InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Transcending Worlds ❯ Hated Memories ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7

Hated Memories

 

 

Inuyasha couldn't believe his eyes. How could she be back? How?

 

"So, Inuyasha, you're still playing with the hearts of mortal girls centuries younger than you," said Kikyou with a sneer.

 

"Look who's talking," snarled Inuyasha. "Sesshomaru is a good 900 years older than you are." He refused to loosen the grip he was holding to Kagome, though she was trying to break free. He whispered to her, "Don't move, okay? I got this covered."

 

Kagome stilled, but Inuyasha could still sense uncomfort pouring from her. He simply held her closer. Kikyou looked disgusted.

 

"A girl who looks like me. How ironic," she said. "You haven't changed too much, Inuyasha." She turned to Kagome. "What are you doing with this worthless half-demon? You are the Elemental Goddess, you can do better than this. Just ditch him, like I did. He won't do anything but ruin your life."

 

Kagome felt Inuyasha stiffen, but he didn't say a word. Kagome glared at the older woman.

 

"Kikyou, you ruined your own life by leaving him," said Kagome. "He's a wonderful person. He's loyal, strong, and protective. You lost a lot when you dumped him."

 

"But I gained more," she said. "His brother is much hotter, much stronger, and best of all, he's not half anything."

 

At this, Kagome couldn't restrain herself. She pulled out of Inuyasha's grasp and stepped forward. She lifted her hand and slapped Kikyou clear across the face. There was a resounding smacking noise, and there was a still moment where Inuyasha just stared at the two women.

 

"You're a bitch, Kikyou," said Kagome fiercely. "How could you treat Inuyasha like that? He has feelings too, you know! He's missed you, very much! Although now that I've met you I don't see why."

 

Kikyou glared at her, and she glared back. Inuyasha stared at them, amazed at the things he was seeing and hearing. At that moment, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kirara, and Mr. Higurashi walked onto the scene. They gazed at the two women, startled.

 

"Uh, Inuyasha? What's going on?" asked Sango.

 

"Kikyou showed up while Kagome and I were talking, said a few things, pissed Kagome off, and now they look like they're going to fight each other," said Inuyasha, not wanting to add what else he and Kagome had been doing. After all, that was their own business.

 

"Fighting would solve nothing," said Kikyou. "You can't fight someone into changing their minds."

 

"That's true enough," agreed Kagome grudgingly. 'No wonder he liked her so much,' she thought unhappily. 'She's much prettier than I am. And more sensible…I guess.'

 

"So why have you come here?" asked Miroku. "Surely it wasn't just to taunt our friends."

 

She glared coldly at him. "I didn't even know that he was here," she said sharply. "And since when has he had friends, anyway? The only thing he's good for is messing up someone's life."

 

"SHUT UP!"

 

Kagome whirled her hands around gracefully, summoning up some water out of thin air, and wrapped it around Kikyou's face.

 

"Who are you to talk?" she asked, as Kikyou tried to breathe. But Kagome's powers seemed to differ with emotion, and when she was angry, her power proved immovable. "Sure, he may have not been too popular with your friends, but you hurt him badly. Maybe permanently. How could you do something like that?" She drew the water from her face and it vanished in thin air, and Kikyou gasped for breath. "You messed up your own life, by leaving him in the first place. He's a good person, Kikyou. Why did you leave him?"

 

"Kagome…" Inuyasha murmured, surprised. He could hear her voice trembling. She was truly upset. And all for his sake, though she barely knew him. Did she truly like him so much?

 

Kikyou noticed this too. "And what have you gained from falling in love with that despicable half-demon?" she retorted.

 

Kagome blushed deeply but didn't answer, afraid of what Inuyasha might say or think. For a moment, they were all silent, then Kagome spoke up.

 

"What haven't I gained from being his friend?" she answered softly. "I have friends now, I'm out of my castle without having to be surrounded by guards, I'm protecting my friends and family from a disaster that can destroy both of our worlds…everything I have always wanted is here with me now. I didn't want royalty, didn't want to be the goddess, but I am. And they don't care; they don't treat me any differently. They're true friends. The real question is, what did you gain when you left him? Certainly not these things I'm blessed with. You would've gotten these things if you had stayed with him, Kikyou. Why did you leave him, and why are you so angry at him?"

 

Kikyou couldn't think of an answer to that one right away. She stared at Kagome for a moment, thinking hard. Inuyasha stepped up beside Kagome and reached out to touch her shoulder. She glanced back at him, her eyes glittering with unshed, but existent, tears. He smiled at her and slipped his clawed hand within hers, despite all their friends watching. After a moment, she closed her hand over his gently and gave him a small smile. Then they turned back to Kikyou.

