#「inuyasha;past.」 “i was the only one; fast asleep.”

[yasashihanyou]

for @holified​​ [ PRIVATE THREAD. ]

“...Why a priestess.” he finally, finally decided to ask that question of her. Maybe it was because she was tasked with protectin’ the nearby village, n’she was always with those lil kids, babysittin’, or helping out some elders with their chores. He’d watched her from afar for a while now, n’finally figured he could approach her once she was alone.

Once he was sure nobody else’d bug him, or scream n’run from just the sight’a him. Like they always did.

Not her. She was different though.

...It dawned on him that he’d never asked her what her name was. N’he hadn’t heard it from anybody else either. They were always calling her ‘priestess’ this or ‘holy one’ that. Never her actual name.

Er, wait. Could it be that priestess was her name? Who named their kid--

Mn, nah. He was named InuYasha, he really shouldn’t be castin’ stones on that front.

#holified #(timon vc: it starts!!) #「KIKYOU.」 “I WILL FORSAKE YOU; HAUNTING ME.” #「inuyasha;past.」 “i was the only one; fast asleep.”

[petri808]

@inukagfluffweek Sharing a bed

It’s my birthday and I’ll write what I wanna 🥳

When Inuyasha Taisho tries to reach his girlfriend Kagome Higurashi that morning several times with no answer, he shows up knocking on her door. And when she finally answers, her reason is readily apparent. Wrapped in a blanket, hair a mess, and cheeks flushed, she stood held up by the door frame. “I’m sorry Inu.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.” He quickly scoops her up and carries her back to her bedroom, then places her in bed. Once she settles in a sitting position with her back against the headboard, Inuyasha surveyes the room. “Did you take medicine?” He asks.

“Yeah, but I only had one last dose in the box.”

“Okay,” he notes, “what’s your symptoms?”

“Inu I’m— ACHOO!” Kagome wipes her nose with a sniffle. “I’ll be fine.” Her voice is hoarse and strained. She’d woken up that morning with a sore throat and now a stuffy nose. “You don’t have to fuss.”

Ignoring her words, he asks again. “It’s not fussing, so what are your symptoms?”

Kagome sighs as she lists them off, “… and a fever. But really, Inu, you don’t have to take care of me.”

“Of course, I do,” Inuyasha chides, “And I’m not leaving ‘till you’re a lot better.” He prompts her to lie down and pulls the covers up to her chin. “So, save your strength and get some rest till I return.”

Too tired to fight, Kagome relents with sleepy eyes. “Alright.”

It might be an overzealous reaction for a girl he’s only been dating a couple months, but seeing Kagome sick brings flashbacks of his mother lying in bed too sick to get up. Not so pleasant memories… but in this case one he can make better. With a quick trip to the drug store, and a stop at the local grocer, Inuyasha returns to the apartment with supplies a plenty.

Okay, so maybe he did go a little overboard. Three brands of flu medications, including those drinkable ones. Couple more boxes of facial tissue, since he only saw one box in her room. A variety of soups, several chicken types, beef barley, and tomato unsure of her preference. Ice packs for the fever, throat drops, tea, and several flavors of Pedialyte and Gatorade for dehydration. And lastly, something to eat for himself because he missed lunch.

He peeks his head into Kagome’s room to check on her, craning his ears in her direction. She’s still asleep, perfect. Her breathing sounds a bit strained, but consistent. Pulse rate a little high, but nothing worrisome. And she’s not fidgeting to indicate being uncomfortable. So, he moves on to check in her bathroom for the medication she took. It was just for regular colds, not flu and he’s fairly certain it’s the flu since it came on fast and hard. One of his employees is out today as well due to the flu. Tis’ the season, he guessed.

He’s certain he’ll hear anything wrong from the living room, so Inuyasha closes the door partially. Satisfied, he settles in Kagomes dining room to eat his lunch and figure out how to stay busy. It’s four more hours until dinner time. So, he thinks about it, then finally calls his trusted manager Miroku Hoshi to bring him some files to work on.

The knock at the door came within 30 minutes. Inuyasha opens it to find Miroku.

“Here’s the Kazuma/Misato merger, and the Kitagawa take over,” Miroku hands him the file folders.

“Thanks, not sure if I’ll be back in the office tomorrow but these need to get finished.”

Miroku peers around Inuyasha. “You know, I know this apartment. Higurahi, right?”

That startles Inuyasha, knowing of the man’s past. “You didn’t date her, did you?”

“Nah, I wish,” Miroku chuckles though quickly shuts up from Inuyasha annoyed look. He clears his throat. “She’s my wife’s best friend. So, what are you doing here?”

What a small world. “She’s my girlfriend— well just for a couple months now, but she’s sick so I came here to help her.”

“Awww,” Miroku teases, “I didn’t know you had that kind of heart!”

Oh, this man is lucky they’re friends. Inuyasha’s brow raises. “Shouldn’t you get back to work?”

“Yes, boss! Don’t worry, I’ll hold down the fort till you get back, so don’t rush,” Miroku grins.

“So, tiresome,” Inuyasha pinches the bridge of his nose and shuts the door in the guys face.

Despite the annoyance, working on the projects does the trick, and before Inuyasha knew it, four hours has passed. He stands from the dining chair and stretches out those hours of sitting. Time to make soup for Kagome so she can take medicine.

He pushes open the door with his foot as he carries in a bowl, a cup of water, and the next dose of flu meds. He then places them on the nightstand, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha pushes gently on her shoulder. “It’s time for another dose.”

She coughs out a whine before opening her eyes. There’s a confused look on her face as she sits up. “Inu, what are you doing here?”

He chuckles, “You don’t remember letting me in?” Kagome shook her head no. Must be the cold frying her brain. Inuyasha checks her forehead temperature— it’s a little high. “Here,” he holds the bowl in front of her and hands her the spoon. “Eat, and I got you more flu meds.”

“Thank you,” she cracks a weary smile, then starts to eat.

Inuyasha couldn’t tell if her cheeks were pink due to the cold or for other reasons, but even sick, Kagome is still adorable. “You’re welcome.”

Once all the food is gone, and Kagome takes the medicine, he places the dishes on the nightstand for now. “Would you like tea for your throat?” Inuyasha asks.

“No, maybe later.” Kagome shimmies back under the covers and pulls the blanket up.

“Cold?”

“Yeah, a little,” she coughs. “Maybe cold sweats.”

“Maybe,” he agrees. Of all the things he purchased that day, a heating blanket isn’t one of them. It’s time to improvise.

Inuyasha stands up and gestures. “Move over a little.”

“Huh?” Kagome’s eyes flash wide.

“You’re cold, right? Body heat is the best way to warm up quick.”

Her pulse instantly increases. They aren’t exactly at that stage of their relationship yet to be cuddling under the covers. “It’s j-just to warm me up right?”

“Kagome I’m not gonna take advantage of a sick person.”

“O-Okay,” she shifts over in the queen size bed to make room.

Inuyasha slips under the blanket onto his side. “Come here,” he softly requests with his arms open.

Kagome’s face really felt on fire now, but her achy shivering body won out. She moves over facing his chest as he encircles her with his arms. An instant warmth surrounds her and I t felt really good. She closes her eyes as she relaxes. She then feels him kiss the top of her forehead, and smiles. Okay, this isn’t so bad.

As she lingers at the door of dreams, Inuyasha asks her a question.

“Gome?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know a Miroku?”

“Yes,” she yawns, “why?”

“Oh, it’s nothing really. I just learned today he knew you.”

“How’d you learn that?”

“He’s a manager at my company.”

“Oh, wow,” she chuckles lightly. “What a small,” yawn, “world.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles and kisses her forehead again. “Now, rest. I’ll chase away the cold tonight.”

“Mmm,” Kagome’s heart skips a beat. “Thank you, Inu… I could get used to this,” she sighs.

Now it’s his turn to blush. He rests his head against hers with a smile. “Me, too.”

#inuyasha #inukag #inukagfluffweek2022 #inukagfluffweek #inukag drabble

[mrfeenysmustache]

A Toe in the Water

Part Two

Part one- domestic, can be found HERE

Part two written for @inukag-week day 3- intimacy

Summary: Inuyasha is getting married, and that’s just not something he ever thought would happen. After Kagome finally returns through the well 3 years after defeating Naraku and the jewel, they are put on a fast track to Happy Ever After. He’s happy, he really is! So what is this rain cloud hovering in his sunny skies?

Also read on: AO3

——————————————————

Inuyasha watched Kagome comb her hair in front of the fire in their hut, wearing nothing but the water from her bath and his loosely hanging fire rat.

His heart rate picked up and his lungs squeezed, the sheer power of the atmosphere between them baring down on him until it threatened to crush him flat.

She was achingly beautiful, and he still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that she was there, with him, so free and open and trusting…

And he couldn’t… Do anything about it.

‘Dammit.’

He could feel it, another night of failure, another night where she would snuggle in next to him in bed and he would hold her in his arms and his palms would sweat and his heart would race and he’d be so gripped by fear that she would once more fall asleep as his wife in name only.

Because even though he was free touch her, free to hold her, free to tease her and taste her and take her…

He was frozen.

He couldn’t… he couldn’t…

He couldn’t.

His face burned in shame and he tore his eyes away from her, glaring at the floor of their home and willing it to open and swallow him whole.

He felt her touch against his cheek and he looked up into her face so soft and warm with a depth of love and understanding that took his breath away.

And made his stomach burn like Sesshomaru’s poison claw had been inside it again.

He did not deserve this woman’s mercy and kindness, yet she continued to lavish him with it every opportunity she had.

“Ready for bed, Husband?” She whispered, and once again hearing her so proudly claim him as hers like that made everything seem so magical, like all the shit and shadows he’d walked through in life had truly been worth it, had just been stumbling blocks on his road straight to her, so he let her grab his hand and pull him to his feet. He followed her silently to their futon and watched her lay down, and then he slid in to the bed behind her, rolling on top of her, hovering over her, tracing every line and curve and lash on her face with his eyes.

He could feel the warm softness of her body beneath his, and he would be lying if he said it didn’t make his blood run hot, but just as soon as the fire rushed through his veins, the ice followed, and she could always tell.

He could smell her lust, her desire, her hope, and he could smell when her own burning need cooled in the face of his hesitancy.

But he never smelled her disappointment, and for that he would never be able to accurately voice his gratitude.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, laying down fully on top of her and hiding his face in the crook of her neck. He felt her arms wrap around his shoulders, felt her chest vibrate as she chuckled softly, felt her hands find one of his ears and scratch at the base.

“Don’t apologize Inuyasha. I’ve told you, it’s okay. Whenever you’re ready.”

“But I should be ready. this is… this is bullshit. This is weakness. This is failure, Kagome. I’m failing as a husband already!”

“Stop that.” She said sternly, pushing him off of her until he rolled over on his back, and then she propped herself up on his shoulder and glared down into his face. “Don’t say those things Inuyasha. They aren’t true. We’ve only been married for a couple of weeks, and before that… did we really have time to just be together? Without any world saving nonsense or baggage from the past to settle?”

He blinked, his previous thoughts from the week they prepared their hut re-emerging from the depths of his self loathing.

No, they hadn’t.

“We were kind of chucked into the deep end of all of this, weren’t we? And maybe… maybe I made it worse by insisting we live here instead of taking the time to build a new home. I’m… sorry if-“

“No, don’t. You’ve done nothing wrong, Kagome. I could have… I could said something…”

“We’re you worried about this before?”

He swallowed down the knot of jumbled words and denials and excuses, even a few stray insults from latter days of much worse habits, and shook his head yes.

It was the best he could do, but it was enough.

She bit her lip and looked over at the wall, and fear of losing her sped through his soul so cold and fast he wanted to scream.

But she didn’t look mad or hurt or betrayed.

“Inuyasha have you… have you ever done… anything physical… with anyone?”

“No!” He exploded, sitting up and facing her with a dark, stormy scowl. “Why the hell would you think-“

“Inuyasha stop. I’m not asking because I’m jealous or suspicious, no matter what I love you more than anything.” She explained, his heart faltering at her easy declaration, “I just… tell me please. Have you ever been with anyone?”

“Who the hell besides you do you even think would want to be with me, Kagome?” He asked her, and he saw the light in her eyes sharpen.

“…Kikyo?”

“No. No. We are not dragging her into this. This is between me’n you Kagome, she ain’t got nothin’-“

“Please Inuyasha, humor me for a second!” She cried, grabbing his hand and staring into his eyes imploringly. “I promise I’m not trying to trap you, but right now, I need you to answer me. I need you to talk to your wife so we can solve a problem. Please?”

His spine was ramrod straight with angry, frustrated tension, giggling ghosts of the past sneaking in to rehaunt him with all his mistakes and blunders and mess ups.

But she looked so earnest and smelled so honest that he sighed and tilted his head back to look at their ceiling.

“No. Aside from the one kiss when she was… dying, and the one kiss when she was trying to drag me to hell… Kikyo and I… never did anything else.”

“Okay,” she said, and she’d spoken true, she wasn’t mad. “And we’ve only kissed a few times before you get overwhelmed. Inuyasha, are you under the impression that it’s all or nothing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think that if we’re together, we have to go all the way to sex?”

He felt his face light on fire, and his palms were sweating, and he wanted to rip his hand away from hers and cross his arms in his sleeves.

“Uh… y-yeah? Ain’t that the point? Ain’t that what married people do?”

“Sometimes, yes,” she replied, scooting closer and laying her head on his shoulder. “But sometimes no. Sometimes… you work up to it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, we can be intimate in an endless number of ways, Inuyasha. It doesn’t have to be sex right away.”

“It… it doesn’t?”

“No. And plenty of people can’t just go from nothing to everything. I’m not surprised at all to hear you need to go slow. To be honest… I like the sound of that better, too.”

“You do?!”

She never failed to knock him over and blow up all the things he’d ever believed, about himself, about the world, about people.

It was hard not to imagine fate creating this woman for him specifically sometimes.

“Yeah. I do. Inuyasha… can I kiss you?”

“You… want to kiss me right now?”

“Yes. I want to kiss you. More than once. But that’s all I want to do, and then I want you to hold me while we sleep, okay?”

His eyes fell to her lips, and all his thoughts scattered to the winds in favor of her scent and the memory of her taste.

“Okay,” he said absently, leaning into her and pressing his mouth to hers.

One kiss.

Two.

Three soft kisses before her hand settled against his jaw and her tongue darted out.

Clumsily he opened his mouth and let her inside, and she took her time getting to know his fangs, sliding her tongue against his, and sighing in pure contentment.

She’d been utterly starving for some kind of closeness and connection from him, and he wanted to maim himself for letting things get this far before hashing this all out, but his mind was clouding and all he could see or smell or taste or feel was her.

And she was delicious.

She pulled away and he tried to follow, a new hunger stirring deep in his belly, but she placed a soft hand on his mouth to stop him and touched her forehead to his with a breathy giggle.

“Okay. I think that’s enough.”

“It is?”

“Just for tonight. Now I’m tired.”

“Oh shit, it’s late. Come on, lay back down.”

It was hard to miss how giddy she seemed, how her soul seemed to thrum happily and excitedly around her as she snuggled into his arms and yawned.

“Goodnight husband.” She whispered, and though technically they weren’t physically man and wife yet, he couldn’t deny they were now a far sight closer.

It made him hopeful instead of fearful, and he noticed he felt cheated out of more kissing time with her.

He thought of tomorrow night, and the night after that one, and for the first time he didn’t want to hide.

He wanted more.

“Goodnight… my wife.”

#inukag #inukag week #inukag week 2022 #inukag fic #inukag fanfic #inuyasha/kagome

[mythicamagic]

Childhood: a Kohrin oneshot

Summary: Two teenagers sneak off one night to the beach, reflecting on their pasts. Despite the grim subject, Rin somehow always manages to make him smile. Kohaku x Rin oneshot

3,000 words

Childhood

Laughing, racing, tumbling, grinning. Gaped teeth, freckles, dirt between toes, teasing brothers, sunbathing, cool creaks, bare feet and squawking kappas. The scatter of petals and grass kicked into the air, the scent of campfires, sunflowers, crispy fish and cooking fungi. Assuring golden eyes keeping vigilance over her sleep, along with the steady rhythmic breathing of a two-headed dragon keeping her warm. These are all the things Rin chose to remember about childhood.

She remembered and kept them close, especially at night, gliding through memories masquerading as dreams.

In the years after travelling with the stoic lord and staying with Kaede at her village, her limbs had changed- becoming gangly, form lean and growing with burgeoning maturity. She'd adapted to her environment, forming strong friendships with her mentor and the Inutachi. However, despite her days being spent in quiet happiness, she couldn't help but notice a few things. A perpetual absence. A certain searching look in Sango's eyes whenever she glanced up from monitoring her three children to stare off into the trees.

Tossing and turning beneath the covers, Rin frowned in her sleep.

One person who remained elusive in both her dreams and the waking world was-

A crooning noise startled her upright, brown eyes flying wide. Stumbling from her futon and hurrying from Kaede's hut, she peered out into the night inquisitively.

From within the forest, she could see a faint orange glow peeking out between the trees. Tightening her sleeping yukata around her, Rin's lips pursed. She then stubbornly sought out the glow, bare feet padding over cool dirt.

She found him, as predicted, watching Sango's hut.

Kohaku stood, a little further along into his maturity than her. Even the dense shadows couldn't quite hide the changes in his height and features. Rin stopped the second he caught notice of her- a telltale wariness gripping him a moment before recognition painted his face.

"Rin," he said with relief, tone soon slipping into a resigned reprimand. "What're you doing out so late? You should be asleep."

"So should you," she smiled easily, rocking on her heels. She gave a wave to Kirara, who hopped onto Kohaku's shoulder after transforming into a small version of herself and mewling. "It's a strange hour for you to come back. Sango won't be able to greet you with a lively smile-" lively chatter broke off the second she noticed the older boy direct his gaze to his feet. "Oh… unless… you don't plan on staying long?" Rin murmured. Again.

For some reason, it was always the same with him. Lord Sesshoumaru's brief visits didn't bother her in the least. He barely had a connection to the village. But Kohaku? He should've been there, stayed there. She knew Sango missed him terribly but he barely made time to visit.

However, she didn't voice any of this. She'd done so before, and Sango's assurances never seemed to help him. Guilt continued to gnaw like an infected wound at her friend.

Rin observed his freckled face in the torch light, seeing the emotions swimming within vibrant brown eyes.

"You know I would if I could. But…" the silence of the forest swallowed up the remainder of what he wanted to say. Rin shifted her bare feet, drawing closer and taking his coarse, demon-slaying hand.

"Let's go somewhere."

"Huh?"

"I want to go to the beach," she said decisively, as though he had no say in the matter. Kohaku supposed he didn't when she got like this. "Come on, Kaede says the ocean air is good for you. Hurry, before everyone wakes up," Rin tugged on his hand.

Kohaku smiled slightly, giving in far too easily.

---

Kirara touched down on sandy shores an hour later, allowing them to slide off her back. Rin stretched and sucked in a long breath of salty sea air.

"Ahh! Now isn't that better?" she grinned.

Kohaku snorted and smiled good-naturedly, looking out at the black sea with a quiet, observing look. "I haven't been to the beach in a long time."

"Why not?"

Kohaku wandered out, boots crunching on pebbles until they were cushioned by sand, leaving moonlit footprints. "I want to say I haven't had time, but that's not true," he chuckled. "It just hasn't occurred to me to go. That I'd enjoy it."

At 16, Rin still didn't feel old enough nor wise enough to understand everything. She wasn't a firecracker like Kagome had been around her age, and she didn't see herself as a warrior like Sango. However, there were some things Rin knew how to do.

Following, Rin took his hand in passing, tugging to ensure he'd stumble after her. She walked right up to the shoreline, drinking in the dark, hushed atmosphere only broken by the sound of waves crashing against rocks.

"Take off your boots."

Kohaku blinked, raising a brow. His lips quirked, "you sure are bossy today."

Giggling, she wriggled bare toes into the sand- squealing when the cool tide rushed in and splashed about her ankles before drawing back. "You used to walk around barefoot all the time, just like me."

"When I was a kid," he reminded her.

"Are you implying something?" Rin huffed. "I'll tell Uncle Inuyasha you said that."

"No, I wasn't trying to say-" his hasty words cut off, noting her mischievous expression. Kohaku smiled and leaned down as though to take off his boots- suddenly thrusting his hands into the surf and splashing her.

Shrieking and gasping, Rin gaped with surprise- soon grinning viciously wide and leaping towards him. Kohaku quickly dodged. He began running, hotly pursued by the petite young woman. An unexpected noise rang out into the night. Boyish, happy laughter.

Earthy brown eyes widened and even as Rin sprinted, panting, she drank in the sound of Kohaku laughing. How strange, rare and wonderful it was.

Running fast and putting all her energy into her legs, Rin leapt at his back. Catching him around the middle, she collided hard against him.

With an undignified yelp from a demon slayer, Kohaku lost his footing, toppling gracelessly to the ground, kicking up sand. Giggling breathlessly, Rin spat some from her mouth and lifted her head.

