Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bane of Existence/Love of A Lifetime ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

The sun crept over the horizon delicately, burnishing the land in gilded gold and orange, tinges of pinks and blues at the edges, falling across two figures lying in one another's arms in a clearing.

 

However, unknown to the sun, it was not the only one who had settled its gaze upon the two unclothed and sleeping people. Off to the side of the clearing, twin pools of midnight blue were thoroughly lined with a sheet of tears.

 

He had done it again.

 

Even after he had asked her to stay in the Sengoku Jidai after their quest was complete; to stay because he told her he didn't want to see her go.

 

That had been just three short days ago. Now, he was lying in a rather obvious position with her…

 

…with Kikyou.

 

When she had thought over her relationship with the hanyou earlier that morning as she set out into the forest to find him for breakfast, she came to the rather depressing conclusion that because of her blind love of, and unwavering loyalty to, Inuyasha, she had left herself more vulnerable than she would have thought; far more than she was pleased with.

 

She also came to find out that one can only have their hearts mercilessly torn from their chests, succinctly trampled upon and handed back to one time and again before their entire perspective on the concept of love becomes bitter and jaded. Oh, she knew it was there to be had…for some people. But the more her life progressed she began to truly believe she wasn't named in that elite class. Even though the war against Naraku still raged, though the scales were tipping in their favor considerably, Miroku and Sango had finally been able to admit their love for one another.

 

She had thought that she and Inuyasha would have been right on their heels. However, it seemed that she was once again deemed the favorite play toy of the Kamis and she found herself violently stuffing her belongings into her yellow backpack, pointedly ignoring the tears that had burst from their levies and felt they had the right to course down her cheeks.

 

How rude.

 

Unbidden, her mind drifted to the young man she had met in the park - how long ago was that? Three weeks by now? - and found herself, strangely, longing to see him once more. The thought that she didn't even know the man's name came to the forefront of her mind but she batted it down. His aura had made an impression on her, even now she knew what he felt like, and Kagome knew all she had to do was focus on him to find him.

 

She felt like a hypocrite.

 

After all, hadn't she told him not to linger in the past? Wasn't there some bullshit in there about not focusing on how his heart hurt? What was she doing now? That's right, she was going against everything she had said to him and as her words resounded in her head, they felt tawdry and hollow.

 

Her heart hurt, her mind hurt, everything seemed to hurt and she suddenly felt very tired. How long would she have to endure the pain of seeing Inuyasha, knowing he would never see anything other than Kikyou? Why did she believe him the few times he had spoken so sweetly to her?

 

“I am just the reincarnation.” She whispered softly, her heart breaking a little more. Even though she had been fighting for the past year to put her feelings for the half-demon to rest, it still hurt that she was passed up for a dead woman.

 

A gentle voice spoke to her as soon as a small weight landed on her shoulder, “Kagome, you are better than her. You might be a reincarnation, but maybe you aren't hers. You are too good for him momma, he doesn't deserve you.”

 

Such a thing had never occurred to her before and she turned startled blue eyes up towards her son, the packing of her belongings temporarily forgotten. “What do you mean Shippou? I look so much like her, how can I be someone else's reincarnation?”

 

The kit just smiled and reached his short arms as far around her neck as he could, hugging her to him. “Why couldn't you be momma? So what if she kind of looks like you? I never really believed that Kikyou was your incarnate momma. If she was, why would you have been born with the jewel in your body?”

 

The young miko pondered his words for a moment, tapping her chin with a finger thoughtfully. “Maybe because it was originally burned with her body? Why else would I look like her, if I wasn't her reincarnation?”

 

Shippou just shrugged his small shoulders, “I don't know. Maybe your similar looks are because she was it's guardian for so long and you grew up with the Tama in your body. Maybe it took some of her traits and transferred them to you. And so what if the jewel was burned with her body wasn't it originally created from Midoriko's body? From her soul?”

 

Looking off at a far wall, Kagome sighed. “Well, I suppose some of it sounds plausible, but if I am not Kikyou's reincarnation, who's am I?”

 

~*~

 

“Damnit fox!” Yusuke growled, “Just what in the hell seems to be the problem today? You have been coming here with me for the past week, why are you so fidgety now? Shit man, sit down before you drive me crazy! I come here for peace ya know!” The detective huffed and dropped his head into his hands.

 

Kurama let out his own little growl, Youko's influence of course, “My apologies Yusuke but it truly isn't my doing. Youko has become quite insufferable over the past few days and he seems to ignore my pleas for peace and quiet.”

 

Another, more audible growl spilled from the redhead's lips and Yusuke looked up, only to find he was staring into completely golden eyes. The detective's mouth gaped slightly with his shock. Honestly, here was Kurama, with the same calm voice, the same height and blood red hair…but now, he had golden eyes. Damn! Someone is irritable today.

