty that Kana lay claim to, despite her fiery beauty, was oddly not cool at all, but warm. And it made all the difference in looks.
Long, straight black hair, so fine and silky it looked almost as though it couldn't even be real, with perfect, unblemished pale skin, and leaf green eyes brought the forest she lived in to mind. Her features were delicate, drawn with a fine hand, and her smile was warmth personified, stretching lips portioned perfectly into a soft rose bow.
Kagome drooped even further, and just shook her head, too dejected now to even want to talk – it was a moot point. Obviously, there had been, and probably still were, strong feelings between this woman and Sugimi, and she found, oddly, that she could understand him not being interested in Kana with someone like this woman around. She was beautiful, gentle – and warm.
“It's nothing,” she finally said, and stood, thanking the woman for the wrap. “Could you tell me how to find my way back to the palace?” she asked hopefully.
With a sharp look that Kagome missed, Yuuka considered the pretty young miko and nodded. “I can show you the way, miko-sama. If you will follow me... just be careful not to put too much weight on it.”
Nodding, Kagome followed the woman outside, then down the path she'd followed in at a slow walk to accommodate her ankle. They hadn't made it far when Sugimi came around a bend in the trees, obviously looking for her.
When he saw her, he hurried forward, noting the bandaging on her ankle. “Kagome, what happened?” he asked, hovering over her and checking for any other injuries worriedly.
“She is fine,” came Yuuka's low-voiced answer, and Kagome was hyper-aware of Sugimi straightening and stiffening. If he'd stiffened any more, he'd probably have broken something.
Stepping around Kagome to stare at the woman in front of him, Sugimi forgot where he was for a few moments, remembering years gone by and happier times between them. He couldn't stop himself from staring at her, his eyes wandering over her and taking in all the changes.
“It's been a long time, Yuuka,” Sugimi said quietly, almost whispering. “I wasn't aware until just a few minutes ago that you were still here...”
Both people were so caught up in each other and the past that neither noticed when Kagome, a sad acknowledgment in her eyes, continued on, finding her way out of there and into the palace.
Turmoil crashing through her, she knew only one thing – she needed to get far, far away from here – at least for today. Heading straight for the sleeping quarters from where she was, she got Kirara to take her to the well without saying a word to anyone – she left a note in the room that simply said she'd needed to go home, but would return tomorrow to continue their quest.
Not five minutes after leaving Sugimi in the woods with the woman of his past, and possibly of his future, Kagome was gone, and no one even knew it.
They wouldn't find out until it was too late, and she was already through the well.
It was one thing for her to know, peripherally, that in Sugimi's long life, he'd had many women. But she'd been continuously slammed by one after another...
And that last one was hell – because it was obvious there were deep feelings there, and Kagome wasn't about to go through that again.
It was just like the Inuyasha and Kikyou mess she'd been subjected to for so long, and she refused to go back down that path again.
~oOo~
A/N: Isn't looking so good, is it? I can't help but think that if you got with a guy that was that old, you'd be running into his old flames every time you turned around. How annoying would that be, eh?
Amber
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“Seriously! You two sound like little kids instead of really, really...” she eyed them with a strange glint, “old women. I've heard human children come up with better insults than you two, and if you can't do it right, then don't do it at all!” she growled, obviously annoyed at them.
Both the women had gasped, enraged at her comment about their age, and were giving her the evil eye.
It was easy to see that she wasn't the least bit impressed. “Oh, give it a rest. Neither one of you old biddies scares me a bit. I'm already irritated, and not in the mood for listening to the Alzheimers and Adult Diaper brigades whining.”
Satori drew herself up and glared down her nose at the human girl and her strange words. “You make no sense, girl, and as for your comment on my age, I suppose I would look old to one so young as you, you are, after all, still a child.”
Kagome waved a hand at her with a little laugh. “Yes, I suppose I would look young to one of your truly ancient status. But don't think I don't know that you 'elders' spend time staring with envy at my youthful skin and clear complexion, thus noticing your own wrinkles and age spots even more.”