"You went down easy. Are you sure you slay demons?" she teased, nestling against the warmth of his back.

Kohaku shifted, shaking sand from his ponytail and adjusting their positions so that they were facing each other, laying on their sides. He wiped his face, expression clearly trying to remain unaffected and firm- but breaking into a tender smile.

"You always do this," he mused quietly.

"Hm? I don't think I've ever tackled you into the sand before," Rin felt fairly confident about that.

"That's not what I mean, it's just that you always make me feel... something different. Something good."

"But we had that argument about how best to stew nettles the other day," she pointed out.

A chuckle escaped him, soulful gaze sober. "Even that felt good to me."

Tilting her head against the dry, soft dune, both fell silent. Despite being a chatter-box, Rin also knew when to be quiet and let him talk. Her hand inched out naturally for his, and Kohaku accepted it, grasping her palm in a way that made her feel secure and safe. They'd known each other for many years so some things came as easy as breathing. Other things, like talking about it, came slowly, painfully.

"Why won't they go away?" Kohaku murmured in a hushed tone for only her to hear. "The nightmares. The memories," his gaze shook. "I just want to stop seeing it every time I look at Sango, but its there, in the back of my mind. I don't... feel right being around my nieces and nephew."

"You're still scared you'll hurt them?" there was no judgment in her tone. Assuring him that Naraku was dead and gone didn't help. Kohaku was perfectly aware of that.

The young man ducked his head, lips thin. His larger, rougher hand in hers trembled. "What if it's still there?" he whispered. "The compulsion to hurt people. I could be living my life- I could marry-" his eyes avoided hers. "Have children, but then one day I hear his voice again and the memory is too strong to resist. I could do something awful."

Dark brows pulled together, heart-squeezing in her ribcage. She wanted to help so badly. However, there was nothing she could do but keep trying to assure him and listen. "Even if you hear him, I believe in you, Kohaku," Rin stroked a thumb over his scarred knuckles. "You'd fight it. You're getting stronger all the time."

He looked exhausted, running a hand through his hair and sighing. "I'm so tired of being scared," he mumbled, glancing wearily at her. "You're still scared too, aren't you?"

Her face lost its girlish innocence, becoming firm as she sat up. "I've told you before- I'm not afraid of you, Kohaku!" she insisted hotly. "I haven't been since I was 8!"

Kohaku shifted his muscular body, and it was times like those she noticed how much larger and different he'd become. She blushed slightly but kept her expression serious.

"I wasn't talking about that," he chuckled, gaze becoming gentle. Careful fingers minded some dark hair from her face. "Your nightmares. You still have nightmares about your childhood too, right?"

Rin blinked, feeling cold and releasing his hand to wrap both arms around herself. The brush of cool night air gliding over her skin suddenly felt a little too chilly.

A soft croon rumbled out seconds before Kirara's large form settled down behind them. Lustrous buttercup coloured fur bumped against Rin's back, and she nestled against the nekomata's side gratefully.

"We don't have to discuss it if you don't want to," Kohaku said with concern, leaning back against the demon as well.

Forcing a cheery smile, Rin shook her head. "I'm fine- I've actually come up with something that helps me sleep most nights now, and I thought it might help you too."

"What is it?"

Tilting her head back to gaze at the stars above, she smiled a little more naturally. "I think of all the good things in my childhood. Laughing, racing, tumbling, grinning. Gaped teeth, freckles, dirt between toes, teasing brothers, sunbathing, cool creaks, bare feet and squawking kappas. The scatter of petals and grass kicked into the air, the scent of campfires, sunflowers, crispy fish and cooking fungi. Assuring golden eyes keeping vigilance over my sleep, along with the steady rhythmic breathing of a two-headed dragon keeping me warm."

Kohaku stared at her with no short amount of amazement. He swallowed and looked down at the sand.

"You're strong," he breathed. "To be able to separate all the good things from the bad."

"You can do it too," grabbing his hand again, Rin inched closer with an encouraging nod. "Tell me some things you remember. Happy things."

Kohaku blushed a little at her proximity and cleared his throat, thinking. "Sango. She was always there for me."

"What else?"

His eyes seemed to haze slightly, "Father…"

"Push through it, Kohaku," she murmured. "There was a time before all the bad stuff. Was he kind?"

Kohaku blinked, firm fingers squeezing hers as he came back to himself, exhaling. He chuckled shyly, "he was a little strict, but he meant well."

Rin shifted closer, resting beside him shoulder to shoulder, knee bumping his. Kohaku rested his head back against Kirara's soft fur and began recounting things long since buried. Things he hadn't thought he could remember or appreciate anymore. The guilt was there, it always would be, but it felt further away, replaced with a bitter-sweet tang.

"Practicing, running, training, laughing, chasing yellow nekomatas," he scratched Kirara's ear. "Butterflies, bare-feet, hunting- freeing rabbits from traps because I didn't want to see them get killed. Father yelling. Father's hand gently resting on my h-head," the words stumbled. "Playing, flower gathering, flying on Kirara. The smell of the blacksmiths. Sweat. Forging weapons. Sango snoring."

Rin gasped and giggled, watching as his fingers slid through the gaps between her own.

"Warming my hands on the brazier. Talking. Listening. Stories around the campfire. Demon slayers, family," Kohaku murmured, voice thick with memories. He closed his eyes, falling silent.

"You did really well," cuddling against him, Rin pecked his cheek.

Kohaku glanced down at her, "I haven't talked about that stuff out loud before. I didn't think I could anymore."

Grinning, she put her nose in the air, imitating Jaken. "Humph well, I am rather good at talking. Getting other people to talk is my speciality ~"

Chuckling, he nudged his free hand against her forehead gently, brown eyes incredibly warm. "Can we do this again sometime? There's probably more we can remember."

Blinking, Rin gentled and squeezed his fingers, "of course we can. Anytime, Kohaku. But you know… Sango might want to hear some of this too- when you're ready," she added quickly.

His face became a touch more guarded, which broke her heart. He was so afraid of hurting Sango again. For a demon slayer, the young man was heavily weighed down by empathy.

Rin touched his freckled cheek, "Kohaku?"

He shook his head slightly and gave a smile to show he was alright. "Never mind that. How'd you get to be so brave talking about this stuff?"

Humming, she let her fingers linger, dragging down to his jaw. It looked and felt strong beneath her touch. "I probably couldn't talk about it out loud if you weren't here. You make me feel brave."

Before her fingers left his face, her hand was caught. Kohaku pushed it back to rest against his cheek, tilting his face into her palm.

"Likewise," he mumbled.

Cheeks warming, Rin felt her heart stutter and thrum wildly in her chest. It was weird. Kohaku was so incredibly dear to her. She loved being close to him, but lately, butterflies just wouldn't stop fluttering in her stomach.

Seeming to sense her confusion, Kohaku released her slack hand and gently returned it to her. He then turned to his boots and began tugging them off.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm doing as you bossily suggested earlier," standing, he gave a small smile, offering a hand down to her.

Rin accepted it, following as he walked to the shoreline. Stepping onto the wet sand, a noise of surprise and shook escaped the demon slayer as the tide rushed in.

Biting her lip, Rin tried and failed to suppress mirthful laughter. "Did you just squeal?"

"No. You're imagining things," Kohaku grinned.

The ocean lapped around their ankles, slowly receding, before sweeping a fresh wave of cool, dark water against their skin.

Kohaku gradually adjusted, looking out at the endless stretch of ocean brightened by the moon. Rin breathed in a lungful of the fresh air, slowly relaxing with him.

The tired lines beneath Kohaku's kind eyes seemed to soften, not entirely going away, but his face appeared young once more, gaining a healthy glow.

Rin held onto his hand throughout. He was the only one she felt so strangely at peace with. Lord Sesshoumaru and Kaede were protective presences, but neither really knew her, or her secrets. No one understood everything that had happened in her life, though she'd divulged some things.

She'd told Kohaku everything. When the boys at the village whispered among themselves that she was strange, a shape-shifter, a hanyou girl in disguise, Rin would smile. Because they didn't need to know or understand. Kohaku accepted her oddness, an outlier himself. Perhaps they were Hanyou children in a way.

Like Uncle Inuyasha, they didn't quite fit into human society. They were too strange. Too changed, different because of what they'd seen and experienced, never quite meshing despite their best efforts to.

But that was alright.

She'd asked Uncle Inuyasha about it once, Lord Sesshoumaru in their presence. Inuyasha had met Sesshoumaru's gaze, voice gruff.

"Well, there was no place for me, so I had to make one for myself, and then I realized, I had a place, but I was the only one in it."

Lord Sesshoumaru had seemed quiet and considering of his words.

Rin understood. Gazing at Kohaku right then, she felt he would too. The two humans who had died too young. Kohaku was part of her space, and she was in his.

Catching her eye, he smiled. Just as naturally as holding hands, he leaned down and rested their foreheads together. Rin let out a whoosh of hot air, lashes fluttering shut. The press of his head against hers felt intimate and sweet.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and shifted her head, lips inches from his, face burning. Kohaku's eyes cracked open wide, before gazing solemnly at her. He wrestled with something- and she thought he might pull away.

Kohaku then snuffed out the rest of the distance between them, lips pressing against hers in a chaste kiss.

White-hot feeling burst within the young woman like shooting stars. Butterflies turned into hummingbirds. Her lips burned.

They pulled away, both avoided each other's gazes a moment, reeling. They then caught one another's eye and slowly, shyly smiled. Because they were still the same, just a little different from before.

"Let's go back to the village," Kohaku murmured, noticing the first hues of sunlight brightening the horizon. "I think… I'll try talking to Sango."

Rin nodded, smiling with palpable relief.

He glanced at her, expression remaining vulnerable, fragile heart laid bare for her to see. Kohaku trusted her to handle it gently.

"And Rin?"

"Yes?"

He blushed slightly, squeezing her hand. "Let's come back to the beach sometime soon."

Rin's face burst into a wide grin, giggling a little breathlessly.

"I'd love to!"

---

End

#kohrin #Inuyasha #Kohaku x Rin #kohaku #Rin #inuyasha fanfiction #Fanon pairings

[ayuuria]

Yashahime Translation: Animedia Magazine March 2021 Issue

Please do not repost this translation without my consent! This includes screenshots of any type and amount. If you wish to share this translation, simply link to this post.

For more information regarding the use of my translations, click here.

Tis the Season of Love ♪,

Get That Person’s Heart! (let’s get it)

The flower blooming Spring is the season of (new) meetings. Look around for an instant and before you know it, the distance between “that person” and “that person” has gotten smaller. Will love be born from there? Picking up the relationship that people are curious about.

Even though they’re at the height of adolescence, the three Yashahimes slay demons all the time. Within that, recently there’s a gentleman that has quickly approached Towa. His name is Riku. He seems to be known among demons and is a suspicious unidentifiable person, but his manners are exceptional in any case! Whether it’s because Towa let’s her guard down at his friendly attitude, they seem to enjoy their conversations whenever they meet. It seems Riku has a motive but putting that aside, it appears that he’s taken a liking to Towa herself. While still not knowing whether he’s a friend or enemy, at some point, a relationship that’s not quite love (?) has sprouted between them. This time, we had Matsumoto Sara, the voice actress for Towa, talk about Riku and, going with the theme of Spring, had her choose flower images for the Yashahimes and Riku based on “Flower Language”.

The handsome young man with an ulterior motive, Riku

Self-proclaimed “pirate come ashore”. A young man of many mysteries who covets the rainbow pearls the three Yashahimes possess. He also knows a lot about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Towa and the others.

The honest girl who is still inexperienced in love, Towa

Sesshōmaru’s daughter and Setsuna’s elder twin sister. She treasures Setsuna, who was raised separately from her, more than anyone else. On the night of the new moon, she loses her demonic powers and her hair turns black.

Setsuna

Towa’s younger twin sister. Due to having her sleep stolen by the Dream Butterfly, she is unable to sleep. While she does not have any memories of her early childhood, she has gradually become able to let her guard down around Towa.

Spring Breeze Interview, The Voice Actress for Higurashi Towa: Matsumoto Sara

Moroha

Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter. Separated from her parents soon after being born, she was raised by the wolf demon tribe. When she puts rouge on her lips, she becomes “Beniyasha, the Destroyer of Lands” and goes on a rampage.

— With the development thus far, which episode left a big impression on you?

What left the biggest impression on me was episode 14 which was the episode that showed the truth behind the forest fire that separated Towa and Setsuna. I always to keep an objective point of view while acting but at that time, I was truly angry from the bottom of my heart. Whether for better or for worse, Towa’s emotions came into me.

Also, the depiction of Towa and Setsuna when they were born in episode 15 left an impression on me as well. Since it’s Sesshōmaru, I thought he would be rough with the babies but surprisingly, he firmly and carefully held them, so I was relieved (laughs).

— Being Towa’s father, what do you think of Sesshōmaru’s actions?

Without really saying too much, even though there are not enough words, I end up just suddenly saying what I’m really curious about. However, I think Sesshōmaru himself acts on his intentions while not caring about what others around him think. I also didn’t know what the future development was, so as the role of the daughter I thought “Please give more hints”.

— How did you feel seeing the figure of Towa fighting up to this point?

When Towa’s life completely changed by jumping from the modern era to the feudal era, I worried if Towa would be able to cope but I was surprised at how adaptable she was. There’s the fact that she’s still in puberty so her sensitivity is like a sponge, or rather her ability to absorb things is amazing, I think. Also, having Setsuna nearby is big. There may be times where she’s uneasy but her strong sense of duty and justice to “protect Setsuna” is what I feel drives her. She’s the type to immediately take action if there’s something she has to do, so I think her current environment is a good fit.

— Alright then, what are some highlights going forward?

There’s an episode where you will learn Setsuna’s childhood and how she lived after she was separated from Towa. In episode 13, it talked about how Monk Miroku sealed Setsuna’s demonic powers, so this flashback episode of the past will connect to that. After episode 20, the fragments scattered throughout the story thus far will gradually come together as one, so there’s a lot of information packed in that you can’t miss. I think viewers have been in suspense following the mystery (of the story) so please look forward to the final stage of the development.

Will the Scheming Man’s Approach Work on the Dense Princess!?

Towa & Riku Affinity Investigation

I’m weak against boys like Riku, so if someone continuously came to me saying “I’m interested in you”, it would make my heart beat fast (laughs). Riku moves understanding that mentality and I think he’s good at setting up the mood when approaching Towa. I think right now based on where he stands, he makes spur of the moment decisions on how to act. He’s mysterious but he smiles periodically and even though he’s vague, he has a maternal appeal… He’s a very charming and sly character (Matsumoto)

By the way! If Riku were in the modern era, what sort of occupation would he be suitable for?

He’s a sweet talker, so the first thing that comes to mind is a swindler (laughs). There was a scene where he showed a magic technique so I think work in the entertainment field would also fit Riku. He also seems suitable to be an actor. He’s got natural talent and can turn into any person. Then conversely, I think strict jobs would also suit him. If he were a schoolteacher, I have a feeling he would be popular with the students. (Matsumoto)

The Part of Riku that Makes One Swoon: He completely reeks of danger.

Riku’s mysteriousness is appealing. He also met Kagome before she gave birth to Moroha, but he looked the same as he does now.

The Part of Towa that Makes One Swoon: She tries her hardest and is pure cuteness!

Losing her demonic powers on the “Night of the New Moon”, Towa becomes worried about Setsuna. Different from usual, she shows the weak side of a regular girl.

Try! Heart Pounding Flower & Date Plan

What flower comes to mind for Towa, Setsuna, Moroha, and Riku?

Setsuna is the Evening Primrose

Setsuna is an evening primrose which in flower language means “Silent Affection”. The evening primrose goes unnoticed and quietly blooms at night. Having her sleep stolen by the Dream Butterfly, I think it overlaps with the figure of Setsuna being the only one awake after everyone else has fallen asleep for the night. (Matsumoto)

Towa is the Lily

Towa is a lily which in flower language means “Pure”. While watching reality change before her eyes, I think the word “pure” fits Towa perfectly as she acts with a pure sense of justice and duty. That sense of not being tainted by anything is also like a lily. (Matsumoto)

Moroha is the Statice

Moroha is a statice which in flower language means “Endless Memories”. Born as Inuyasha and Kagome’s child, I think Moroha’s existence is blessed. The things Moroha inherited from her parents are within her as “endless memories”. That’s what I imagined. (Matsumoto)

Riku is the Anemone

Riku is a purple anemone which in flower language means “I will believe in you as I wait”. Riku will affectionately call Zero “Elder Sister” (translators: I believe the context is the same word that maiko (apprentice Geisha) use to address their superiors (full-fledged Geishas)) and he seems to have strong feelings for Kirinmaru in his own way, so I matched (the flower) to that image. (Matsumoto)

If you were to gift Towa, Setsuna, Moroha, and Riku flowers?

I think a small bouquet would suit Towa and Riku and they would genuinely be delighted. I think Towa would give you a wink as a thank you. I want to give Setsuna a large bouquet. She would probably turn her face away slightly, embarrassed. Instead of a bouquet for Moroha, I want to take her to a flower field myself. I think she would enjoy the scenery while saying “This won’t make any money.” (Matsumoto)

If you were to take Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha out in the Spring?

My impression is that the warm spring weather would suit the three of them. If in the feudal era, I think they would enjoy cherry blossom viewing. Ideally, it would be great if their parents were there with them too. If in the modern era, I’d have to say I want them to do some kind of team activity. I want to see something like Towa dressing up Setsuna, going shopping together, and eating delicious food. (Matsumoto)

I want their (the three Yashahimes) hearts to become closer while loving the cherry blossoms!

Illustration Description

Whether it was to let Towa know that there was a butterfly on her shoulder, Riku amiably calls out to her. It feels as though Towa’s encounter with Riku wasn’t all bad?

#hanyou no yashahime #yashahime: princess half-demon #translation #Yashahime

[simplicity1511]

Yashahime EPISODE 1 Review

I just finished the first episode of Yashahime and OMFG!!!!!!!

There are so many emotions running through me right now as someone who watched the original series on YTV Bionix. I remember being like 5 and 6 and staying up late to watch it, sometimes even falling asleep before it aired. It’s original air time was 11pm but by the time I was around 8-9 years old, the show started airing at 9pm. 

I remember asking my aunt to wait up until I finished my favorite show before I went to bed because we were going to the airport that night to visit my cousin who had recently given birth to her second kid and I was tagging along. I remember it being the episode Kohoku regains his memories. Good thing I didn’t miss it but I sure do remember being disappointed that I wasn’t seeing InuYasha and the gang that episode.

Speaking of our boy Kohoku, it looks like he has a new weapon (that is correct, ladies and gents, our boy appears in the first episode!!) However, not adult Kohaku, our itty bitty boy from the original series.

For those that didn’t get a chance to read the manga, there's an epilogue chapter that deals with the root demon that our gang ends up fighting in the first episode and it appears to have maybe merged with the Tree of Ages. I suspect this because it shows a hole in the tree in the same location as Kikyo’s arrow had been when she shot InuYasha to it. I’m curious to see what shit this root ends up stirring.

However, the most interesting thing I discovered was not from the episode itself but  from the opening sequence as well as the next episode preview. From the looks of it, it appears as if all three girls have a pearl, Towa’s is Silver, Setsuna’s is Gold and Moroha is Red. Now given the fact that in the original series pearls played a role not once but twice in the series, both in the beginning and end, and they appear multiple times in the opening and ending sequences of the show, we know they're going to play an important role. 

The first time they appear in the original series is when our sexy Sesshomaru was trying to look for Tessaiga. In this case, the pearl was located in InuYasha’s eye and led to the land of the dead which is where we come across the bones of Inu-Pops.

The second time is when they looked for one of the last shards of the jewel which just happened to have been in the possession of the demon who created the pearl who was also located at the grave of our beloved Inu-Pops.

We also know that this demon had a son who was continuing his work at creating pearls as this is how we learn that his father, who had created InuYasha’s pearl, had already died. The most logical conclusion is the son most likely created the pearls for our three ladies. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that in the opening song, you will notice that at some point Towa’s eye starts glowing, and it has a similar appearance as InuYasha’s did when we see the pearl first appear. We know these pearls have strange abilities and for whatever reason each girl was given one. Given the fact that the girls have no knowledge of their parents, it appears that this was most likely hatched by our boys to help their daughters in whatever way possible. Much in the same way Inu-Pops gave his two swords, Tessaiga and Tenseiga to his two sons to protect them and teach them something even if he wasn’t around to do it.

Now speaking of our boys, Sesshomaru is still as sexy as ever and it appears as if he tries to stay close to the village in order to reach Rin as swiftly as possible. That or he has some teleportation ability we don’t know about but with how fast he moves, he might as well have it.

For those of us who grew up with InuYasha being torn between Kagome and Kikyo and the constant conflict that it caused throughout the series, it was kinda refreshing to see it again and see how they both behaved as adults regarding those emotions

I found Kagome’s handling of it really fascinating because by this point she’s already sorted out her feelings for Kikyo, yet InuYasha still thinks that Kikyo causes Kagome pain which in the beginning she did but Kagome has moved past that pain and she knows who she is as a person beyond just being her reincarnation. 