 

"Well, Kikyou?" asked Sango. "Aren't you going to answer her question. I'm sure we'd all like to know."

 

"We're waiting, Kikyou," said Miroku.

 

"I left him…because he didn't truly love me," she said slowly. "He was always shunning me, trying to get me out of the way, and hardly ever talked to me. He didn't treat me the way he should have…and never did anything that I would like to do."

 

"Kikyou, we've been through this," said Inuyasha. "I didn't want to sleep with you, or anyone, for that matter. I'm not that kind of guy."

 

"You said you would wanted a special first time," she answered. "If you didn't think that being with me was special enough, then why stay with you? It just proved that you didn't truly love me. I was saving myself for you, you know."

 

Kagome, during this conversation, was slowly turning a deep, brilliant, reddish color. She abruptly let go of Inuyasha's hand and stepped off to the side, immensely embarrassed. Inuyasha himself, she saw, had a hint of pink on his cheeks, as well. This had to be mortifying, talking about his past sex issues in front of his friends.

 

Inuyasha glanced over at her. The poor girl was so red that he doubted a tomato was redder. He knew just how she felt; this was very embarrassing for him, too.

 

"Yeah, well, you're my brother's now," he said, wanting to talk to Kagome in private, to calm her down.

 

"And I suppose that you belong to some other woman?" asked Kikyou, who, quite the opposite of Inuyasha and Kagome, seemed not to mind the discussion at all.

 

At this, Inuyasha turned a deeper shade of red then his clothes were. He stuttered for a moment, then just muttered, "Well, erm…no, actually. I still don't do that kind of thing."

 

"And you're what, three hundred and forty two years old now?" she asked tauntingly.

 

Kagome blinked in surprise. He was still a virgin at that age? That was kind of hard to believe, especially considering how cute he was…

 

'Wait, what did I just think?' she asked, blushing even more, although she was already so tinged she doubted that anyone noticed it.

 

"Anyway, I was actually looking for Sango," she said, finally answering Miroku's question.

 

"For me?" asked Sango, surprised.

 

"Yes," she said. "My village sent me. There is a demon terrorizing our village, so tainted with evil that even my powers will not destroy it. We need one of the demon slayers…and as you're the sole survivor of the clan, we wished to ask you for your assistance."

 

"Where is your village?" asked Sango, all business.

 

"I shall lead you there," said Kikyou, bowing slightly. "Please allow me to show you the way." She turned and began to walk away, then stopped and turned her head back slightly. "If the others wish to come, then they may," she said.

 

They all exchanged looks, then Kagome looked to her grandfather.

 

"Gramps? You can stay here with Lady Kaede. We'll go with Sango," she said.

 

He nodded, much to Kagome's surprise, and turned immediately to Kaede's house, grinning merrily.

 

"Have fun, Kagome!" he yelled cheerfully.

 

Kagome straightened a bewildered expression on her face. Miroku, Shippou, and Inuyasha stared after him, surprised as well. Kagome folded one arm and rested her other elbow on it, placing curled fingers to her face thoughtfully.

 

"Kagome?" asked Inuyasha, walking over to her. "What's wrong?"

 

"Call me crazy, Inuyasha," she said, her eyes wide with astonishment, "but I think my grandfather likes Kaede."

 

Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippou exchanged glances, then all three of them burst out laughing.

 

"Oh, come on, Kagome," Inuyasha snickered. "Your grandfather and Kaede? That's ridiculous."

 

"I know it's weird…but I really think that he does…ew," she added as she realized what she was implying. "That's creepy."

 

The others nodded in agreement and turned to follow Sango and Kikyou, not wanting to think about what Kagome had just been saying.

 

****

 

"Here's the village."

 

The friends looked around. The village was almost in ruins. It was obviously the work of a horrible demon.

 

Kagome brought her hand to her mouth, her eyes stinging with tears. "What kind of demon would do something like this?" She knelt down beside the body of a young boy, who couldn't have been any older then eight. His eyes were wide open, but blank and staring, with shadows replacing the emotions there would've been were he still alive. He had a great, bloody hole pierced into his back. She reached out with a trembling hand, but couldn't bring herself to touch him. Inuyasha knelt down beside her and wrapped his hand around her wrist, and when she looked up, she saw sorrow in his eyes as well. She sort of threw herself at him, needing the comfort of a warm, living body. He held her tightly, trying hard to control his own emotions.

 

The sight of the massacre was terrible. Bodies lay in pools of blood everywhere, and homes were on fire. The villagers who had survived were weak, and couldn't seem to summon the energy to do anything. They sat on the steps of their destroyed homes, staring off into space, and their children cried. It was so horrible, so heartbreaking.

