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dyaz-stories · 4 years

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What You Can Do

Sooo a long time ago, @mustardyellowsunshine said on one of her podcast episodes that she’d like me to write something about Inuyasha finding out what happened to Kagome with Mukotsu, and I’m here to (finally) deliver! I do want to say that I was hesitant about it because it was brilliantly done in Little by Little, so if you want to read a different take on that, I do advise taking a look at it!

(Also, I totally recommand listening to the podcast over at @dogboycast! They’re all entertaining and a great listen, and I particularly like the episodes on Kikyo and Buddhism/reincarnation/cultural context)

Warning: mentions of attempted rape/sexual assault. Nothing happens during the one-shot but that’s what’s discussed here. So I won’t be doing my usual tagging list in case anyone doesn’t want to read about it.

Inuyasha had promised himself a long time ago, as his mother was buried, minutes before he was hunted out of the castle where he used to live with her, that he would never let himself feel powerless again. It wouldn’t matter how much pain he had to endure, it wouldn’t matter what he would have to break to get there. He would never feel like that again.

Of course, there was no way for him to keep that promise. He had felt powerless time and time again. Every new moon. When he had watched Kikyo die. When Kagome had been taken away from him and he had thought he might not ever see her again. But since her return, well, things had been pretty calm, and he had thought — he had hoped — that perhaps he was finally done with it.

He knew it was naive. Him, of all people, knew better than to expect fucking anything from life.

And watching Kagome’s expressionless face right now was making him feel the most powerless he had in years.

It hadn’t been much, technically. He had overheard a couple of merchants talking crudely, to say the least, about things that they’d like to do to Kagome, and about how anyway, considering what she was fucking she had no room to refuse them.

So naturally, he had done the only sensible thing, in that he had pulled out Tessaiga and, after scaring the shit out of them, had given them a reasonable beating — reasonable given what they were saying, that is. Then, of course, Kagome had come out of thin air and had interrupted him.

“Inuyasha,” she’d scolded, her tone tired rather than angry, “you can’t keep doing that.”

“Had a good reason,” he replied through gritted teeth. He didn’t want to give too many details on what exactly had just happened. The things she was exposing herself to by simply being with him… That terrified him. Disgusted him, too, and he couldn’t do anything about it. Except leaving her, which wasn’t a better solution.

“And what was that good reason?” she asked, rolling her eyes as the merchants escaped.

He glared at the two figures. Somehow, watching people running away from him just brought his instincts out. He wanted them dead.

“Inuyasha?”

Yeah. That’d have to wait.

“Were saying some nasty shit about you,” he said with an uncomfortable shrug.

Kagome rolled her eyes.

“I told you before, I don’t care about that, and I don’t want you to be fighting for me. I can do it myself if I need to.”

He should have left it there. He usually did. He admitted he was wrong, said sorry, and went pouting in the forest until she met him at the bottom of the Goshinboku, generally with some food. His resolve never lasted long, and the cycle repeated fairly regularly. But today, the things they’d been saying… Today, he had felt scared. And he probably should have kept that fear to himself, but some part of him thought that maybe it would be better if she was prepared. That way, she could make the choice to leave him.

“You don’t know what they were saying, Kagome,” he said instead. “’s probably better, too,” he admitted immediately, ears drooping, expecting questions and refusing to let her know, already changing his mind. He was scared. He didn’t want her to be.

This time though, she looked exasperated. Usually, he kinda liked it when she did. The way she frowned, the way she pouted, the way it often ended with a kiss… But there was no room in this interaction for him to enjoy what was happening.

“Do you really think I don’t know what they’re saying?”

Air left his lungs, like she had punched him in the stomach. His mouth opened and closed, and usually, Kagome would have noticed, would have slowed down, would have stopped herself, but this time she was looking away from him.

“It’s not exactly new either, Inuyasha. It happened when I went to school, when I was in town, when I was in the subway… I can’t say I’m surprised it’s happening here too.”

He felt utterly disgusted at himself when relief flooded through his veins and he could breathe again. She wasn’t talking about him.

“That can’t be right,” he mumbled. She had never talked about it before. He could have taken care of it.

A joyless laugh escaped her lips, and he gritted his teeth as his ears flattened against his head. He loved her laugh. It was his favorite sound in the world, the sound he tried to store in his mind every time he heard it, the sound he had missed for three long years. This wasn’t it. This was unpleasant, full of bitterness, and the thought that she had that in her… was horrible.

“You know it is, Inuyasha,” and again, it was like she had hit him. “We’ve run into bandits, you know how they talked about me and Sango. And other people…” She shrugged. “They’re not that different.”

“Yeah, but…” But he’d always been here when that had happened. He’d always been by her side, he’d always protected her — or, well, he’d thought so. He didn’t have the slightest idea about the things that had happened in her time, and that was a horrifying thought. What other things didn’t he know about? “…but you’re okay, right?”

Her expression changed. It was barely noticeable, and yet he couldn’t possibly miss it. Her lips formed a straight line. She certainly wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t pouting either. She stopped frowning, and there was nothing on her face that showed any emotions. Even her eyes were empty. It was like a door closing between her and the world.

“It’s fine. I just have to be prepared for it.”

Prepared. Always. Every single second of her life, bracing herself for what she learned the hard way can happen.

“That ain’t an answer.”

She closed her eyes.

“Leave it, Inuyasha.”

He winced at that.

“I just wanna know if you’re okay.”

It was the softest, the quietest his voice had ever been, and Kagome… simply couldn’t ignore it.

“You remember Mukotsu?”

How could he forget? He’d thought— He’d thought it was all over. Thought he’d lost her, lost his friends, lost everything. Never had Kikyo’s proposition been more tempting than it was at that moment. Finishing what he’d started and leaving everything else behind.

“Bastard who poisoned you.”

“That’s right. Well he also… wanted to make…” She struggled to talk, struggled to find the right words to describe it. “…a good memory before he killed me. Nothing— nothing happened, thankfully, but— It got close enough.” His exact words, too. Maybe his way of downplaying his actions; she couldn’t be sure. Comfortably silent on what he actually meant by it. Ignoring his hands lingering on her body, ignoring the things that would have happened if she hadn’t defended herself and if Sango and Miroku hadn’t arrived, ignoring the way he’d hit her when she had dared to defend herself.

