Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Idiosyncratic ❯ Chapter 1

"Hold on tight, and don't let go of me. This will be loud-"

As the young woman observed the two boys in their silliness, she leaned up against the ancient tree. A breeze danced across the shrine grounds, catching her somber locks and the frill of her skirt as if inviting them to tango. Her silver-cerulean eyes betrayed her closed off body posture as they twinkled in amusement at the scene before her.

Content in the late April warmth, she watched the sunlight blazing off of her younger brother's glossy indigo helmet from her shady haven under the Goshinboku. The cicadas were droning bagpipes in the late afternoon sun. She stifled a snicker as Souta strangled their favorite cousin from behind with a vice-grip hold on his sides.

"-Not so tight!" The older boy complained, "I need to breathe, you know! You don't want me to pass out, do you?"

"Well, it would be pretty entertaining-"

"Don't answer that!"

Despite his wisecrack answer, the thirteen year old slightly relaxed his cutting grip on his cousin's waist.

"Hoo! Sweet, sweet oxygen! Well, I'm turning the key, get ready-"

Snap.

Kagome had brought the camera up and snapped a picture just in time to catch the priceless look of surprise and shock on her brother's face. Probably their favorite cousin's contagious laughter, too- result of how Souta nearly fell off the motorcycle in his shock.

Although she was reluctant to admit it, Kagome had also jumped when the motor bike hacked and coughed its way to life with earsplitting volume. Apparently, the cicadas were terrified, as they weren't buzzing anymore.

"I got that one, Souta! Maybe I'll show it to Hitomi!" The long-haired girl beamed and waved the camera over her head at the younger boy on the bike, only to receive a scowl in return.

Hitomi was Souta's girlfriend- had been since grade school, when Inu Yasha had beaten some sense into him verbally. Kagome actually had zero intentions of showing Hitomi the photograph...yet. She would wait a bit until Souta forgot about it, then use it as blackmail material when the situation arose. It wasn't cruel- it was a mandatory clause in the Universal Older-Younger Sibling Behavioral Contract.

Yusuke chuckled darkly at the thoughts he could see passing over Kagome's face. Yep, blackmail was definitely in order if Souta messed up in the near future.

"I told you it was loud," He yelled above the motorcycle's raucous noise, "We'll do the back roads nice and slow at first. We can go faster when you're ready."

Kagome snapped more pictures as her younger brother re-situated himself on the bike.

"You ready to go?"

"Yeah!"

Snap. Exhaust fumes made their way over to Kagome. She could have sworn she heard someone behind her having a coughing fit, but there wasn't anyone behind her but the tree... she shrugged.

"AND WE'RE OFF!" Snap. Snap.

She tucked some stray hairs behind her ear as she watched the duo make their proud exit. The scene was hilarious. Their exit had all the grandeur and gallance of a superhero going to save the day, but had all the speed of an arthritis-ridden shuffling grandfather. Snap. How was the bike even staying up? Snap. Snap.

It was a comical spectacle, indeed.

"C'mon, Yusuke! Go faster!" Squealed the younger boy acting as Yusuke's corset.

"Now that's what I like to hear," the older boy responded with an evil grin, "Let's RIDE THIS BITCH!"

"HEY! What did I say about language in front of my brother!" Kagome roared, stomping over to the putting motorcycle with mucho menace, rolling up her sleeve and flexing her Feudal era-caused muscles. She could slug Inu Yasha in the face when it was called for, why not Yusuke?

Both males gaped at her in utter fear as she came closer with deliberate steps; two deer in headlights.

"Kagome! You have a phone call, dear!" Mama Higurashi called from the screen door in the kitchen. This mild interruption jolted both boys out of their fear-induced trance.

"Go, go, GO!"

With that, they sped off down the road, probably-no, scratch that- definitely breaking the speed limit. The sunlight reflecting off of her younger brother's helmet was blinding, but Kagome continued to watch until the disappeared over the horizon line before she turned back to the shrine.

"I hope they don't get caught by the cops," Kagome thought with worry, then smiled and shook her head.