 

Kagome glanced at Kikyou. Despite her earlier attitude, she looked horrified to find her home in such a condition. She looked so close to tears that she pulled away from Inuyasha and stepped up beside her. She lay her hand tentatively on her shoulder, and Kikyou looked at her with a guarded expression.

 

"I'm…I'm so sorry this happened," said Kagome. "You must feel so awful."

 

Kikyou blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected such compassion from this girl, especially after their earlier argument. She didn't say anything, though, and after a moment, Kagome withdrew her hand from her shoulder.

 

"Lady Kikyou!"

 

They all looked around at the sound of a small voice calling Kikyou's name. She knelt down beside the little girl in question.

 

"What happened, Mizuki?" asked Kikyou.

 

"The demon attacked almost right after you left to find the demon-slayer," said Mizuki. "It killed my mommy and daddy, and my older brother too. Many people have been wounded. Have you found the slayer? The demon has to be destroyed, in return for killing my parents!"

 

"Yes, I've found the slayer," said Kikyou. "I'm so sorry for your family."

 

"What kind of demon is this, Kikyou?" asked Shippou curiously.

 

"A wolf demon," answered Kikyou. "His name is Kouga. He has a whole pack behind him, and it doesn't help that his wife Ayame has an old pack of her own."

 

"The wolf demons?" Shippou asked in surprise. "They're around here?" He hopped up on Kagome's shoulder. "Wow, I didn't know they lived over here too."

 

Kikyou nodded. "And they're killing off as many people as possible."

 

Sango knelt on the ground and picked up some of the ashes, rubbing her fingers through it as though testing it.

 

"They'll be back tomorrow to finish off the rest of the village," she said, standing up. She turned back to her group. "We'll need to get rest for this battle."

 

They all nodded, and Kikyou led them to her house and stepped inside. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, who looked very uncomfortable here. The poor guy. She felt really sorry for him.

 

Then Inuyasha's ears perked up, and he sniffed the air. Kagome jumped slightly when she heard him start to growl instinctively.

 

"Inuyasha?"

 

"Well, well, if it isn't my little brother. What is he doing here, Kikyou?"

 

A demon walked into the room, one who looked rather similar to Inuyasha, though you would never make the mistake of calling him a half-demon. His hair was so long it nearly touched the ground, and it was pure silver, like Inuyasha's. His eyes were narrower, but gold, again like Inuyasha's own irises. He was quite tall, and Kagome noticed maroonish facial stripes, and as he raised his hands slightly, she also saw them on his wrists. His ears were pointed, and he had a fluffy thing hanging over one shoulder. And he also had claws, like Inuyasha's, but longer and sharper. He gave of a cold aura, filling the newcomers with a chilly respect for him. All except for Inuyasha.

 

"Hello, Sesshomaru," said Inuyasha through gritted teeth. "Surprising that you're still with a human girl, seeing as you seem to despise them so much."

 

"Just as surprising to find you with a demon girl," replied Sesshomaru, nodding at Kagome. "A bird demon? Why a bird, of all things?"

 

"I'm not a demon!" protested Kagome. "I just happen to have wings because of my family's rank, that's all." She already didn't like him. What a jerk! And this guy was Inuyasha's older brother?

 

"You know, Sesshomaru, just because you can't find a satisfactory girlfriend doesn't mean we all can't," said Inuyasha acidly.

 

Kikyou glared at him, and Sesshomaru…smiled?

 

'Uh-oh,' thought Kagome. 'That can't be good.'

 

"So you admit she is your lover," said Sesshomaru.

 

"That got them. They both turned a bright red. They really hadn't considered what they were.

 

"We just wish to stay here for the night," intervened Miroku, saving his friends quickly. "We're going to fight the wolf demons tomorrow. Until then we wish to spend the night. That's all."

 

Sesshomaru regarded the group coldly. He glanced at Kikyou, then made a noise of contempt.

 

"You can all stay here tonight," he said.

 

"Oh, great! Thank you so much!" said Kagome.

 

"All of you, that is, except for the vermin," he said coldly, his gaze falling directly on Inuyasha. He blinked twice but said nothing, simply kept his side of the glaring competition. Kagome, on the other hand, was outraged.

 

"How could you say that?" she asked furiously. "He's your little brother! How could you be so heartless?"

 

"Kagome," said Inuyasha sharply, not looking at her. She shut up but continued to glare at his brother.

 

"Vermin should stay where it belongs," said Sesshomaru. "And besides, he's put up with worse."

 

"What a heartless demon," commented Shippou to Sango. She nodded in agreement.

 

"Inuyasha, are you sure?" asked Kagome.