I think it’s further indicated when we first see Kagome and she shows the twins a kikyo root which is supposed to be good for coughs and fevers. When it panels to Sango we can see the surprise on her face as to hearing Kagome mention Kikyo’s name (you know it was an intentional  reference especially if you’ve read the manga and know what kind of demon Miroku and InuYasha  are fighting). Knowing this, still didn’t keep me from being surprised. I feel like just like the plant, Kagome has come to admire Kikyo’s strength as a priestess, something she’s trying to achieve herself as a Priestess in Training.

The original series dealt with a lot of Kagome’s identity being referenced as Kikyo and other characters trying to erase her individuality as just another copy of Kikyo. Something that Naruku did pretty frequently especially using the feelings Kagome had towards InuYasha against them on multiple occasions using Kikyo.

Just like how in the first episode of the original series where InuYasha kept calling Kagome, Kikyo when they first met, Kagome has to tell off the root demon and clarify that she is Ka-go-me, NOT Kikyo. 

I really liked all the symbolism this episode had and the references to the original series especially given that Towa ends up encountering a broken seat from a bike in the Feudal Era and as we know Kagome has had her bike destroyed and replaced, many a times throughout the series. 

The fact that Towa is someone whose been raised in the future by the brother of the woman who travels to the past is very interesting given the fact that she is the daughter of Seshomaru whose InuYasha’s older brother who besides Kagome was the only other person to be able to travel in time.

I’m wondering what makes InuYasha/Sesshomaru’s blood special as it appears as if all three girls were able to travel to the future so if Seshomaru himself had tried going through the bone eaters well, could he too have travelled to the future like InuYasha? 

Kagome was able to travel due to the Jewel of Four Souls and once that was destroyed her connection to the past was severed so I’m curious to see how the past and future end up connecting the three girls together because it was Kagome and InuYasha’s love in the end that reopened the well three years later. However, we know in the current timeline that the well is closed which makes me wonder what kind of fate these three girls share as the Half Demon Princesses (also Princesses of what may I ask?)

On a final note, in both series there are demon birds, the first a carrion crow demon who likes shiny things like the jewel, another an owl who is wise and has knowledge of the past. I suspect that this demon will play a key role in how this story ends up progressing, much in the same way the crow did.

Being a long time fan of the show, I remember being really sad when the series ended and frustrated when they didn’t defeat Naraku by the end of the original anime run. My head would constantly have ideas of what their future would have been like once the pesky fellow was dead and once I had gotten a computer (at age 11) and I discovered manga sites, I finally got an answer to my question.

Then a few years later, teenage me finally got those last chapters animated. I was finally blessed with my ending so I’ll be real frank with you when I say I was not happy this show was coming. While everyone else was freaking out that Seshomaru fucked someone, I was wondering, what could have caused Kagome and InuYasha to abandon their daughter which would be totally out of character for the both of them especially given InuYasha’s childhood. I doubt he would have abandoned his daughter given having lost his mother at such a young age himself and never knowing who his dad was until much later in his life. He would never want his own daughter to experience the loneliness and struggle he did before he met Kagome, Sango and Miroku.

Now having watched the first episode I can’t say my fears are dissipated for this unwanted sequel series as we have yet to know what happened so the possibility that its a shitty reason for why Moroha is alone is still high meaning the possibly my favorite characters are shit on is still there.

This series means a lot given the time I watched InuYasha my family had recently immigrated to Canada and while most people were into Pokemon at my age, which don’t get me wrong, I was too. 

I was far more fascinated by a girl who travelled through time in a fantasy world where she meets a cute dog demon boy and develops strong friendships, a budding romance and never loses herself. To a little girl who was also in a strange new country of her own, she was my role model. 

She’s the reason I wanna learn archery at some point in my life and helped me to grow to be the strong independent woman I am today.

Even at 24 years of age, this is still my favorite series and I love all the symbolism and references to the old series while also having its own fresh perspective that Yashahime provides. It doesn’t mean that my skepticism has been cured.

When I watched InuYasha, I got Kagome, Sango, Kikyo, Kaede and Kagura (her death is still so beautifully tragic) and now a whole new generation of girls are going to get Towa our leader, the calm and cool collected Setsuna and our charge first and ask questions later Moroha (just like her dad :’). I can’t wait to see how they grow and hopefully how their beloved parents grew.

InuYasha for me was my first conceptual understanding of anime and where my love for it came from. I’m looking forward to seeing how this story progresses. But I won’t be afraid of criticizing it regardless of the good first impression I got.

Also, does anyone else get reminded of Miroku’s wind tunnel when they see InuYasha’s Meido Zangetsuha? Just me?

Now time to listen to that opening and ending on repeat.

See You Next Week!

#inuyasha #kagome #miroku #kohaku #songo #rin #setsuna #towa #moroha #naraku #kaede #feudal era #ytv #bionix #childhood nostolgia #hanyo no yashahime #yashahime-princess half-demon #pearls #pokemon #canada #review #episode 1 #spoils #references to original series #owl demon #the past #critic #weekly review #strong powerful women #cute dog demon

[keichanz]

Loyal

i am going to get yelled at for this, but i just. i got the idea and i just had to write it. i honestly didn’t mean for it to turn out this way, but well...i’d be lying if i said i don’t like how it turned out. heh.

and you know what i don’t even know if i managed to stay with the “loyal” theme but tbh i don’t care i’m keeping the title because i’m too lazy to think of something else lmadofajoijiodf

majorly unedited. also because i’m lazy lel

warning: angst ahead. sorrynotsorry

for @inukag-week​ day 2: Loyalty 

@fantastiqueparfait​ @sssuperbartola​

Inuyasha didn’t know what time it was when he felt it but he knew dawn was still hours away. He went utterly still and held his breath as he tried to determine what the strange sensation was and where it came from. His ears flicked and swiveled atop his head as his brow furrowed and he tilted his head, listening, body tense.

Nothing, save for the whisper of the wind and the deep breaths of a sleeping human.

Frown deepening, Inuyasha opened his eyes and was greeted with the unsurprising sight of a dark room. Shippou and Kirara were curled up together outside after he’d banished the kit for being annoying. Although his nose already told him as much, a brief glance confirmed that Miroku and Sango were also gone. Not surprising; they thought they were being sneaky as they slunk past him almost every night to do God knows what. They really weren’t, but Inuyasha continued to let them think their late night “walks” were a secret.

For now, anyway. He was sort of looking forward to the next time they mercilessly teased him about his relationship with a certain girl because now he had some ammunition of his own to fire right back.

Heh. He couldn’t wait to see their faces when that happened.

Snorting quietly to himself, Inuyasha turned his gaze to the other occupant of the room. Curled up before him in her sleeping bag, Kagome was still asleep, however the lines wrinkling her brow and bracketing her mouth suggested it wasn’t exactly a sound sleep. Her face was slightly flushed with a light sheen of sweat dotting her brow, and it was clear even in sleep she was still in pain.

Ears lowering against his head, Inuyasha swallowed thickly and reached over to tenderly brush away a damp strand of hair from her face. Her skin was hot and she barely flinched when he gently wiped her forehead with the sleeve of his suikan. Feeling helpless, he carefully pulled back the sleeping bag enough to check the bandage on her arm and wasn’t really surprised to see that she’d already bled through it.

Worry and guilt clenched his gut and he bit back a sigh, his hand balling into a tight fist and feeing his claws dig into his palm. Kagome shifted in her sleep and the pained grunt she emitted made his chest ache something fierce.

They’d been on a regular shard hunt and came across the village rumored to have a demon plaguing it. They’d stuck around, and the demon had appeared, a gigantic deer demon with massive antlers sprouting out of his head. He’d had a torso of a human man, the body of a deer, and the bastard had been fast. The bow he’d wielded had been average, the run of the mill kind that Kagome used herself. But the arrows…Inuyasha had never seen anything like them. The demon had been able to manifest them out of thin air and they’d looked like whirling black energy, pure malice and evil that were more deadly than even Naraku’s miasma.

Anything those arrows struck had withered and died within a matter of seconds and Inuyasha did not want to find out what would happen if they struck human flesh. But then the bastard had caught him with his antlers, tossed him like a fucking rag doll into a tree, and when he’d come to a few minutes later, he’d learned exactly what happened when in contact with that dangerous black energy.

The demon had been killed courtesy of one of Kagome’s own arrows, imbued with her spiritual power, but at a cost. One of the bastard’s arrows had grazed her arm and it was shortly after that Kagome had come down with a fever despite their efforts to stop the wound from getting infected. She’d tried to play it off when he voiced his concerns and even mentioned going back through the well so she’d get better care with her time’s healers and modern medicine, but she was adamant on staying here. He’d eventually relented, but only because other than the fever she seemed fine, assuring them all that after some rest she’d be perfectly fine tomorrow. She’d gone to bed early without eating hardly anything of her dinner and Inuyasha hadn’t let her side since.

Clenching his jaw to withhold the pathetic whimper that wanted to escape, Inuyasha brushed his fingers against her flushed cheek and willed those beautiful blue eyes of her to open. Kagome sighed and he watched her face relax, her frown disappearing as she turned her head toward him. Clawed fingers combed through her bangs and gently pressed his knuckles against her forehead. Though still warm, her fever seemed to have gone down a bit and Inuyasha could breathe a little easier.

Heaving a sigh, the half-demon forced himself to pull away and get to his feet, being careful not to wake her as he padded to the doorway and pushed the doormat aside to peer into the night. He could still feel that strange sensation but he couldn’t pin down what it was or where it was coming from. It was almost like it seeped into through the cracks and with the gentle breeze, rolling through the window like an invisible magic.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and Inuyasha tensed. His skin pebbled, his stomach clenched, and the scent that drifted to him on the cool breeze made no sense. Burning wood and smoke, like a campfire, and something…heavier. Something he couldn’t decipher, something that reminded him of illness, the toxic remnants of an entire village razed to the ground, decaying bodies and scorched blood.

It was nauseating, sickening, burning his throat and stinging his eyes. It was death, it was rot, it was…

Coming from behind him.

A whisper of cloth and Inuyasha dove to the side with a curse a split second before something crashed into the wall right where he’d been standing. He didn’t even have time to question what the fuck was happening before he was moving again, scrambling to leap away from the creature throwing themselves at him with guttural, animal realistic snarls. Once more the beast launched at him and Inuyasha barely managed to avoid it this time, cursing as he attempted to put some space between them but that was difficult in the small hut.

Claws snagged his hakama, digging deep into his leg and gouging the flesh, but Inuyasha ignored it as he kicked whatever the fuck it was off of him and immediately dove to cover Kagome, determined to protect her from whatever was attacking him. The beast didn’t let him, launching at him again with an ugly, feral snarl and crashing into his side. He tussled with the thing for a moment, keeping sharp teeth and claws away from his face and thought he couldn’t get a good look at its face, he was able to determine that it was small and agile which explained how fucking fast it was. Spittle landed on his face and he grimaced in disgust but didn’t dare remove his hands from where he was keeping it at bay, one locked around a thin neck and the other clamped onto its side, claws digging in and tearing flesh.

It either didn’t notice or ignored what he was sure was a pretty serious injury as it continued to snarl and growl at him, emitting sounds that were not human as it snapped its teeth, writhing and thrashing against his hold. With a dangerous growl and a sudden burst of strength borne from his desire to keep this thing away from his Kagome, Inuyasha hurled the creature across the room and wasted no time in diving for Kagome again. He crouched over her and peeled back his fangs in a deadly snarl, amber eyes narrowed into a withering glare that dared anything to come closer, claws brandished before him, ready to defend, to protect his mate at all costs.

Surprisingly his opponent didn’t immediately charge at him this time and Inuyasha was able to finally get a good look at the thing that dared threaten him and his mate. What he saw, however, turned his blood to ice in his veins and the color to drain from his face as amber eyes went wide in horror. His heart stopped, his mouth dropped on a soundless cry of pure agony, and with a feeling of true, unadulterated terror seizing the breath in his lungs, Inuyasha slowly looked beneath him.

The sleeping bag was empty and so too were the soulless, black eyes that stared at him from a deathly pale and very familiar face.

Another sound of torture escaped him and Kagome hissed at him, saliva dripping from her open mouth as she crouched down, ready to spring forward, but for some reason hanging back.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha rasped, his throat feeling tight, but of course she didn’t respond, and maybe that was to be expected.

Because that was not her. This thing, this creature with the black eyes, an abnormally thin, bony body, and elongated limbs was not his beautiful, precious Kagome. No, it couldn’t be. This creature looked like a demon, with skin the color of a corpse, gray and lifeless. The hair that fell from her head was thin and scraggly, not at all like the thick, luscious waves he liked running his hands through. Those gorgeous blue eyes of hers, like an endless ocean, were replaced with soulless pits of black that stared at him without no recognition whatsoever.

Sure, it wore her clothes, the white and green fabric easily distinguishable as they hung off the too thin body. But Inuyasha was positive the being wearing them was not the girl in which they belonged to. This was not his companion, his best friend, his Kagome that always smiled so sweetly at him, held his hand, and told him she would always be by his side. Perhaps others would argue with him at first glance, but Inuyasha knew otherwise.

Because he was positive, without a single doubt in his mind, that Kagome would never, ever, stare at him with such seething, dark hatred in her eyes like this thing was doing right now.

Clenching his teeth hard and forcibly swallowing the bile that rose in his throat, Inuyasha took a steadying breath and analyzed the situation, body tensed, prepared to defend himself in case she attacked. Maybe whatever had possessed her was taking a moment to think itself – if it could even do that – because now she seemed to be studying him in turn, perhaps realizing that blindly rushing him like before wasn’t the best route. Those coal black eyes regarded him as she stalked back and forth, hissing and spitting, saliva dripping from her mouth in thick rivulets but paying them no mind.

Amber eyes tracked its every move but he didn’t move from where he was. That thing may not have been his Kagome, but he was pretty damn positive that was her body, so he had to be careful about this. He’d already injured it; his bloody claws could attest to that, but the thing hardly seemed to care, or even noticed the wound on its side, so Inuyasha didn’t worry about it for now. If Kagome was still in there somewhere, he knew she wouldn’t fault him for trying to protect himself and he tried to ignore the guilt that stabbed at his gut.

Gritting his teeth, wanting to drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness for allowing this to happen to her, for not protecting her like he vowed he would, Inuyasha studied the wound on the thin arm, what he was almost certain was responsible for this grotesque transformation. The bandage had fallen off and the flesh around the wound had turned black. It oozed something that looked like blood, but that too was so dark in color it nearly looked as black as her eyes. Inuyasha could sense it pulsing with a dark energy, however, and it was the same energy as those fucking arrows the deer demon had conjured.

It had turned her into this and if that bastard had still been alive, he would have gladly tracked it down so he could destroy it himself, bring it back to life, then kill it again.

Kagome hissed at him and crouched low, ready to spring forward, and Inuyasha tensed, prepared to stop her.

“Kagome,” he whispered, watching as she spit and growled at him while clawing the floorboards, “I’ll save you. I swear it. I’ll get you out of there if it’s the last thing I—”

“Inuyasha?” Shippou’s called from behind the reed mat, voice drowsy. “Is Kagome—”

“Shippou, no! Stay back—!”

With an inhuman screech, she lunged forward and Inuyasha met it halfway, launching himself at her and taking them both to the floor. Inuyasha could hear the kit’s horrified scream but didn’t even spare him a glance as he struggled to restrain the thrashing and biting creature, a sting of colorful curses spewing nonstop from his mouth among the snarls, hisses, and growls. She was freakishly strong for having such a frail body and by the time Inuyasha had restrained her by locking her arms within his own, he was sporting bite marks and scratches all over his body.

Cranking her arms behind her back and using his own to pin them in place, Inuyasha had managed to get them up onto their knees by the time Miroku and Sango crashed into the hut, weapons drawn, ready to fight. When they saw what they were facing, however, twin gasps escaped both of them and Sango’s hand flew up to her mouth as Miroku simply gaped in shock. He would have explained right then and there, but it was taking every ounce of his strength to hold her back as it was, so all he managed was a grunt and a sharp growl to draw their attention to him.

“Get Kaede,” Inuyasha hissed and jerked is head back to avoid getting head butted by the thrashing human-turned-demon in his arms.

“Now!”

Two weeks. Two weeks had passed and Kagome was still trapped inside herself, forced into being a mindless creature hellbent on slaughtering anyone that dared draw near enough. With Inuyasha and Miroku’s help, Kaede had bound her wrists with sacred sutras because if she wasn’t trying to claw someone else when they got too close, she turned her hands on herself, scratching her skin raw, the claws tipping her fingers deadlier than the sharpest knife.  

She’d long ago shred her clothes to ribbons and so too every single piece of clothing they’d provided her thereafter, so Inuyasha came up with the solution of wrapping her in his suikan. The firerat was stronger than her claws, damn near indescribable, so she was thankfully unable to tear through it.

They tried everything to get her to come back. Spells, chants, potions, medicine—nothing worked. Kagome spat out every potion, laughed when Kaede attempted a new incantation, and medicines applied to the wound on her arm had no effect. Talking to her didn’t help. She either outright ignored them or hurled insults left and right, calling them derogatory names, filthy slurs, her gravelly voice filled with hate and malice.

It stung the most whenever she called him a filthy half-breed, abomination, a disgrace, or any demeaning term linked to his heritage. Inuyasha knew it wasn’t her, though, and it was something he told himself over and over again as he endured every hate filled word, every curse and every insult tossed his way without no regard.

After nearly destroying Kaede’s home in a fit of mindless rage, they had been forced to lock her inside an empty storage hut. It was half the size of Kaede’s hut, but it was the only option they had. Kagome, of course, hadn’t liked that and she’d screamed for the entire first night she was locked in there.

And through it all Inuyasha sat right outside, his heart aching in his chest, hating what had happened to her, but hating himself more for how he was forced to treat her, like nothing more than a low-level demon.

It hurt. God, it hurt like hell, seeing her like this, unable to do anything about it and as he’d sat there listening to her scream and curse every single one of them a horrible, gruesome death, he’d cried.

Inuyasha didn’t think he’d ever felt more helpless, more lost, and for the first time in what was probably his entire life, he prayed. He prayed to whatever Gods would listen to him, begging them to help his Kagome come back to herself, to abolish whatever had a hold of her soul and to have her mind released from its never-ending torment.

And even when the weeks turned to months and still there was no change, Inuyasha refused to give up. He would never give up on her, because he knew she would never give up on him. Hell, she hadn’t given up on him, refusing to run away all those times he’d turned full demon and he was determined to do the same for her. He’d never leave her. No matter how many times her harsh words scarred him worse than her claws did, no matter how many times her cruel laugh echoed in his ears whenever he told he he’d never leave, and not even when the others were beginning to lose hope.

Miroku and Sango were staring to believe they had lost their friend, the evil plaguing her mind too strong, too evil to purify. He never listened to them, though. Whenever they tried to reason with him, to try and convince him that Kagome may never come back, he always turned his back and simply walked away. He wouldn’t hear it. Kagome would come back. He swore to her, he promised, he vowed that he would save her, and he would if it was the last thing he ever did.

And after everything had been said and done, and he’d exhausted all other options, avenues, and possibilities to bring her back, if saving her meant taking her life if only to save her from herself because he knew she wouldn’t want to live like this, hurting them at every opportunity, then so be it.

And it really would be the last thing he ever did because after he took her life, he’d take his own, knowing that he’d be unable to endure the guilt, the pain, the loss of his precious, kind, beautiful Kagome.

Miroku and Sango eventually gave up and stopped trying. They mentioned something about trying to find the jewel shards before leaving, but he hardly cared. The jewel shards, Naraku…they weren’t important anymore. Nothing mattered but saving Kagome and he put every ounce of his energy into helping her.

Shippou, surprisingly, stayed behind with him. He’d gone mute on that fateful day Kagome had become something else and hadn’t said a single word since. The fox sat with him sometimes outside Kagome’s hut and they listened to her thrash around inside, trying to escape, all the while hurling insults left and right, but they hardly fazed him anymore. Shippou seemed numb to it too and Inuyasha worried for the kid, but there wasn’t much he could do outside of being there for him, so now it was a common occurrence for Shippou to sleep curled in his lap.

After all, they only had each other now. Kaede was around, and it seemed she too had given up, but she never turned down Inuyasha if he requested her help with something. He was grateful for it, but he knew she was only doing it to appease him. He didn’t mind, though. He could sense the old woman’s sorrow as clearly as he could Shippou’s, and knew she’d come around once Kagome began showing signs that she was coming back.

He didn’t know when that would be, but he was determined to make it happen, no matter what he had to do, how many miles he had to run or how many demons he had to slaughter. He wasn’t giving up.

Kagome had remained loyally by his side at his darkest times, and he would do the same for her, loyal to the end.