"Naw, Yusuke wouldn't let himself get caught. Knowing him, he'd probably run instead of letting himself get a ticket...ramping random things here and there, going where the cops couldn't get him. But I trust him. Boy, Souta must be having the time of his life..."

A small grin played upon her lips, and a mischievous titter escaped. As she gathered her forgotten camera, the delicious scent of her mother's cooking wafted through the air. Kagome hurried into the kitchen of her home to answer the phone and to be tortured by the not-yet-ready delicious smelling dinner.

The cicadas resumed their buzzing.

 

 

Quite some time ago, in a land many a philosopher thought about, but could never travel to...two very loving friends ruled what was then called the Ream of Paradise as Gods and royalty.

Although they were married, they were not lovers. Affection and kindness flowed freely between the two, but never a lover's touch or argument. Bickering, yes. If there were a Fountain of Bickering to accompany the fountain of Youth, the reluctant couple owned the rights to it and had unlimited access. Indeed, access it they did. Quite frequently. with an arranged marriage, one was to expect all the bickering. Nonetheless, it had been an exceptionally successful match. Agreeing on much of the same things and having a shared sense of humor held the two in an insperable harmony.

That's not to say that either were entirely pleased with the concept of an arranged marriage. What caused them to stand stronger together was the mutual rage at the situation and the utter dislike of half-assedness. It just pissed them off when something wasn't done right the first time. Not to mention both contained rebellious natures that would make a revolutionary anarchist blush. Plus the fact that they had been the best of friends to begin with helped quite a bit. Neither families had known that little factoid of information. In fact, they knew very little about their respective children's lives. Not that they had given a damn. But boy, had they been surprised when they had found that one out...!

 

 

"WHAT?! Whaddaya mean you're leaving?!"

Inu Yasha was furious. No, he was beyond furious. He was engulfed within a torrent of fiery wrath straight from the depths of all seven rings of Hell. They had been searching for the jewel shards for three years now...Three! Three friggin' years! So much had happened over that time!

The crickets had ceased chirping their mating calls in an offended shock from Inu Yasha's hollering. In fact, quite a few birds had taken flight into the looming sunset as well. Somewhere in Kagome's time, an old man's chess piece fell over.

"aww...shit. Damn it, Bernie- watch whatcher doin'!"

Kagome calmly wiped splatterings of spit off of her face. She was used to this ordeal by now. the long-haired girl was siting on the edge of the well- the old, magical wood it was built from was burrowing old, magical splinters into her ass. it wasn't the most enjoyable sensation she had experienced in her lifetime of living.

"Inu Yasha! Calm the hell down! At least hear me out! You didn't even let me finish my damn sentence!" Somehow, Kagome had managed to roar and sound exasperated at the same time, and find a way to rain spit upon the dog-demon's face while doing so. This was what hanging out with Inu Yasha for three years and having Yusuke Urameshi as a cousin caused.

She continued in a more concerned tone, "It really isn't good to jump to conclusions like that...you've been pretty jumpy lately...are you okay? Is something the matter?" Having Yusuke Urameshi as a cousin also gave Kagome the ability to hide her look of smug satisfaction as she watched Inu Yasha pointedly wipe his face off on his sleeve in an equally calm disgust.

"...yeah..." Inu Yasha lied offhandedly, caught up in the task of looking like he thought Kagome's spit was gross.

As fast as his wrath had been stirred up, it was extinguished with the look of concern etched upon her angelic face. The way the amber light from the setting sun played over her features further illuminated her beauty. She was a pure, holy goddess in Inu Yasha's eyes. A sometimes terrifying oh-no-I-just-soiled-my-hakamas-i-was-so-scared goddess, but a goddess nonetheless.

He knew she was right. He had been jumping to conclusions...jumping a lot in general. Three years... three years was more than long enough to collect some stupid jewel shards. Three years was more than long enough to become close friends with someone. Three years was more than long enough to fall in love with a close friend.

 

Slowly but surely, the crickets took up their chirping and creaking orchestra once more. Birds came back from their fear-flights and made their way home to their nests. The old men continued their lackluster chess game.