Satori and Kana both spun to face the door at a male snort of laughter, catching sight of fire-rat red and puppy ears perked and listening to them exchanging insults. When he realized they were all looking at him, he sauntered into the room.
“That was a good one, Kagome – and the truth, too. They could only wish they still had their youthful looks.”
She shook her head and giggled at the even more outraged faces of the two women. “I know... how they thought that calling me young was an insult, I'll never know. Like I was supposed to what... want to be called old, or maybe cry? These two don't seem too bright,” she finished, linking her arm through her best friend's, happy to be on speaking terms again, and not inclined to question the reason he was speaking to her.
At that, Kana woke up and decided to have her say. Moving quickly, she attempted to intimidate Kagome by crowding her. “Listen here, you little bitch. I may be older than you, but there is no denying I'm far more beautiful than you, too. And sooner or later, Sugimi's going to remember that no one ever gave him more pleasure in bed than I, and he will come running back. Remember that, girl – that's the only thing a male wants from a woman, really – and no one is better at bed play than I.”
She was taken aback when Kagome's eyes widened and she laughed, hard. “Oh my gods... I can't believe it. The Southern Lady has just named herself a whore, good for one thing and one thing only. So tell me, then – who really rules the south?” She gives new meaning to the term 'sperm bank', that's for sure...
There was no denying that Kagome had gotten her on that one, because even Satori laughed at that, unable to keep from enjoying just how much the little miko had just twisted Kana around into thoroughly insulting herself.
“Ya know, Kana, you ain't all that bright, either. Most males aren't just looking for a good lay, we want a real woman. But until we find one that is, soiled bitches like you will do for a quick fuck. That's the difference between you and Kagome – you're good for a quick fuck... but Kagome's the one you mate.”
Blushing, Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, one brow quirked in surprise. “Wow... you seem to know quite a bit about the subject, Inuyasha.”
He shrugged, a bit of a smirk crossing his face as he took in Satori's laughter. “Let's just put it this way... been there, done that.”
Wide-eyed, Kagome stared at him, and then shuddered. “You know what – I don't want to even know.” She turned to a dangerously pissed off Kana. “Listen up, so I don't have to repeat myself again. Sugimi is off-limits to you. He has told you repeatedly, and now I'm telling you. If you keep causing problems, I'll purify you, and then I'll be the Southern Lady. And you know what? As much as it's obvious you hate Satori over here, I'd give the title to her just to spite you. Are we clear?”
Two gasps filled the room, but for very different reasons. Satori got her wits about her first. “You would give up power like that on a whim?” she asked, stunned.
“Not everyone is after power. I'm a miko, and I have reiki. I didn't ask for it, I was just born that way.” She shrugged. “Power comes with responsibility, ne? I've got enough of that with being a miko – I don't want to add any more. Call me lazy, but I'm really not interested in world domination – I don't want to carry the weight of the world on my back. Personally, I think the lands are getting along just fine by themselves, they don't need any help from me.”
Satori blinked, then blinked again, not sure what to make of the miko her ex-husband wanted to mate – but beginning to think she couldn't be so bad if she was able to put Kana in her place so well. Perhaps her son had been correct... this miko was certainly interesting, if nothing else.
Kana, though, was shocked speechless that the chit of a girl would dare to threaten her. It took her a few to regain her wits, but when she did...
“You would dare to threaten one of the Cardinal Rulers? Do you know what you have done?” she demanded. “I outrank all of you in this room, and I could demand your head for your disrespect!”
“It would be hard to demand anything if you were nothing but a pile of ash,” Kagome returned blandly, inspecting her nails with a bored expression. “Have you ever heard the term, might makes right? Most of the time, I don't hold with it, but in this case... the bottom line is that your title is just that - an empty title. At any given time, I could kill you, and there is nothing you could do to stop me. Now, I'm going to say this once, and no more. Yes, you are far more beautiful than me. But beauty is only skin deep, and once a person gets past that, they can't stand you. That's why Sugimi dumped you before. Because once he got past the surface, you were empty and cold inside where it counts.”