“A good—”

Inuyasha didn’t know what was taking him so long. This shouldn’t have been hard to process. In fact, he should have known where this was going the second she had said that name. But he was being especially slow. That shit happened, sure, but not to Kagome. There was no way he’d have let that happen. There was no way she wouldn’t have told him about it.

“That’s— Fuck—”

She remained silent, watching him with empty eyes, and he died inside a little more.

“Fuck, Kagome, I’m so fucking— I shouldn’t have let that happen.”

She briefly bit the inside of her cheek, the dim pain a welcome distraction, then shook her head.

“No offense, Inuyasha, but this isn’t about you.”

Nah, that wasn’t what he’d tried to— Ah, fuck. He just wanted someone to blame for what had happened to her, someone he could take down. Since Sesshomaru had killed Mukotsu and the Seven Mercenaries had been dead for a long time now, there was nothing he could do there. Sure, he could blame himself for it now, but what good would it do?

“Why didn’t ya tell me?”

She pursed her lips.

“Why would I tell you?”

“Because— Fuck, Kagome, if some bastard does something like this to you, I—”

“Mukotsu’s dead. You just beat up those two men. What else do you want?”

Some deeply buried part of her knew it didn’t make sense. She knew Inuyasha cared for her, loved her, and of course he’d want to know about it. But the idea of him wanting to kill people about it? This wasn’t about her. It was about him. And maybe it was wrong of her, but for this in particular, she needed him to make it about her.

Inuyasha stared at her in silence. At the way her shoulders were shaking slightly, at her set expression. Hurt was slowly spreading through him at the thought that she wouldn’t tell him, but he fought it with everything he had. Not now. He wasn’t backing out of this just yet, when Kagome was so obviously hurt.

“I wanna know,” he repeated stubbornly. “I wanna do— anything I can do to help.” He was pretty clueless as to what that was exactly, but fuck that. He refused to abandon her.

Her tense body relaxed.

“There’s nothing to do,” she replied in a whisper. “I just have to know. It can happen.” Even more importantly for the demeaning, insulting words he’d heard, because those were so terribly common. She just had to be prepared every step of the way.

“But that ain’t right,” he protested, and it was childish, and it was unlike him, because he knew that there wasn’t much in the world that was right, but he couldn’t let it go. “You shouldn’t have to—”

“If I’m not, it’s going to— to impact me every single time,” she said, hammering the last words through her teeth. “Just look at what happened when we met Miroku for the first time, when we met Koga. I’m stronger now, but there will always be a risk that this will keep happening. I have to be prepared.”

He took a step towards her. She lifted her chin almost defiantly, daring him to tell him otherwise with tears in her eyes, ready to spill. And the truth was, he couldn’t. He didn’t want her to have to go through that, but he had lived the majority of his life behaving exactly like that. It fucking sucked that she had to go through it, and he knew now that it wasn’t the best way to deal with things. Yet he didn’t know how to tell her any of that.

“I get it,” he conceded with some difficulty. “Just— ya know nothing ‘bout this is okay, right?”

Again, she shrugged.

“It’s not like anything happened. The things I went through, they’re— they’re okay. It could have been worse, and it wasn’t. It’s not that bad.”

She knew the stories of girls in the village, even of girls at her school. What had happened to her couldn’t possibly compare. That was merely a bump in the road, and if it was ‘not okay’, why did it happen over and over again? Why didn’t anyone do anything about it? What did it make the worse things that happen? It was— It was fine.

“That’s bullshit,” Inuyasha answered bluntly. “You’re the one who taught me that, right? If it makes ya feel bad, it matters. ’s important. And if— if something happens to ya, I want to know ‘bout it. I want to help. If ya don’t want me to beat the guy up, I guess I can live with that. Just— I need ya to talk to me, Kagome, ‘kay?”

He reached out to caress her cheek gently, and Kagome broke down at the contact. Tears were flowing freely as she grabbed his hand to press it against her skin. Her tears made him just as uncomfortable as ever, but Inuyasha didn’t say anything. He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close, and kissed the top of her head as he engulfed her completely in his embrace. He wanted her to feel safe. If not every time she stepped outside of their house, at least now. He wanted to give her whatever relief she could have.

“If ya want me to beat Koga and Miroku up, I can, though,” he said when he felt her tears calming down. “Y’know it’d make me happy.”

She laughed through her sobs, protesting lightly, and it made him feel weirdly proud. He wasn’t exactly good at making people laugh, nor at making people feel better, but for her, he’d try.

“Thanks,” she mumbled in his chest.

“Anytime.”

And he meant it. Anytime, any place, in whatever way she needed him. He would be there for her. Even if it made him feel the most powerless he ever had to hear her sob in his arms.

Anything for her.

#inuyasha #kagome #kagome higurashi #inukag #my writing

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vvlin91 · 6 years

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The Making of Sanaich

How 19-year-old Sana Hiroki transformed himself into an 80s yaoi icon

Maraich is special to the Patalliro! series even before author Maya Mineo realized it. He confessed to planning to kill him off after a few chapters but saw the character had a life of its own and therefore he felt compelled to let him live. I wonder if this happened before or after Maraich was assigned to be 18 years of age, because Maya Mineo fell in love with his wife at first sight when he was 27, which is Bancoran’s age, and his wife 18. In the manga Maya-sensei also jokingly stated that Bancoran’s cheating was in no way a reflection of his own behaviors. And the fact that Maya-sensei’s now-mangaka daughter saw Patalliro as a sibling growing up kind of indirectly shows how Bancoran and Maraich’s relationship is in certain ways a representation of Maya-sensei’s own marriage.

Maya-sensei is delightfully weird, as you would expect from the man who created Patalliro! in the first place. So a lot of the decisions he has made about his story and characters don’t fit into boxes. He said he wasn’t good at drawing women so he made all his characters gay even though the pretty boys he draws are all indistinguishable from women.

And even though Maraich was one of the most important characters of the story, he never bound himself or anyone else to any set ways of portraying the character. Maraich was famously voiced by female voice actor Fujita Toshiko, and Maya-sensei had characterized Maraich as “a girl with a boy’s body”, despite the fact that Maraich throughout the series has used “boku”, which is the male first-person pronoun and on several occasions made it clear that he is a male and has no problem staying that way. So the whole thing is a very fluid situation and Maya-sensei is almost always just free-ranging.

