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sailorstarr-chan4 · 3 years

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100th Episode Milestone: Inuyasha Cast and Ships Impressions, Updated!

Around this last New Year, and roughly around episode 38, I complied my fiancé's impressions of the series' cast... and now that 100 episodes are finally under his belt, I wanted an update! I'm sticking with the main/supporting cast, and canon couples for this list. Here's the original, which covers pretty much the entire recurring cast at the time.

FYI: Don't shoot the messenger! These are the impressions of someone watching the show for the first time, having NO context of the manga outside a few scenes I've shown him, and we're not done with the series yet! There's most likely going to be controversial opinions on here, so don't start a war in the comments, please! ^^"

~~~

Characters:

Inuyasha: "He's gotten a bit better. He's finally starting to back up all his trash talking. He's still a bit of a brash idiot, but I feel like he's gotten a bit better at being more honest. I'll say this much about him: it's very clear that the Inuyasha at this point of the series is NOT the same Inuyasha in the beginning that would have used the Shikon Jewel to become a full demon."

Kagome: "She's still kinda badass, and clearly very smart and compassionate, but the biggest issue has everything to do with the sit commands. She kinda abuses it, and I really don't like that. It doesn't exactly give her a lot of points."

Miroku: "He's just a lot of fun. His perviness is still funny. They kinda toned it down, but his dynamic with Sango is still quite enjoyable. Also, he's badass with the Wind Tunnel and his staff."

Sango: "They're giving her a lot more to do, and a lot more fight scenes. I wanna see how they finish up her arc with Kohaku. She's a really great character."

Shippo: "They actually gave him a couple decent episodes, where he's kinda cute and sweet, and I don't mind him as much as before."

Kirara: "Kirara is Best Cat. End of story."

Koga: "He still comes across as the better version of Inuyasha. Not in terms of fighting prowess, they're clearly evenly matched - especially when you take into account the Jewel shards in his legs - but he is much more honest and open about his love and feelings for Kagome, which Inuyasha really lacks."

Ginta and Hakkaku: "Tweedle Dunce and Tweedle Cap."

Kikyo: "She's an interesting character. I always enjoy her when she shows up. I particularly enjoyed her character in the cave episode, where she's blown away by Kagome's strength. I like to think she developed a newfound respect for Kagome after that point."

Sesshomaru: "I kinda like his dynamic with Rin. He's surprisingly caring for her. He clearly cares for her, and looks after her, but also gives her independence. He's evolving into a more caring person who doesn't just kill just because he can. Just as badass and strong, just more tempered."

Rin: "She's cute and surprisingly brave. That episode where she climbed the mountain to fetch flowers to heal Jaken of the poison was really cool. She did all that despite how Jaken tended to treat her like trash up until that point."

Jaken: "He's still annoying and kinda dumb, but I kinda like how after Rin saved him, he softened towards her. That adds a level of honor to his character."

Mama Higurashi: "She's a very understanding and very helpful mother, by allowing Kagome to do what she needs to do, without demanding a curfew or anything. She gives me a vibe of a woman who doesn't care what her daughter does, just as long as she's safe and healthy. Kagome could be a member of the yakuza, and her mom wouldn't care as long as she's taking care of herself."

Grampa Higurashi: "Still a giant idiot."

Souta Higurashi: "He's had a few more episodes, so he's enforced my preferred idea of a younger brother. He doesn't annoy her or belittle; he's just a nice kid."

Kagome's trio of friends: "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, and Tweedle Romantic."

Hojo: "As bland as butter on rice cakes, served on a paper plate at a boring school social."

Naraku: "He should be dead. The fact that they continue to drag out his big Boss Battle as long as they do and the fact that he won't be defeated for another couple seasons is just.... way too long. He's a villain version of Mary-Sue: he keeps pulling out new powers and new abilities, and he's 'stronger than you' and he's 'faster than you' and he can't be killed for this reason or that, to the point where it's genuinely annoying. They should have defeated him when Inuyasha broke the barrier -- as well as the end of the show. The fact that there's THREE MORE SEASONS of him is just disgusting."

Kagura: "I like how she hates Naraku, and basically wants him to be destroyed, even though it could mean her own death. It's an interesting direction to take the character, and I wanna see where it goes."

Kanna: "Surprisingly more bland than Hojo."

Kohaku: "Considering that I know that he survives all this, I'm really curious to know how, especially since they keep emphasizing that the removal of his shard will kill him."

~~~

(Below cut are his thoughts on the main three canon ships)

Relationships:

InuKag: "The biggest problem with them is that neither one of them is honest with the other. Inuyasha is dedicated to being brash and has no communication skills, and Kagome rarely uses the sit command other than abusing it. It tells me that the two are at loggerheads, and they're both obviously not ready for a committed relationship yet. Even though they both clearly care for each other, they're just... they're too hot-headed and too... kinda closed off. They both need to get over themselves and be honest with each other. They had some sweet moments and some moments where they become very, very close to being honest with each other, but always shy away."

MirSan: "I think Sango needs to loosen up. Just a little bit. Miroku's obviously not shy about his feelings. I think if Sango came forward with her feelings, Miroku would be more honest with his. He just doesn't know if her feelings are reciprocated, and he doesn't want to disrupt the flow of the group by offering her something that she doesn't want. It's one thing to ask a random woman to sleep with you or bear your child; you can leave the next morning. But he can't do that to Sango, she's part of the group; and he cares too much about her and the group to just barrel forward. He's waiting for her to give the go-ahead."

InuKik: "I think [the anime's] moving farther and farther away from it. They have a tragic romance, and clearly something's still there, but I think Inuyasha is moving towards a place where he's ready to let go of the past. For them, everything's recent. For Kaede, it's been 50 years; for them, it's been several months. Not even enough time to get over each other fully."

(FYI: I'm not including KogAya, because at this point, we only saw them interact once, nor SessRin because whether or not you consider Yashahime "canon," the fact of the matter is that it's the SEQUEL series, therefore doesn't count here)

#my post #Inuyasha #InuGang #InuKag #MirSan #InuKik #Koga #Kikyo #Sesshomaru #Rin #Naraku #Unpopular Opinions #watching Inuyasha with my love #funny

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chronivore · 3 years

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Scot McIntosh https://explore-kumamoto.com/hakkaku-tunnel/

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buddhasfanficdictatorship · 5 years

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Fanfic Progress Update: Light at the End of the Tunnel and Going Forward (Part 2 of 2)

Part 1: Here

Sorry this took awhile get out, my lying ass said “a few days” last time, but a month is about the same amount of time... right? I’ve been busy trying to finish up a fic I wrote for a very helpful friend as a Christmas gift, which obviously isn’t late as crap now. Besides that, some unavoidable stuff came up (including having my phone containing writing notes totally crap out on me, internet issues, oh and almost becoming homeless because my landlord jacked up rent a bunch without notice, forcing me to try to sell my plasma and to scramble for money. That was fun. But that’s a whole other story).

I hope you’ll understand that real life troubles have to take priority. I know, it’s always excuses with me, sorry. I wish I could control my life and not have all this shit constantly come up too.

Okay, now that my customary pathetic excuses are out of the way let’s get down to business! First up? Fic progress updates! But PREPARE FOR AN ONSLAUGHT OF WORDS! (as if that’s anything new).

The Bonds That Never Break: The last piece of the “Birthday” chapters (which were originally supposed to be one but got split because all these issues) has had some progress (maybe 1/4 of the way) and won’t be a difficult undertaking finishing it up since I know what I want to do, but... Honestly I've hit a major roadblock with the fic beyond this point. My ideas for original stuff are coming up empty and simply rewriting the entire plot isn’t my plan (even now I think the ratio is too far skewed for canon content without enough additions of my own).

The problem as I said in my Author’s Notes of the most recent chapter is the format keeps me tied to the canon, which limits my options. I love the idea, but I can’t deny doing a faithful canon rewrite is a pain sometimes. And in the coming chapters my new ideas are pretty much nil beyond a few scattered chunks from the Konoha Crush arc to about halfway through Shippuden.

Side Note: I planned on skipping canon rewriting most of Shippuden. The fights with Akatsuki and such don’t really play into Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship and I’m not interested in doing that much extra legwork beyond the main focus of this fic. I only care about the dorks and their story and elements of the anime that deal with it. So beyond that, we’ll jump a bunch of that and go directly to the end, a new ending where they get together eventually, where everything will be new.

So me being stuck being the case, I MAY skip forward a ways to something more solidly planned and thought out, and come back later to fill in the gap. Maybe to the point after the ending where everything is my own creation so we can see the dorks repairing their relationship and just making out like they SHOULD have done from the start. We’ll see what happens. I’d be very interested in hearing reader’s opinions, maybe I’ll set up a poll to see what you you think.

I REALLY think I need to put this on hold for a while and watch the anime start to finish, to help inspire me and bring back my passion. I love these guys but over the last year and a half my interest has faded. I need to get back into the ship and reignite those feelings I first had when I started the show so I can channel that into better chapters.