Inuyasha chuckled at that. “And I can guarantee you, wench, he ain't goin' back for another try. Most men don't like their dicks to turn blue and fall off from being close to a frozen wasteland like you. I think your mother was laying with someone other than your father, because for all that you claim to be a fire elemental, all I see is one big endless sheet of ice.”
Satori laughed, and walking forward to stand next to Inuyasha, she stared at the almost incoherently fuming female she'd always hated. The woman was beautiful, true, but she was shallow, and loved to rub all her conquests into other women – especially if she had already slept with the female's husband. Satori had listened to her for centuries, and hated her with a passion – she actually hated her more than she hated humans, and that was saying a whole hell of a lot.
She glanced over at her ex-husband's younger son, and smiled a bit. “I never would have thought to hear you come up with such excellent put-downs, Inuyasha. You are a great deal smarter than I had ever thought,” she chuckled.
Brows disappearing into his bangs, his ears flicked forward and he looked at her, truly looked at her, for the first time ever. “I didn't say anything that wasn't the truth. Some males might be drawn to wenches like her, but if they've got any brains, they quickly get out. Like I said... some females are good for nothing but a quick fuck... and she's one of them. Kagome is the kind you get your hands on, and never let go of.” He turned to a blushing and wide-eyed Kagome, and sighed, a contemplative look crossing his face. “I'm not as smart as you seem to think, either, Satori-sama,” he said, oddly polite. “Because I was too stupid to figure it out while I had a chance with her.”
Blushing, Kagome waved his words away. “Let's not worry about that now, Inuyasha, what's done is done.” She turned a narrow-eyed glare on Kana, who was looking shell-shocked at the treatment she was getting. “Truth hurts, eh, Kana? I bet you're not used to being told the truth – especially when it comes to your behavior. Now, I can tell you aren't stupid. But, I can also tell that you are one of those that likes to take a girl's man just to prove that you can. Problem is, this time you've already had him... a long time ago, and since he doesn't want anything more to do with you that's proving to be a problem for you.”
Kana didn't answer; strangely it was Satori that sighed, and said, “Besides, Kana, you know that neither of us really poses any kind of threat to Kagome as far as Sugimi is concerned. Only Yuuka possibly could. What was between them was more than there ever was for you, or I, or even Izayoi. Only Sugimi himself knows where his heart truly lies between the two.”
Kagome stiffened as she heard what Satori was saying, though she didn't say anything. There was no way she was going to admit that she didn't know anything about yet another woman to either one of the women here.
“Look, for all the insults and words we've been bandying back and forth, we aren't getting anywhere but pissed off. I don't know about you two, but I've got enough to worry about with dealing with Naraku – I really don't want to have to be dealing with all this, as well. Naraku's much worse than anything anyone else can dish out, so, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go spend some quiet time thinking about how to defeat him, okay?” With that, she turned on her heel and left, the very picture of serious contemplation.
And that was all it was, too – a picture, as Inuyasha could attest to.
Yuuka? Who's she, and why did Satori say that? She acted as if this Yuuka and my father had a lot of deep feelings for each other... and something happened between them.
Kagome was deep in thought as she walked away from the room, and not happy thoughts, either.
Now what? This is all so much more complicated than I think I can deal with. Maybe I should just take Sesshoumaru up on his not yet offered, but hinted at offer. At least he doesn't seem to have women of his past lurking around every damn corner.
She made her way out a side door and noticed a small gate, stepping through it, she realized it led into a small section of forest inside the walls of the shiro, and wanting nothing more than to be alone, she took the somewhat overgrown path, disappearing under the trees.
-sSs-
Inuyasha, very much on edge, tracked his father's aura to the dojo, and found him cheerfully sparring with Sesshoumaru. Pulling out Tessaiga, he reached in between the two with the sword, catching both males blades on his, surprising them both.
“What do you think you are doing, Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru growled.
Ignoring him, Inuyasha turned a hard gaze on his father. “Just who the hell is Yuuka?”