When Stage Patalliro! became a thing but the cast has not been determined, Maya-sensei called his daughter Marie to ask about whether Maraich should be played by a man or a woman. Little did he realize that because Marie was raised on all the BL manga he had gathered over the years in his household, there was only one possible answer from a hardcore fujoshi.

The conversation was first revealed in Marie’s own comic series:

“100% MALE!” was Marie’s instant reply. So we might have her to thank for Sanaich.

“For real?” was Sana’s initial response after being cast as Maraich. He didn’t know Patalliro! prior to the play and there was little in common between he and his character. Maraich looks like a woman, and was voiced by a woman, moreover Maya-sensei sees Maraich as a girl at heart and even wants a female to play the role, everything was mounting on Sana who has so far made his name by playing a serious character.

A known hard-worker, Sana did not dwell on the pressure and dived into the series. He read the entire manga(which was 90+ volumes and counting) and watch the anime on DVD(49 episodes not counting the movie). It was then when he saw that Maraich always uses “boku” when referring to himself.

“So there is still a part of him that is a boy.”

He expressed his thoughts to Maya-sensei when they sat down for an interview for the first time. And Maya-sensei, being his free-ranging self and all, essentially advised him to approach the character his own way. That is to say, he doesn’t have to feel confined by the anime’s female voice(which would be impossible for him to mimic anyway) or even Maya-sensei’s own characterizations. They have cast a boy, so Maraich now is a boy and there is nothing wrong with playing him as one.

“I often see (Maraich) being called ‘the one in a million pretty boy’ so I thought, ‘Ah, he’s a boy after all.’”

“My voice is so deep.”

“My shoulders are a little too wide.”

The photoshoot was just one of the places for such concerns, where Sana had to come up with very feminine and even erotic poses. Luckily he got advice from the staff and he also observed the women around him. He ultimately settled for a “worried” face, expressing the inner thought of “What do I even do...”

(Aoki Tsunenori, who plays Bancoran, said, “I didn’t receive any special instructions for the photoshoot.”)

The result was stunning.

Tsune: I don’t dislike girls with wide shoulders at all. It’d definitely score a pass for me.

Sana: I’m so glad ♪ (A/N: the music note was printed in the actual interview)

(Despite that, Sana carried the same concerns with him even long after the show was over. In these two clips(1/2) where he watched himself as Maraich on stage, you can still see him feeling uneasy about his voice and any sign of masculinity, despite his fellow actors' repeated reassurance that he was adorable and his style was really good. )

To look like the character is one thing, to give him life on stage is another.

Even though they have established the fact that Maraich is a boy, he is still a feminine one. A lot of ideas flew around from the director and others on how Maraich would behave under different circumstances(80s female idols were an important point of reference). Once the directives were in his head, Sana realized he had indeed started acting more “girlish” even without realizing. He started to obsess over make-up, buying fashion magazines targeted at women, and unconsciously dancing in a very feminine manner... At one point he wondered if he had gone a little too far and really became a girl, but he was also having so much fun so he just laughed it off.

However, there was another elephant in the room: Maraich and Bancoran’s same-sex relationship, which was something new to both actors.

Sana: (while staring at Tsune) I want to convey the ultimate love story that even the audience would envy. Tsune: I never injected love to a boy this way though~ Sana: I have never fallen in love with a man before so...please take care of me! Tsune: Well, me neither. (LOL) (A/N: the bracket notes are also printed in the actual interview)

Since both actors considered themselves to be straight(haha), Maya-sensei advised Sana to think of himself as a boy with a girl's heart to help him approach same-sex romance for the first time. Tsune then declared, “Sana I’m going to treat you like a girl now” which Sana happily agreed to. They indeed grew to enjoy each other’s company, sometimes caught by fellow actors sharing a private moment together and both spoke very fondly of the experience even long after the show was over.

And there’s the fanfiction-like story of how they managed to kiss without feeling embarrassed.

Here’s a video you have probably watched 200 times because I reblogged it 2000 times.

They were determined to get this right. Tsune said in a later interview that he didn’t want people to think they were faking the kiss so a simple brush on the lips was out of the question. Kato Ryo(Patalliro), who somehow always gets asked about the kiss even though he personally was not involved, also said they both really went for it with all they had.

And there is also the love-making. Neither spoke much about it unfortunately but we know this position was coined by Kato Ryo and there was a lot of trial and error happening under everyone’s watchful eyes. So we at least know they had to rehearse in the middle of the room with everyone watching.

Alas, Maraich is more than just a pretty face.

Maraich is a trained assassin and literal killing machine. Check out Sana’s epic high kicks in this action sequence with Tsune.

Maraich is also a sentimental lover. His solo "That Man" is an expression of his rawest emotions, and a very subtle tribute to the fact that Maraich was one of the earliest manga characters to be shown engaging in masturbation.

Remember how Sana was concerned about his deep, manly voice? In Maraich and Bancoran’s duet "Snipers of Love", you can clearly hear that Tsune's voice is a lot higher than his but that did not keep this song from being one of the most brainwashing tracks coming from any stageplay.

And there’s also this moment of truly seamless acting:

Maya-sensei's daughter and mangaka Yamada Marie grew up with BanMara. Yet even she, after watching the stageplay, found herself shipping BanMara even harder and started to actively use the term "Sanaich", combining the actor and character's names.

Kato Ryo, who was the determining factor that made the play even remotely plausible, mentioned how having Sana as Maraich and Tsune as Bancoran helped him relieve a lot of the pressure. Patalliro, Bancoran and Mariach are the pillars of the original story, and it is not surprising that the stageplay could only work out when there are three competent and talented actors to fill those roles. In fact, in many group and solo interviews the three of them did before and after the play, they brought up how watching each other get into character gave them confidence and even more faith that this play - long considered an impossible project - will work out just fine.

In the end, Sana probably found that he and Maraich had more in common than he first thought. Sana is a very talented and hardworking actor. His subsequent performances as Sesshomaru in Stage Inuyasha and Bedivere in Stage FGO were also highly praised, but I still feel Maraich is his most outstanding performance to date. There's just something about Sanaich that feels so natural, something close to perfection came out of that flawless addition of unabashed boyishness and Maraich's sentimentalism.

After the final performance, Sana wrote on his blog,

"I am so happy to be able to play Maraich. So happy that I might have got pregnant...LOL"

And here’s a gif of him having fun.

Well, he's just not pregnant...yet.