It was nearing the end of the eighth month now and he was no closer to finding a cure than he was when it all began. He’d caved around the fourth month and finally crossed through the well to explain what had happened to her family. Unpredictably they had taken the news hard, but they all had faith in him that he could bring her back. And he would. He swore to them that he’d bring her back as herself again and when Mama had hugged him, he’d returned the embrace.

Inuyasha was positive she’d felt him shaking as she held him, but that was okay because he had smelled her tears.

It was just before dusk. Kaede and Shippou had retired to the old woman’s home and were having a quiet dinner. They said nothing as their half-demon companion stood and left without a word.

Inuyasha stood outside the door to her little hut and for once she was quiet. She still growled and he could hear her stalking around inside, no doubt sensing his presence, but for once she wasn’t screaming expletives or insults. Resting a hand on the wooden door, he leaned his forehead against the cool wood and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. Kagome’s sweet scent had long ago been replaced by that wretched, nauseating stench he likened to that of a decaying body, but he’d gotten used to it. In the end, it was Kagome’s scent, so he accepted it.

He released the breath in a long, shaky sigh, and hardening his resolve, Inuyasha unlocked the door before sliding it open and stepping inside.

If he was surprised Kagome didn’t immediately barrel into him in her bid to escape, he didn’t show it as he paused before leaving the door wide open. The dying sunlight illuminated the darkness within and the slits located close to the ceiling that served as windows let the barest amount of muted yellow to spill through onto the floor. Kagome stood with her back pressed against the far wall, snarling softly at him in warning and black eyes narrowed into a murderous glare, but still she didn’t attack him or try and escape. Her hands were still bound behind her back, giving her a disadvantage, but that had never stopped her before.

Inuyasha suspected it might be because throughout the months he’d tussled with her she now had an understanding that he was stronger and faster than her, but he didn’t dwell on the thought for long. It was rare that she allowed him within ten feet of her, let alone with her in the small hut, and he wanted to take advantage of it for as long as he can.

Because it would be the last time either of them would be able to watch the sunset and he wanted to give her something beautiful to look at while he finally said goodbye.

Golden eyes that had lost their glow locked with soulless, empty black and Inuyasha slowly crossed the distance between them. Kagome’s snarl increased in volume, a clear warning to stay away, but he ignored it and stopped in front of her. She snapped her teeth and tried to dash away, but he stopped her, darting his hands out and grasping her shoulders in a tight grip, pressing her back against the wall. Calmly he waited for her struggling to cease, clenching his jaw as she sunk her teeth into anywhere she could reach. He endured the pain, caging her legs with his own and only minutes later did she stop resisting, giving a very aggravated snarl to convey her evident displeasure.

When all she did was continue to stand there and growl at him, Inuyasha slowly eased up the pressure on her shoulders, ready to restrain her again if he needed to. Apparently, however, she’d accepted she wasn’t going anywhere so she remained where she was and he lifted his hands until he was cupping her face. He ignored her bared teeth and snarl and simply stared at her, taking her in, amber eyes flicking across the twisted features that belonged to his beloved.

Her face was dirty, smudged with dried blood and mud. Her cheeks were hollow, her eyes were sunken, and her jawline was pronounced. Ebony hair, tangled and course, fell into her eyes and he brushed the strands away. She snapped at his fingers. He ignored it and brushed his thumbs across her prominent cheekbones.

“Kagome,” he whispered, his voice ragged, tortured, the raw pain in that single word clear as day.

Kagome didn’t hear it. She growled at him and wrenched her shoulders to free herself, but the attempt was weak.

Inuyasha’s eyes grew hot and he swallowed thickly, leaning forward to rest his forehead against her own. Her skin was cold and clammy.

“I’m sorry,” he rasped and couldn’t, didn’t stop the tears from spilling down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Kagome. I tried. Please believe me when I say I tried so hard, but I couldn’t…I…”

A choked sob erupted from his throat and he had to close his eyes, just for a moment, as he struggled to compose himself. Kagome was unresponsive to his pain, teeth bared in an annoyed scowl, a steady growl in her throat as she glowered balefully at him.

Sucking in a ragged breath, he opened his eyes and stared into that empty gaze, dark as shadows, desperately searching for any trace of the woman he knew was in there somewhere, any sign of the beautiful blue that he’d always been able to drown in.

“Come back to me,” Inuyasha begged, the tears running unchecked now but he hardly cared. “Come back to me, Kagome, please. I can’t…do this without you. I need you with me, Kagome. Please…please come back…”

She didn’t come back. Kagome had gone completely still, black eyes twin voids of eternal nothingness, her features now lacking any sign of animosity.

Another sob escaped before he could stop it and cradling her face in his hands, Inuyasha pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips were cold, dry, unmoving beneath his own as he kissed his beloved for the first, and last time.

“I love you,” he rasped against her lips, his hands shaking now. “I love you so much, Kagome. If I could give my life to some higher power to save you from this hell, I would in a heartbeat, but I’m afraid this is the only thing I can do for you.”

Unpredictably she said nothing and stood there, staring right through him, motionless, and with a strangled sob Inuyasha crushed her to him. He pressed his face to her bony shoulder and wept, wishing there was another way, desperate for any other solution to make itself known right then and there, but of course it didn’t. He knew this was the only way, and he knew Kagome wouldn’t want to live like this.

He should have done this a long time ago, but he just…he couldn’t…

Gritting his teeth as another wave of anguish washed through him, so strong his knees almost gave out, Inuyasha pulled back, pressed his palm to her cold face, and gave her one last fleeting kiss.

“I love you,” he murmured and shifted so he stood behind her, slipping one arm around her thin waist while his free hand hovered above her chest.

Above her heart.

More tears spilled from his eyes, running hot down his cheeks, but he paid them no mind, his claws poised, ready to end her suffering. His hand shook and he tried to steady it; the last thing he wanted to do was cause her unnecessary pain by missing. Dropping a kiss to her head, Inuyasha directed his gaze outside, the doorway framing a beautiful sunset that showered the earth in glowing reds, oranges, and yellows.

He smiled and hoped that Kagome saw the beautiful sight, too.

“Forgive me,” he whispered and pressed forward—

“I…n…a-a…s…ah…”

Inuyasha froze and the breath stalled in his lungs. His eyes went wide and his heart slammed so hard against is ribcage he was sure she could feel it. Blood pounded in his ears and his throat felt dry, his tongue heavy in his mouth.

Was…was he hearing things? Was he so desperate his mind was playing tricks on him? He waited, his breathing coming in gasping pants, the hand that had been ready to plunge into her chest shaking. He strained his ears and hoped, prayed it was real, that he wasn’t hearing things—

“In…sha…c-c-cold…”

The thin body he held against him started to shake even more violently than his own and he felt a feather light touch on his hand, so cold it could be ice. The sob that erupted from his throat was borne from a mix of intense, powerful relief and a joy so palpable, so strong it chased away the chill in his body, leaving a warm, wonderful sensation he’d thought he would never feel again.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha rasped in a voice so raw it was barely audible as he stumbled around her to see her face.  

Blue. Her eyes were blue, gorgeous, endless pools of midnight oceans that he had missed so fucking badly during the past eight months. With a sound that was a mix between a sob and a laugh, Inuyasha gathered her in his arms and fell to the floor, the strength abruptly leaving him. He cried into her shoulder, his hold on her tight, not wanting to ever let her go. God, he had almost…! If she hadn’t…!

“Inu,” Kagome breathed, her voice a mere wisp of what it was and Inuyasha finally managed to compose himself enough to lean back and stare into those sorely missed blue eyes. His face was flushed, his cheeks were wet, but he didn’t care as he cupped her face in his hands, watching in stunned amazing as life bled into those dear features once again. Her skin warmed and lost that deathly pale color, her cheeks filled out, and her lips, pink and a little dry, parted on a quiet moan.

“Shh,” Inuyasha gently soothed her, smoothing back her hair, reveling in its silky texture. “D-don’t talk. You’re okay. You’re okay. You’re okay…”

Over and over he said those two words and he didn’t know if he was assuring her or himself as he held her, kissing her face, her lips, wanting to cry and laugh at the same time when he felt her hands weakly grab his kosode. She tried to talk but he shushed her, telling her that he was here, he’d protect her, she was safe, she was back and he was never, ever letting her go.

Of course, Kagome – his beautiful, sweet, stubborn Kagome – didn’t listen and once more tried to ask him something, but a violent coughing fit cut her off and Inuyasha didn’t think he’d ever bellowed louder for Kaede than he did right then.

Hours later, after Kagome had bathed with the help of Inuyasha because hell if he was going to let her out of his sight and gotten some food and drink into her belly – or at least what she managed to keep down – he, Kagome cradled in his lap, Shippou, and Kaede all sat around the old woman’s fire pit, marveling at the miracle that happened.

Wrapped once more in his suikan, feeling warm for the first time in months and also feeling like she could sleep for a solid week, Kagome was content to rest against her hanyou as he combed his fingers through her hair, occasionally dropping a kiss to her head where it lay on his shoulder. Shippou had barely left her side as well and a few tears still leaked from his eyes as he curled himself against her stomach, small hands clutching her borrowed suikan for life.

Inuyasha didn’t mind it and every once in a while he even stroked the kit’s hair, a gentle reassurance that everything was alright now.

Kaede watched them with a truly happy smile, her single eye warm and also bright with tears. Miroku and Sango were still hunting for shards, but they would be back soon, she wagered. It had been just over a week since they’d left and she knew they were due back any day now. It would be a happy surprise to find Kagome back to herself, she imagined, but for now she was glad Inuyasha and Shippou had this time with her to themselves.

Getting to her feet, Kaede quietly excused herself, paused to lay a hand on both Inuyasha and Kagome’s shoulders, before leaving the hut to give them some alone time.

Kagome sighed and nuzzled his shoulder, squeezing his hand where his fingers were laced with hers. Inuyasha squeezed back and dropped a kiss to her forehead.

“Why don’t you get some sleep?” he whispered, reluctant to wake the slumbering kit curled up against her. “I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

“Mm,” Kagome grunted and he grinned because he knew what that meant. God, he had missed her so much.

“Stubborn,” he chastised, though his tone lacked any heat as he pressed his mouth to her temple, simply breathing her in and letting her sorely missed, sweet scent surround him.

“‘Course,” she breathed, keeping her eyes closed. “How else could I have…come back to you.”

As it always did when he thought about it, his heart clenched and he closed his eyes, his grip on her tightening just a little.

“Kagome—”

“I’ve been thinking,” she interrupted him, her voice a little stronger than before, and Inuyasha held his breath. “And I think…I know what brought me back.”

Inuyasha went very still and leaned back just enough to catch a glimpse of her face. Midnight blue collided with deep amber and the breath caught in his throat.

Then she smiled and his heart started beating again. Christ, the power this woman held over him…

“I don’t remember much,” she admitted, keeping her eyes on his. “When I was…you know. But the only thing I do remember is this burning, intense hatred for…well, everything. There was no logical reason for it; just pure, unadulterated loathing for every living thing. It swallowed me whole and it was cold and dark and…anyway.”

She paused to clear her throat and it was obvious he was fighting sleep, but was determined to keep going. He brushed her hair away from her face and she tipped him a sleepy, but warm smile.

“I think…that arrow, the one the deer demon hit me with. I think that black energy was just…pure hatred manifested into a physical form. So it makes sense that when it got into my blood stream, it consumed me and I became a living, breathing, giant mass of roiling hate and malice. So tonight, when you came to me and…and you said—”

“I told you I love you,” Inuyasha finished for her, blinking in surprise. But then he frowned and shook his head, disbelief on his face.

“No,” he murmured. “It can’t be that simple…can it?”

Kagome smiled again and shrugged.

“Think about it, though,” she murmured and gave a small yawn. “Love has been proven to be stronger than hate. Remember when we were battling Kaguya and I brought you back…well, by kissing you? I told you then that I loved you as a half-demon, Inuyasha. So if my love for you brought you back then…why can’t yours do the same for me?”

Inuyasha stared at her for so long without saying anything that Kagome was about to ask if he was alright. But then he sighed, shook his head, and the crooked grin he gave her warmed her more than his suikan every could.

“Keh,” he muttered and leaned down to rest his forehead against her own as he lifted a hand to cup her cheek, tenderly stroking the skin just beneath her eye.

“Kagome.”

She blinked. “…Yes?”

“Are you really trying to tell me that love conquers all, because I swear to god—”

“Ohmigod, you brat, shut up,” Kagome said around her giggles and swatted at his chest, blue eyes bright with her mirth and her smile completely enchanting. Inuyasha chuckled with her and took the chance to steal a few kisses from her, loving the way she immediately melted against him with a quiet hum of content.

“Alright, wench,” he whispered and kissed her one last time before pressing his lips to her forehead. “I accept your completely cliché and sappy theory, now get some rest. I know you’re exhausted and your voice is giving me a headache.”

Kagome swatted his chest again and he grinned, unrepentant.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” he promised her, voice soft as Kagome snuggled against him and he felt her hand worm its way into his kosode to press her hand against his chest, right above his heart.

Inuyasha’s throat tightened and he swallowed thickly, moving his hand to cover her own. Fuck, but he loved this woman so goddamn much.

“I’ll be here when you wake up,” he told her in a voice thick with emotion.

“Promise?” she whispered, seconds away from sleep.

“I promise.”

“N’yasha?”

He sighed. So stubborn. “Hm?”

“Love you.”

His heart swelled and he closed his eyes to stave off the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. He took a moment to compose himself, burying his nose in her hair to breath in her scent, letting it soothe him, ground him like nothing ever had.

“I love you, too, Kagome,” he whispered, heart in his throat. “So fucking much. Now sleep, goddammit, before I smother you with the runt.”

He was rewarded with a soft, sleepy giggle and a flash of an impish grin before his Kagome finally succumbed to the peaceful throes of sleep.

Inuyasha stayed up for as long as he could, simply watching her sleep and listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, letting the reassuring sound and her gentle breathing lull him into a state of lethargic relaxation. Before long he felt the pull of slumber himself and with his kit and beloved cradled safely in his arms, Inuyasha was content to fall into the first deep sleep he’d had in eight very long months.  

#inukag week 2020 #day 2: loyalty #inukag #inuyasha fanfiction #loyal #keizfanfiction #oneshot #ITS ANGSTY Y'ALL #but dont worry no one dies #because cmon its me #like i can actually kill of any of my babies ;adjff #but i DID cry while writing this #a lot #mostly because im a giant baby with lots of feels but #anyway #hope you enjoy hahahahaha

[dognoselover]

[rational catchy title hiding that the true meaning of this post is just an excuse for me to talk about my weird ass dreams]

i have had three dreams about one piece in the past three nights and i feel like i’m going a little insane considering i usually never dream so i’m shoving them all into this post. and if i dream more i’m gonna reblog this with the new dreams. 

1: ZoSan | 2: apocalyptic one piece meets sonic meets inuyasha | 3: one piece meets age of calamity

dream one: literally just ZoSan. that’s it. stupidly soft. it was mid afternoon, the crew was all lazing about out on deck, i decided i wanted a snack so i made for the kitchen, but heard both their voices in the kitchen so i paused at the door. they were in the kitchen alone, sanji was cutting veggies for dinner, zoro was leaning back against the counter, his elbows up on it all relaxed like. they were bickering & teasing each other, quietly laughing. (for those who don’t know one piece, zoro & sanji are always fighting.) then a quiet came over them and zoro inched a little closer just so that their shoulders were touching and sanji smiled and zoro looked so relaxed he could fall asleep right then and there. it’s very important to know that (1) just watching them chit chat and tease each other I Knew. (2) i also knew that this thing between them was obviously private and if they caught me they would both kick my ass, and knowing this i woke up.

dream two, arguably the weirdest: this one is going to take a bit of explaining. a lot of my dreams are storyline esq, except when i’m in the dream i already know the backstory, y’all don’t so i have to lay this out. it’s apocalyptic, like the world has ended, and inuyasha-esq monsters are free roaming over the dirt and ruins of civilization. eggman is the evil mastermind who brought this havoc to the world. all humans are dead, but if all their bones are still in tact, they’ll come back to life as a skeleton (think sans and papyrus). most bones are not in tact because the monsters eat them. brook, a strawhat pirate who is already a living skeleton, is alive and well, and all my bones landed together when i died and no monsters ate them, so i am also a living skeleton. brook and i are the only strawhats who survived, but we’re determined to collect the bones of our friends to bring them back (so we can defeat eggman?). brook and i have recruited the help of sonic and co. (knuckles, tails, shadow, maybe others) to brave the perilous ruins (think elephant graveyard from lion king) to rescue our crewmates’ bones from the monsters. sonic & co. were unaffected by the apocalypse bc they’re not human. i have also somehow developed the ability to run very fast, like sonic fast. note about the bones: they all glow a certain color based on who they belong to. i think only brook and i could see this, or we could only see the strawhats’ bones, or something. anyway. all this was backstory.

the dream begins as we launch our rescue mission at the ruins. eggman is in hot pursuit. monsters are crawling eveywhere. brook slides down a huge bone, like a gigantic elephant husk, and veers away to the side, out of sight. i take off in a sprint, sonic is nearby, and i’m ducking under massive, house-sized bones and ruins and twisting away from monsters. i spot two glowing blue boots and grab them. (i don’t know how to explain this, other than that the boots were nami’s bones, and i had to have the full pair to bring nami back.) i then see one glowing red boot (luffy’s), and two glowing green boots (zoro’s). i am running at 50 mph and i am balancing five boots in my arms. sonic joins me at my side, and i grin, and we’re about to retreat, and then zoro’s boot comes loose from its precarious balance and flies behind me, back into the monster pit, but we can’t stop or we’re going to get caught.

i turn, and i see brook, standing victoriously on another ridiculously sized elephant husk, and he’s holding up zoro’s second greet boot. in his other arm is a second red boot. i grin, everybody reunites, and eggman curses us to hell and back as we retreat to the safety of our hideout (a suped up cave, i think). we’re going to revive nami, luffy, and zoro, and with half of our crew back with us, we’ll go back out and get the rest of our crew, and we’ll help sonic defeat eggman. we’ll win. knowing this, i woke up.

dream three: the strawhats and i are in a major battle. basically like a full scale war, drawn out over a humongous map. we are badly, badly outnumbered, but we’re strong. we’re all scattered across all corners of the map with our own enemies. i can barely see sanji’s silhouette over the horizon, and besides that, i’m alone. the earth is rattling with bombs and cannons falling like rain. somehow none of these projectiles hit any of us, and most of them fall too far away to worry about, but whenever they fall a little too close it’s so jarring that it feels like my skull has turned into a washing machine. by now i’ve finished off my section of the enemies, and i’m looking out at the horizon, the mountains, wondering where to even start. who do i help first? i don’t even know where anyone is. can we even win this? we’re strong, but there are so many enemies. then, zoro comes up beside me, presumably also finished with his enemies and has since found me. he doesn’t look even the slightest bit worried. instead, he’s got a little grin, and his swords are sheathed but his eyes are itching to get back in the fight. both of us look to where we can see sanji, doing just fine on his own despite being outnumbered 100 to 1. in the distance we can hear luffy’s yell, can see the thunderclouds form over a valley from nami’s clima-tact. “well,” zoro tells me, “we might as well go help those idiots.” and he starts to walk on ahead, leisurely as ever. i smile and start walking to catch up. i know that, despite the odds, we’re going to win, because losing simply in the cards for us. we’re the strawhat pirates; we don’t lose. knowing this, i woke up.

#long post #i'm sorry it's so long #my dreams are weird #and vivid #dreams #my dreams #dream post #dream journal #? #one piece #roanora zoro #strawhat #one piece strawhats #straw hat pirates #brook one piece #sonic #sonic and friends #zosan #zoro x sanji #i dont know what to tag this #apocalypse dream #weird dreams #really really weird dreams

[dawnrider]

So for Reunion day of @inukag-week, you could go read Return to Me, since it hits all the buttons for the canon reunion.  However, here I will share a WIP that is a Modern AU no one is surprised with slightly angstier vibes. I don’t really have a name for it yet.

CW: Major character is Deaf, Discussion/descriptions of an assault, Recall/memory/flashbacks

Italics - thoughts      ‘Words’ - Signed    “Words” - Spoken aloud 

Part 1 | Part 2 |

A whisper of cloth and the near silent squeak of a sneaker on the tile floor.  They sounded loud in his ears, echoing almost mockingly, an ingrained twitch in his body at the thought that they might wake her.  But that wasn't going to happen.  She couldn't hear them.  Never would.

Crouching beside her bed, the sight of her bruised face a reminder of what he hadn't been there to protect her from, he tried to find a way to swallow his anger.  No one touched her like that.  No one.  But I wasn't there to stop him.  Trying to breathe through his intense emotions, he set each one in its own invisible box.  Guilt, fear, anger, sadness and regret.  He tried to deal with the guilt first.  He'd known about this guy, the one following her around.  Showing up at her job, following her home, trying to take her out.  Too busy, too busy to see her and too busy to keep this from happening.  Fool.  There was the anger.  Put it back in its box to be dealt with in time.  Her hands were even bruised and scraped from where she'd tried to protect herself.