The Horny Canine Boys of the Hidden Leaf Village: Having trouble with this one too. To put it in semi-simple terms, I know what I want in chapter A and chapter C, but connecting them together with chapter B is causing me issues. Haven’t started the next chapter yet (technically the conclusion to the most recent one, since I broke that up because I wasn’t finished and had gone so long without updates) but I do know what it will involve and have plenty of notes so it shouldn’t take TOO long. That being said, from there I’m not sure what to do. I might skip forward and do chapters later on in the story first since I have a clearer idea of what I want them to be. This fic is mostly porn without plot so it’s not like skipping around would matter that much, but it’s still pretty frustrating. Probably going to make a poll for this one too, to get reader’s opinions regarding to skip or not.

Dogs Keep it in the Family: Some progress on finishing up the update I cut short, mainly need to assemble all the parts and ideas together into a cohesive whole. So not too much work. The problem with this one is mainly issues of quality I have with it, content not meeting my expectations. I have plenty of notes and a few more chapters plotted out, it’s mainly just finding the occasions where I can get some good writing done. That aside there’s also a lot of questions beyond the first couple chapters of what I want to include that I’m not sure about. I need to think more about this one.

The Unorthodox Journey of a Pokemon Breeder Boy: The next chapter of the Charizard segment is roughly half way done. But I pushed this out way too soon mainly because I was so sick of it being constantly on my “To-do list” in an in-progress state during months and months of interruptions. Going forward though I’m not really sure what I want to do with it; I simultaneously have this grand vision, but an abnormal lack of concrete ideas for new chapters. I’ve had some little sparks of inspiration and prompts, but beyond that I’m just not feeling it flow into a greater idea.

Here’s my planned schedule for this round of updates. Thing’s could change, but I’ll make a notice if they do.

1. Untitled Inuyasha fic; Koga/Ginta/Hakkaku threesome. This is a gift for a friend I’ve been trying to finish for weeks now

2. The Bonds that Never Break. Last segment of the Birthday chapter

3. The Horny Canine Boys of the Hidden Leaf Village. Next half of the Dogs Will Play chapter. This one has the least recent update (and is by far my most read fic) so I might push it ahead.

4. Dogs Keep it in the Family. Last chunk of the Mother’s Stern Hand chapter

5. The Unorthodox Journey of a Pokemon Breeder Boy. Second half of the Charizard segment

Next are details of my plans going forward. It’s lengthy (it’s ME after all) but important so I’d recommend checking it out. Long story short: After updating each of my current fics, I’m temporarily switching over from the large projects above to one-shots for a time.

But I’ll still be writing and I’m not dropping any of those big fics! I just need a break from the intensive work they require.

On to other matters. If you’ve read my other insanely long updates (if you have you’re a trooper) you’ll know I haven’t been having a great time for a long while. If not, check Part 1 or older Progress Updates for more info. Long story short, I’m completely worn out from endless months and months of bullshit. Even though its FINALLY quieted down now, I still need a break.

You might say, “But you’ve been on hiatus for months!” That was because I could never get a night without fist fights or drunk parties or literal death threats being screamed all hours. That hiatus was because I couldn’t focus, because I was in a stressful situation and had no real alternative.

Now I’m saying I need some mental health time, a break from scrambling between fics that went without updates or had half finished chapters as compensation for that utter nonsense, trying to catch up and failing to get back to normal because of it. I went straight from that atmosphere into rapidly trying to get everything back up to speed, never taking a breather and celebrating my freedom. I need to take a few steps back and gather myself, actually breathe easy without fears of drunk assholes trying to break in to people’s apartments, before I jump back into things.

Because of all that crap, I had to make do with putting out lazy and poorly constructed work. It made me feel like a shitty writer and that I was letting readers down. I can’t express how awesome people who stuck by patiently waiting for updates, understanding I wasn’t in a great place, really are. But not doing my best made me feel like I wasn’t meeting expectations of people who had been so nice. Yes it’s just fanfiction, maybe I’m getting dramatic, but still.

I’m so sick of putting out half-assed or incomplete chapters and fics. Rushing from one to another, scrambling to make updates that aren’t complete or as polished as I would like, leaving this trail of disappointment behind me. I look at what I’ve produced lately and I’m just so deeply unhappy with the quality. Most of that was the horrible situation I was in, but now it’s my haste, like I’m trying to do 5 things at once to catch up now that things are okay and none end up great. I appreciate dearly readers supporting me and being understanding all this time. But when you KNOW you can do better and aren’t meeting your own expectations it’s very frustrating. I take my writing, even if it IS only fanfiction, seriously. I feel a commitment to making the best chapters for people who enjoy what I do.

These big projects are so exhausting, so much work tweaking them just right. All the effort and time I spend has just worn me out. It’s gotten to the point that I’m starting to resent working on them, it feels like an obligation. I rush through stuff trying to make everyone happy and in the end my work suffers. It’s tough to make good stuff when it feels like a chore. And that’s never a good mentality to have when writing. I’m not doing my best work when it’s not fun.

Add to that the fact that my notes are an ABSOLUTE CLUSTER FUCKING MESS. Bits and pieces of stories saved in Google Docs, on my phone, and written in spirals, scattered everywhere. There are things for both Canine Boys and Bonds that I didn’t write down when I was breezing through work that I have now forgotten in my haste to churn out dwindling chapters and struggle with all the bullshit that had overwhelmed my life. That’s a big problem.

For example. In Canine Boys I know what I want to do with chapters 5 and 7, but my notes on 6 are paltry and I have since forgotten what I wanted to do. Problematic, even if it is just porn.

And there are pieces to the planned ending of Bonds that are hazy and difficult to remember because of the time that has passed, mental stress, and lack of organization. I need to get things in order first thing.

No joke, when I look at all my future plans and mess of notes, sometimes I get micro-panic attacks. Because there’s just SO MUCH to do, SO MUCH I need to plan and write, and oh god what did I forget this time, ugh I can’t figure out how to move on and do the next chapter, I can’t remember what good thing I planned for this and I’m disappointing my readers!!! ect. It’s truly overhauling sometimes. And it’s not pleasant or an effective way of writing. I need to get this mess sorted out, lay back and have some brainstorming to fix all those plot and continuity issues.

As if that wasn’t enough, my phone had loads of good things saved on it, ideas for both Bonds and Canine Boys that were GREAT and necessary to moving the stories forward. Well a few days ago it totally crapped out and I can’t access it. Losing the notes saved on my phone has left me pretty bummed. It’s like a knife in the heart. Because I had SO. MANY. GOOD. IDEAS. ON. THERE. And the thought of them just gone makes me just want to give up because I worry I won’t ever come up with something to match and replace all that was lost.

So yeah, I need to take a step away from these big works. All that being said, I’m not on hiatus anymore. More like semi-hiatus. I’m taking a break from “serious” writing, from these huge projects (all 4 current fics would count) and switching over to some smaller one shots in the meantime. I need time to recoup and rest and actually celebrate my newfound peace and quiet without deadlines. I want to work for a while with worrying about timely updates or letting readers down with quality issues. I’m going to take a breather, regain my confidence, organize my disaster notes, and come back strong, RATHER than keep limping along as I have been.

SO, once I make one more update to each of those 4 fics, I’ll be putting them off to the side for a while and focusing on simpler one shots. Hopefully people will check those out too, it’s still me and my style, just smaller (and a friend joked that I don’t do small projects. A one shot for me is like 10-20k words).

After these updates, which in all honesty won’t be my greatest work, not that I’ve been excelling for a while, I am DONE doing shoddy unfinished work. No more.

Once these chapters are out I’ll be shifting to one shots for a temporary cool down so I can gather my thoughts and organize my ideas. This should mean when I come back to these the quality is better, my inspiration is restarted, and I can get back on track writing fluidly instead of struggling.

I have no idea how long this period of smaller works could last. I would estimate anywhere between 3-9 months, since I want a more long term period of separation. Too much focus and worrying has made dealing with them tedious, I just don’t want to have to worry about them for a bit.

As you can see from teh Future Ideas section of my Masterlist I have LOOOTS of ideas. A good number of WIPs were recently inspired by my friend Ren and his beautiful, dirty mind. No I am not working on all those works in the Future Ideas at the same time, this is just a list of ideas that have popped into my head over time. Some may eventually be dropped if I can’t work them properly, but I do have a good chunk of progress already done on a number of those, while others have a few paragraphs written, and some are pretty much a premise and a few sentences.

Do not expect all those to be finished soon. This is a VERY VERY long term look at my plans. Like, over the few years or more probably, knowing how slow I write and how annoyingly perfectionist I am. I will likely shift priorities around between all these as new ideas inspire me or old fics require attention, but from now on I plan on trying to focus the bulk of my attention on 2 or 3 projects at once. Sort of like an assembly plant; one fic in pre-production, one in the process of being built, and one getting the final touches. That way I can churn things out more efficiently. I think that's a much better way to balance all my fics than rushing to and fro manically.

DO NOT WORRY! Just because I have all these future plans doesn’t mean I’m abandoning any of my current fics; Bonds that Never Break, Canine Boys, Dogs Keep it in the Family, and Journey of a Pokemon Breeder Boy will still get attention and I have plenty of thoughts, notes, and plans for those going forward. This list of fic ideas is just a glimpse into my thought process and future plans, in addition to somewhere I can keep readers updated with my priorities (I’ll make updates here as well).