#sana hiroki #maraich #patalliro #cock robin killed me #DID YOU THINK I ONLY WRITE META ON KUROMYU #NOPE #every time I see people say Sana's Sesshomaru is so good #I be like ok you are not wrong #BUT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN NOTHING #you can never begin to grasp this boy's talent without having seen his Maraich #oh god when is the last time I wrote this long a post

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tekka-dan · 6 years

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more of a rant post but bare with me

everyone discusses how Avatar the Last Airbender was their first of its time to handle every single troupe correctly and basically defined “phenomenal story telling” which is not wrong. ATLAB is on par with Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones when it comes to phenomenal characters, scenery and world building as well as conflictions, resolutions and development.

However, I’m disappointed that no one speaks about how Inuyasha did this long before Avatar the Lasf Airbender was even airing on television.

Inuyasha was also during the time period of before Youtube even existed, it was right up there with Ruroni Kenshin, Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Jack. It was an anime that many children probably would define as their childhoods but with that being the case, it’s often forgotten and overlooked.

If you’re not familiar with the storyline, it’s not as difficult explaining as it would be watching the show. As a child myself, what I loved most about Inuyasha was despite missing an episode or two, it didn’t feel like the plot was leaving you behind and it didn’t make you feel as though you weren’t going to catch up (something One Piece and Dragon Ball Z lacked) so it was enjoyable not to mention relatable. Despite the anime being about a half demon, Inuyasha was far more than just a relatable character.

He was one of the first protagonists I distinctly remember being laid back, care free and outspoken. He was also the first character I saw in anime that defined what a “goal” was to me. His first appearance despite being a handsome devil, we’re given the impression from an outside characters point of view that he’s a bad oerson, evil and untrustworthy. Right off the bat the storyline sets you up to antagonize Inuyasha and sympathize with that bitch lovely woman, Kikyo.

In the first episode we are given a story with so much room to grow, it’s miraculous this anime isn’t spoken about anymore (despite it also being a long running shounen). Another thing about Inuyasha that it does well is it’s world building. We know Kagome and Inuyasha are from two different time periods and realms but the way their realities and timelines intertwine was done marvelously (for an early anime).

Inuyasha was so easy to follow and understand. Jewel Shards were such a basic goal for almost every character but the drastic differences in everyone searching to obtain them was done so variably well that you pretty much never cared to really invest in what the Jewel Shards themselves did, but rather you were more interested in the characters who went through hell to obtain them and for what reasons, and for what costs. That’s a main reason why I was able to board this anime so well and quickly, everyone’s goals were so apparent, but drastically different and it didn’t make any of the characters feel under developed or downplayed when their goals were/weren’t reached. You knew the characters were going to try and steal Jewel Shards, but what kept you invested was why. What it meant to them. What it meant to them having them and what it did to Inuyasha (and Kagome) to lose them.

That’s a big thing that people don’t seem to talk about with Inuyasha, is how well developed he was from beginning to end. I don’t just mean his personality, but his outlooks on others, himself and in general those around him who have no direct affect on him negatively or even positively. What I invested in for Inuyasha was his different reactions to different circumstances and under what conditions. It wasn’t even always about losing the jewel shards, even from the beginning of the show we are shown that Inuyasha was willing to make sacrifices to protect those he cares about/what matters to him. Most protagonists don’t have this. We are shown their self interests and their stories mold around accepting the view points of others. Inuyasha was one of the first protagonists introduced with a very obvious goal and ambition and yet he still was willing to sacrifice it/let it go under conditions of protecting those he values. This was so important to me as a child.

Naturally with having a protagonist, you in turn have to also have an antagonist. Now throughout the story, we are not really shown a definite antagonist (Naraku wasn’t as apparent in the beginning) but rather various characters acting in selfish impulses that misconstrue them as “antagonistic”. For example, enter Sesshomaru:

The older, sexier, demonic and brutal older brother, Sesshomaru. His first introduction outlays to us that he’s anti moralistic, selfish and spiteful. Inuyasha worlds and possess the sword that Sesshomaru envies and wishes to master, however given the background, their father purposefully kept the sword away from the older brother due to his demonic behavior and tendacies, therefore entrusting it to the younger brother Inuyasha who seemed to balance his human side better than his older brother. Their father knew that no evil or harm was to ever come if Inuyasha possesses the sword, because he also knew it’s full power couldn’t be awakened with Inuyasha only being half a demon and the swords strength intensified with demonic powers. Sesshomaru on the other hand wields a sword that can only bring back the dead, or heal someone. Sesshomaru had no interest in helping others, which is why the weapon he wielded was always so funny to me (and ironic which was the point).

Sesshomaru was a classic character that I wish was talked about more for the simple fact that he was interesting and his development was exquisite, but also for the fact that he was simple. Not all characters need to be complex and even a simple character can be well rounded/written/portrayed. At first appearance Sesshomaru is definitely brutal and a threat. However until his encounter with Rin, Sesshomaru’s character takes on a different role and it was incredible. His character after Rin’s introduction went from power seeking selfish demonic older brother to caring, protective and understanding. His goals changed from wanting to wield Tessaiga to instead wanting to protect Rin, because she couldn’t protect herself. In fact his demonic powers solely awoke if her life was threatened. What people seem to forget about Sesshomaru was that despite being a demon, he was only half. And despite being half a demon in general, he was still an older brother. So to see his character fleshed out this way was something we don’t see in antagonists often.

Another thing Inuyasha did really well was introducing its main cast of characters without making us feel overwhelmed and without developing them in their own senses. Each of the characters had their own goals, ambitions, motivations and intentions. It varies from their reasonings to collecting jewel shards to why they joined Inuyasha’s team.

Shippo the fox demon was introduced as a bandit wanting to steal Jewel Shards to avenge his father’s murder. Upon joining the group he becomes the comic relief but he has so much development, it’s phenomenal. His intentions don’t waver, he more than ever keeps to his ambitions. What’s even better is that his personality doesn’t change either. Despite being apart of the team, he still voices his opinions even if it’s rude, uncalled for or down right dick-ish. And the others don’t bend to him either, which makes them all feel that much more human. The group of characters are still individuals with and without one another. Take away one of them and their dynamics don’t really suffer which isn’t really a bad thing. It just means that they each have their own roles and it doesn’t always need it for them to be together. Shippo is a defining role of this. Something we also don’t see often in anime.