Nose twitching, he took in her scent and tried to find the light happy fragrance he knew.  It was overlaid with antiseptic, gauze, bleach, medicine, pain.  He hated hospitals.  Closing his eyes to take another calming breath, Inuyasha opened them again only to find at least one of a pair of deep brown eyes staring at him.  The other was swollen shut and could barely flutter let alone open.  A confused frown crinkled her brow as a groan left her.  Rolling her head away from him, she seemed to dismiss his presence.  Waiting for her to either go back to sleep, or realize he was in fact there was agonizing.  The nurse had told him before he came in that she was on relatively high doses of pain medication so the likelihood of her thinking he was a figment of her imagination was fairly high.

A moment later, his heart jumped in his chest when her gaze, less confused, returned to him.  He flinched when her right hand, bandaged and bruised, lifted weakly in an attempt to make the name sign she'd given him years ago.  His mouth in a thin line, he nodded.  I'm here.  I'm here now.  He couldn't move his hands in the way he needed to in order to tell her what he wanted to say.  Nothing could come close to the apology she deserved.  They twitched almost uselessly in front of him, her name sign the only thing they seemed certain of.  “Kagome.  I'm...  I should have...  How are you feeling?”  The corner of his mouth lifted in a tiny grin when she frowned at him, a frustrated hand raising to his lips to cover them.  He had a bad habit of speaking while he signed when he was upset, a pet peeve of hers.  Kagome had explained to him it was disconcerting, reading signs and reading lips at the same time.  Especially when they didn't match.

'Why are you here?'  The movement of her hands was slow, pained, overly careful.  Again Inuyasha felt that tightness in his chest.  Not just at her question, nor the lack of the usual freedom of her communication, but that she had every right to ask it.  Months had gone by since he'd seen her for more than a few minutes, or at a large event where they didn't get time to talk to one another.

'I came to make sure you were alright.'  A rough breath left her.  Flinching at the heavy sound of it, Inuyasha tried to keep himself together.  'I should have run that...'

'Stop.  Nothing can be done about it now.'  But that was what made him so angry.  He couldn't just kill the asshole, couldn't hurt him even after what he'd done to Kagome.  The legal system, even as it tried to nail his ass for the crime, protected him from retribution.  'You saw me.  You don't have to stay.'  Her gaze skittered away from his when he tried to determine if that was really what she wanted.

Shaking his head at her, he gently touched her arm to get her attention.  'I'm not running away anymore.  You... you have always been my friend.  Just because things changed...'  Kagome sucked in a breath, the scent of tears in her eyes.  Inuyasha felt the weight of all they had been denying and inflicting on one another swamp him once more.  He'd spent months trying to pretend none of it had happened, that he didn't need her around.  She had tried to do the same.  'Your answer was fair.  I was hurt and I overreacted,' he slowly explained.  Her one good eye watched his hands, her gaze barely acknowledging his face.  'I'm not asking anything.  I just want to be near you.'  The scent of her tears grew stronger, but he could feel her relief.  Whether that was relief that he wasn't pressuring her, or that he wanted to stay by her, he didn't know.  Her hand, fragile and bruised, gripped his suddenly.  Looking up at her he could see the grateful tilt to her mouth and the slight quiver of insecurity in her chin.  She wanted to trust that he meant what he said, but feared it as well.  'I'm here as long as you want me here,'  he told her with his free hand.  She nodded, her grip loosening slightly as her eyes drifted shut once more.  Watching her sleep, more peacefully than before, Inuyasha was caught up in remembering.

***

“You can't just leave, Kikyou.  We made vows.”  She glared at him, her eyes colder than he ever remembered.  “You just going to take those back like they're nothing?”

Her stance straightened and she tried to stare him down.  “I thought I could make this work between us.  But you aren't willing to make compromises.”

Inuyasha balked at her audacity.  “Compromises?  Me becoming a human somehow is not a compromise Kikyou!  You married me like this, promised to love and keep me like this!”

Her eyes barely betrayed her hesitation.  She wanted to keep believing that what she was asking made sense, that what she wanted him to do was completely fair.  But being reminded of the vows they had made to one another almost five years before made her resolve falter.  “I thought things would be different,” she said quietly.  “I thought you would come around.”  He snorted, turning away from her.  He looked down at his hands, staring at the ring on his finger.  He snarled at it, ripping it off of his hand and throwing it at her feet.

“Get out.  You obviously don't want to be here anymore.  Here's your chance.”  She didn't move for a long time, staring at the wide band that lay at her feet.  He couldn't imagine what was running through her head, but he could guess that she didn't like having the argument turned around on her.  “Goodbye, Kikyou.”  The door slammed a moment later and he heard the thud of her feet on the stairs and her suitcases clunking into the walls as she went.

It had taken him weeks to even consider speaking of it to anyone and the first person he had gone to was Kagome.  She had been his best friend from the time they were in college on.  He'd always known he could tell her anything and she would lend a sympathetic eye, or tell him he was being ridiculous if he was.  'That bitch!'  The sign had been harsh enough that he worried she'd bruise her chin.  'The nerve of that woman, thinking...'  Inuyasha had lost most of the following rant since Kagome had been pacing and signing so furiously that he couldn't pick out more than a few signs at a time.  When her eyes finally returned to him he was impressed, as usual, by the fire that lit them.  

There had been times in the past when people had thought Kagome and Kikyou were sisters, even twins.  They were distantly related, second cousins twice removed or something, but the resemblance was completely off-set by the difference in their eyes.  He used to think Kikyou's eyes were pretty.  Sharp and intelligent.  But now he saw them for the edges and ice that lay at the depths.

Kagome's, on the other hand, were warm and soft.  He'd never met anyone with eyes as expressive as hers.  At times when she was furious, like now, they danced like flames with her anger.  They could melt him when she smiled, draw him in when she cried...  'It doesn't matter now.'  She looked back at him in disbelief.  He chuckled a little.  'Don't get me wrong, I'm upset.  There's nothing I can do.  Nothing I want to do.  I signed papers last week.'

'Fast,' she replied, a puff of air leaving her lips.  She sat on the edge of the couch in front of him, staring at him hard.  'Sure you'll be alright?'

He was able to see the concern in her eyes and it warmed him.  He nodded resolutely.  With friends like his, he'd be just fine.  With a friend like Kagome, he would make it through.

***

A rustle made his head pop up and he realized he'd fallen asleep next to Kagome's bed.  She looked at him guiltily while he glanced around, trying to determine what was happening.  Kagome's covers were slipped off of her and one foot was hanging off the bed.  'Where are you going?' he asked her, narrowing his golden eyes at her.  'You aren't supposed to be out of bed, are you?'  In spite of the damage to her face, Kagome's signature stubborn look was in place.

'I have to go to the bathroom, Inuyasha.'

'Ask for help, stupid, don't try it on your own.'  Sighing, he stood up and went around the bed to help her to her feet.  Once she was standing, it was obvious there was no way she would have made it by herself.  She was off balance, her legs were weak and she could barely see.  “Keh, no way you could have done this on your own,” he mumbled at the side of her head.  It was on her bad side and so she didn't see him chastising her.

***

The idea had been tearing his mind apart for weeks.  What if it was right?  What if Kagome really was the one?  She was loving, faithful, intelligent... beautiful.  All the things he had thought he'd had in Kikyou.  Kagome accepted him, liked him just how he was.  Why had it never occurred to him before?  But now that it had, it wouldn't leave him alone.  Every time he saw her, it chewed at the back of his thoughts making him awkward and bumbling around her.  She teased him, telling him that he'd lost his touch with women when she encouraged him to flirt with girls at the bar.  None of them compared to her, and even if they had, his heart was already elsewhere.  She's it, she's perfect.  He sat nervously, trying to rehearse his carefully chosen words to make her understand.

Kagome stepped into the gazebo, wondering why Inuyasha had asked her to meet him here of all places.  They often walked by it, as it was the central feature of the park near her apartment, but they'd never actually been in it.  Knowing that they were supposed to be going out to dinner, she had dressed up a little, but she was startled to see Inuyasha in a suit.  He hated wearing suits, especially since he had to wear one to work everyday.  'You look nice,' she told him.  The almost royal blue shirt looked very sharp under his black suit jacket, the top few buttons left open for a slightly more casual look.  He smirked at her, but there was a nervous edge to his mouth and the way he was standing.  'Why did you want to meet here?' she finally asked him, opening the table for whatever he seemed to have on his mind.  Is Kikyou back in the picture? She wondered.  No, he wouldn't ask me to dinner to tell me that.  What are you up to Inuyasha?  He motioned for her to sit on the bench beside him, finally sitting down when she was comfortable.

Taking several deep breaths, Inuyasha was finally able to get his mind organized enough to move his hands in the right way.  'We have been friends a long time.  You have been my most honest and most giving friend, when I needed it most.'  Kagome's eyes, expressive as always, grew concerned.  'You have kept me from doing some pretty stupid things in the last ten years and I hope you can keep guiding me through the rest of my life.  Kagome,' he paused, taking a gentle hold of her hands for a moment before releasing them to continue, 'would you allow me to court you, to become my mate?'  Her face froze.

Her eyes were confused, unsure, and sad.  She wanted to say yes, he could see it, but something made her hesitate.  He waited impatiently for her to respond in some way until her gaze lowered to his hands, her delicate fingers brushing the stripe on his left ring finger that had just regained its proper coloring a few weeks before.  He held his breath, waiting for her to do or say something more.  'I couldn't keep you from all the mistakes.'

'No, but I've learned from this one.'

Breathing out a sigh, Kagome looked up at him and then back at his hand.  'Five years is a long time, and you've only been divorced from her for a few months.  Weren't you already mated?'

The bitter pain swelled in him for a moment but he managed to swallow it.  He had a new chance, a better opportunity for that.  One he had never thought open to him before.  'No.  She didn't want that.'  He ducked his head to get her to look him in the eye.  'I always had this... Feeling.  In the back of my mind.  I felt things going wrong with Kikyou and how often I was thinking about you didn't help.  I thought it was just because you treated me so well while she was so angry all the time.  I know better now.'

'Know what better?'

'That I was never meant to be with Kikyou.  She couldn't love me as I am. And now I understand, it wasn't fair to her to try to force her to either.'  Her bottom lip quivered in a way too familiar to him.  'What's wrong?'

She looked away a moment to gather her wits.  Was he asking her this very important question because he really wanted her, or because he was hurt and lost and needed someone to come home to?  She couldn't be sure, and it was too soon for him to be sure either.  Turning herself back to him she finally found herself able to look him in the eye.  'Inuyasha, you know I love you dearly, I have almost since the day I met you.'  She was crushed by the hopeful look in his eyes.  He wanted her to say yes, she wanted to say yes...  'But it is too soon.  You need to take some time to think about what you really want in life.  You have a long one ahead of you.'  The disappointment was almost more than she could take, the anger that replaced it even worse.

“No.  You can't be serious.”  She didn't respond, having read his lips, but she gave him a pleading look.  “It took a lot for me to ask you that, Kagome!”  She stared at him helplessly when she missed most of his words because he was angry and not forming his words properly.  'I took a big risk,' he finally signed to her, his movements jerky and furious.

'I know that.  I am honored that you would ask me.'  She took a deep breath.  'The day you married her hurt me too Inuyasha.'  Her signs were small and careful.  'I wanted to speak up in the church and stop the whole thing.  No one would have heard me,' she said with a wry, pained smile.  'I couldn't ruin things for you when you were so happy.  No matter how much it hurt.'  Inuyasha's eyes dropped, remembering how happy they had been, how withdrawn Kagome had been through the whole process.  When they rose, Kagome continued.  'I am really flattered that you would ask me something so important.  Until I know you don't think of her when you look at me, I can't take that risk.'

“Kagome,” he protested.  She stood, shaking her head.  'Fine,' he snapped, the claw on his thumb jamming him in the chest.  'Forget dinner.  Forget everything.'  Kagome's eyes showed her hurt.  All Inuyasha could think about was how she didn't deserve to feel hurt, not after rejecting him.  'Maybe I'll see you around.'  He turned to leave.  Feeling her small hand on his shoulder, he paused.  He could not turn, kept his eyes closed...

“Yasha!” she called softly in her nasalized accent.  He turned despite his determination not to, unable to ignore her when she actually spoke to him, a rarity to be sure.  'I still care about you,' she explained.  'More than I should,' she admitted, tears in her eyes.  'That's why now isn't the right time.  You need to heal before we can...  Anything can happen.'  He scoffed and she frowned painfully.  'I will always be here for you.'

***

That having been one of the last things she said to him before he pushed her out of his life made the sting of seeing her injured even worse.  She had told him that she would always be there if he needed her, had done so all through the marriage that pained her so much to sit by and watch happen.  And he hadn't been there to protect her when she needed him more than ever before.  Inuyasha sighed, his head hanging in his hands while Kagome slept again.  Their trip to the bathroom had been difficult and frustrating for both of them.  He wanted to help her, now that he was done being a selfish idiot, and she wanted to trust him to help her...  The bathroom was not the place to do that.  He'd ended up having to call the nurse in to help Kagome in the bathroom itself, then took over again when she was done.

“She will likely sleep for another few hours, why don't you take a break?”  Sango's face was tense as she stood in the doorway, trying to look relaxed and failing.  Inuyasha had a hunch that she wasn't thrilled to see him, but knew that there wasn't anywhere else he would be once she'd told him Kagome was in the hospital.  “You look like you need the rest.”

Fighting the urge to growl at her and cling childishly to the side of the bed, he shook his head, looking down at its occupant.  “I'm not going anywhere.”

The scoff he heard was the only warning he got.  “You have no right, Inuyasha.  She gave everything to you and you disappeared!”  Sango knew that raising her voice wouldn't likely affect Kagome, but she kept it at a low hiss anyway.  “She cried for days after you canceled that dinner and now you want to sit here and tell me you're not going anywhere?”  Sango's growl was nearly inhuman.  “You don't deserve it.”

He tried his hardest to keep his temper under control.  Any fluctuation in his aura would likely wake Kagome.  “You're right, I don't deserve it.  But I'm not leaving her side.  I made a mistake, and I'm going to make up for it.”  Unsure if he should, he paused a moment before explaining what he now knew Kagome had never told Sango.  “That night I called off dinner, I asked Kagome let me start courting her to be my mate.”  He fought a smirk at the surprised gasp that came from the woman by the door.  “Kagome turned me down, told me it was too soon.  She was right, but at the time I was too hurt by her rejection to see it.  That is why I disappeared.  Because I was selfish and hurt.”  Sango's stance settled into an actually relaxed pose.

“That's not an excuse,” she replied halfheartedly.

“No, but now you know why we haven't been seeing each other as much.”

Sango's eyes dropped to the floor as she contemplated what he'd told her.  He was sincere, there was no doubt in her mind of that.  She had sat with Kagome that night and for several nights afterward, trying to soothe her upset and not sure how to do it.  Kagome had never said a bad thing about Inuyasha, but she also hadn't told her what had really happened.  Knowing what she did now, she couldn't be as angry with Inuyasha.  He had been making a bold move, one that had backfired.  Kagome had loved him too long to allow a few months or even years waiting for him to heal from his broken marriage keep them from being together eventually.  She knew that her friend had been thinking only of what was best for Inuyasha at the time and had assumed, naively, that he would appreciate that.  The last few months had proven that he'd been more hurt by her rejection than he had seemed to be by his wife leaving him.  “She was thinking of what was best for you,” she sighed softly.  “She always does.”  Inuyasha made a small grunt of acknowledgment.

Kagome had been looking out for him from the moment he'd met her at the front of a math class in a giant lecture hall their freshman year of college.  She'd been staring intently at her interpreter, who also happened to be her best friend Sango, laughing at something she'd just signed to her.  He, trying to find an empty spot to sit in the overly crowded lower section, had nearly bowled over the tall dark-haired translator.  Kagome had jumped up, grabbing onto his arm just before the collision happened.  Sango had looked just as startled as he had before looking him up and down.  “There's a spot next to me,” she spoke without blinking and he had been so confused until he realized she was voicing for the girl who held onto him.  He glanced at her, then back at Sango before nodding dumbly.

Watching the two young women in avid fascination through the whole class meant he'd learned only a few things they were signing and absolutely nothing about the matrices the professor had been trying to instruct them on that day.  He'd been forced over the next few weeks to ask for Kagome's meticulous notes and her tutelage until he had caught up and felt comfortable in the class.  Alongside his math lessons, she and Sango were teaching him to sign and he had clearly picked it up more quickly than either of the girls had expected.  Soon enough he and Kagome were able to go anywhere without Sango's presence as a go-between and they were practically inseparable after that.  She made him laugh more each day than he had in the twelve years since his mother had died.  She understood his bouts of darkness and managed to pull him out of them.  She had never pushed him to tell her about his family, his heritage, his insecurities, but they had come out of him anyway in long flowing strands on his fingertips.  She cried for him, but never made him feel pitied.

Until the day Kikyou had sat next to him in a sophomore level history class, batting her eyes at him and passing him surreptitious glances, a tiny little flicker that told him he was in love with Kagome had lurked in the back of his mind.  But she had never pursued him, certainly not like Kikyou had and he'd been so drawn in by Kikyou's beauty and her intelligence that the flicker had been ignored.  Now, eight years later, he fully understood that the flicker had slowly become a roaring fire in the time that he had been married and now in the months since his divorce.  He loved Kagome with all that he was and he fully intended to make her understand that there was no room in his heart for anyone else.  He had forgiven Kikyou for expecting him to change and himself for expecting the same of her.  Kagome had only ever offered her steadfast friendship, indomitable spirit and her quiet love.  And while it was already more than he could ever ask for, he wanted more.  He wanted the rest of her.  Body, mind, spirit, heart and soul.  He knew it was in her to love him like he knew he loved her.  She had stood by him, talked him down from many an angry precipice during his marriage, comforted him when it was falling apart without breathing a word of the love he now knew she held for him.  For his part, he wished he could claim the same selfless kind of love.  He knew himself well enough to know that he had to have her as his own or he would lose it completely.

The reasoning behind her rejection of him, now that he was able to look back on it with a clearer head, proved that Kagome only wanted what would make him happy and healthy, even at the cost of her own happiness.  She had been afraid he was going to make another mistake, making her his mate, when in fact it had been his mistake to have ever allowed another woman to come between the growing adoration that had been lingering in the back of his heart.

@lemonlushff , @fantastiqueparfait , @heavenin--hell, @clearwillow , @mamabearcat , @thunderpo , @keichanz , @meggz0rz , @disgruntledbeast , @sarah-writes-stories , @zelink-inukag , @cammysansstuff , @mcornilliac , @redflamesofpassion , @superpixie42 , @underwater0phelia , @cstorm86 , @noviceotakus-blog , @lavendertwilight89 , @hinezumi , @wenchster , @hnnwnchstr , @lady-dark-69 , @itzatakahashi , @juliatheanimelover7 , @kazeinori , @theinuyashareader , @inupotter , @eternalnight8806-3 , @smmahamazing , @willowandfog , @gaysonthefloor , @sistasecbhere , @jennybean91 , @alerialblu, @laurenintheskyy

#Dawnrider Fanfiction #Modern AU #Inukag-Week #Reunion #Part 1

[yasashihanyou]

i love the difference between sora:

&

inuyasha:

in terms of icons + overall ‘vibe’ kdsfsaldj

that character growth tho.

#「sora.」“everyones hope for happiness; blue sky.” #「inuyasha;past.」 “i was the only one; fast asleep.”

[ashley-jones]

The Kings Mate

Chapter 18

A Half Demons Claim

Warning: talk of self harm, blood, and slight yandere

Rin was playing with Luna’s hair who was still fast asleep on Sesshomaru leg. The demon now awake but show no sigh of moving the teenage girl, as she was in and out of sleep throughout the night. She had handed her hoodie over to Rin who had gotten cold throughout the night, leaving the teen in sports bra.

The hoodie went over Rin’s body due to it being oversized, as it was too big for Luna so it was obviously huge on Rin. Kagome had come back from the two girls time with more clothing a some snacks for Shippo and Rin. “K-Kagome..w-why does Luna h-have scars on her arms?” Rin questioned.

Sesshomaru looked down noticing that the teen did indeed of scars going up both of her arms, some side ways and others were up and down. Kagome seemed surprised by the question and was almost hesitant to answer. “You have to ask her..I have no right to speak about them..” she said softly. This statmemt confused the dog demon making him glare at the miko but soon look down at the female noticing her slightly shifting.

Soon brown eyes opened and arms came up covering her eyes from the sunlight and letting out a light whine; and then let out a groan when Rin jumped on her. “Ah..morning sweetheart..” she mumbled. Kagome smiled at the sight and then pulled out clothing for Luna setting them down beside her. “Mom told me to tell you hi, same with those two girls from school” she stated.

Luna smiled softly and slowly sat up allowing Rin to slide down into her lap, her eyes glancing at the clothing before turning slightly and cracking her neck. “Thank you..” she stated. Her voice was slightly rasped with sleep. “L-Luna..can we go take a bath..L-Lord Sesshomaru brought me a new kimono!” she said excitedly. Luna smiled and nodded looking back at Sesshomaru asking for confirmation, in which he just nodded.