 

Closing his mouth, Yusuke spoke “Just what has your panties in a bunch Youko? Honestly, if you didn't want to come here, I am sure you could have asked Kurama nicely and he would have stayed home…or at least considered it.” He finished with a smirk, determined to find out exactly what kind of mood the kitsune was in.

 

He didn't have to wait long.

 

The avatar's now golden eyes gleamed and he grinned - was that a fang I just saw? - before he answered, his voice now taking on the deeper tone of the fox's. “Actually, nothing has my panties in a bunch because I do not wear panties. As for coming here, I mist certainly wanted to, I just find it difficult waiting to see if this female indeed does exist.”

 

Just as Yusuke was about to open his mouth - planning on tearing into said fox, if only to release some of his own stress from the situation - an inadvertent tingle coursed up his spine and he shot to his feet, forgoing whatever choice words he had planned.

 

It was her.

 

Kurama had just gotten Youko thrown back into his corner of their consciousness - kicking and crumbling the entire way - when he felt an odd sort of energy. One that did not go unnoticed by the kitsune spirit and, unfortunately for Kurama had him once more nearly clawing his way out. With another firm push, Youko was sufficiently put in his place and Kurama could once again focus.

 

Though, really it was unnecessary. He already knew what it was.

 

It was a miko…

 

…and there seemed to be a kitsune close to her as well.

 

Damn.

 

The fox turned his attention to his companion just in time to see him flash a huge grin of triumph before he took off walking in the general direction of their intended prey.

 

It didn't take too terribly long to find the ones they were searching for, as they were deep into the forest that surrounded the back of a shrine; a shrine that happened to be next to the park in which they were previously. However, even though Yusuke had seen the two before and had explained them both to Kurama, neither was really prepared for the site that met their eyes.

 

~*~

 

Kagome and Shippou had hurried to the well post haste and were able to make it through before Inuyasha was even aware they were up, which suited them both just fine. After going into the house and saying their hellos to the family, Kagome had taken a nice, hot bath with Shippou and, after getting dressed, had gone down to eat breakfast. After all, they had left the Feudal Era before theirs was done.

 

Now, the two were walking through the forest behind her house, intent upon a clearing Kagome knew of in which Shippou was to practice his ability to transform. The kit had been trying repeatedly to fine tune the skills he knew in the Sengoku Jidai, but the only true support he had was Kagome - which was fine by him - and he had to constantly deal with Inuyasha's harsh treatment.

 

Even though it was far less than what Kagome went through at the hands of the hanyou.

 

Once they had cleared the tree line that wrapped around a small clearing with a nearby stream, they were fairly deep into the trees. Kagome stopped and turned to Shippou. “Now, lets see some of your transformations, oh mighty Shippou!” She said with a brilliant smile that earned one from her kit in return.

 

Kagome went to seat herself upon a boulder as Shippou pulled out a leaf, threw it into the air and said “transform”. When the smoke had cleared, a perfect image of Kouga stood in its wake. Deciding to have a little fun, since his momma did need some cheering up, the new Kouga strode up to Kagome, grasped her hands in his and pulled her into his chest. “Kagome! How's my woman doing?”

 

She couldn't help it, though she did try. Before she could even attempt to stuff the giggles back down her throat - she was supposed to moping after all - they bubbled out of her throat to ring musically across the clearing. “Shippou, that is so perfect! You even managed to get close to his voice!”

 

Grinning that his plan had worked, he threw another leaf and was soon the mirror image of Sesshoumaru, complete with fur and stripes. However, he had been so focused on the minute details of the Western Lord that he had forgotten to hide his tail. Just as he was about to say something along the lines of “Die Inuyasha”, Kagome burst into another fit of giggles, this one so strong she actually had tears trailing her cheeks.

 

Shippou was oblivious as to the reason of his mother's mirth, so he had to stand there and wait until she had gotten herself under control. Once she was calmed down and able to breathe properly, he arched an eyebrow in question, not unlike the real Sesshoumaru, and nearly had her laughing again. This time though, Kagome managed to keep her humor down to a few stifled giggles before she spoke. “Shippou, that would have been flawless…however, I don't remember Lord Sesshoumaru having a fluffy, cream colored tail and I doubt that, even if he happens to be alive in this era, he has grown one. Even after five hundred years.”

 

At the expression of mock horror that crossed “Sesshoumaru's” face, Kagome laughed right out again and Shippou shed the image to pounce into her lap. Snuggling closer once her arms wrapped him up in a hug, Shippou spoke softly “Momma, I think someone is here.”

 

The miko merely nodded her agreement to her son before whispering in his ear, “Shippou, it is that same young man that was at the park the last time we were here. I think he has company this time; someone that feels like a demon, sort of. Why would he be all the way out here?”