Miroku was the very first animated character tat I ever found hilarious and that I enjoyed every moment of him being on screen. His perverted attitude doesn’t get old and it’s for the mere fact that his character shines without it. He’s kind hearted, generous and observant despite talking about wanting to fuck Sango in most of his sentences, it’s not ALL he is. Another great thing about Miroku’s characterization is that he is introduced as a potential threat and we learn just how insecure this man truly is. Of every character in the group, Miroku is the only one who opens his entire heart and allows the group to express themselves. His role was so pivotal that their dynamics wouldn’t have had AS MUCH of an impact without his wise comments or relaxed advice. Miroku was the “mom” friend. He had advice for everyone about anything and what’s better is that he was simply a monk. He meant a lot to me as a child, he gave some of the best advice.

Sango was the first female character introduced that I was enticed by. She was fierce, outspoken, driven and knew her value. She never let the men do her work for her and she absolutely never backed down. In almost every single confrontation, Sango was the first one to make a move and she was deadly about it. She was the first female character that I was obsessed with because she was so well written and portrayed. Also upon joining the group, what Inuyasha did really well with her character was that it didn’t make her being apart of the team ALL she was. In fact Sango had the most conflicting feelings in the entire group upon being apart of the team, being as that her goals and ambitions was to rescue her little brother Kohaku. Miroku was the one to convince her to stay on numerous occasions but something Inuyasha ALSO does well was that it made all of the characters CHOOSE to either stay, join or leave. These characters were brought together by chance, not fate and the show kept reminding us that despite them being a team, they were still their own people with their own goals, emotions and aspirations.

The next thing Inuyasha excelled in was love triangles. Many anime try doing love triangles and just go about confusing the shit out of the audience or doing such piss poor jobs that it isn’t believable. Inuyasha does this well though.

Enter Koga!

Koga’s introduction was done really well, merely for the fact that it was one of the first times we saw another character (Naruku NOT included) apart of a team that isn’t a main character/villain. Koga came in swinging, he was bold, brash and impulsive. I loved him as a child because he spoke his mind and didn’t stop at anything to get what he wanted. Koga was also introduced as tease for Kagome (because this was before anything romantic was between Kagome and Inuyasha) and it was done really well. For the most part being that Kagome showed obvious no interest, she wasn’t a complete dunce around him nor did she allow him to swoon her or not respect her/her friends. His rivalry with Inuyasha could’ve been mapped for the fact Inuyasha was jealous, but it also centered around Koga possessing jewel shards that the team really needed and he just had the shit implanted in his legs so he could run faster, that was literally it. His character introduced that dynamic between Inuyasha and Koga for the mere fact that despite his reasonings to wanting to be faster was selfish, Inuyasha wanting them for his reason could’ve also been seen as selfish. So neither of them were correct in their ideals and it was really funny as child to see them bicker over such petty matters.

Koga doesn’t officially join the gang but he becomes a frequent ally of them and assists them when needed (although we all know it was at the sake of Kagome) one thing Koga never went back on was his word.

Another love triangle handled SO DAMN RIGHT IT NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT IN HISTORY BOOKS:

Kikyo, the most bad ass and cunning female I’ve probably ever seen in the history of anime (back then, come on now guys this anime is over 15 years old, this was a huge deal back then). Kikyo was introduced as a lover who was betrayed but it wasn’t until HALFWAY THROUGH SEASON 2, that we realize it was HER who did the betraying. The “love triangle” I was alluding to was the fact that Inuyasha loves Kagome for the mere (AT FIRST) fact that Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo, his first lover that betrayed him. However Kikyo doesn’t mind her business OR rest in goddamn peace because the bitch lovely woman makes frequent appearances to string Inuyasha along or fuck with his head/heart/emotions. What’s even worse is that her reasoning can definitely be sympathized with, you cannot morally EXCUSE her reasons though. Which is why Inuyasha handles and tackled TWO of the best love triangles ever done in history. That more people need to fawn over.

The last thing Inuyasha handled correctly were antagonists becoming protagonists/not being evil for the sake of evil.

Kagura was supposed to be an evil wench but after a whole season we learn that Kagura hates her creator more than Inuyasha hates him and it speaks volumes about her character and development for how she handles everything during that confliction. Kagura for the most part doesn’t like being used as a puppet and she doesn’t like not being able to have free will. Of all the “puppets” Naraku makes, Kagura is the only one (of I think..seven or nine?) that openly betrays and goes against him. Her reasons were pretty shallow in the end but before that, it was for her own self worth. Every time she has to fight, she only becomes stronger with rage when she thinks about Naraku (the man who created her) using her as a puppet and not considering her as a human/having feelings. The others all seem to understand their roles and have no issues sacrificing themselves but it goes against Kagura’s entire moral being. That’s why her ultimate sacrifice was ultimately phenomenal because it was pivotal, for both her character and Naraku’s. When characters switch from evil to good, you have to believe their intentions weren’t just for the sake of the plot, but in favor of what they themselves truly believe. Kagura’s changeover was done exquisite because throughout the plot we are shown instances where she doesn’t accept the treatment and at the end we learn that she doesn’t die FOR Naraku. She dies for her brother and sisters, bringing home that she views them as actually family, as humans.

I could go on but this post is already long. I just wanted to share.

#inuyasha #long post

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inukoibito · 7 years

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Lightness and Darkness - 明暗(Part 1.)

Hey guys! Sakura speaking here. Today my dear friends @inuykago & @stubbornhalfbreed and I came up with a roleplay story idea. We each picked our favorite character and came up with this! There was no plot, so we just went along with it from the start.

If you want to see more of these, please let us know!

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Inuyasha (Sakura / @l0st-amul3t): Hanyou. In love with a miko and would do anything to protect his beloved.

Kagome (Aj / @inuykago): Miko. In love with a hanyou, and enjoys annoying his onichan by calling him her ‘onichan.’

Sesshomaru (Jocelyn / @stubbornhalfbreed): Witty older half brother of the hanyou. Hates everyone and everything except for a little human girl, Rin.

It had been four months since Kagome's return. She and Inuyasha’s relationship had grown much strong than before the well closed, but, between the two of them, Inuyasha had changed the most. His confidence had risen, he now took responsibility in his work around the village with little to no complaining, and his attitude towards everyone in the village no longer made him seem bad. But, what Kagome noticed first was how his relationship with her had changed, and maybe not in the way that she hoped it would.