The teen stood up and picked the girl and her clothing up and left the hut, Rin holding onto the checkered kimono while smiling brightly.

Kagome looked around before sighing and pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I should have brought her weapons with me.. I didn’t even think about it..” she mumbled.

“Luna? Why do you have scars on your arms..?” Rin questioned as she sat in the hot springs. The teenage girl was across from her, looking surpsrised by the question before smiling softly. “Well..When I was around 14 or 15, I was going through a lot and I had began to harm myself..” she said softly. Rin’s eyes widened at the statement. “B-but why??” she quickly questioned. “Well..When I was doing it, I felt numb and the only thing I wished for was to feel something.. So I would get into physical fights on purpose and when I did I noticed that the pain I would get from getting hit, felt good.. And it felt as if I deserved it, so I started harming myself with a blade.. So that I could feel better..But I soon realized it was also affecting my family, I stopped and decided to get some help so I wouldn’t do it again..” she explained. The small girl looking at her with saddened eyes.

“You don’t do it anymore..right..?” she whispered. “No..I promised the ones that I love that I would never harm myself again for as long as I live..” she stated. That made the child smile and nod glad that her new friend wasn’t doing anymore harm to herself.

Soon the two girls finished and stepped out both getting dressed. Luna just had a simple pair of sweats, a white bralette and a cover up; and then a pair of sneakers. She helped Rin close up her obi tying it neatly for her, then placing a small ponytail in her hair. “There you are sweetheart.” she said softly. Rin smiled and ran around enjoying the way the kimono fit her.

The two began making there way back to the village, Rin walking beside Luna holding onto her hand, while Luna was carrying her dirtied clothing. “Hah there you two are! Took you long enough!” Jaken yelled. Luna just smiled and walked past him joint Sesshomaru’s side who was standing in front of Inuyasha. “Tch! Luna isn’t leaving with you! She’s better off here with Kagome! They both have a home in their era still!” Inuyasha yelled.

Kagome just sighed crossing her arms and watching Inuyasha. “Inuyasha..” Luna mumbled. The demon paying no attention to her making the girl roll her eyes. Quikcly the female stepped back as Inuyasha’s claws almost struck her when he went to attack Sesshomaru. Kagome quickly screamed at Inuyasha to ‘sit’ while Sesshomaru had gotten in front of the teen when she stepped back.

Rin held onto Luna’s hand tightly before yelling at the half demon “how dare you raise a hand to a girl! Even if it was towards another, you shouldn’t strike when knowing a girl is standing beside him!” “I’m okay Rin..” Luna said softly. “I didn’t mean to!” He yelled. “Don’t raise your voice to her.” Luna stated.

Inuyasha looked up at the teen before mumbling an apology, slowly pushing himself up and held out his claws, while Sesshomaru stared with cold eyes. The 3 girls quickly stepped away no longer wanting to interfere, Jaken following them. “So childish..” Kagome mumbled. In which Luna nodded in agreement to.

“Killing you would be easy.” Sesshomaru stated. His voice was as cold as ice, and eyes showing no emotions. Just as that was said Inuyasha ran at Sesshomaru holding out his claws and attacked, but of course Sesshomaru was much quicker than the half demon.

The fight continued on, Inuyasha showing slight exhaustion while Sesshomaru didn’t look at all fazed. Just as the thought of the fight ended Inuyasha struck Sesshomaru’s chest right under his armor, sending the full demon back a bit. The teenagers eyes widened when they noticed Inuyasha’s eyes were blood red, and blood covered his claws; fangs sharper and a blood lust look covered his features.

Sesshomaru clicked his tongue and paid no mind to the wound on his chest. His eyes lingering on the hanyou. Inuyasha growled and looked back at the group of girls, a smirk gracing his features. He quickly ran at them smirking and growling.

Luna’s eyes widened and quickly stepped back and threw her arm back grabbing Rin and pushing her close behind her; and went to run but claws collided with her side before she could. Blood splattered across her stomach causing her body to fall forward into the hanyou arms, letting out cries as his claws deeper in her side. Rin and Kagome completely protected by a wall of ice. “You smell sweet.” The demon growled. “S-stop..” the female whimpered.

Sesshomaru growled and went to attack Inuyasha but quikcly stopped when he realized, one wrong hit and Inuyasha could rip the female stomach open; mostly with his claws already dug into her side. “I-Inuyasha..” she spoke. Her voice was shaky, and so was her body.

The hanyou smirked pulling his claws from the teen listening as she cried out, blood cascading down her side. “Mine.” he growled. Kagome was screaming at the hanyou but didn’t dare say sit in fear of angering the male more. Rin was yelling as well begging for Luna to move away, but the hanyou’s arms wrapped tightly around her and quickly ran off with her weakened body. Sesshomaru yelled at Inuyasha but it all went black as the female fell unconscious in the half breeds arms.

The half demon had been taken over by his own beast. The teen laying in front of him in a cave, his inner self was screaming at the beast to never lay a hand on the girl again. Begging for himself to take her back so she was in the arms of her protector. But Inuyasha had no control over himself, his beast wanted her and he didn’t understand why.

He had to admit the female was beautiful, and held this amazing amount of confidence, and showed no fear of showing her opinions. Her scent was incredible, which is what drew him so close to the girl in the first place; she wasn’t always screaming at him like Kagome was. The teen showed him respect, and kindness; but she showed Sesshomaru something he wanted from her...

Love.

That’s what set his beast off on Sesshomaru, and the moment he looked back at the girls all he could think about was taking the ice wielder. To have her all to himself. To mark her and claim her as his, so that Sesshomaru could never put another hand on her. To breed her and show her who she truly belongs to. The thought of the female being bred and carrying his child was setting his beast off into a purring mess. But he held back, he wasn’t going to touch her in fear of harming even more than he already has.

The female shifted and let out a cry of pain, her eyes opening and caught sight of Inuyasha. She sat up and immediately backed away from him, her hand quickly going to her side holding onto the still bleeding wound. How she was still alive, she had no idea. “Mine..” the hanyou spoke once more. His voice was deeper and more rasped, his red eyes showing past white bangs. “Inuyasha..” she whimpered.

The hanyou stood up and walked over to her, watching as she backed up until her back hit the wall of the cave. “Mine.” he stated once more. Luna thought of any way of calming the male, and bringing back the Inuyasha she knew back.. Her body flinched as she forced herself to stand, leaning against the wall and looking up at the hanyou. Her non bloodied hand reached out and laid against his chest gripping the fabric tightly.

“I’ll be yours...Just bring back the half demon that I know..” she whispered. She was just begging for Inuyasha to go back to normal, that way she could get medical attention before her body gave into the blood loss. “Mine.” he growled. He leaned forward moving so the female was pushed directly against the wall, his body against hers; and his fangs traced across her delicate skin.

He was about to bite down but he quickly stopped himself clenching his teeth. He moved away and quickly punched himself causing a loud growl to escape his throat. Eyes flashing between gold and red. “G-go!!” he yelled. In which the female obeyed and left the cave as fast as she could.

Jaken quikcly yelled for Sesshomaru’s attention alerting him of the females presence. The moment she saw Sesshomaru in the air, her body collapsed, no longer able to run. Her chest heaved and her throat was dry; her hand and stomach covered in blood.

The full demon dropped down in front of her quickly picking her up and taking off into the air once more. Her head falling down against his shoulder, unable to function any words; eyes glazed over with tears.

Luna’s eyes opened quickly, breathing harsh and she flinched when she felt a clawed hand touch her forehead slightly. But she slowly calmed down when she noticed Sesshomaru was kneeling beside her. A bandage wrapped around her torso, and she had a red and white kimono on, her clothes being washed and dried. “S-Sesshoamru..?” she whispered.

He hummed removing his hand and sitting back once he made sure the female was okay. Inuyasha hasn’t returned as of yet, and they weren’t sticking around long enough to wait for him. Kagome had gone back to the girls era to grab Luna’s weapons and more bandages; including a bag for the girl. Jaken had gone to retrieve Ah-un, that way the teen wasn’t walking too much until she was fully healed.

Kagome quickly ran to the hut when she heard her sister voice, quickly running inside setting the bag down and attacking the girl. Kagome hugged her tightly, while the red haired girl winced and whined slightly in pain. “K-Kagome..” she mumbled “I-I’m sorry...I was so worried about you..” she stated. “I brought you some supplies, and a few more things for Rin and Jaken..Since Sesshomaru mentioned he doesn’t eat human food..” she spoke softly.

The younger sister helped the older up into a seating position. “Your clothing is almost dry..We cleaned the wounds area..Just have to be really careful. I don’t understand what got into Inuyasha..” Kagome stated. “His full demon took over, causing him to crave an innocence blood.” Sesshomaru mumbled. His eyes never leaving the wounded teenage girl.

Luna was finally able to get back into her own clothing, Sesshomaru placing the girl on Ah-Un, with Rin in front of her. Her swords where placed with Sesshomaru’s by his side. Her bow and arrows around her shoulders. Kagome waved goodbye to the group and crossed her arms feeling better now that Luna was with Sesshomaru instead of near Inuyasha.

Rin was looking through the bag before pulling out a strange metal boxed thing, which made the teen quickly remove it from her hands. “Kagome.” She mumbled. “What is that?” the child questioned. “It’s a vape...” she mumbled. “What’s a vape?” She asked. “Something you don’t need to worry about.” Luna stated. She pat the small girls head and pulled out a small bag of chocolate candies and handed it to Rin, in which she quickly took tasting one and humming in delight.

#half demon princess yashahime #hanyou no yashahime #inu no taisho #inukimi #inuyasha #inuyasha fanfiction #pheonix #blodreina #royalty #red queen #sesshomaru x oc #sesshomaru #inuyasha x oc #koga inuyasha #rin and jaken #setsuna #towa higurashi #kohaku #miroku #kagome higurashi #sango x kagome #sango inuyasha #shippo #modern #ice queen

[shnuggletea]

How about 16 x 75? Inuyasha and Kagome

16 plus 75 Prison AU and sharing a bed? We getting dirty now?? Okay, so Inuyasha x Kagome will be a nice change. Let’s see what you guys think and if you like it, I’ll continue it. Actually, kinda want to continue it anyway, it was A LOT of fun!! And I still have a lot more in my head to write for it so really this is just a snippet. Thank you for the ask @knowall7k, I really love this now lol. Here we go!!

Cell Mates

The tiny room had small stains on the floor and walls while the table before her wobbled with the slightest touch. It didn’t take much to figure out what sort of things happened in this room and it had she shaking the metal folding chair she was pushed into nearly an hour ago. She never should have gotten involved in those protests to end the internment camps. It would definitely not help her now.

Waiting was part of the game and secretly she hoped someone would soon enter and tell her to go home. After all, she’d been in her legal rights at those protests and she had done nothing wrong now. That is, nothing wrong if they didn’t look too close but even she wasn’t sure how much she had done...and how much she had screwed herself royally.

When the only door in the room opened, a stout man in a wrinkled suit walking in, and shut right after, her heart dropped into her toes. 

“Ms. Higurashi…”

“Doctor. Dr. Higurashi…”

“My name is detective Haims. I’d like to go over the events you...witnessed earlier this evening?” 

Setting a thick file before him, the detective looked down to hide his grin. Something Kagome caught and it had her stomach turning. 

“You were found with the victim, his blood all over your hands…”

“Yes, but I’m a Doctor. And I was there because he’s my friend...”

This time, he let her see his sneer, and it grew as he watched her squirm. “Funny, as a Doctor, I’m surprised you haven’t asked me how your patient is doing?”

She was caught because she knew exactly how the patient was doing. The look on the detective’s face didn’t help either. There was nothing she could say and her throat was sealed up with too much saliva even if she did. 

“He survived. Doing really well actually. Thanks to you.”

The anxiety she had lessened, finding the back of her chair instead of holding herself rigidly. “He’s okay?”

“Yeah. But you knew that, didn’t you? You’re very talented.”

“I just do what I can…”

“Now, he claims he was shot in the heart?”

“In the chest, yes.” ‘Actually, he was shot near his heart’, she thought, ‘if he’d been shot in the heart, he’d be dead’. 

“So you confirm that? You confirm that a,” he opened and glanced at the name in the file, “Hojo Akitoki was shot, in the chest, and that you, Kagome Higurashi, took life-saving actions as a doctor?”

‘Something didn’t feel right.’ She thought. “Yes.”

“Good. That’s what I have here from Mr. Akitoki as well. And that’s what this statement says if you could just sign it.”

Pen poised, she skimmed over the typed paper and he waited patiently. If she was looking for a trap in the words, she wouldn’t find one. It read everything that happened, there was no trick in the wording or anything. 

A fast scribble and he was on his feet at her side. “On your feet, Higurashi. You’re under arrest.”

“Wait, what??! Why?! I didn’t do anything…”

“Because Mr. Akitoki has no wounds. No marks, holes, bruises. It’s as if he was never shot but we know he was. So either he’s a demon or you are.”

The color drained from her face and he grinned as he watched. He had her now. Her blood ran cold, she had messed up, royally. “Look, detective…”

“Hands behind your back.”

Her greatest fears were coming to life. Ones she had for years and had been so careful. “I’m not a demon, I swear!”

“Shut the hell up, Monster.”

“Just ask Hojo! He’ll tell you I’m not a de…”

When she still didn’t shut up, he hit her as hard as he could, backhanding her. She felt the skin of his hand cut against her teeth, her mouth still open when he struck her. Now in shock, the pain exploding in her cheek and eye, she had no words. Her brain was frozen in fear from the brutality. 

“Mr. Akitoki is the son of Senator Akitoki. You know the one who supported the anti-demon movement for the last ten years?! Don’t expect any help from your so-called friend. Should’ve drunk his blood when you had the chance!”

She stumbled, shoved harshly along now. Out of the room but far from free, face after face held a glare or disgust as she passed. The detective took several ‘high fives’ as he passed, the atmosphere completely different between them in the same hall. 

When they turned down another hall, a rusty door at the end of it, she finally got her wits about her. “Wait, where are you taking me?”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

She did and now her heart pounded painfully with horror-filled panic. “You can’t! You can’t take me there!! I’m not a demon! They’ll eat me alive if you take me there!!!”

“I bet they’ll eat a sweet thing like you regardless. But that’s where you’re going and if you know what’s good, you’ll shut UP! And GET IN THE VAN!!!”

Door opened wide, she struggled in his hold. He laughed, loving how she was still dumb enough to fight before throwing her inside. The ‘van’ had benches along the side with an armed guard at the very back. The gun he held wasn’t a joke and he had it aimed at her from the start. 

There was no indication of male or female with the guard inside the van, the heavy armor and black helmet gave them anonymity. She could still see the nervous shift in the guard’s movements and so could detective Haims. 

“She’s leashed, no worries.” 

He assured the guard, the cuffs cutting into her wrists and clamping her gifts. She knew what they were as soon as he put them on, she could feel it and knew the stories. The means taken to suppress demons was barbaric at best.

She thought the guard didn’t believe his coworker, because he got up and grabbed the cuffs that held her hands firmly at her lower back. But then he pulled her up from the floor by them. Her scream from the agony he caused was ignored as he sat her down on a bench and latched her cuffs to something behind her. 

“Have fun. And make friends!” Detective Haims taunted before slamming the door shut behind. 

Now in darkness, she only had the hum of the wheels on the road to comfort her. Which they didn’t. 

                                                            oOo

Her cuffs were removed once inside but something wasn’t right about this place. The thick concrete walls were suffocating as if the air was pumped in from somewhere else instead of flowing in naturally. The place was completely sealed up and not even a breeze could penetrate. 

It felt as if there was something pressing on her chest. It wasn’t painful and it was slight but it was enough for her to notice. Maybe she was getting sick. She certainly would be soon. Everyone had a general idea of what the demon camps were like. They were like the prisons back before the reform. There was no leaving once in unless lifeless. With it taking so long for most demons to die and the overcrowding a few years ago, the purge of 06 had many demons leaving their imprisonment in body bags. 

All of this was done to them by simple humans like her and here she was getting tossed in with them? All she had done was save some lives and kept to herself as much as possible. Her protests years were in her past, doing many back in college when she didn’t have a career to concern herself with. 

The guard with her now was female but she didn’t go easy on her. The worst was the cavity searches. Kagome knew they could and should lube the long instrument they used. But the sneer on the guard’s face told her it was intentional. As was the chuckle the burly woman released when she squirmed from the uncomfortable pressure. 

At least they gave her something to wear, her clothes stripped from her and probably burned. A pair of white scrubs was given to her and it was easy to pretend this was a dream. That she had fallen asleep in the break room at work even if the scrubs she wore now were over-starched compared to her own. 

Two guards escorted her and as they passed the other, very much full, cells she was called after. 

“Hey Baby!!”

“Look over here, let me see your face!”

She ignored the rest after that, keeping her gaze in front of her. One thing she couldn’t help but notice, besides the sheer number of creatures in the place, was the rainbow of colors. Everyone had a different colored uniform from hers. Which was why she took notice to one call and what it could possibly mean.

“LOOK! We got a WHITE!!!”

There was excitement in the air that she didn’t like. Never once had she agreed with the treatment of demons in this or other countries, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t afraid now enclosed with so many of them. Just like humans, there were good and bad demons and these encampments didn’t differentiate. Or care if they ripped another demon to pieces, one less for them to worry about. 

Everyone knew the purge was handled by other demons, ones promised freedom for their work but double-crossed. Was she now imprisoned with anyone involved in that? It was possible, she had been young but demons lived a long time. Another reason the public feared them. 

The guard before her came to a halt and opened a cage while the one behind her shoved her in. It was dark, dawn still several hours away and it was ‘lights out’ apparently. Even with all the voices calling out to and about her, the sound of the bars slamming shut was deafening. Just inside her new home, with only a sheet and a single thin pillow in her hands, it was hard not to feel it all crashing down on her now. But then her bed in the corner moved and spoke. 

“Hey...HEY!!!”

It flew past her in a blur of white and red. Palms smacked the iron bars again and again right behind her while her brain struggled to keep up.

“Hey, Fuckers! Don’t leave her in here!! This cell is occupied!!!”

Glancing back, she took in the man that stood behind her cursing, but all she could make out was the wild and long white hair as it curtained his face and back.

“Yeah,” called back one of the guards, “and now it’s a double room! Enjoy your snack!”

So she was this man’s snack? Fear that had never really left renewed, racing up her spine and making her nauseous. This was where and how she was going to die? It was far from what she imagined for herself but who really imagined their death?

Slowly, the man calmed and turned to her. Her breath caught in her throat when glowing, gold eyes bore into hers. They didn’t stay for long, going down her body instead and taking her in. She didn’t know what was worse, her fear of her impending death or the VERY good looking man that now looked her over harshly.

“Judas Priest, they’re putting weaklings in here now?! How the hell did you even get caught??” 

Kagome had to stop herself from smacking the guy but did nothing to hide her irritation of him. “You don’t know me! Stop acting like you’re so smart!”

One of his brows twerked up towards his hairline, the dark hair contrasting greatly with his other locks. Then he faced her full, quickly backing her up to the cold, hard wall of the cell. Her hands flew out in a foolish effort to keep him back but he did stop once her palms touched his chest.

“It doesn’t take much to know an idiot when I see one. Damn White talking back to me like she’s a Red like me? Clearly, you’re a fucking tool so be smart and keep your mouth shut unless you really want someone here to eat you.” He left her to cower in her place between the bars and the wall, cornered in more ways than one. “There’s only one bed. You can sleep on the floor.”

Maybe there was a way to salvage this? This guy was her roommate for some unknown reason and length of time. It would be bad if they weren’t even nice to one another right?

“I’m..I’m Kagome, by the way.”

“Feh, and I don’t give a shit.”

The single bed squeaked as he fell to it, the conversation and any possible ones in the future squashed. She probably should try and keep to herself from now on. God, how long would she have to do that? How long was she going to be trapped in this nightmare?

Dropping to the floor, she kept to her corner. Tossing her pillow, Kagome laid down in her corner to sleep like a dog. Covering her mouth with both palms while she wept herself to sleep.

Well? That’s all for now, let me know if I should bother to keep it going!

[stormielikeweather]

Step Into Love Chapter Two

Rated M 

AN: Thank you for all the love this story has gotten so far! <3

Chapter Two: A Perfectly Normal Step Relationship

Ch 1 found here

The soccer ball flew past and Inuyasha growled, “You’re making us lose, Kagome! Quit daydreaming!” 

“Sorry!” She shouted over her shoulder, quick to race after Souta as he took the ball down toward the goal. Every few minutes her eyes drifted to the window on the second floor of their house. Sesshomaru’s room. He’d been in there for three days straight. She had expected to have to fight her step brother off with a bat. Surprisingly, there’d been no outward advances, or inappropriate statements. Not even a sultry glance. He stayed cooped up in his room since they’d arrived. Her shoulders slumped. 