I know what you’re probably thinking. “Oh great, more fics you won’t update on time.” Or “Perfect, the one I like is being pushed aside by this new stuff.” Remember this semi-hiatus is only temporary. Most of the ideas I have in mind are one shots. And they aren’t as intensive as my current works, they’re a much needed break so I can refocus and collect ideas for the major projects. I’m not abandoning ANYTHING, NONE of my fics are getting dropped. I’m just taking a more long term view of things so I can stay in shape.

I’m deeply sorry if some people don’t want to deal with that and jump ship, I completely understand your frustration. I fully expect to lose some readers, much as that pains me. But most importantly I need to do what’s right for me.

There’s a saying, “The candle that that burns twice as bright burns half as long.” I’m at that point. I don’t want to burn bright with a few good chapters and end up burning myself out before really finishing anything.

#progress update #progress #update #wip #fanfiction #fanfic #hiatus

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stilessdylanobae-ddixonlove · 5 years

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Inuyasha - After The Final Act (Chapter 1: Kagome Senses Nothing)

Author: what_the_hell_is_a_stiles826

Characters: Inuyasha, Kagome Higurashi, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Koga, Ginta, Hakkaku, Kaede and Rin.

Summary: It’s been four years since defeating Naraku. Kikyo remains at peace, Sango and Miroku are married with three children while Kagome and Inuyasha are married and expecting their first. However, another Shikon Jewel was finally and successfully forged and yet again scattered across old time Japan some time later. After Miroku’s wind tunnel mysteriously reappears, a new enemy arises which threatens the groups future.

Note: This story is inspired from the hit TV show, ‘Inuyasha’. Written by Rumiko Takahashi, this is only my continuation of the series after it ended. I started writing this series years ago. I am not big into Anime, but ‘Inuyasha’ is not only my all time favorite Anime ever written, but also one of my all time favorite TV shows in general. I hope I do an okay job of portraying these characters.

Warning: Cursing, violence, light sexual content.

Chapter One - Chapter Two

Kagome sat quietly in an old abandoned barn, not far from the latest village where the group had been resting at. The place surrounding them reeked of rotting corpses, suggesting something bad definitely went down here. Kagome realized she should be used to it by now seeing as she’d come across many villages that have been attacked since coming to this feudal era that she now call home. She looked to Inuyasha and felt happy she didn’t have his nose. He sat frozen, clenching his tessaiga with disgust spread across his handsome face. He sat there without showing a bit of fear.

Unlike the rest.

Sango held her hiaikotsu tightly against her body while Shippo paced back and forth and Miroku sat in a trance with his eyes closed.

“Do you think the twins are alright? We’ve been gone much longer than expected.” Sango asked her calm husband, worried about their high maintenance children back home. Miroku sighed.

“I think they are just fine. They are with Kaede.” He replied. Suddenly, Inuyasha jolted up and peaked through a tiny crack in the barn wall as Kagome looked down to her still small but growing belly and rubbed it gently.

“I can’t take it anymore!” Inuyasha turned and yelled. “Hiding here like a bunch of cowards.” Miroku stared up at his friends pained face.

“Inuyasha, Kagome is with child. We can’t be reckless.” The Monk spoke, slightly concerned. Inuyasha grumbled some more.

“You think I don’t know that?” He responded. Kagome sighed and stood up to approach the tall, impatient man. She placed her hand on his shoulder and simply smiled. He knew that meant she agreed with him and would be just fine. “You and Shippo stay here.” He calmly told her in response. “It hasn’t seen you yet. He can’t be too far behind.” He continued. She sighed again. “Miroku, Sango lets go!” He finished, leading the way back outside while Miroku huffed and followed. Sango jumped up as if she’d been itching to say the same, quickly and without hesitation. Several moments passed before Kagome finally grew overwhelmed with impatience, earning Shippo’s worried stare.

“He should know me better than to just sit here and watch, what a jerk!” She hollered. “Come on, Shippo. Let’s think of a plan.” Kagome threw her hand into a determined fist.

“Yeah, I don’t really mind staying out of it, Kagome. I hate the flying ones.” Shippo answered with a crooked smile. She groaned and gently cracked the door of the barn. She couldn’t see Sango and Miroku anymore but figured they were flying around on Kirara while her husband stood in the middle of an open field, calling the demon.

“Come here you giant chicken!” Inuyasha screamed, his voice bouncing off the mountains. Suddenly an enormous wind shot through the grass, blowing the door completely off the barn. Kagome and Shippo quickly went and hid behind a pile of wooden boards near a hole in the wall. They both fought for a spot to see, but once you spotted a giant wing almost swoop the barn away in one sudden gust, Shippo laid on the floor screaming.

“Oh yeah, that will keep the brutes attention away!” She rolled your eyes at her tiny friend but he ignored her sarcasm. This demon was an ugly thing. It’s eyes were almost bigger than it’s head and they were piercing red. It’s giant wings swept Inuyasha off his bare feet and sent him flying backwards and landing right in front of the door-less barn they still sat in. “Inuyasha!” Kagome shrieked, then heard Kirara’s growl swoop down. She clawed at the birds eye, sending blood and feathers in every direction as Miroku then unwrapped his right hand.

“Wind Tunnel!” He yelled right in the face of the demon. A jewel shard flew out and hit Sango in the face. It somehow fell into her hand and she managed to hold onto it while the large bird whined and rose his foot to claw at Kirara but she was too fast. During her quick dodge though, she had bumped Miroku, sending his hand in the other direction and pulling Inuyasha towards him. Miroku quickly wrapped his hand back up, silencing the wicked curse.

“Hey, watch it! You’re after him, not me!” Inuyasha’s temper arose. But Kagome fell distracted by the fact that the demon had a shard in it’s eye this whole time, while she sensed nothing. If she had, the group probably would have taken care of this thing long before now. But her confusion had to wait for later. Inuyasha managed to pull the tessaiga from by his side. “You’re going down. Windscar!” He hollered as yellow bolts of lightening shot from the sword, ripping the demons right leg and part of his body apart.

“That’s it, my turn!” Kagome yelled. She grabbed her bow, exited the barn and shot her sacred arrow right into the birds neck, finally destroying it all together. Then she smirked, as it was her who finished him off. Inuyasha stood stiff, facing away from her still. She figured he was irritated.

“You don’t listen, do you?” He whined. She simply smiled up at him some more. Miroku and Sango then ran to them, showing off the shard in Sango’s hand. “What? Kagome, you didn’t say that thing had a jewel shard! What the hell?” Inuyasha questioned. She frowned and looked down at the shimmering purple jewel.

“Don’t yell at me. I didn’t know.” She told him. Miroku itched his head in confusion.

“How could you have not sensed it?” The Monk asked curiously. Sango handed Inuyasha the jewel shard as he reached to take a look at it.

“Maybe it’s a fake.” Sango added. Inuyasha pinched the shard between his claws, examining it closely.

“No, it’s the real thing.” He spoke, his white hair falling over his shoulder as he turned to finally face Kagome in confusion.

___

Several minutes passed as the friends continued walking, trying to return home. They had all set out on a journey several days before, hoping to learn why Miroku’s wind tunnel in his right hand had come back four years after Naraku’s death.

They all feared that a piece of him may still be alive somewhere.

Also about a year ago, another Shikon Jewel was forged after a demon had finally succeeded in creating another one. Though, when they all destroyed her the jewel was inside her body and it scattered, yet again. So their journey to retrieve the shards had ironically started all over.

Or at least that’s the short story.

They came across a rigid path between two mountains. It was covered in sharp rocks and slimy puddles. Everything fell extremely silent, nothing but the sound of the wind blowing over the rocks. Kagome found herself searching for any jewel shards nearby, trying to sense them. Then she got an idea that would hopefully help them know if it was just that one shard that interfered with her abilities.

"Sensing something Kagome?“ Sango read her mind. Kagome turned back to her and the group stopped walking as she did.

"No. But I have an idea.” She told them. “Take Kirara and fly to the other side of the mountain with a few of the jewel shards. Inuyasha, take the others and run far from here. I want to know if I can at least sense the ones we already have and have sensed before from a distance.” She explained.

"Got it.” Sango agreed to her plan as she then took two shards from the tiny bottle that hung around her neck and gave Sango the rest. She turned to Inuyasha and attempted to hand him the other shards but he stubbornly folded his arms across his chest.

“Put them back, Kagome.” He said. She frowned and gave a dirty look.

“Why?” Kagome scowled. “Don’t you want to know if I can sense them?” She raised her voice. He snickered in a rather annoying way.

“Yes. But Sango taking them to the other side of the mountain will be enough proof for me. I am not leaving you and our unborn child here to walk alone in this god for saken death trap.” He spoke while his yellow eyes glistened, making her knees feel weak. She simply nodded, accepting his kind gesture.

“But you know, I wouldn’t be alone. I’d have Miroku and Shippo.” Kagome explained.

“Yeah Inuyasha, you don’t think I can take care of Kagome? Miroku, I can understand.” Shippo hollered. Miroku’s eyes widened.

“Hey!” Miroku scolded as he smacked Shippo on the head with his shakujo. Shippo then frowned and rubbed his head as Kagome watched Inuyasha look around at everyone blinking nervously.