 

Shippou snuggled closer before speaking again. “Maybe he is looking for you momma. The other person almost feels like a fox…but, I sense human too.”

 

Shaking her head slightly, she spoke, her voice coming out far louder than intended. “Why would he be here looking for me Shippou? He doesn't even know me!”

 

Just as the kit was getting ready to answer her, he trembled slightly and burrowed further into the protective arms of Kagome. The miko responded in kind, already more than aware of what set her son on edge.

 

Inuyasha was just beyond the clearing. He was clearly not happy.

 

~*~

 

Yusuke and Kurama really were beginning to feel like peeping toms, crouching low against two side by side trees, and watching the young beauty and a fox child play in the clearing together. Upon the kit's first transformation into an ookami youkai, both were surprised when he spoke of Kagome as his woman and dually shocked when his next image was that of the Mighty Lord Sesshoumaru.

 

Kurama was the first to break the silence, speaking in a low whisper “Yusuke, apparently Shippou is not the only youkai Kagome knows. I wonder how they know the Aristocratic Assassin. What do you think she meant by `five hundred years'?”

 

The detective merely shook his head, signaling he clearly had no idea, before returning his attention to Kagome who was now cuddling Shippou. His gaze softened and a small smile crept across his lips. Maybe…just maybe there was a chance.

 

Little did he know, Kurama was having thoughts along the very same lines. However, their pondering and wishful thinking was cut short when the both felt an unknown, and very pissed off, demon presence. Both tensed when realization dawned that said demon was heading straight for the two gentle creatures just ahead of them.

 

No sooner had the unknown youkai - who was indeed half youkai upon closer inspection - broken through the tree line and he was cursing a blue streak that would make even the most seasoned sailor blush.

 

~*~

 

Is a little time for just Shippou and me too much to ask for?

 

Pasting a fake smile on her face, Kagome looked up from Shippou and said in a too sweet voice, “Hello Inuyasha! Why are you here?”

 

She honestly thought that she had just caused spontaneous cavities to sprout in her molars. Really, she though moodily, as if that bastard deserves anything less than the `sit' of a lifetime.

 

Said bastard blatantly ignored the miko, eager to waste no time in barking at her. “Wench! What the hell do ya think you're doing? We have shards to find Kagome! I am sick of sitting around on the other side of the well waiting for your stupid ass. Why can't you just be more like Kikyou! She would have never put off her duty. She was smarter, prettier and a better fighter than you too.”

 

So wrapped up in his tantrum was he that Inuyasha completely missed the anger that flared pink across her bright blue eyes. Gritting her teeth so she didn't completely lose it - no matter how much that bastard deserved the full wrath of a pissed of Kagome - the young miko stood from the boulder, placed Shippou gently down in her spot and wheeled on the hanyou, catching him off guard and causing him to finally shut up.

 

“Inuyasha” Kagome ground out, her voice dropping to a dangerous octave “haven't we been over this before? I am not Kikyou! I am just Kagome! Weak, stupid, ugly, worthless Kagome! I will never be Kikyou and I would never want to be! Not even if it that meant I could love you and know you would love me! Since she is so much better than I am, go back to the Feudal Era and tell her to go find them and leave me be. Shippou and I came here for a break. I haven't been home in three weeks Inuyasha. Go home. Inuyasha. Go home.”

 

Then as an afterthought came, “Maybe I'll come back in a few days. Who knows, maybe I will just stay here where I belong.”

 

The half-demon sneered at her. “Why would you want to stay here? I'm back in the Feudal Era. It's kinda hard for you to follow me around like you usually do from five hundred years in the future Kagome. Besides, it's not like you could find someone here that would give a shit to protect you. Stupid bitch.”

 

Once again, the entirely misplaced smug attitude of the hanyou rendered him clueless to the amount of damage he was doing to the young miko, and therefore didn't notice her aura flare to life and crackle like lightening. “Inuyasha, Sit Boy! Sit, sit, sit, sit, SIT!”

Taking a breathe, she resumed her tirade. “When that subduing spell wears off, it would be wise for you to go back to the Feudal Era and stay away from me. I refuse to take your abuse here, in my time and my home.”

 

Scooping Shippou into her arms, Kagome turned her head to the general area of the two bystanders and gave a gentle smile before twisting her body and storming past, and across, the face-planted half-dog demon, cursing under his breathe.

 

~*~

 

The two Spirit Detectives sat in their positions in twin capacities of admiration, confusion, shock and anger. Both were impressed with everything they had seen of the girl thus far and were likewise completely enraged by the careless attitude the inu-hanyou took with her.

 

Kurama and Yusuke regarded one another with a slight nod conveying a silent message.

 

She will be protected.

 

~*~