She worried for him. It was normal to care about an older brother. There was nothing odd about it at all. Just a regular step sister hoping her sex demon of a step brother would quit working to sexually harass her, super normal.

Kagome bit her lip.

Sesshomaru seemed like he had everything thought out and put together schoolwise, but she was certain he was overworking himself. The thought felt daunting. Being a sophomore, she wasn’t even entirely set on a major yet. Here he was planning to go to med school. Would he have been finished with his paper by now if she hadn't shown up that day? 

She distracted him. 

Because of her, he was spending his entire spring break stuck in his bedroom. 

Hands went to her chest as the feeling of guilt burned there. 

“Kagome!” Inuyasha growled. Souta and his friend raced right in front of her.

“Sorry Inu!” She pressed her lips together, “You guys have fun. I-,” Her gaze went back to the window, “I have something I need to do.”

He pouted, “But, Kagome, you said you’d be on my team.” His puppy eyes pulled her heart strings. 

Running to the main house, before she changed her mind, she shouted, “I promise to make it up to you!” 

“Kagome?” Kira found her daughter standing in front of her eldest step son's room. A tray of food and tea caught her curiosity, “What are you up to?”

“Well,” She bit her lip, not looking away from the door, “He hasn't come out for any meals...”

“It's sweet of you to worry for your new brother. Why don't you knock? He'll likely be glad to have such a thoughtful little sister.” With a large grin, Kira started down the stairs, “Knock before the tea cools!”

“Right...” Kagome bit her lip. There was nothing weird about her taking a meal to her older step brother, nothing at all. Sucking in a deep breath, she rapped her knuckles on the door and it creaked open. “Hey... Sesshomaru?” No answer. 

She stood there a moment. The cracked open door begged to be walked through. She wasn't sure if it'd be okay. Would he be upset? She was disrupting him again.

Just as she turned to leave, she saw him in the room. Slumped over his desk, asleep. 

The door clicked shut behind her as she quietly entered. Placing the tray on his end table, she watched him take soft sleepy breaths. Bun forgotten, long silver hair spilled down his back and shoulders. She reached out and slid her fingers through the silken threads. God it felt spectacular. How did he have such ethereal hair? 

Narrowing her eyes at him, she pressed her lips together. Her heartbeat quickened as he stirred. A sigh escaped his parted lips. 

She'd been right about him not taking care of himself. Her fingers slid through his luscious hair, gently pushing it over his shoulder so she could see him properly.

Sleeping peacefully, his long lashes fanned his sharp cheekbones. He looked so cute. Like sleeping beauty if beauty were an arrogant sexy man.  

She brushed her fingers across his smooth cheek “Sesshomaru...” He didn't stir. She leaned closer and brushed his cheek again, “Sesshomaru?”

His hand moved, still clutching his computer mouse. The laptop came alive with a white glow and settled. The text drew her attention. Medical jargon immediately stuck out at her. She peered the document. 

A research paper on the effects of arousal after long term abstinence. Her face flushed, but she took the mouse and scrolled down.

Soft and warm, something pressed against her cheek. She turned her head to see a pair of amused amber eyes. “H-hi...” 

He took her hand off the mouse and pulled her into his lap. The way her face ignited in red as she gasped stirred him in ways that weren’t brotherly. “You were looking at things you shouldn’t again.” His voice rough from sleep.

Her arms crossed over her chest, “I can look at what I want.” Narrowing her eyes, she tilted her chin, “And, you are the one in trouble here.”

“Me?” He smirked, “In that case, you are welcome to punish me.” 

“Sesshomaru!” Her cheeks puffed out, eyes like a storm, “I-I’m not punishing you, I brought you something to eat.” 

His gaze followed the wave of her hand. Sitting on his end table was a tray with a plate of food and a steaming cup. She’d been thinking of him. He knew it. Glancing back at her blushing face, he smiled. “Thank you, Kagome.” 

“I-it’s nothing!” She tried to stand up, but his firm hands kept her in place, “Sesshomaru...let go!”

“Not yet,” He grinned, “If you are worried about me, I should hold you awhile so you know I’m fine.” 

“T-that’s not necessary.” 

“Of course it is.” He grabbed her hand and placed it on his forehead, “You better check my temperature since you are here.” 

She bristled, trying to pull her hand back until the heat hit her skin, “Y-you’re actually kind of warm...” She leaned close, staring into his eyes, “Sesshomaru, are you sick?”

“I might be,” His hot breath kissed her lips, “You should stay awhile to make sure I’m not ill.”

Her fingers slid over his forehead again, he did feel hot. Did he usually run warm? Her lips pressed together. “Fine. On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“Get in bed.” 

His eyes widened. 

She flicked him hard, “I never said I would be getting in with you, only you are getting into bed. If you want taken care of, I’ll take care of you.” It was positively sinful how excited he made her, but she couldn’t give in. She hadn’t let Hojo in her pants, and she wouldn’t be letting her sexy step brother into them either! No matter how arousing the thought of touching said step brother was.

He patted the top of her head, grinning, “You're really cute when you're angry.” 

“I am not!” Her face grew hot and she clapped her hands over the blush she knew had to be there, “Quit teasing me.”

Frowning, he helped her off his lap, “I don't tease.”

She bit her lip. “Y-yes, you do.” The intensity of his gaze had electricity zinging up her spine. She rubbed the back of her neck. 

Without another word, he sat up in bed with his legs underneath the covers. “Happy?”

“Yes.” She nodded, “Now drink your tea.”

“I refuse.” 

"You can't!” Her brows drew together as her hands landed on her hips, “What do you mean you refuse?!”

“I mean,” He settled back against the headboard with his hands behind his head, “If you want me to drink it, you'll have to bring the cup to my lips.”

She narrowed her eyes, “Don't think I won't.”

“Ah,” Devilish eyes gleamed back at her, “I'm counting on it.” 

Her voice quivered, “I-I'll check on you soon!” She left the room so fast, he almost didn't see her move. 

He'd pressed too hard. 

Noted. 

Taking the tea in hand, he took a deep drink and smirked.

---Chapter 3---

#sesskag #sesshomaru #kagome #StormieLikeWeather #StepIntoLove #fanfiction

[mrfeenysmustache]