"You’re right Kagome, you’d be in worse off than I thought.“ He replied. She giggled and slid the remaining shards back into the bottle, returned it to Sango, who then flew off with Kirara.

“You will be a great father, Inuyasha.” Miroku smirked happily behind the two. “A bit over protective maybe.” He raised his finger to his mouth in thought. Kagome instantly scrunched her face, knowing fatherhood to be a bit of a sore subject. Inuyasha often worried about his abilities, knowing the child would most likely be another half demon. It was probably the only thing in the world he lacked confidence in. He rolled his eyes, as Kagome lowered her head with a smirk.��

“Oh, quit your smirking. I’m only over protective because I’m tired of rescuing you!” He squealed, stopping dead in his tracks. She chuckled out loud at the idea. “Plus, I do have more than just you to protect these days.” He finished, his eyes moving to her stomach. She knew he worried a lot; it wasn’t hard for any of them to see. And not just because once before she heard him screaming her name in his sleep or how after each time the two had kissed, he whispered her name in her ear.

Much time passed, Kagome was getting discouraged. She couldn’t sense anything. Like there was nothing there to sense and it was frustrating. This had never happened before. She quietly sighed and Inuyasha did the same. He knew she couldn’t sense them and felt irritated by it. The ground underneath was now smoother and flatter, Kagome thought these mountains were never going to separate and send them back into the open field. She was tired and hungry and definitely tired of walking, pregnancy taking more out of her than usual. She reached and pulled her backpack out from behind, unzipped it and pulled out one of her nutritious granola bars. As she went to take a bite she heard a vicious growl while Inuyasha flew in front of her and put his hand on his sword. “Wolves.” He said just as three wolves walked towards her with their teeth showing. A man appeared in front of the wolves and next to Kagome and Inuyasha growled louder.

“Sister Kagome!” He yelled her name. She soon realized it was Ginta. One of Koga’s companions. The other wolves calmed down and quit growling after Ginta said her name.

“Oh, hello Ginta.” Kagome waved.

“Quit calling her that!” Inuyasha interrupted. Ginta’s head sunk into his shoulders as he got scolded. A familiar voice then arose from above.

“Calm down, dog. My little wolves would never harm Lady Kagome.” Koga’s words made the hair on the back of Kagome’s neck stand up. Inuyasha’s hand returned to his sword and Koga quickly landed right in front of where she stood. He grabbed her hand in his and raised it up to his chest.

“Kagome, such beauty.” He flirted. She laughed awkwardly as Inuyasha threw his body in between yours and Koga’s, breaking his grip. She then scooted away from them both.

“Oh, brother.” Shippo added and rolled his eyes at Koga.

“That’s my wife.” Inuyasha grunted. Koga ignored him entirely and returned his eyes back to Kagome.

“So what are you up to these days?” Koga continued, folding his arms across his chest.

"That’s none of your business, you lecher!” Inuyasha spoke again. Kagome wondered if she should just keep walking and ignore them both. Inuyasha’s jealousy fought with his anger issues every time they came across the flirtatious wolf demon.

“Kagome, tell your mutt to chill!” Koga shouted. She suddenly furrowed her brow and lowered her arms to her sides.

“Koga! Don’t you have Ayame to get back to?” She screamed in his face. After accidentally promising to marry Ayame, the female wolf demon, it seemed it was even harder for him to leave them alone. He continuously does everything he can to ignore her, while she truly loves him. He growled and stormed off, his pack following him.

“Wow Kagome, I think you actually hurt his feelings that time.” Inuyasha teased.

“Shut it.” She responded. "I can stand up for myself; I am capable of doing that you know.” He rolled his eyes.

“Well, he’s disrespectful to what’s mine. I can’t allow that.” He admitted back, only in a whisper. Kagome proudly nudged his shoulder as Shippo marched in front.

“Okay, you two! Are we almost out of here yet?” He shouted just as Kirara came around the corner. We must be finally getting to the end of this retched thing. That’s when the three of them realized they’d lost Miroku.

“Inuyasha, where is Miroku?” Kagome wondered. Sango and Kirara landed in front of the group a few feet away and in an open field.

“Oh great. Now where did the pathetic Monk go? I thought it got rather quiet.” Inuyasha whined.

“He probably just went off to do one of his meditation things.” Shippo added. This was worrisome. Sure, sometimes Miroku’s big mouth got a little annoying, but he was like family. He had still been weak from recently absorbing so much into his hand and wouldn’t just leave without saying anything.

___

Meanwhile, the missing Monk sat alone in total darkness.

“Some friends I have getting distracted by stupid wolves!” Miroku yelled out loud to himself. He sat in the dark, damp cave waiting for Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo to notice he was gone. His shakujo raddled and the ground thumped as something approached him. He stood up and tried to see as a figure walked towards him. A man, he thought, who grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the front of the cave where light finally shown through.

“Koga! Your wolves captured me? Why?” He bellowed. He knew that you all weren’t good friends with Koga and his allies but he didn’t think you were major enemies.

“You’re the Monk with the wind tunnel in his right hand.” Koga mentioned. “It can suck out jewel shards? Not much of a curse if you ask me!” Now this made more sense. They were desperate for jewel shards and they want to use him like they tried to use Kagome in the past.

“Stupid. Stupid wolf demon. Have you a life? Or are jewel shards all you seek and want from this world?” Miroku manipulated him. Koga shook his head and dropped the Monk’s arm. “It doesn’t work like that. That was a little coincidence because of the fact that we were attacking the direct part of the demon where his jewel was, unknowingly I might add. If Kirara hadn’t bumped me afterwards, forcing my hand in the other direction the shard would have sucked into my hand as well.” He explained fully. Koga thought for a moment and stared.

“If it was done once, it can be done again, Monk. It’s better to send you up close to the demon to get them rather than us. I’ve already lost two of my wolves this week on this damn one we can’t win with. It’s not easily done when the thing lives in water. It drowns you if it see’s you coming. But it has two or three shards in its belly.” Miroku scowled.

“Koga, how do you know it has one shard, let alone two or three? I thought you couldn’t get near it without dying?” He questioned his logic. The wolf sighed as Miroku figured he realized they might as well be honest with each other. There was no reason not to be.

“There is a little old woman up in the mountains. I’m sure you have heard of her, creepy little Witch. She’s missing several fingers and smells of Naraku.”

“Naraku?” Miroku hollered, looking down at his hand.

“Yes. She is extremely powerful. My pack doesn’t knows why but whenever she gets near, everyone’s power weakens to a certain extent. That’s another reason we are afraid to get close.” He took a breath. Wait a minute, Miroku had heard of this happening before. She was some sort of Witch Doctor that came to visit and drain some of everyone’s powers every few years, yet he’d never heard of Naraku being involved. He had heard stories about her during his Monk training. He knew she was missing fingers because she had to sacrifice part of her body to take power and once she had it, she set off trying to resurrect her dead husband. But she only ever gets enough power to keep him within the walking dead a few years so she returns to bring him back.

“I have heard of her. A sad ending love story, if you ask me. What does that have to do with this demon? Or Naraku?” Miroku paused. “Wait, Kagome’s ability to sense shards is no longer there and my hand has been healing very slowly when it normally feels better the next day. Could this be her doing?” He questioned Koga.

“Yes. Now you are getting it! And it has to do with the demon because she has Kagome’s ability to sense the shards and she told Ginta and Hakkaku while they were out hunting one day. She expects us to get them and give them to her. But that will never happen.” He finished. This made sense now. Not only was Kagome’s power to sense the shards completely gone and my hand taking forever to heal, but he remembered wondering when Inuyasha struck the Windscar among the bird demon why it only shattered his leg and part of his body. That should have destroyed all of it. But Kagome’s sacred arrows still worked and Kirara and Sango’s abilities seemed fine. As well as Shippo’s magic, so she hadn’t gotten to all of you yet. Maybe you can still stop her.

“Koga, why don’t you just try to stop her? Why don’t you get rid of her if she is draining all of us?” He asked. This seemed like a stupid question. Surely there had to be a good reason. Koga wouldn’t just let someone steal his power day after day.

“There is a protective barrier around her cottage. We already tried to stop her. The only way to get to her is to wait until she comes out of her cottage and we capture her. But by then she will probably be finished. Our powers will slowly return after she leaves. It’s better to just stay out of her way.” He assured Miroku, who wasn’t set on this conclusion. Inuyasha’s red tessiega would surely break the barrier.

“My friends and I will break the barrier and get rid of her with your help. If you do that with us, I will get your shards. But I am not fighting that thing alone and I am not doing it while my hand is so weak. So if you want them, you must bring me back to my friends and help us defeat this woman. It can’t be that difficult. I’m surprised you gave up so easily.” Miroku negotiated. He sat there in silence waiting for a reply and hoping Koga would agree. It wasn’t a bad plan, surely he would be a fool not to agree to it.

“Inuyasha won’t agree to working with us very easily and he especially won’t be okay with you guys getting the jewel shards and then handing them over to me. I know that for a fact.” He argued. He had a point, Inuyasha wouldn’t be happy with this decision. But he had a weakness.

“Lady Kagome can talk him into it." Miroku threw back. Koga rose his eyebrows, for he seemed to agree.