"BERNIE! Turn ya damn hearin' aid up! I've been hollerin' yer name fer five minutes now! It's your turn!"

"-Yasha...Inu Yasha, are you listening?! I swear, sometimes I think you need a hearing aid or something..."

Inu Yasha snapped out of his trance.

"I need a what?"

"...Never mind. Anyway, as I was saying before somebody decided to stop listening to me and zone out on my face-"

Inu Yasha blushed.

"I'm gone for only two weeks. In that dream slash vision, whatever you want to call it, the one I told you guys about," Kagome looked over to see Inu Yasha nod his remembrance, "Midoriko said she'd find someone in my time to help me out with my fighting skills and whatnot. Getting my miko powers under control, so that I'm actually useful."

Inu Yasha could argue with that one, but he decided to keep his mouth shut this time.

"Well, we decided that Spring Break would be a good time to start all that jazz...not as many distractions...like school."

Inu Yasha stopped and considered it. He knew she would go whether he wanted her to or not. Kagome just wanted his Okay so she would feel better...who was he to deny her that? Had this been three years ago, he would have been sat about fifteen minutes ago, and she would have left in a huff, all kinds of pissed off.

"Well...," the red-clad demon began slowly,"the beginning of any kind of training is almost always a real bitch," he looked at Kagome briefly before continuing, "getting used to the schedule and all that. Then, you're usually worn out and just want to die...so..." He trailed off, sitting down on the edge of the well beside her with a sigh. His hand overlapped hers, but he made no move to do anything about it- neither did she. Unfortunately, both were doing so for very different reasons.

For a time, the two remained in that position on the lip of the well , saying nothing. Content to be in the presence of a dear friend, content to be in the presence of a dear friend who might turn out to be so much more. Both simply gazing at the setting sun , its rays like fingers smearing amber and fuchsia blood across the sky in a last, desperate cry for help before it too went the way of all things and died. In the silence of nature, the two friends watched the daily death of the Sun in all its splendid glory- knowing the cycle would repeat.

At least, Kagome thought they were both watching the Sun get ready for bed. She didn't notice how Inu Yasha was staring at her intently, an internal war raging between the different thoughts in his brain...

 

After the five minute war was won, a flag went up on the victorious side along with a victory cheer. The dead were cleared off the streets; the wall torn down. New plans and propositions agreed upon by the newly formed government went into action.

Kagome had been sitting on the torturous, splinter-infested well- being simultaneously blinded and entranced by the sun's retreat- when she was caught up in two crimson-swathed arms, promptly being held tightly to her emotionally-challenged friend's chest. The girl inhaled his scent, seeing blue-green spots while thoroughly enjoying the scent that had become her favorite over the past three years. A delicious intermingling of patchouli, rain, and wind.

Inu Yasha held her close...Kagome. He had finally chosen. Chosen Kagome. Not Kikyou, Kagome.

Kagome.

Of course, she didn't know that...yet. He wouldn't tell her either. He would show her. As she was always telling him, especially during his "run off to see Kikyou" days, actions speak louder than words. Inu Yasha knew that whichever way she took it, she was bound to be in shock. He just hoped she wouldn't push him away...

 

...Of course, that's precisely what she did. Kagome also knew that when he went to kiss her, -and kiss her he most certainly did!- it was more than likely the end product of some über-heavy, meticulous consideration on the matter. The miko was very well aware what the half-demon's kiss meant.

It pained Kagome something fierce to have to push away her beloved hanyou, her first love, after finally receiving the long awaited kiss...the kiss that declared his feelings, the kiss that declared his choice of Present over Past, of Kagome over Kikyou...the kiss that came too late.

And as she bade him an understandably hasty goodbye, Inu Yasha came to the conclusion that while three years was more than long enough to fall in love with a close friend, three years was apparently also more than long enough to fall out of love with a close friend.

He'd rather her be mad at him.

 

 

 

I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inu Yasha...someone else does. Critique very much encouraged. I need it. This is my first fanfic. Thank you!