Although Inuyasha and Kagome lived together in their own hut, everyone in the village was very confused to why the two haven't gotten married yet, yet alone the fact that they were not even engaged. This was rare for a couple in these times, so they were often looked down upon by their fellow neighbors and their village. Inuyasha didn't take notice of all of the strange stares they got, but, Kagome on the other hand was taking it much differently.

( After a long week of working, Inuyasha and Kagome both had a well deserved day to relax. )

― ENTER KAGOME AND INUYASHA ―

Kagome: "Inuyasha-" I could see a crest between his eyes and his lips in an uncomfortable slouch- "What's the matter?" I tried to speak up a bit so he would be able to hear me over the chatter in the town. I felt like there were eyes on me, but maybe it was just me.

Inuyasha: Despite hearing Kagome's soft words, I didn't turn towards her and continued walking with a plain look on my face, as if I didn't hear her. I suddenly felt her energy change drastically right before we reached our hut.

Kagome: I knew he heard me, but he just didn't want to reply. That's what really got me--that's what made my hands begin to sweat and my heart start to beat a little faster. Maybe if I asked him one more time he'll answer me? "Inuyasha?" I took a hold of his hand, praying he'd even look at me. "Babe, what is wrong?"

Inuyasha: There were so many mixed emotions going on in my head right then. I had no idea how to tell her, so I tried my best to keep it to myself for as long as I can, but now that things are stirring up with the village people, I almost had no choice but to tell her soon. "Hey, what do you want to have for dinner? I can meet you back at the hut if you want me to pick somethin' up at the market before it closes?" A sweat drop dripped down the side of my face as I cracked a very unrealistic smile in hopes she would help me change the subject.

Kagome: I saw the look on his face, and the way he spoke his words and carried himself, which made me feel almost terrible for trying to somewhat force it out of him; he just couldn't stop ripping his eye contact from mine and trying to avoid whatever subject it is he's trying to avoid. My poor boy, I'll just stop nudging him for now. "Surprise me," I said calmly with a smile, hoping it'd calm his nerves.

Inuyasha: Seeing her expression change made my heart race slow down. I knew that I was in a safe zone now. I grabbed hold of her hands held her small fingers in my hand and held them very tightly. Her face glistened in the moonlight, and that instantly made me feel calm again. "I'll be back soon, my dear." I gave her a small kiss on the lips and went off to the market. I walked off feeling a strong guilt deep in my chest. It hurt to keep something like this away from her. She has every right to know yet, I couldn't tell her.

Kagome: It soothed me hearing him still call me "dear," and give me sweet kisses like that. I couldn't help but smile at the lingering thoughts I had of him. I took a seat near the fire and just listened to the low crickets from outside. The chatter had went down a notch, and everything was much more calm--I didn't feel eyes on me anymore. Yet, I still felt uneasy remembering how uneasy Inuyasha was. Maybe I should talk to someone? Yes, I want to talk to someone--I need to talk to someone. I rubbed my hands against the warmth of the flame one last time before pushing my weight off the ground and headed back outside. There wasn't many people around; Sango and Miroku seemed to not be in their hut and I could see from her that Shippo is helping Kaede with something. I took a few steps to the left until I saw a big furry kimono, which could only be one person. "Onichan!!!" I exclaimed happily--because I loved annoying him with the word. "Onichan!" I yelped once again and I came in closer to him.

Stopping when I heard Inuyasha's miko yelling the absurd nickname she had for I, Sesshomaru. Though she was a interesting human, I'll keep her around for because I'm... curious, I looked in the miko's direction

He gave me such a cold stare, but that didn't phase me because I knew what kind of person he was deep down all of the sass and furry kimonos. "Hey onichan!!" I felt him mentally stab me in the face. "Err-" I took a sit next to him. "Is it cool if I sit here?" He didn't move a muscle. "Great thanks!" I plopped down beside him. I heard a low grunt, but I didn't pay any mind I know he loves me .... somewhere in his cruelness. "So, onichan-" he still didn't move a muscle. "I have a problem." He continued staring at me, "It's about your brother." Still nothing, "WELL," I took a deep breath. "So, like, today we were walking today in town like usual, right?" He didn't even blink. "Right okay, so we're walking it's all good and all, but then I notice him get all tense out of nowhere so I ask him 'What's wrong?' but he just ignores me, I guess, and doesn't say anything back until we got back to our hut." The only reaction I was getting from him was his hair flowing in the wind. "Also, today I felt like people were staring at me, crazy right?" Still no blinking. "Totally, okay anyways... what should I do?"

― ENTER SESSHOMARU ―

Sesshomaru: I blink. Staring at her, why is she coming to me with this problem? I, Sesshomaru have no use for pathetic human drama, I look at her hopeful face and sigh "humans are strange creatures they will shortly die, why care for their opinions?" Maybe she will leave me be now.

Kagome: Wow, that hit me. That hit me deep. I took a moment to look away from onichan and take my mind off of it for a moment. But I really couldn't. I could push away the thought that me and Inuyasha are not of the same life. We do not come from the same place, the same time, not even the same world. Am I really what's best for Inuyasha? I'm not even sure what I could do for him; maybe what I'm doing here is wrong. Maybe being with him is.... wrong. "You're right, onichan-" I still gave him a gentle smile- "Thank you." He didn't respond, as expected, as I got up and began to walk away. I was only a step or two farther from Sesshomaru when tears began to fall down my face. I tried to erase them from my skin, but it just wouldn't cooperate. I stopped, a few inches from onichan, to take a breath, tears still down my face. I didn't know what to do or what to think. But what made everything even more difficult was the person who now stood before me. "Inu-" he dropped his bags onto the floor- "yasha....?" He took a gentle hold of my face and furrowed his brows, angrily, as he wiped the tears away. He looked at Sesshomaru from behind me, which made his hands grip me tighter. "Inuyasha he didn't-" he stomped furiously past me- "do...anything..."

Inuyasha: "What the fuck did you do to my woman Sesshomaru!?" I pulled Kagome away and stood in front of her as I clutched my fists ready for a fight. I turned back to the small figure behind me with tears running down her face. I kept a close eye on Sesshomaru before I turned around and looked down at her fragile face. "What the hell happened? Did he hurt you? Please tell me Kagome." After grabbing her hands I held them tight as I looked deep into her eyes. She looked so frightened, which ripped me apart inside.