"Let me talk to your friends. If they don’t agree, we go back to my plan. Got it?” He screeched. Miroku hated when people talked to him like a peasant. But he had to have faith in his friends. He doubted Koga will tell them about them being the ones who captured him, he hoped they are smart enough to catch on. Miroku nodded and scooted back to meditate and Koga left the cave to go talk to Inuyasha.

“I don’t get it, how could you guys lose Miroku? He isn’t exactly easy to ignore!” Sango lectured. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. The slightly smaller group came up to the main village and were greeted by Kaede, who stood near Sango and Miroku’s hut waiting, waving and holding their one year old son.

“Wonderful to see you guys.” She said as they approached. Sounds of small running feet and happy children ran to Sango; it was her twin daughters.

“Mama!” Akari spoke. The twins were three years old and quite the handful. The small girl ran into Sango’s arms while her sister, Hikari attached herself to her mother’s leg. Her son, Riku cried for her from Kaede’s arms and she finally handed him over and Sango hugged him tight.

“Where’s Daddy?” Hikari sadly asked. Sango grabbed her hand and told her he’d be home very soon.

“Hello, Kaede.” Kagome greeted her in the meantime.

“Come. I assume you’ve all come to speak about the Witch?” Kaede spoke. Sango walked forward with Kirara and her children into Kaede’s home to grab their belongings. The rest soon followed, gathering around to have a snack and some quick chit chat.

“Kaede. You said something about a Witch?” Inuyasha asked her. Kagome was glad he did because if he hadn’t she would have.

“Yes. Have you not heard of her yet? By the way, where is that pervert Miroku?” She whispered in front of his kids.

“We have to find him. Please, tell us of the Witch.” Kagome pleaded. Just then Rin walked into the hut, grinning. A flower sat over her right ear and she looked slightly older than they last remembered, taller and her dark hair was longer.

“Kaede! She squealed. "Lord Sesshomaru has come to get me.” She turned to the rest. “Oh hello everyone, I just stopped by for a visit but now I am going to go spend some more time with him and Master Jaken!” She yelled with excitement. Kagome smiled and waved goodbye, Shippo and Sango joined.

“That’s my cue. Sesshomaru is here, time to go.” Inuyasha concluded. Shippo quickly slurped the rest of his soup and followed Inuyasha out the door.

“Thank you, Kaede! Bye!” He yelled, Shippo and Sango followed. Kagome kind of wanted to stay longer, but heading home did sound nice.

“Yes, thank you Kaede for everything. See you later!” She hollered as she walked out the door and chased after Inuyasha. “I suppose we should go find Miroku now?” She questioned. Suddenly, Sango reappeared. Riku was strapped to her back and she had a hand attached to each daughter below her.

“Yes, I am growing a little worried about him.” She told them.

“Yeah, I suppose we should.” Inuyasha replied. They walked to Inuyasha and Kagome’s hut just along the lake. Kagome needed to rest for a few minutes.

“Shoot. We never got to hear the story about the Witch!” Kagome remembered.

“We will hear about her soon enough, I am sure.” Sango assured her and Inuyasha grunted.

“Oh great.” Shippo added. Kagome rubbed his little head. He can be such a baby sometimes. Suddenly there was a loud rustling coming from the bushes outside the hut. Shippo jumped in Kagome’s arms and they all stood staring, motionless and speechless. Except Inuyasha of course.

“Who’s there?” He yelled. And out jumped Koga again. It seemed to be just him this time. Shippo groaned and jumped down as Kagome loudly huffed.

“What do you want now Koga?” Sango questioned.

“If you’re here to put your hands all over Kagome some more be sure to leave before I get angry and cut your limbs off!” Inuyasha shrieked. Koga laughed and walked forward some more.

“So, you guys have heard of the Witch? Good now I don’t have to explain it.” He said, clearly overhearing their conversation before rudely interrupting it.

“We know of a Witch.” Inuyasha corrected him.

“Yeah, we don’t know who she is or what the deal is yet.” Shippo finished.

“Damn.” Koga sighed. “The old lady who is missing several fingers? Haven’t you guys noticed your powers weakening? Kagome can’t sense the jewel shards, I know that. That is her doing, I am sure you want to rid her now.” He told them with a confident smirk. Kagome squinted her eyes in question, knowing Koga well enough to know that he is up to something. Something that he will not say. Their powers being gone because of some old lady wasn’t enough information. Plus there has to be more of a benefit for him. However, they all knew that just her draining your powers will be enough for Inuyasha to go after her. Suddenly Ginta and Hakkaku appeared running frantically.

“Koga! We can’t find the Monk!” They yelled.

“You have Miroku dog breath?” Inuyasha screeched.

“Damn you two, now they know! I didn’t want to have to tell them everything!” He shook his head. “Well no, I don’t now!” He screamed at Inuyasha and ran off after his friends. At least they knew Miroku got away and is most likely looking for them all now. He will surely explain what is going on.

“Damn it all to hell that wolf!” Inuyasha yelled some more.

“Calm down, it’s okay. If we don’t find Miroku he will find us and let us know what is going on, I know it. Let’s rest, I am tired. Maybe Miroku will be close by morning.” Kagome grabbed Inuyasha’s hand and pulled him inside and into their bed. He laid with her, giving in. Shippo had already began to doze off while Sango returned to her home for the night in agreement. "Goodnight.” She said and closed her eyes, her head resting on her husbands warm chest.

“Goodnight, Kagome.” He said back and brushed her hair from her tired eyes. Things got quiet. All they could here were crickets and the water streaming as they finally drifted to sleep inside the peaceful home the two of them shared.

___

Kagome started to hear the river again and awoke. Slowly opening her eyes, then staring at the ceiling above. She turned her head to see Inuyasha still lying right next to her, asleep. She sat up and gasped when you saw Miroku calmly sitting against the wall with his eyes closed inside her hut.

“Miroku!” She yelled and he opened his eyes, while Shippo jumped up in shock and couldn’t believe he was here either. Sango heard the commotion and ran over from her hut to see her husband.

“Miroku? You didn’t think to wake any of us? When did you get here? How did you get away?” Sango screamed angrily. Inuyasha ripped the blanket away and jumped out of bed.

“What is all the yelling about?” He hollered. “Miroku! What the hell?” He said when he saw him.

“Calm down everyone, I didn’t want to wake any of you! And I got here only a mere while ago my dearest Sango, don’t be so worried about me.” He smirked. Sango’s face turned red and she didn’t say a word after that, she only scowled.

“Well, me and your kids are next door you know!” She finally spoke.

“I know, I know. I just needed to speak with Inuyasha and I didn’t want to wake them too early.” He explained as Inuyasha sat back down next to his wife.

“Well, now we can scratch him off the to do list.” He said with relief.

Thanks for reading! I know it’s silly and cheesy. But Inuyasha kind of is, right?

>>Chapter 2

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lasko2017 · 3 years

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Tunnel di Hakkaku, prefettura di Kumamoto, sull'isola meridionale del Giappone di Kyushu.🇯🇵 Il tunnel è stato costruito nel 1915, quando la ferrovia di Yuuen è stata aperta nell'area, percorrendo una lunghezza totale di 28,6 chilometri fino a Misato da quella che oggi è conosciuta come la città di Kumamoto. Il tunnel di Hakkaku (Hakkaku si traduce in "ottagono") è stato progettato per impedire la caduta di rocce da entrambi i lati sulla ferrovia, ma il motivo per cui è costituito da sette archi ottagonali non collegati è ancora un mistero. (presso Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSgoVZFIf_YobKLcgGSgVtq7rCc0L9tXainU2k0/?utm_medium=tumblr

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writingrei · 5 years

Text

fragmented memories | chapter 11

"Work…?" Inuyasha hissed.

"Yes. Kanna has located another jewel shard in a far off village. You will come with me and retrieve it," Naraku said.

"Kanna?"

"Oh, you're not familiar with her?" Naraku asked, stepping aside to show the girl approaching from down the shadows of the hallway.

The girl in pure white emerged with a mirror in her arms, in the glass of the mirror reflected the image of a village. It didn’t look familiar to Inuyasha, so at least it wasn’t the village that Kagome was staying at. In fact, it looked more like a small kingdom.

“Let us be on our way,” Naraku said, walking past Inuyasha down the short flight of stairs.

Inuyasha clicked his teeth, his breathing shallow and his shoulders tense as he began to follow Naraku begrudgingly. He and Kagura locked eyes, the solidarity of stressed shared between them radiating through one another. She watched them off, the boy with the red outfit disappearing with the man in the white cloak.

“Kagura,” Kanna said softly, her quiet voice somehow piercing through Kagura’s ears and alerting her to attention. “Inuyasha will not return from this situation safely.”

“What do you mean?”

Kanna stared off before taking a deep breath to say, “The fly will be trapped in the flytrap’s jaws.”

“What?” Kagura asked, a bit put off by Kanna’s ominous statement.

The young girl in white shook her head, turning around to go back inside. Her movements were eerie, and her white outfit in contrast to the dark surroundings of the castle made her look like a ghost.

Kagura stayed fixed in her spot, her heart pulling her in two different directions. Naraku hadn’t called her to accompany the two, and she knew that following Naraku without his authorization would leave them on more turbulent ground. She hissed her teeth, plucking a feather from her hairpiece to be carried off by the wind on it.