The silence was deafening as Sugimi's expression for one moment was pained, with sadness echoing in it, and then his eyes went hard. “Where did you hear that name?”
Inuyasha sheathed Tessaiga and jerked his thumb over his shoulder at Sesshoumaru. “His mother brought her name up to me, Kana – and Kagome.”
Sugimi cursed, sheathing his sword and obviously trying mightily to hold in his temper. “What did she say?”
“She basically said that neither she nor Kana posed any threat to Kagome where you are concerned, and that only Yuuka possibly could, because no one could tell where your heart lay between the two. Now, my question stands. Who is she?”
Sugimi met Sesshoumaru's gaze. “Does she still reside in that protected bit of forest here on the palace grounds?”
Sesshoumaru nodded.
“Damn,” Sugimi sighed. “I suppose I should go see her, and have Kagome meet her, too. Why couldn't your mother keep her big mouth shut?”
His oldest son shrugged elegantly, sheathing his own sword as it was clear that their spar was over. “You can answer that as well as I, father.”
“What I want to know, is how many damn bitches have you been fucking? I mean, damn, every time Kagome turns around lately, she's tripping over another one!” He shot his father a smug look that Sugimi was hard pressed not to knock off his face. “Keh. If this keeps up, I won't have to try to get back in her good graces, she'll come back to me on her own.”
As Sugimi stared at his son with warning in his eyes, Sesshoumaru spoke, and both males turned to stare at him with shocked eyes.
“Indeed, father – I warn you now – if she refuses your suit after all this, I will offer my own, instead.”
And then he turned on his heel and walked off, heading for his bathing room.
Sugimi turned to Inuyasha with carefully controlled ire. “Where is Kagome, Inuyasha?”
He shrugged. “I don't know, she left the room before I did, and she was shielding, which meant she wanted to be alone.”
He watched with shadowed eyes as his father moved away, obviously going to find Kagome.
You'd better hope this comes to an end, old man... or Kagome will be lost to you.
~oOo~
So who is Yuuka, anyway? I mean... obviously, from what Satori was saying, he must have loved her. Like, really loved her. So what happened, and why is he chasing me instead of her?
Frustrated, hurting, Kagome started to cry as she wandered amongst the towering trees of this seemingly ancient little protected bit of forest.
“Dammit! Why do I keep getting slapped around? What did I ever do to anyone...” and then she thought about it. Great. I'm being punished for being Kikyou in my last life and treating me like crap. Wonderful. How the hell do the gods keep track of such a twisted mess?
Stumbling over a half-buried log in the forest floor and feeling her ankle twist, she sat down on it, shoulders slumping as she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling cold despite the warmth of the air. “I really, really, need to go home and talk to mom. Or maybe I should just go home and seal the well as soon as we defeat Naraku, and leave Sugimi to his plethora of women.”
“I highly doubt that would make him happy, young miko,” came a soft female voice, and Kagome looked up, shocked. She hadn't realized there was anyone else out here.
“Oh!” she sniffled, “I'm sorry – I didn't mean to bother you. I didn't know anyone was there.”
“It's no bother, dear. I couldn't help but notice you come into my woods, and then I heard you talking about Sugimi. I'd heard he had returned from death – not surprising, really, there wasn't much he wasn't capable of either doing or planning,” the woman said again.
“Um, yeah,” Kagome said, feeling oddly awkward. With the way the woman was still back in the shadowed portion of forest, and she herself was sitting in a small burst of light, she couldn't see who she was facing, and that was unnerving. “May I ask your name, my lady?” she asked politely.
A small chuckle was heard, and the woman stepped forward, finally allowing Kagome to see her. “There is no need for formality, miko, I'm not one to stand on it. My name is Yuuka,” she said, holding out a hand to assist her to stand. “Come, are you able to stand?”
Kagome, frozen at mention of that name, shook herself awake and answered, not wanting to appear ill-mannered. “Oh, hai, I'm fine, just a little pulled muscle.”