Kagome: I didn't know what was happening; I didn't know what to think, to feel.... to believe? His eyes were piercing mine so roughly and aggressively like daggers that it made me shut my eyes and rip away from his hold in pain. "He... didn't do anything..," I sniffled. "He just... helped me think of something..." I wrapped my own arms around myself as I turned back around. I saw how torn apart Inuyasha looked and it broke my own heart. I looked down at the ground, trying to get myself together, but then I noticed Sesshomaru stand up from his seat.

Inuyasha: "Keh, the hell he didn't do anything to you." I pulled Kagome's arm carefully and brought her behind a tree. I continued holding her arm as we made it back to our hut, by then, the sun had finally set, so it was pitch dark out. On our walk back, I would quietly glance down to look at her face which was as white as snow. I knew something was up, and the two of us had to figure it out together.

We finally made it back to the hut as I held the screen door open for her as she walked in first.

Kagome: "Look, Inuyasha-" I rubbed my eyes and sniffled- "Onichan didn't do anything to me, okay?" His crossed arms and the vein in his forehead told me he needed a little more convincing. "I went to him to talk about you...," I took a few steps away from him. "Not like, talking about you, like gossiping-" I chuckled but he didn't laugh- "Oh gosh, do you think I'd actually do that?!" I realized this wasn't anytime for jokes, I needed to stop hurting Inuyasha, which is the exact same reason maybe I should... leave. "Okay, babe. Look," I put a few strands of hair behind my ear. "What if... this is wrong? You and me? What if.... I'm wrong for you?"

Inuyasha: How could she be so loose about this? Thoughts raced through my mind, and too many at once to process what was going on.

"You actually went to HIM to talk about US?" I was mad now. "Are you kidding me Kagome? Why the hell would you seek opinions from him? This is our relationship, and I want him no part of it! You're my mate, which means we keep anything personal to us only." I dragged my feet across the wooden floor of our hut as I paced back and forth. I was really tensed up now.

"Wrong with us? What are you talking about?" I felt a strong tension between the two of us now.

Sesshomaru: I swing the ridiculous excuse for a door out of my way and walk into my brother looking like himself, an idiot. and the miko showing those human things.. emotions? "Look hanyou, I must speak to Rin."

Inuyasha: My eyes darted to him. "Who invited you in here scruffy?" I walked over to in front of him, holding my head high. "Rin isn't here. Now leave." I pointed towards the exit.

"What did you do to you mate?" I drag a hand through my hair, my curiosity got the best of me, and I glare down at the hanyou

"You mean, what did YOU do to my mate!? I left her in my home with no problems, but then I find her outside with YOU crying her eyes out." I started to breathe louder under my breath. Why is this thing in my hut at this hour? What does he want with us? I want him out of here, now!

Sesshomaru: "Inuyasha. This Sesshomaru only stated the truth. Anything your mate might of read into it is on you, so stop blaming it on me like a pup and fix it." For some reason this Sesshomaru did not like the usually happy miko's tears, it angered me

I turned on my heels and walked out of the dwelling, I could smell Rin with her mentor the old woman in the distance.

Inuyasha: "Finally he left!" I scuffed. I turned back to my mate who was standing behind me the whole time. My face calmed down, and I offered her my hand to follow me.

Kagome: I looked at his hand before me; those hands that show me his gentle affection, and for me it was in the most beautiful way anyone could ever show. I grinned, and slowly nodded my head, as I placed my hand on his and melted at his touch.

Inuyasha: I softly took her hand in my own and brought her to a quiet place in the woods behind our home, and at this time of the year, they would be filled with glowing blue flowers that reflected on our own skin. I sat down on one of the rocks that was in a little open space, where we were surrounded by a beautiful iridescent blue glow. She sat next to me as I held her tight in my arms, never wanting to let go.

Kagome: I felt the butterflies fight against my stomach, trying to escape into the world, just like the ones I had when I first met Inuyasha. The flowers, the woods, the rocks--it all made out me in a state of serenity. Between the howl of the calm wind and the soft sounds of his breath, I was at peace. "If I may ask," I broke the silence. "What are we doing here?" On second thought, that might have come off a little rude. "I mean-" I looked down beneath us and rubbed his hand- "is there something you want to tell me?"

Inuyasha: I signed a sense of relieve. My body felt shaky, like I didn't know how to reply to her. I let her go and looked back into her eyes, but this time, I gave her my full attention. "I-I wanted us to talk about what happened earlier...

She looked at me with confusion. I had to think of a way to make myself more clear, for her.

I'm sorry about jumping on you before. You just needed someone to talk to. I must have hurt you really badly, to the point where you had to ask Sesshomaru for help. I'm awful to you... You, you honestly deserve better than this..." These words, I never wanted to say them. I loved her, and I knew she wasn't happy here. I made her cry, I made her feel alone. How could I have made her so upset? Do I want her to suffer like this? Suffer all alone while I hide my feelings from her? I shook my head in disbelief.

I continued before my mind got too off track. "Kagome, I want you to be happy, but even that sounds like a lie. I'm hurting you, because I wanted you to stay by my side. Listen, the reason why we aren't married is because..." I began to tear up. This made me turn completely away from her.

Kagome: I was frozen. I stared at the back of him nervously and anxiously. His words began to dig deeper inside of me, ripping me limb for limb, making me want to scream for help because of the pain but my voice was strained; almost as if I was trapped in a loop of my worst nightmare. "Babe.... W-What-" the tears flowed down to my chin but I didn't care to stop them this time- "are you saying?! What are you saying?!" I threw my head against his back. My sniffles and hiccups returned without my permission, making it more difficult for me to speak. "I-I was wrong before!" I threw my arms around him. "We were meant for each other... don't you think?!" I tried to even put my breaths, "Don't you know?" What was he going to say? Why aren't we married? I felt so scared, like my world was crashing down.

Inuyasha: Her arms around me felt cold. I couldn't embrace her like I would normally. “Kagome, please tell me the truth…” I shuttered. “Do you r-r-really want to live here with me? To give up your family, your home, your entire life? I’m nothing compared to them.” My heart race sped up faster than ever, and the tears continued to flow down my face. “I don’t want to tell you this, but I have no choice now, do I?” I lifted my head up, and not even bothering to clear my tears that were rapidly rolling down my face. “I don’t want you to be in a committed relationship with me. I’ve kept it like this up to now because it gives you the freedom to leave when you want.” I put my hand on top of hers. “You are free. Marriage with a half demon will take all of that away from you.” I stood up and walked a few feet away. “Kagome, be free. Live a happy life.” With that, I walked away into the darkness of the woods, where even the glow of the flowers around us no longer could reach hold of me.