-----

“Sango!” Kagome shouted, letting an arrow fly as it shrouded itself in a bright purple light.

The arrow pierced through a demon that had Sango in its grasp, it shrieking and dropping her to the ground. Kicking up dust, the demon slayer raced to her Hiraikotsu that was jammed into the ground and wasted no time yanking it up and slamming it through another demon near Miroku, decapitating it where it stood.

“Kagome!” Kouga yelled from behind her, making her tense up.

He scooped her off the ground, making her squeal as yet another demon swiped for her with an oversized claw.

“Wah! Thanks Kouga!” she said, twisting over on her side so that their chests faced on another and so she could see behind him.

Pulling out another arrow, she aimed behind Kouga’s head, gritting her teeth from the pain that twinged in her right arm and then fired. Kagome blasted the demon’s head off, its body collapsing onto the ground. As Kouga fell to a landing, he shifted Kagome over to his right shoulder so his left arm were free.

“Move it, lowlifes!” He shouted, using the claws on his free hand to tear apart a demon they were falling at.

He reduced it to a pile of flesh in a matter of seconds, landing in the piles of flesh that was its prior body. Kouga put down Kagome next to him, her raising one of her legs awkwardly to not get demon blood all over her shoes.

“Kagome, why the hell are all these demons after us?”

“They’re probably after my piece of the sacred jewel, like usual. And since you have a couple too, it’s probably drawing tons of demons towards us!”

“So basically we’re a buncha demon magnets?”

“Yeah, for the most part.”

“Kagome!” Miroku called from near Sango. “Get behind me!” he said, his left hand firmly grasping the beads around his right wrist.

She nodded at the monk and then at her wolf demon friend, and they headed back to regroup. Kouga sped up, the shards in his legs granting him the ability to do so. Kagome skidded to a halt and gasped, shrieking out, “KOUGA, WAIT!”

He looked back at her, not being able to stop as a demon slammed into his side, throwing him away to slam through some trees like a piece of garbage. She could hear a sharp yelp from him fade as he got further away. Kagome could hear Miroku yell for her to hold onto something, and instantly she felt a harsh wind that tugged all over her. Panicking, she jammed her bow into the dirt as far as she could, hoping it could anchor her down to the ground. She faced away from the demon, shifting her quiver from her back to her front so that her arrows wouldn't be sucked out of it.

Kagome could hear the howls of the demon before it quickly ceased along with the vacuum of the wind tunnel.

"Kagome, quickly!" he yelled again.

Kagome yanked her bow out of the ground and sprinted to get behind him. Sango, Kirara, Shippo, Ginta, and Hakkaku were already there, the latter three cowering from the immense amount of demons around them.

Miroku unfurled his wind tunnel again, the black void dragging in the crowd of demons that dared to attack them. Within a few moments, the wind tunnel closed once more and the area surrounding them was cleared. It was a terrifying sight to watch these being sucked into the endless abyss in Miroku’s palm. Everyone sighed in relief, the fighters wiping the sweat off their foreheads.

"Man, this would be so much easier if--"

"Kagome, don't say it," Miroku said.

She looked up at him, sucking her lips in to shut herself up as he approached her.

"I know it doesn't seem like it, but the more you think the way you currently do, the more you're gonna hurt yourself. Do you understand what I mean?"

Kagome nodded, rubbing away the sadness that rose on her face. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don’t be sorry! You didn't do anything wrong, but-- just don't focus so bad on the 'if's. We’re going to get him back.”

Kagome nodded again.

“Hey, where’s Kouga?” Shippo asked, hopping onto the top of Kagome’s head.

They all looked around for a bit before settling on one spot when they saw the allied wolf demon running up to them.

“Dammit! Can’t believe I missed all that!” he shouted.

In a blur of wind, he sped up in front of Kagome, placing his hand on the back of her waist and pulled her close to him. She blinked in confusion as he pulled on the collar of her shirt, looking inside of it. “Did that monk suck up your jewel shards?”

Shippo slapped his hands on top of his eyes. Kagome shut her eyes and shrieked, her impulse taking over and let her throw a balled fist into Kouga’s face. It hurt her more than it hurt him, Kagome’s knuckles cracking from the impact. But her punch did its job, sending Kouga stumbling away from her, closer to her allies. Sango growled and slapped him on the cheek as hard as she could, sending him spinning on his foot with a red palm mark on his face.

Ginta and Hakkaku raced to his side to support his body before he collapsed on the ground from the sudden beating.

Can’t believe I just got hit by two women today…! Kouga thought to himself.

“Damn, we’ve got another lecher on our hands, it seems!” Sango hissed.

“Hey! I ain’t no lecher!” Kouga shouted, rubbing his cheek.

Miroku sighed, “I’m so disappointed to see this behavior from you.”

Kouga shot up to his feet, stomping over to Miroku and trying to tower over him with his height. “I didn’t mean it like that, hypocrite! Don’t think I haven’t seen the bullshit you’ve pulled!” he said, pointing a sharp accusing finger underneath Miroku’s chin.

Miroku banged him on the forehead with his staff nonchalantly, the anger on Kouga’s face becoming more apparent as he trembled with rage.

“Now, now, Kouga, this isn’t about me.”

“Why you…!” he grabbed Miroku by the collar of his robe, holding off the urge to hoist him off the ground and toss him into the distance. “I ain’t like you. I was just making sure she didn’t lose her jewel shards since you wanna wave around your wind tunnel like it’s nothing!”

“Don’t bring my wind tunnel into this,” Miroku said, the tone in his voice significantly less chirpy than prior.

“Cut it out! We don’t have time to fight each other!” Sango barked.

“Sorry, Kouga,” Kagome said, shaking out her wrist and hissing from the pain in her arm, her face a bit red with embarrassment. “I’ve never punched anyone before— you startled me! Sorry you had to be the first,” she finished, rubbing her knuckles on her cheek to numb the pain.

Kouga let Miroku go and huffed, turning face away. “You’re fine, Kagome. My bad.”

“Anyways, if this squabbling is over, I figured I propose we rest here for the night. It’s unlikely we’ll find another village so soon after leaving, and we should make use of this clear area that was so graciously cleared by the demons who attacked us!”

“Oh yeah! And we can eat some lunch now, too!” Kagome said, doing her best to perk up. She looked behind her, spinning around as she looked for her huge yellow bag. “Oh, there it is!” she said, pointing at it by a nearby untouched tree.

She dragged it over, sitting down in front of it, making sure she sat on top of the pleats of her skirt. “I think I’m running low on bento boxes so we might have to share,” she said, pulling some boxes out of her bag.

“Nah, Kagome don’t stress it. Us demons don’t need ta eat as much as you humans! Apart from that little tyke of yours,” Kouga said, pointing at Shippo.

“Hey, I am a growing boy! I need my food!” he whined.

“Uh-huh, yeah, keep tellin’ yourself that,” Kouga said sarcastically.

“It’s no problem. If he wants some food I’ll give him some,” Kagome said, handing a tiny bento box and chopsticks to him.

Shippo grasped for it eagerly, plopping down with the container on his lap to eat. He stuck his tongue out at Kouga and happily began to eat. Kouga growled and looked away. After giving her friends their food for the day, they all settled down near one another, some sitting on tree trunks of fallen trees.

Kouga sat up straight from his hunched over, folded arms and crossed legs position, immediately calling everyone to attention.

“Knew I was smellin’ somethin’. Naraku. Nearby,” he said, getting to his feet.

“Naraku?” Kagome asked, setting aside her foot to reach for her bow and quiver.

“Look! It’s Kagura!” Shippo said, pointing into the sky behind Kagome.

Their eyes were all drawn to her, seeing the woman gently making her way down to the ground. Everyone was tense, ready to be hostile for whatever she had planned. The incarnation hopped off of her feather, it shrinking and guiding itself back into its hairpiece.

“Yo,” she started.

“Yo…?” Kagome asked, cocking her head to the side.

“Look, I’ll make this quick. And I’m not here to fight either. Take this as a warning,” Kagura said, her tone sharp and to the point.

Kagome eyed her skeptically and with distaste.

Kagura took a quick glance around, making sure no Saimyosho had followed her before saying, “You need to hurry. Inuyasha is in danger.”

“Inuyasha?!”

“Yeah. Naraku’s taking him on a ‘mission’ but I’ve got the feeling he’s not going to come out of it alive.”

“What!?” Kagome shrieked. “Where are they now?!”

“I can’t be too sure, but when I left, they seemed to have been heading southward. They were on their way to a kingdom of sorts. I doubt they’ve made it there yet on foot.”

Kagome turned to her friends. “We’re heading out, now.”

“Wait, Kagome! This could be a trap,” Sango said.

“I don’t care,” she said coldly. “How bad could a trap go from Naraku anyway? Even if it is, we’d still be close to him. And if we can find him we can find Inuyasha.”

“It’s not a trap,” Kagura said, then sighed. “Look, I’m not even supposed to be here. I’m risking my life telling you this.”

“Why would you tell us this?” Miroku asked.