A String of Souls

Chapter 3

Pairing: InuKag

Genre: angst, romance, SORT OF soulmate AU

Summary: Kagome Higurashi lives in a world where everyone has a soulmate, and they don't have to wait long to find them. She is more than happy with the person fate has chosen to stay by her side, but as soon as Happily Ever After can begin, it's ripped away. Fate, it seems, can be a cruel mistress. Or maybe not... Time travel/Soulmate AU/No jewel/InuKag Rated T for language

~~~~~~~~~~

"Who?"

"Wait, what?"

"I'm not-"

"My name is-"

They were speaking at the same time, frantic and completely lost. Kagome put both hands up.

"Alright stop. Hold on."

She looked up at him and took the time to look past the immediate appearance of his face. Gold eyes, not brown. Silver hair, not black. Dog ears?

"You... you aren't Kisho."

"No shit. My name is Inuyasha. And since you definitely ain't Kikyo... then who the hell are you?"

"Kagome..."

They stared at each other in tense silence, suspicion, confusion, curiosity swirling between them. Kagome spoke first.

"Who's Kikyo?"

"No one. Who's Kisho?"

"Everything."

She noticed the ears on his head twitch.

"We have to go."

"What? Why? Where are we going?"

"Away from here. Someone's coming."

Suddenly she was scooped up and nearly flying through the trees. She made herself as small as possible and hid her face in a red clad chest to keep from screaming. Seconds later he set her down, and she let him have it.

"You could warn me next time, jerk!"

"Oh? Did you want to be the next victim of a village mob? Next time I'll just leave you!"

"That's not what I said and you know it!"

She stomped her foot and spun around to walk away when she caught sight of where he'd brought her.

"The Goshinboku. So we're still in Tokyo, then."

"Tokyo? What's Tokyo?"

She turned incredulous eyes on him.

"You don't know Tokyo? Do you live under a rock?!"

"I don't know, I just woke up yesterday."

"Just woke up yesterday?! What does that even mean?!"

"It means I was asleep and then I woke up. What are ya, stupid or something?"

"Ok... how long were you asleep."

His eyes were guarded and filled with distrust. There even seemed to be hurt swirling around in their golden depths. He looked away, concentrating on the branches of the Goshinboku.

"I don't know."

She felt her heart constrict.

"What happened to you?"

His expression wavered. She thought he might actually tell her. Then his eyes sharpened and his ears stood straight up.

He leapt the short distance between them, gathered her up, and jumped straight up into the tree. He sat them on the highest branch he could find that would still support them, his hand covering her mouth to keep her from screaming. He looked her deep in the eyes, hoping to convey to her how serious the situation was.

"Sssshhhhhh."

She nodded, eyes wide and face pale.

He removed his hand, but she clutched tightly to his arm in her fear of falling.

"I ain't gonna let you fall, stupid."

He whispered in her ear and she could feel his breath against the skin of her neck. She tensed and a chill ran down her spine.

"Stop being so stiff or I might not be able to keep you from falling."

She sagged wordlessly against him, wondering how her life had gone so far to hell so fast. She had no idea where she was, or who this guy was she was now clinging to desperately for fear of death.

The bushes nearby began to rustle and a group of men with all manner of farm tools stepped out into the clearing around the Goshinboku.

"Shit."

Kagome turned to look up questioningly.

"I should not have come here."

She cocked a brow wondering what on earth he could mean. This seemed like a great hiding place to her.

"I'm sure I heard voices this way."

"These woods are so creepy."

"What do you think it was?"

"Look! The yokai is gone from the tree! Inuyasha has awoken!"

"We must tell Lady Kaede immediately!"

They ran off, tools clanging and feet kicking up dust.

Inuyasha sagged behind her after a couple minutes, and she took that as her cue to talk.

"So... you were... on the tree?"

"I was sealed there, with an arrow."

"What did you do?"

"I let my guard down."

"Huh?"

"It don't matter."

"I think it does. You've brought me into the middle of all this, I think I deserve an explanation!"

"I didn't 'bring you' into the middle of nothin'! You were cryin' for help in that damn well and I saved your ass! I think I'm the one who deserves an explanation, what the hell were you doing in there?!"

"I... I don't know actually..."

"How do you not know what you're doing in an empty well?"

Kagome took a moment to remember the circumstances leading her to falling down the well in the first place, the complete absence of a floor, suddenly seeing blue skies instead of darkness or dust motes.

"How about I answer a question and then you answer one?"

"Feh!"

"I'm serious! It's obvious we're both dealing with some weird things right now. Maybe we could talk it out and figure it out together?"

She felt him tense again, another puff of his breath as he shushed her once more.

She glanced down and saw an elderly priestess walk through the bushes.

"Ay, I see what ye all mean. Inuyasha has been freed from the seal my sister placed on him. I wonder who was capable of such... hold on..."

He felt a weak spiritual aura poking around at his demonic one. He cursed himself for not hightailing it out of here as soon as those men left.

"Be on your guard men, for he is near, and he is not alone."

"We'll set up a guard at once!"

Once again the clanging of metal farm tools signaled the exit of the men and the priestess. Inuyasha didn't relax this time.

Kagome glanced back behind her. Inuyasha was staring ahead, eyebrows drawn down and eyes almost haunted. She felt her heart constrict again. All evidence so far pointed towards him being a dangerous criminal, worthy of being sealed in sleep to a giant tree, but for some reason she didn't believe she was seeing the real picture.

"We should get out of here."

Whatever spell he was under do to his thoughts was broken. He blinked down at her, and then seemed to notice for the first time that she was essentially sitting in his lap. He blushed a bright, furious red that she found curiously charming, and he gathered her up once again before falling from the tree and landing squarely on his feet. He placed her gently down and then turned his back, stuffing his hands in his voluminous sleeves.

"Um... we can go this way. There's a cave near a waterfall. No one will find us."

"Are we going to walk or are you going to fly me away again?"

He glanced at her and blushed again, his ears laying down on his head. She looked up at them and tilted her head, which made him turn sharply again and begin walking away in the direction he'd indicated.

"We'll walk for now."

"Uh, okay. If that's what you want."

They trekked forward in silence for some time, and Kagome took the opportunity to look around. If she had her bearings right, she knew what this place was supposed to look like if she was back home. But instead of concrete and metal and cars and houses she found trees and trees and trees.

And dirt.

And bugs.

"Can you walk any louder?"

"Huh?" He was glancing over his shoulder at her, a deep scowl on his face. She was bowled over by his likeness to Kisho once again. Kisho had only made such a face a few times in his life, but it was unmistakable.

"Hello?!"

"Oh... I'm sorry. What was that?"

"I said, can you walk any louder? They can probably hear you stompin' through these woods all the way back in the village! You've broken every stick we've walked past!"

"I... I didn't notice..."

"Obviously."

"Look it's not like I planned to go on a hike with a stranger today! Give me a break!"

"Just try to be quiet till we get there, alright?"

"Fine."

She wondered if she'd get any cell phone service out here, and then remembered she'd left her phone on her nightstand near her bed.

Great.

She made it five minutes before the quiet was driving her mad.

"Can you just carry me again and let's get this over with?"

"Oh for the love of-"

Quick as she could blink she was slung over his shoulder and flying across the ground, his feet running so fast she could barely see them. She was only slightly miffed at the way he'd chosen to carry her this time.

They made it there in a much more acceptable time frame, but Kagome worried she'd never get the knots out of her hair.

"Gods, did you have to carry me like that?!"

He smirked, "Did you have to be such an annoying wench?"

"Guess you don't want answers to your questions, then," she shrugged, turning to look around at the little cave he'd brought her too. She considered for a moment that this would be a good place to bring someone if you were going to murder them, but she didn't believe that's what he planned to do.

"Fine. What do you want to know?"

"First... what are you?"

His eyes went wide and vulnerable for the briefest of moments before they became guarded and distrustful again. Kagome wondered if she hadn't started off with the wrong question, but she had to get to the bottom of all of this.

She had to know everything. Starting with her suspicions that she wasn't quite in Tokyo anymore.

#inukag fanfic #inuyasha fic #inuyasha fanfiction #inukag #inuyasha #kagome #inukag fanfiction #soulmate au #sort of

[shinidamachu]

Holding On And Letting Go - Chapter II

Summary: Chapter I |  Chapter II |  Chapter III |  Chapter IV

Word Count: 1049  Genre: angst  Fandom: InuYasha  Pairing: Inukag  Format: multichapter  AO3 Link: 🌹  Fanfic.Net Link: 🌹

“‘S strange.” He said, late in the night — another one without her. They piled up around him. Vicious. Uncaring. It took him right back to his lonely childhood nights, wandering helpless, grieving an irreparable loss and avoiding the monsters in the dark.

Except the monsters were now a ghost who he ran to every three days, begging to be haunted.

The nights then felt as long as the nights now and yet, it was his favorite time to attend the well, knowing the low odd of getting disturbed or caught saying something embarrassing, since the villagers were fast asleep.

“You taught me how to feel again.” He continued, remembering how naturally Kagome teared his guard apart, a guard he had build out of past sorrows and rebuild — even stronger — out of mistrust, made to be impenetrable. “And I did. Mostly for you.” He shrugged. “Now that you ain’t here. What am I supposed to do with it?”

InuYasha waited for the miraculous answer he knew not to come. Not that he believed in miracles or any of the sort — not for someone with the likes of him, anyway —, but because he was truly lost.

All the love he held belonged to Kagome and to Kagome only. It was killing him that he couldn’t just give it to her.

“Sometimes I still boil an extra cup of ramen. And yes,” Kagome answered the comment, made by absolutely nobody, that she knew for sure InuYasha would if he was there. “I know it’s stupid. Old habits die hard, I guess.”

The more time passed by, the less she wanted to think about it. Days, weeks, months. None of it made sense anymore. She sighed and looked outside the wellhouse, a summer breeze agitating the Goshinboku leaves under the sunlight.

“I also keep waiting for you to burst out here and take me away at any moment, complaining I was taking too long, like you always did.”

The fact that he hadn’t, after all this time, was a clear indication that their situation was final, because if he could, Kagome was certain InuYasha would have come for her long ago.

“I wish you would.” She said, ignoring the lifeless well and the truth she couldn’t face just yet.

“You really got me spoiled, I hope you know.”

It was true. Hunting was not nearly as appealing as before and whatever food the humans cooked wasn’t quite as tasteful as hers.

Besides, since Naraku was defeated, InuYasha oddly found himself wanting to settled down in one place, for a change.

The slayer and the monk had already married and started their family there. Shippo spent all of his free time in the village too. Perhaps InuYasha could do the same. It was about time he stopped bother his friends on every cold or moonless night.

“I don’t think they’ll mind if I build myself a hut.” Far enough so that he could keep some peace and quiet, close enough so that he could be there in a heartbeat if trouble comes to them. With space to spare, for the runt to crash if he so wants. InuYasha smiled. Kagome would like that. “Nearby water. I remember how obsessed you are with those baths of yours.”

He blushed at the phrased implication, but never took it back. Simply because he meant it. Of course he did. Kagome has been a part of his future long before he came to realize it and ages before he cared to admit it. InuYasha would be damned if he stopped idealizing how their life together would be like now.

Even if she looked lost for him forever, how was he supposed to believe that when everything was a constant reminder of her?

Every time he stumbled on one of their uninformed old friends they asked about her, not used to seeing one without the other. Every time he wield Tessaiga in battle, he thought about the brave girl who managed to pull it out of his old man’s grave when no one else could. And every time he rested next to the Goshinboku, he played back the day they met in his head.

That was why he kept long exorcism trips with Miroku to a minimum, why he could never leave this place even if the whole village suddenly demanded him to, why he was always praying, dreaming, hoping...

Just in case she comes back.

“Keh, even if they did care, I’d like to see ‘em try and do something about it. ‘Cause I ain’t going anywhere.” InuYasha informed. “Not without you.”

“It’s true what they say, you know?” Kagome rested her cheek on the edge of the Honekui no Ido as the fatigue of a long day finally caught up to her. “You do learn to live with it eventually. What they don’t tell is that you don’t forget. Not ever. You’re on my mind when I less expect, even when you shouldn’t, even when I idly let myself believe I’m moving on… I miss you so much”

The bottom line, however, was that she didn’t want to move on. It could make things easier and maybe her friends would stop pointing out how often she seems to forget to smile lately.

Still, Kagome cultivated his memory pinned deep inside her brain, because the only thing stronger than the need to move on was the fear to forget.

And she was terrified.

In countless occasions she had wished to be an artist, only to immortalize his features when the cruelty of time fatally made it all fade away. The strong jawline, the cute ears, the impossible golden tone of his eyes.

But remembering hurt and Kagome knew InuYasha felt the same way — which made it all worse because she wanted him to be happy. With or without her, his happiness has always been the priority she held highest on the top of her list.

At the same time, the selfish part of her, the one she tried so hard to keep sealed and hidden, was reluctant to let go of whatever little room it had claimed in his heart.

“Don’t forget about me, okay?” She said, eyes closing under the low moonlight that entered through the open door.

Sometimes that selfish part wins.

A/N: thank you so much for reading!

#Holding On And Letting Go - Chapter II #Inukag #InuYasha #Kagome Higurashi #Inukag Fanfiction #Inukag Angst #Sid Writes

[inuyashaographer]

Manga vs. Anime - Inuyasha Edition #07 - The Noh Mask

This edition covers Episode #11: “Terror of the Ancient Noh Mask” of the anime, and Chapter #23: “Mask of Flesh”. Chapter #24″ “The Broken Body”. Chapter #25: “Face Off”, Chapter #26: “I’ll Help You, But…”, Chapter #27: “Half a Demon… is Worse than One” of the manga.

<><><><><>Summary <><><><><>

Kagome and Inuyasha have returned Kaede’s village though it’s only for a moment as the villagers tell Kaede that the moment they arrived they were already making their way toward to Well.

Inuyasha is giving chase as Kagome tries to peddle as fast as she can to reach the Well. She is stopped by Inuyasha who jumps in front of it. Trying to explain to him that she has exams tomorrow, as he picks up a boulder intent on smashing the Well to ensure that she couldn’t go to her time ever again. Leading to a barrage of “SIT!” commands that keep him down long enough for Kagome to reach the Well, telling him that she’ll return in three days.

CHANGED: The anime goes for a bit of comedy by having the very boulder he attempts to use to destroy the Wall, fall right down onto his back as he hits the ground.

On the other side of the Well, Grandpa Higurashi is trying a prayer to make Kagome come back to their time, though it apparently hasn’t worked, him, according to Sota, having tried to spell for a span of three days. Kagome arrives just as Grandpa Higurashi throws saki down into the Well, splashing her with it.

CHANGE: More comedy is added into the anime by adding dialogue in between Sota and Grandpa Higurashi (also more Kagome once more explaining about the Well and the events of what has happened thus far… despite the fact that this could have been covered before the title. Meh.)

Meanwhile a woman is seen taking a taxi to the Higurashi Shrine, she talks with the driver about the mask that her family has passed down. Arriving at the Shrine she stops at the bottom of the stairs as sounds can be heard from inside of the box. Kagome, who has had her uniform cleaned and Sota make their way down the steps, noticing the woman at the bottom of the steps. The glasses that the woman had worn lay down at the floor broken, with the box the woman was holding. The woman raises her face, this one very much different than before. Kagome and Sota get a chill from the face of the woman. Sota can’t help but say she looks creepy, however Kagome quickly reminds him not to be rude, though she can’t help but look at the woman and notice how similar her face is to that of a Noh mask. The woman turns around and walks off, with Kagome left to wonder, though she thinks that it couldn’t be her real face, she is still shaken up by the situation.

CHANGED: The events from above are condensed down to the Mask being sealed away in a box in Grandpa Higurashi’s storehouse.

At school she meets with her friends, who are surprised to see her at school, after her Grandfather had made excuses as to why she has been missing school. Hojo arrives moments later, handing her a present for one of her ailments before running off leaving Kagome to watch him leave in confusion. Immediately, her friends are around her, asking her if she is dating Hojo, to which she denies, telling them that she doesn’t have time for that. They continue to ask questions even during break, wondering if she was interested in Hojo, or if she had a boyfriend already. When Kagome denies both, they ask her what kind of guy she would be interested in, and beings to describe a guy who is the complete opposite of Inuyasha, who is currently back in the other time waiting for her return, back still hurting from the barrage of “SIT” commands.

Kagome realizes just how much this double life situation is affecting her, as she ponders about how long it will take them to collect all of the shards, before quickly remembering that she has to study for a test tomorrow. Later that night, Kagome has fallen asleep at her desk, with the Noh mask floating outside of her window, taking note of the shards in the bottle by Kagome’s desk. It’s shown that the mask isn’t floating however, but is attached to the body of the woman, who is standing in the middle of the street. A couple in a car driving toward the body that the Noh mask has taken over. Unable to stop, the car connects with the Noh mask, sending it’s body to the ground. The Noh mask pulls it’s face back to the body and stands up, much to the confusion of the couple in the car.

Kagome, hearing the commotion wakes up and looks out the window but cannot see anything from her window, she turns her attention to the clock, realizing that it’s 2 in the morning and that she hasn’t studied anything all night.

Inuyasha on the other side is up in tree at this point, with Myoga who can’t help but notice that something about Inuyasha is very different, he’s not nearly as energetic as he usually is. Inuyasha tells him to shut up, noting to himself that Kagome is late, and that with no one around to tease, there isn’t much of a point in doing anything.

CHANGED: This is all changed to a fire taking place at the storehouse, The Noh Mask would actually manage to take over the body of one of the fire-fighters that arrives on the scene, it would then tear off in one of the firetrucks in search for a body. As far as changes go, I actually didn’t mind this one honestly, the scene of Sota and Kagome on the stairs as we hear the sounds of reports is actually really effective. A good moment in a otherwise messy episode.

The next day, Kagome is finally happy to be free from tests as Hojo once more appears, handing something else as he asks her if she wants to go out to the movies. Her friends pull her over asking her what she is going to do, questioning if Kagome has even been on a date, which she hasn’t. Kagome doesn’t quite answer, saying that she only guesses that it would be okay, before Hojo takes this as a yes and rides off on his bike, leaving behind a confused Kagome.

Kagome remembers that she has to go back to the past after this so she wouldn’t be able to make it even if she wanted to, before he teacher calls her over. Her teacher informs her that she’ll have to take a make-up test this Saturday, which just happens to be the day that Hojo also picked.

Kagome walks home, visibly stressed out and tired before stopping, she feels a chill in the air, sensing a demon she turns around only to see Inuyasha leaping through the air, who grabs onto her backpack and carries her around through the air. Kagome is happy to see Inuyasha, having wanted to see him. Inuyasha is shown to be visibly confused about this, but quickly tries to cover this up by telling her that he didn’t want to see her, going against his line of thinking from the previous evening.

At the Well, Inuyasha is angered to find out that she needs 3 more days so that she can take the make-up exam. She tries to explain to him that she cannot study in the past, and that she cannot fail at this test. She tries to ask him again but he flat-out denies. Having become frustrated with the situation, she becomes sick of him putting the jewel over everything, including her, a visibly shocked Inuyasha, notices the tears in her eyes as Kagome pushes him into the Well, taking control of the situation herself.

Later that night a group of boys are attacking an older man, stealing his money as the Noh mask makes it’s way up to the group. Noting that the body that it currently carries is broken, it attacks one of the boys, opening it’s face like a set of jaws and rips one of the boys heads off, speaking of it’s need for a stronger body and evil souls in order to take the shards, it proceeds to kill the rest of the boys.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha is once more back in a tree, intent on not going back for Kagome.

The next day at school, Kagome overhears rumors about a murder investigation going on in the park, the body of victims were never found, only a few bits of clothing and blood remained. She listens on hearing about the old mans version of the events, as well as about the body of a woman who was missing a head.

Kagome arrives at the park after school, noticing the people around the scene working to collect evidence, she cannot help but think that this has something to do with a demon, thinking that it would be something that she should mention to Inuyasha, she quickly changes her mind, remembering that she has a test to study for.

At home she prepares to study, however she notices that her textbook is missing. It turns out that Inuyasha has grabbed it and is currently reading through it, though it’s far too confusing for him to understand. Myoga questions him on this, asking him what if she needs the book. Though Inuyasha again says he could care less.

On Friday, Kagome learns that her Grandfather is in the hospital with food poisoning, and that her mother will be staying with him on that evening.

CHANGED: Naturally due to the changes in the anime, Grandpa Higurashi is instead in the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Kagome tries to study as Sota tries to convince her if he can stay with her for the evening because he’s scared about the rumors that he’s heard about the attack in the park, before reminding her of the woman that she had met the other day.

CHANGED: This change bugs me because a whole section of this arc was largely about Kagome struggling with her schoolwork as she moves back and forth between her time and the past. What says that better than her failing an original test and having to take up a make-up exam? It has way more impact than her simply having trouble studying for a test that she has to take the next day.

Making Kagome realize the connection, she stands realizing that the woman that she had met wasn’t human before the Noh mask comes crashing through her window, it by this point a lump of flesh made up of multiple bodies. Kagome realizes that it’s after the shards, it tries to attack her with it’s open ‘jaw’ only for Kagome to protect herself with her desk chair, causing it’s jaw to clamp around the back of the chair.

Having distracted it, she quickly grabs onto the shards and then runs over to Sota, grabbing him as well and running out of the room with him. Once outside, she tries to get Sota to pull himself together as he’s dragging his feet, his attention turns to the blood dripping down from her hand. Kagome assures him it’s just a cut as the Noh mask gains on them. It attacks them, knocking her down to the ground.

CHANGED: Because the events with the woman never take place, the attack on the house just happens without any connection made. The action in this scene is also changed around. The Noh Mask in the anime uses the firetruck to get into the house, it never attacks Kagome and Kagome is able to leap forward and grab the jewel before running out.

Knowing it was after the shards, she tells Sota to go to the Well and call Inuyasha, knowing he’ll be safer as far away from her as possible, telling him to let Inuyasha know there is a shard. Sota runs to the Well and desperately tries to call out to Inuyasha and get him to come over as Kagome continues to run from the Noh mask, he calls out as loudly as he can until Inuyasha appears in the Well.

Inuyasha and Sota run through the city, as Sota questions about Inuyasha coming through the Well, with him responding that his nose was able to pick up on the smell of Kagome’s blood on Sota’s hand. Sota seems surprised on how Inuyasha is acting, compared to what he has previously heard about Inuyasha from his sister (it’s notable since Inuyasha is acting very different than he usually does in this situation).

Kagome, whose still running, comes across a construction site and stops by a staircase. She turns and notices how slow the Noh Mask is moving, it’s large mass making it hard for the Noh Mask to move, allowing Kagome to quickly come up with the idea of moving up the stairs to run away from it. This plan turns out to be a success as the Noh mask is unable to follow her up the stairs. However it stretches it’s face to the side of one of the planks, snapping it’s jaws around it and pulls it’s body up. It lunges at Kagome only to be punched aside by Inuyasha, who arrives with Sota. Kagome assures Sota that everything will be fine now, however Inuyasha say before he does anything, he wants an apology from Kagome for pushing him down into the Well. Kagome is confused by this, showing yet another case of how much her studying is affecting her, has to be reminded about what happened the other day. Kagome asks him if the situation hurt his feelings, however Inuyasha is quick to deny this fact. She apologizes to him as Sota can’t help but notice how simple minded Inuyasha is.

CHANGED: Since the events at the Well with Kagome getting mad at him and pushing him down into the Well never happened, the anime substituted the original events by the Well involving the “SIT” command. The anime also added in a brief fight between the two of them, that never happened in the manga, with Inuyasha threatening to go leave and Kagome yelling at him because of the shard.

The Noh Mask at this moment is pulling itself up, it’s body now split apart from Inuyasha’s attack. Kagome tells Inuyasha about the situation, stating that the Noh Mask is the actual target and that there is a shard on it’s head. It explains about it’s own existence and it’s intention to create a perfect body by using the jewel to do so. Inuyasha clearly doesn’t like the idea of that and attacks cutting through the Noh Mask’s body easily, though the fight isn’t done and soon enough it goes for another attack, this one Inuyasha tries to counter, only for it’s jaws to clamp around him arm.

CHANGED: This one is odd. The anime skips over the first attack and goes right to him taking a swing at the Noh Mask, problem? The Noh Mask claims he fell right into it’s trap, but what trap is it talking about when the original attack never happened and Inuyasha just took a swing at it?

Inuyasha watches as the Noh Mask attempts to absorb him, lifting the entire body with his trapped arm, he jumps off the side of the construction area swinging it down against the top of a crane to release his arm, cutting the Noh Mask down again. Half of the mask attempts to run away, only to be caught and crushed in Inuyasha’s fingers as the other half races up to and tries to take Kagome’s body. Kagome fights it off as best as she can, holding it back before Inuyasha calls up to her to let the Mask go as he races forward. Kagome is confused but trusts him, removing her hand right as he pulled his sword, swinging down and cutting the Mask right in front of Kagome’s face.

After the fight Inuyasha walks up to her, asking her if she’s alright. She tells him that she is, before thanking him. Sheathing his sword, he seems glad that’s the case, much to Kagome’s confusion, since he’s actually being nice to her, before realizing that her exam was on that day. She tells Inuyasha to go back and wait for her as she races off to school. Arriving at school, she takes the test, running on no sleep.

CHANGED: In the anime Inuyasha’s entire body gets trapped inside of of the Noh Masks flesh, as the Noh Mask itself removes itself and attacks Kagome who is able to stop it. Kagome then tosses the bottle over to Sota who runs off with it, trips and then is nearly killed before Inuyasha is able to break free from the the flesh and is able to kill the Noh Mask just before it can do anything to Sota. Wait… WHAT?

After finishing her exam she runs out of the school, making her way to towards the past, thinking back to the events earlier that morning. She runs past her friends, who wish her luck on her date. Kagome doesn’t realize this though, thinking they’re talking about Inuyasha, much to her friends confusion. Kagome tells them that they were thrown together by a twist of fate before running off, as Kagome’s friends wonder if Kagome remembers about her date with Hojo… Who is waiting for her at the movie theater.

Kagome packs up her bag, it being much bigger than it usually is and is making her way to the Well… Or tries to before she falls backward onto her back. She turns around noticing that Inuyasha is sitting down on her backpack. Without a word he takes her backpack and lifts it up, walking off with it much to Kagome’s confusion. Sota comments on how nice Inuyasha is being as Kagome realizes that Inuyasha had waited for her. As Hojo continues to stand outside of the movie theater.

CHANGED: Nothing after the fight is ever told, the anime just has Kagome running to school.

<><><><><> Characterization <><><><><>

Truth be told, a LOT of his characterization in here does deal with his relationship and interaction with Kagome since a large amount of the all of this deals with interaction and dialogue with Kagome as well as the ending fight The Noh Mask.

We'll be seeing an Inuyasha, who at the start of this attempts to destroy the Well to prevent Kagome from returning to her time, or ever seeing her family, to one that comes to tolerate he need to come back to her time and even wait for her to return from her make-up test in the end, before picking up her backpack and walking to the Well with her.

There isn't a whole lot different from him in the anime compared to the manga outside of him complaining about the command being used on him when he attempts to destroy the Well, since the scene in the Well house wasn't in the anime.

<><><><><> Relationship with Kagome <><><><><>

These events come before The Thunder Brothers in the manga, but takes place after The Thunder Brothers in the anime, so anime viewers might be really confused about Inuyasha’s personality shifting around. I’m not factoring that too heavily into this because I can understand the need to push back The Noh Mask, for censorship reasons (likewise I can’t say anything bad about them doing the same with The Fateful Night at Togenkyo), it’s an understandable situation that messes around with the characterization just a little bit.

Most of this comes down to dialogue between the two of them, since their largely standoffish throughout all of this. However what we hear from Inuyasha is actually very revealing.

Inuyasha: 'Get back here, Kagome without you to pick on... what's the point of getting up?'

This line just has so much to it, I will try to cover it all.

Being Around Her: A few illusions can be connected to there exchange after the fight with Royokan. After believing that Kagome would be safer in her own time, and believing that he could manage to fight how he wanted and his own way (something he found a lot of trouble doing), he comes across a Kagome prepared to head back to her own time, before Inuyasha prepared and worriedly asks if she's planning to leave, before he admits that he was wrong and does need and want her around.

He's not quite to that point yet, but even he cannot help but admit he likes having her around him, he likes it largely because he enjoys messing with her at the moment though, which brings us to the next point...

Messing with Her: This line more or less confirms that Inuyasha... sometimes just starts something because he wants to. He knows that saying or doing something will end up in an argument with her. I think that's for two reasons: This becomes more prominent as things go along, but Inuyasha tends to like when Kagome's focus is on him. In danger, injured, mad, sad, Kagome tends to have a way to improve his mood. The second is just Inuyasha's combative nature, he likes someone that can exchange with him because it keeps things entertaining, this one is particularly strong in the beginning before the former pretty much eclipses it.

Motivation: It's not a secret that Kagome brings that best out of Inuyasha when she's around (even if he's prone to picking fights with her early on). Another illusion to Royokan his motivation. Where with Royokan he couldn't really focus, fight or even move as quickly as he usually does (albeit while injured), the moment when he notices Kagome is back he suddenly knockouts Royokan just so he can run off and see her. This is kind of a common thing around, over the course of the series a large reason why he goes to get her is largely because he wants to see her (and even often tries to hide that fact), but when she's not around he has a habit of sulking, lazing about and not wanting to do anything until she comes back.

This line more or less sets up the basis for his interaction with Kagome going forward, Kagome brings a feeling of fun, a feeling of acceptance, happiness, calmness and motivation, he's at his best when she's around, but he's definitely not as happy when she's away. Takahashi is careful, she never makes it seem like a dependency, he can function on his own and still do things that he wants to do (in fairness much of the Royokan fight can be excused because Inuyasha is still heavily injured, but likewise much can be said about how he basically knocked Royokan out quickly when he realizes that Kagome is back, he just does them better when she's around, and the things he does feel when Kagome is around are something he naturally gravitates to.

Kagome: "I want to see you!" Inuyasha: "You... you did?"

This dialogue would also make an appearance later after the battle with Royokan, naturally it's a bit different because Kagome and Inuyasha a lot closer then than they are now.

Inuyasha's reaction is the most telling. Later when Kagome says that she wanted to see him, he repeats her words, confused, almost dumbfounded at the very idea that she or anyone would want to see him or go out of their way to see him. Here it's very similar, he seems surprised by her words, before he looks at her shiftily looks at her. To be fair, the scenes are follow up to two different situations, this one was after they had a fight with one another over her coming back to her time (and him coming to get her and her wanting to see him at that time contributed to it), the latter happened after an extended period of time away from each other, after Inuyasha attempted to push her away to keep her safe. So naturally he'd be a little skeptic here because of how they left things previously, still some of that skepticism comes from disbelief, he really can't believe that she wants to see him, and at first is surprised like he is later, it's the follow up after the surprise that changes due to the development of their relationship.

Inuyasha: ‘She's crying... I didn't mean to... to make her...’

Inuyasha can be a jerk, but even he realizes when he goes a bit too far. The problem is, he realizes that at the worst times, and sometimes doesn't totally get what he did wrong in the situation.

Now granted, Inuyasha is in the wrong in this situation. He goes well past extremes in the beginning in order to force her to stay. Then when he comes to get her and wants her to come back with him, she tells him that she needs more time to deal with school. He'll however hear none of that, he wants her to come back to get the jewel.

It's the jewel that becomes the biggest problem, resulting in a pissed off Kagome yelling at him because all he cares about is the jewel. A teary eyed and angry Kagome turns away as Inuyasha realizes that she's crying and then... actually seems like he's going to try and talk to her, prepared to tell her it's okay that she can stay... but it's too late, Kagome is already pissed, Kagome has already said what she wanted to say and he's immediately pushed down into the well.

This scene gives us a glimpse of the Inuyasha we'll see later, but also the Inuyasha that we'll at the end of this grabbing her backpack for her and walking towards the well after waiting for her. For a moment he realizes that this is something important that she feels she needs to do, and while he doesn't get why, he's able to understand that this is something important to her. It's a subtle little moment, and it is greatly eclipsed by Kagome's response, but that is kind of the idea, the focus should be on Kagome yelling at him for his selfish behavior when it comes to the jewel (and especially her life in the future), but though it's a brief moment it's a great indicator that Inuyasha really isn't that bad of a guy, while also setting up for the ending to this.

Likewise, credit should be given to Inuyasha for a few small things here, he does actually wait for her after she leaves, and even does come back to meet her when he "time is up" showing some progress compared to where he started, and though he isn't willing to accept the idea of her needing more time, his understand of what she feels she has to do in her own time, gives a more easy-going approach to Kagome needing to manage her time in the future. It all came down to respect, Inuyasha learned to respect Kagome's responsibility in her own time, and learned a bit more that not everything is or should be about the jewel (we'll focus on that more in this next chapters).

Sota gets to see both the good side (the one racing off to keep Kagome safe), and the petty one that wants an apology (for something that was his fault in the first place, TWICE!), and is a bit disappointed at seeing that side of Inuyasha (effectively proving some of the things Kagome described about him), but still seeing the best aspect of him as well. Likewise, Kagome is able to see those more positive aspect of Inuyasha as a person after seeing a lot of the more negative ones that she often describes him. The ending is especially great, because both Kagome and Inuyasha walk way with a better understanding of each other, and even bit of respect from both sides from one another, developing both of the characters as they prepare to make their way back to the Well. The image of Inuyasha lifting up Kagome's backpack and carrying it with him (after Kagome struggles to life it, as well as after her comically sits down on the thing making it impossible for her to lift it), is actually a really nice scene that shows that even Inuyasha can be a gentleman when he wants to be.

<><><><><> Mastery of the Tessaiga <><><><><>

I know that some of this should probably be filed under 'Relationship with Kagome' but honestly, I feel it suffices more here, truth be told much of his mastery of the Tessaiga comes from his interaction with Kagome and this really isn't very different.

Trust is the prevailing theme for the end of the fight. He asks for Kagome to trust him, to move her hand from The Noh Mask which is just inches from attempting to take her over. That's no small thing coming from someone like Inuyasha who himself has issues with trusting people. Kagome does just that, right as Inuyasha swings his sword, cutting through the mask mere moments before it manages to take her over.

The cut is so precise, that it seems unlikely he'd be able to make it at this point in time. While I have no doubt that his senses, and the fact that it was Kagome who was in danger, explaining for a portion of how he managed to make the cut, I think there is more to it than that. Throughout the series he's definitely shown to be very precise and deadly when Kagome is in danger, but that's especially so when he's holding onto Tessaiga. Based on what we learn about the Tessaiga later in series (or even what we know now), we know the sword functions on a desire to protect, the sword cannot be used unless the person holding it has a desire to protect, and as the series progresses, the sword goes from (though it's already tiled away from the former), "a sword to collect jewel shards and beat demons" to a sword to "protect Kagome". Naturally in a situation where Kagome is in danger, the sword is a lot more deadly and precise like Inuyasha himself is and that is no more apparent than it is here.

In this situation, Kagome has to trust Inuyasha, while Inuyasha has to trust himself and his sword to make the cut, like any swordsman would in the situation, and though at this point he's yet to even fully understand the Tessaiga itself, he's able to get around that face simply with a desire to protect and save Kagome. Much like his development as a swordsman would develop due to his interaction with Kagome herself.

<><><><><> Interaction with other Characters <><><><><>

Sota: There isn't a whole lot of interaction between the two, it's mostly Sota watching as Inuyasha rushes off to save Kagome. He gets a good look at the more heroic side of Inuyasha that has come out around his time with Kagome, before he sees the more childish sides of his personality (the opposite of what Kagome was dealing with), leading to Inuyasha, in Sota's eyes becoming a hero to look up to, before it would settle into more of an older brother/younger brother dynamic.

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