“Still, I would feel better if you would let me wrap it. A pulled muscle, or sprained ankle is nothing to sneeze at. Please, come back to my home and let me help you?” she asked, sounding almost desperate to please. Kagome didn't have the heart to say no, and curious as to whether this was the same Yuuka that was mentioned by Satori (though she was pretty sure it was) she nodded.
“Ok. Lead the way, then,” Kagome said, trying to be cheerful when all she really wanted was to disappear into the ether with everyone on this side of time forgetting she even existed.
Within moments, she was sitting inside a cute little cottage – it was nothing like the huts more commonly seen in this era and country.
“So... why do you want to run from Sugimi, miko-sama?” Yuuka asked, even as she cleaned and wrapped Kagome's ankle.
“Oh, it's just...” she trailed off and sighed, unable to even decide where to start. And with who she suspected this Yuuka was... that made it even harder.
The other woman stood and slid her hood back, stunning Kagome into silence. This woman, while looking to contain the cold beauty that Kana lay claim to, despite her fiery beauty, was oddly not cool at all, but warm. And it made all the difference in looks.
Long, straight black hair, so fine and silky it looked almost as though it couldn't even be real, with perfect, unblemished pale skin, and leaf green eyes brought the forest she lived in to mind. Her features were delicate, drawn with a fine hand, and her smile was warmth personified, stretching lips portioned perfectly into a soft rose bow.
Kagome drooped even further, and just shook her head, too dejected now to even want to talk – it was a moot point. Obviously, there had been, and probably still were, strong feelings between this woman and Sugimi, and she found, oddly, that she could understand him not being interested in Kana with someone like this woman around. She was beautiful, gentle – and warm.
“It's nothing,” she finally said, and stood, thanking the woman for the wrap. “Could you tell me how to find my way back to the palace?” she asked hopefully.
With a sharp look that Kagome missed, Yuuka considered the pretty young miko and nodded. “I can show you the way, miko-sama. If you will follow me... just be careful not to put too much weight on it.”
Nodding, Kagome followed the woman outside, then down the path she'd followed in at a slow walk to accommodate her ankle. They hadn't made it far when Sugimi came around a bend in the trees, obviously looking for her.
When he saw her, he hurried forward, noting the bandaging on her ankle. “Kagome, what happened?” he asked, hovering over her and checking for any other injuries worriedly.
“She is fine,” came Yuuka's low-voiced answer, and Kagome was hyper-aware of Sugimi straightening and stiffening. If he'd stiffened any more, he'd probably have broken something.
Stepping around Kagome to stare at the woman in front of him, Sugimi forgot where he was for a few moments, remembering years gone by and happier times between them. He couldn't stop himself from staring at her, his eyes wandering over her and taking in all the changes.
“It's been a long time, Yuuka,” Sugimi said quietly, almost whispering. “I wasn't aware until just a few minutes ago that you were still here...”
Both people were so caught up in each other and the past that neither noticed when Kagome, a sad acknowledgment in her eyes, continued on, finding her way out of there and into the palace.
Turmoil crashing through her, she knew only one thing – she needed to get far, far away from here – at least for today. Heading straight for the sleeping quarters from where she was, she got Kirara to take her to the well without saying a word to anyone – she left a note in the room that simply said she'd needed to go home, but would return tomorrow to continue their quest.
Not five minutes after leaving Sugimi in the woods with the woman of his past, and possibly of his future, Kagome was gone, and no one even knew it.
They wouldn't find out until it was too late, and she was already through the well.
It was one thing for her to know, peripherally, that in Sugimi's long life, he'd had many women. But she'd been continuously slammed by one after another...
And that last one was hell – because it was obvious there were deep feelings there, and Kagome wasn't about to go through that again.
It was just like the Inuyasha and Kikyou mess she'd been subjected to for so long, and she refused to go back down that path again.
~oOo~
A/N: Isn't looking so good, is it? I can't help but think that if you got with a guy that was that old, you'd be running into his old flames every time you turned around. How annoying would that be, eh?
Amber
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