“Hmph,” she huffed, turning away and pulling out the feather again. “I may be part of Naraku, but my own ambitions differ greatly from his.” With that, a heavy gust of wind carried her from the ground and into the sky once more.

Kagome watched her off, seeing her head north instead of south like she told them. She shook her head and took a deep breath.

“Let’s pack up.” Her demeanor had immediately shifted, now that Inuyasha was in the picture again. Knowing he was in danger did not help her either.

No one dared to speak against her, they could feel a fire burning inside of her that refused to listen to them. A fire that refused to go out until Inuyasha was back on their team. Kagome’s team closed their bento boxes and handed it back to her so she could put it back in her bag. She slung it over her back and ran to Kouga who squatted when he saw her approaching. Stepping onto his palms, she positioned herself onto his back and held onto his strong shoulders.

Kirara engulfed herself in flames, growing to a much larger size to which Sango and Miroku hopped onto her back, Shippo joining them in Sango’s lap.

“All ready, Ka-go-me~?” Kouga cooed.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

-----

A few days passed them by, and yet Naraku and Inuyasha had yet to reach their destination. When he said that the village was far off, he definitely was not exaggerating. The tension between them was so thick, it could be cut through. It sat on Inuyasha’s lungs like a brick, it being very hard for him to breathe while he was near Naraku. He couldn't stand working for him anymore. Being near him made him want to retch.

Inuyasha slowly inched his hand to the handle of his Tessaiga, the only thing he could focus on was Naraku’s back facing him and his own breathing and heart pumping. The discomfort of feeling the jewel shard's surges of power run through him over and over was a sensation Inuyasha slowly grew used to, now only leaving the vague feeling of the jewel sitting inside of his throbbing heart.

His grip on the Tessaiga tightened.

It's now or never. If I kill him, I'll be free.

"Lower your hand, Inuyasha," Naraku said.

Inuyasha's eyes widened, his heart dropping like a rock into his stomach.

"Don’t think I can't feel your animosity towards me. It's pouring out of you like a river. If you try to kill me here, what do you think would happen? Do you think you'd succeed?"

Inuyasha's voice croaked, and he shut his mouth and grit his teeth. Naraku let out a slight chuckle, letting their silence continue. He didn't need to say it verbally, but Inuyasha could just hear the "I thought as much," all because he decided to hesitate.

For what seemed to have been hours later, they saw a large wooden structure appear on the horizon. Naraku continued to approach it so it came more into view before stopping, Inuyasha freezing at his halt.

“We’ve arrived. Inuyasha, kill everyone you see when you enter there. Leave not a single survivor."

“What?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. I’ll assist you on this. Not a single soul must be allowed to escape, they may be the one harboring the jewel shard,” Naraku said, turning around to look at Inuyasha.

“I’m not killing innocent people for a freaking-- a jewel shard!”

Naraku didn’t respond at first, but Inuyasha knew he let his tongue slip as he felt a harsh shiver run through him from Naraku’s glare.

“Such a poor choice in words.”

Inuyasha gulped hard, choking on it as a pained screech forced itself out of his throat as Naraku forced Inuyasha’s defiled shard to push his demon blood through his body, it taking over him. He tried to stifle his screams, hunching over and holding his face. His silver hair rose above his skin as his demonic energy multiplied, overwhelming himself.

The purple streaks on his cheeks seemed to bolden, as his eyes were consumed with a deep red, his golden irises disappearing completely. His arms dropped, his vocal pain having turned into feral snarls, drool dripping from in between his teeth.

Naraku smirked at the brainless demon before him, always impressed with his own power to reduce Inuyasha to a walking shell. Inuyasha drew his Tessaiga, holding the handle with an iron-tight grip.

“Inuyasha, slaughter everyone one those castle grounds. Every. Soul,” Naraku ordered again.

Inuyasha’s head did a violent twitch to the side, seeing the castle’s protective walls on the horizon. Without hesitation, he took a powerful leap in the direction of the kingdom, leaving a large cloud of dust behind him every time his heels planted into the ground.

Ten guards who stood near the top of the wooden walls quickly noted the hostile body rapidly approaching them. They wasted not a second aiming bows as Inuyasha and fired as fast as they could. Inuyasha raised his blade, using it as a shield as all the arrows either bounced off of it or missed him completely. The wooden walls and its gate barricading the kingdom came closer to him, and Inuyasha swung through it, crashing through the front wall.

Immediately, panicked civilians screamed in fear. Inuyasha could not hear them, he only saw human targets that needed to be mowed down.

“A demon!” they cried.

Part of the front wall that Inuyasha burst through crumbled down to the ground in a heap of wood, with a couple of the archers falling with it. The remaining archers turned around and continued to shoot Inuyasha, nailing a few arrows in his back. He yelped, staggering forward but looked back and glared at the archers. He reached back and yanked the arrows out of him before squatting and leaping up to the archers’ level. They all gasped, seeing that Inuyasha had just jumped up at least 20 meters to meet them.

He landed on the platform the archers stood, the poor soul that tried to shoot Inuyasha mid-air instead of backing away to the rest of their comrades met their untimely end by Inuyasha's sword upon his landing, dousing the blade in blood. The archers kept their aim on him, both sides huddled together near the large bowls of fire that decorated the walls’ corners with trembling arms until one fired an arrow.

Inuyasha merely stepped to the side to dodge it, the arrowhead planting itself in one of their allies. The slight panic of killing an ally gave Inuyasha the chance to exploit their distraction, growling and slicing clean through the archers to his left.

The remaining archers fired at Inuyasha from across the gap caused by him. He jumped over the barrage of arrows flying at him, landing on the other side and cutting them all down as well. More archers from other sides of the wall started to file towards him, so Inuyasha hopped back down to the ground, falling cleanly through someone’s roof. He spotted a family cowering in the corner, holding each other close to one another as the demon locked eyes with them. Inuyasha let out a garbled scoff mixed with a laugh and shot them a crooked smile.

Naraku slowly arrived at the sight of disaster, seeing some desperate people trying to climb over the large piles of wood that blocked off their exit. He could hear their cries for help, pleading for him to assist them. The half demon garbed in his white cloak only stared at them silently from underneath his hood. A noxious purple gas emitted from underneath the cloak, traveling into the walls of the kingdom. The people struggling to escape gasped, taking in the miasma, and their bodies immediately being reduced to skeletons. He hopped over them, letting himself inside the village that led up to the castle in the middle of it.

He stood in its blocked off entrance, making his miasma line the large walls surrounding everyone, ensuring that no one could escape. He spotted more archers on the wall firing at a target below them. Then he heard a loud howl before seeing the wall collapse along with the people on it. One of the bowls of fire tumbled down, setting the walls in a tiny fire before it erupted into a much larger one.

Inuyasha swung his sword almost aimlessly, tearing through houses and people to fulfill his orders. The walls were lit ablaze and began to crumble, the archers above either meeting their deaths in the flames, by the fall, or from Naraku's miasma.

After a while, the screams died out and Inuyasha was surrounded by silence and covered nearly head to toe with blood, some of it even matting some of his hair down. The only place he had left untouched was the castle itself. He took large leaps to reach it, not bothering to enter through its front doors but smashed through its ceiling. He was greeted by guards lining the walls with spears, prepared for his arrival. He didn't allow them to react, wiping them all out in one sweep.

Inuyasha savored their garbled chokes as they collapsed to the ground. He saw the princess huddled in the corner of the room, trembling in fear as her cohorts were killed in front of her, knowing she was the last person alive from those who lived on her castle grounds.

The demon took slow steps towards her, letting the blade of his sword scrape on the floor. He took in every ounce of fear from the young princess as she stared into his red eyes. Like this, he was no better than Naraku. Towering over her, he should see tears rolling down her face and her body shook horribly. He raised his sword, causing her to let out a final scream as he silenced her permanently.

Inuyasha stepped outside of the castle, his heaving returning to normally paced breathes as his senses slowly returned to him. His golden irises showed once again, even if his sclera were still blood red. He still felt violent, and craved to use his sword more but he reigned himself in, fighting off anymore urges to inflict more suffering. He saw the piles of corpses strewn about, either covered in their own blood, or turned into crumbling skeletons along the walls.

“Inuyasha,” Naraku said, approaching him. “It appears that there is no sacred jewel shard here. Your efforts were in vain.” He didn't sound the slightest bit disappointed, as if he foresaw this. As if he planned this. As if he knew.

“What do you mean, ‘there's no jewel shard here’?” Inuyasha growled.

“As I said. There is no jewel shard. I must've been mistaken.”

“You… You mean—“

“Look around you Inuyasha. Aren’t you proud? You achieved this result on your own. The lives taken, this village you’ve annihilated. And it’s all thanks to the gift I bestowed upon you.”

Inuyasha looked around him, finally taking in his surroundings. The smell of blood and smoke hit him in the nose, making him cover it to stop the awful stench. But if was too powerful to be ignored. The bodies strewn about, the lives taken, it was all his fault. He looked his Tessaiga— his hands. It was splattered with blood, innocent people’s blood. He couldn’t process it, as his mind went elsewhere at the sight.

The only thing snapping him back to reality as he looked at his trembling hands was Naraku’s sudden outburst of maniacal laughing. And he kept laughing, and laughing, and laughing.