 

"We don't mind coming with you tonight," added Miroku.

 

"Nah, you guys should stay inside," said Inuyasha quietly. "You'll need as much rest as possible. Makes more sense this way. And at least I can look out for the demons, right?"

 

Kagome watched him sadly as he tried to hold up a careless image. She could see the hurt in his eyes, but she didn't say anything. She'd talk to him later.

 

****

 

Inuyasha sat in a tree much later that night, staring up at the waning moon. The new moon was coming soon…Kagome would see his other side soon. He wasn't keen about it, but it would be best to let her see him as soon as was possible.

 

His left ear twitched. There was a rustling in the bushes below him. He glanced down to see Kagome walking through them, apparently lost in her thoughts. She didn't seem to have any particular purpose of coming out on her own, but Inuyasha knew that if she was going for a walk then he'd have to follow her to make sure she didn't hurt herself.

 

She spread her wings and flew up into the air slightly. He was sure she was going to pass him and keep flying, but she suddenly flipped in the air and was facing him. He blinked and blushed…why, he didn't know. She grinned and kind of straddled the branch he was sitting on while facing him.

 

"Hey, how're you doing out here?" she asked softly.

 

"Uh…I'm fine. What are you doing out here? You should be resting!" said Inuyasha rather accusingly.

 

She smiled at him and he blushed again. "I figured you'd want some company out here," she answered. "It must be pretty lonely."

 

He stared at her, amazed that she had sensed that. He actually had been wishing for some company. But how had she known?

 

He shrugged off his haori and draped it on her shoulders. She looked at him questioningly.

 

"Well, I don't want you to catch a cold!" he said defensively. "Just wear it while you're out here, okay?"

 

She nodded and smiled at him once more. She turned around, managing not to hit him with her wings, and gazed up at the moon.

 

"Isn't it so pretty?" she asked, sighing.

 

He nodded. Suddenly he reached out and pulled her against him, causing her to lean backwards into him while he held her from behind. She was tense for a moment, then relaxed into him, and he adjusted the haori so it covered both of them as he leaned back against the tree. They sat in silence, his chin resting gently on her head, and she placed her hands over his, which were holding her by the waist. She closed her eyes contentedly and fell asleep within minutes. Inuyasha smiled but stayed awake much longer, greatly comforted by the young woman's presence.

 

How would it feel to have this presence every night? To have her with him, by his side, for the rest of their lives? He knew he wanted her…what as, he wasn't sure yet…but he was so drawn to her, it was kind of scary.

 

But that's how it felt when he and Kikyou had been together, and look where it had gotten him. He couldn't take chances. Love was for the weak-hearted…wasn't it?

 

He felt her stir within his arms and pulled her closer. He didn't want a repeat of before…but then, Kagome was much more loyal than Kikyou had ever been. He didn't need to know her any longer than he already had to know that. She would never betray him. Right?

 

Her fingers laced through his, catching him by surprise. He looked down at her, but she was still asleep. She didn't know she was doing it. But he found he didn't care. He smiled softly and gripped her hand in his gently. She was so innocent and pure, so kind hearted. He knew that if they had the chance to be together, she'd stay with him. But would they get that chance?

 

"You really shouldn't hope for her so much," said a voice.

 

Inuyasha started, but didn't move too quickly so as not to disturb the sleeping girl in his arms. He glanced up and saw Kikyou. She leapt down swiftly.

 

"She would never love you, Inuyasha," she said acidly. "She's too good for you. She deserves much better than the likes of you. You'll do nothing but bring her misery, just as you did with me."

 

"How did I make you miserable?" he asked angrily. "I didn't do a goddamn thing!"

 

"Exactly!" she said. "You never lifted a finger to help me with my problems, like you're doing for her. You were always trying to go after Naraku. Now here you are, putting this girl before your mission to destroy him. What makes her so special? She's just her world's version of me!"

 

"She's different than you, Kikyou," said Inuyasha icily. "She's sweet and kind, and cares for her friends more than herself. I seemingly recall you trying to deny our relationship to maintain your image to the villagers. How is that loyalty? And I wouldn't include you in the mission because I didn't want you getting hurt!"

 

"Oh, but you include her?"

 

"Naraku's after her, I'm trying to protect her from him and anyone else that wants to do her in!"

 

"Inuyasha, it wasn't me that betrayed you. It was you that betrayed me, remember?"

 

"Huh?" asked Inuyasha, bewildered. "What the hell are you talking about?"

 

 

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ok, everyone, I am soooo sorry this took so long to get out and it doesn't have too much in it. I've been pretty busy. I'm starting work on this again and will try to get up the next chapter within the next 2 weeks. Feel free to yell at me for it taking so long. Heh later!