-----

“Kagome, I’ve been runnin’ for at least a day and a half now…” Kouga panted. “Your nails are diggin’ into my shoulders!”

She didn’t respond.

Miroku and Sango exchanged concerned glances with one another before guiding Kirara in a bit closer to them.

“Kagome, you should really be easier on him. Let us take a break so Kouga can regain his breath,” Sango said.

“We can’t stop now, we have to get there soon,” Kagome said quietly.

“Kagome, we’re going to make to him, alright? But even so, I feel that if you keep this up, it could get a little unhealthy.”

She didn’t respond again.

Sango sighed, saying, “Kouga, stop.”

His stride immediately ceased, the group on the flying cat immediately going past him and Kagome. Kouga plummeted flat onto his face, taking hard and labored breaths as Kagome just sat on his back. Kirara turned around, bringing her friends back so they could regroup. Kagome had yet to move, and Kouga was in no shape to move in that moment.

“Kagome,” Sango said.

Kagome just stared off blankly. Sango sighed again and slipped off of Kirara’s side and stood next to her friend.

“Kagome…” she said again.

Kagome just croaked, but didn’t give a response.

“Okay, up you go,” she said, bending down and putting Kagome’s arm over her shoulder and lifted her to her feet. “Let’s take a walk, alright?”

Sango looked back at Miroku and Shippo, mouthing, Stay here with Kouga. They both gave affirmative thumbs up as she walked Kagome away with her, Kagome dropping her bag off of her back as they left. There was no real privacy in the plains they had managed to stop in, but Sango took Kagome out far enough away from the boys so that only they could hear one another.

“Talk to me, Kagome.”

Kagome's head was low, obscuring her eyes. Sango waited, almost about to say something again when Kagome finally spoke up.

“Sango, what's happening to me?”

“It's grief,” she answered plainly. “I think… you’re becoming a little less aware of how— of things that are happening around you, and you're shutting yourself off a bit. I understand what’s happening to you, I really do. And that’s why I don’t want to see you become me.

"We're all hurting from this, Kagome, and while I don't doubt for a second that you're hurting the most, you've gotta realize that you're not the only one looking to save Inuyasha. I don't want you to get so caught up in it that you end up hurting yourself more, okay?"

"Mmm…" Kagome whimpered.

Her nose sniffled and she pulled away from Sango.

"I feel awful."

"I can understand. I really can."

"I just…" she looked up Sango, revealing her face doused in her own agony and tears. “I can’t stand to lose him,” she said. Her voice was tired. The quiet, dull tone in her voice did not match the look of despair and suffering written all over her flushed red face.

Sango’s heart sank seeing Kagome like this, her face welling up too. Kagome lowered her head again and raised her arms a bit, trying to bring Sango in to hug her. Sango took the invitation and locked her in a tight hug, letting Kagome know that she was there to support her. They stood there for a while, until Sango could feel Kagome slowly begin to relax. Her tears started to soak through Sango’s collar, making an uncomfortable spot on her clothes. Kagome had her head buried in her friend’s chest, not wanting to pull away, but she knew she had to.

She still chose to avoid eye contact, but she could feel Sango’s concerned eyes burning into her.

“Better?”

Kagome nodded. “I’m better.”

Sango nodded too, guiding Kagome by the shoulders back to their group.

In their time gone, Miroku had seated himself next to Kouga, giving him some water which he’d fished out of Kagome’s bag. He spotted the girls, waving at them for their return.

Upon arriving, the first thing Kagome said was, “I’m sorry, Kouga.”

He gaped in surprise, shaking his head.

“The heck are ya apologizing for?!”

“I pushed you too hard! You shouldn’t run again so soon until you feel better.”

“Pssssh. Don’t get so down worryin’ about me! I can take it! I just needed a breather. You and your back sack just ain’t doin’ wonders for my back.”

“I’m sorry!”

“Hey! I said ya don’t need to apologize already… If you wanna go, I’m ready to go.”

Sango interrupted, “Buuuuuut, for the benefit everyone I suggest we take a break before we start up again, okay?”

Kagome nodded. There were no objections towards Sango. ———

Inuyasha dragged himself behind Naraku, his mind blank as he couldn’t process anything. Naraku was unbothered, he amused at Inuyasha’s suffering. The half demon’s Tessaiga dragged behind him in his hand, leaving a trail of blood behind them.

Naraku’s laughter rang through Inuyasha’s mind, louder in his head than it was when he’d first heard it. It filled him with a rage so visceral— so unbridled— that he stood on the edge of picking up the Tessaiga to stab it through Naraku’s smug skull. It made him dizzy, and his head was pounding. Despite all this raw and violent intention towards Naraku, he hung low, not feeling it within himself to attack.

He could still hear their screaming, it becoming louder as the smell of their blood on his clothes coming into his focus. Naraku knew this was pointless. He did it to test Inuyasha, to see how he would respond to this. He responded wrong. He continued to follow him.

A familiar scene filled Inuyasha’s nose, making his ears shoot up.

“It’s that Kagome girl!” he exclaimed, swiveling on his heel to follow the direction of the smell.

Before he could start to escape, Naraku’s tentacles firmly wrapped around Inuyasha’s neck, choking him and pulling him back as more tried to bind him to Naraku. He coughed then growled, gripping his Tessaiga as he swiped to cut off the fellow half demon’s tentacles.

“I’ve had enough of this…!”

Chunks of the flesh fell to the ground, still squirming as Inuyasha freed himself and stepped back. Naraku shook his head, the only thing Inuyasha could see was his hood swaying. More appendages erupted from underneath the cloak, grabbing Inuyasha harshly and dragged him to Naraku. It was harder to break through this time, the tentacles feeling like firm but sharp bone that threatened to cut through Inuyasha’s skin. Inuyasha was dragged right up to him, far too close for comfort. He looked up at Naraku, who loomed over him, seeing his piercing red eyes glaring at him beneath the shadows of his hood.

“You do not go to Kagome. You will wait for her arrival here.”

—————

“What the hell? I see smoke up ahead!” Kouga exclaimed, alerting Kagome on his back.

“You don’t think…?”

“I’m gettin’ a bad feeling. I smell Naraku’s miasma from here.”

Kagome felt herself shutting down again, but she took a deep breath to bring herself back to reality.

“Kagome, are you alright?” Sango asked.

She gulped and nodded. “Let’s keep going.”

As the group got closer, Kagome could hear Kouga retching quietly.

“Dammit. I smell Inuyasha here too, and lots of blood.”

Kagome found it harder to swallow, as a horrible sinking feeling overcame her. She could already tell what the scene may be. A heap of fire lit up the sky and the grass around it. It was hard to get closer to what the structure used to have been.

“Miroku, Shippo. Get off. I’ll go above and see if there’s any survivors,” Sango said.

The two nodded, slipping off of Kirara’s back. Sango and Kirara took to the sky, doing their best to avoid the heat and flames. Sango scavenged the ground below from the sky above, seeing pools of blood in areas where there were no flames. After a few minutes of surveying, she returned back to the ground to rejoin her allies. All she did was shake her head silently.

Kagome bit her lip and mussed with her hair as she fidgeted.

“Kagome, I can still smell the mutt’s stench mixed with Naraku’s a bit further out,” Kouga said, trying to look back at her.

“I can feel a great demonic presence nearby, as well as most of the Shikon jewel!”

“Most of it?” Shippo exclaimed.

Kagome nodded.

“Kouga, you think you can follow Naraku and Inuyasha's smells?"

“‘Think’? Of course I can! Follow me,” he said cockily, starting to run again.

Miroku and Shippo hopped back behind Sango, Kirara following the wolf demon and priestess.

“There's a trail of blood on the ground!” Kagome pointed out.

“This just makes it easier…”

A forest came into view, and Kouga sped up as Naraku’s noxious odor and Inuyasha’s familiar scent got stronger. The group dashed into the forest, trying to dodge the trees while still speeding through it.

“We’re getting closer,” Kagome and Kouga said simultaneously.

Kagome’s breath hitched, seeing a flash of Inuyasha’s white hair.

Naraku came into view as well, and Inuyasha turned to look at them. His golden and red eyes were distraught as he stood next to Naraku, Naraku’s blade up to his neck.

“Inuyasha!” she screeched, at the top of her lungs.

Kagome hopped off of Kouga’s back, making him stop running in surprised. She sprinted past him, taking off her yellow bag and readied her bow and arrow in her hands.

“Kagome!” Kouga yelled.

“Kagome, wait!” Sango called after her.

Inuyasha watched the girl raced up to her, and he gritted his teeth. He brought up the blade of his Tessaiga between Naraku’s blade and his neck and pushed hard, destroying it. He jumped forward, to escape Naraku’s grasp, not even looking back. Kagome’s face lit up, seeing Inuyasha come to her. Her face then went pale in an instant.

A long arm grabbed onto Inuyasha’s lengthy hair that travelled behind him as he ran, making him stop short of Kagome. Kagome reached for him as he got pulled away again, his head craning back from the force of the pull on his hair. Naraku lifted him up, another sharp bone jetting from underneath the cloak and impaling Inuyasha right through his chest.

----

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#inuyasha #inuyasha fic #inukag #fragmented memories

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