End of part 1.

#fanfiction #collab #roleplay #inuyasha #kagome #inuyasha and kagome #sesshomaru #ours #L.A.D #l0st-amul3t #stubbornhalfbreed #inuykago #inukag #inukag fanfiction

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lonestorm · 7 years

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The Inugami - Chapter 7

Summary: When Kagome Higurashi moved to the bad side of Chicago to help with her grandfather’s restaurant, she expected chaos. Being thrown into a fake gang, caught in the middle of a drug war and grudge that stretches centuries back in time, befriending a grumpy half demon along with a ragtag bunch of three other misfits… wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. High school AU. Inukag. Rating: T (some language)

Pairings: Inukag, Mirsan

Chapters: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6

Shorts: 1. Sesshomaru

**Also on ff.net here.

Within the next two months, Inuyasha had grown to an almost delusional level of paranoia from Naraku’s threats.

For one, he walked each of the Inugami home now (scandalizing Shippo’s foster parents with his barging in and starting a rather heated argument with Sango’s father), checking all of their houses for Spiders, and personally installing locks on windows that had none. (Including Miroku’s fortress of a Buddhist monastery. Honestly, an army couldn't break through that thing.)

What was more, Inuyasha would not let her out of his sight. In the hallway of school, he was no more than an inch away at all times, often putting his arm around her and snarling at any Spider that came close. He walked her home or to work as always, but at her restaurant shifts, he would stay at the counter, order some food, and finish his homework while she worked. He’d then take her to his house to train, or straight to her house, where he’d bid goodbye to her family, pretend to leave, and then crawl up to sleep on the small balcony outside her window. Kagome had insisted that this was extremely unnecessary, but he’d not listened to a word.

An entirely new problem had arisen as well, and it left Kagome especially bewildered and disoriented. For a while, she figured she was going crazy, and finally broke down to Sango during study hall.

“Something is wrong with me,” Kagome had groaned, dropping her head into her homework. “I keep seeing pink, glowing light and feeling this sixth sort of sense when some Spiders walk by. Am I finally losing it?”

Sango, much to her relief, didn’t freak out and took her seriously, only bearing a light frown. “Well, I remember Naraku saying you had some sort of spiritual powers, and you did breathe in some Jewel. While it didn’t have the addictive and usual effects… maybe you can sense it now? Because if it’s only some Spiders you get the feeling from, perhaps it’s because they carry Shikon Jewel-a drug with demon energies. If you had spiritual Shinto powers, you could likely sense youkai energy after being exposed to it.”

“This is sounding extremely Blue Exorcist slash Noragami-ish.”

“Anime has nothing to do with it. Maybe you should make Inuyasha dig through the pockets of the next person you see with the pink light?”

Though the idea sounded barbaric, she’d asked him to do so later, and found a small package of drugs in the gang member’s inside pocket. According to Inuyasha, this ability apparently made her “a little Jewel detector,” and he’d added asking her which Spiders to raid to their daily paranoia routine.

This had been his routine ever since they woke up the day after the first fight against Naraku. She remembered, with great warmth in her chest every time, how she’d woken up to his hands squeezing her shoulders, voice deep and husky with sleep. “Wake up, Kagome. I hear your mom making breakfast.”

At this she’d only snuggled into him more and made an incoherent response; during the night, somehow he’d shifted to hold her to his chest rather than the other way around, as they’d began.

“I have to leave,” he went on, whispering.

“Why?” she’d grumbled, unwilling to lose her heated pillow.

“Do you want your mom to find me here? Just because we’re not… like that...” she could almost hear his blush. “Doesn’t mean even a mom as chill as yours won’t jump to the worst conclusion, or be cool with a guy in their daughter’s bed.”

She’d winced. “Kay.”

“Just wanted to let you know… you know. Didn’t wanna be that jerk who leaves and doesn’t say anything. Em. I mean. If that matters to you or…”

Finally, she’d cracked her eyes open, and found a smile at his nervous expression. His white hair and ears had returned. She’d found satisfaction in how the haircut looked equally as good with his black hair and human ears as it did now. “It does. Thank you for waking me. That was thoughtful of you.”

His ‘keh’ had sounded more like watery ‘kuh’. “See you later, Kagome. I’ll stop by the restaurant later… if you’ll be there.”

“Yeah, I will.”

“Be careful.”

“I will.”

“Keep watching your back, and remember the maneuvers for escaping grip-”

“Yes, Inuyasha.”

“And one hit to the throat can really just bring one crashing down.”

“I know.”

“They just took some more Jewel, so they’ll be stronger and you need to be super careful--just run if you can-”

“Inuyasha,” she’d sighed in exasperation. “I know, okay? It’s about time you went home and tried to make nice with your brother.”

“More like join in the ritual of pretending each other doesn’t exist,” Inuyasha had muttered. “Yeah, okay. And… thanks. For… you know.”

“Yeah, I do.”

From then on, she could tell he’d afterwards felt very embarrassed about all the emotion he’d revealed on that night. She never brought it up to him again, knowing about his fragile human state, and honestly… she didn’t think of him as weaker because of it or something. It had been strange; while knowing how he feels was a bit easier, it had also been… not him. As a half demon, perhaps he was more closed off, and she had to be patient with what he was willing to tell. But that was just how Inuyasha was, and she loved him for it.

They’d also not spoken of that one ‘yeah I almost kissed you’ time. Kagome didn’t know how she felt about that. It would be awkward to talk about, but part of her… really needed to know why the hell he’d been about to kiss her. Or these confusing notions swirling in her hormonal, dumb teenage mind could get far too imaginative. And she really couldn’t afford to get hormonally imaginative about Inuyasha, her best guy friend that she spent most of every day with.

Yes, she told herself she couldn’t afford to. Especially at times like this, when the restaurant was practically empty for the night, Inuyasha was gently frowning and looking down at his English homework, and Kagome couldn’t help but find herself watching the twitch of his ears, the thoughts swirling behind golden eyes, large, scarred hands twirling a pencil. She’d finally admitted to herself that he was attractive… hella attractive… Okay, that she was attracted to him… hella attracted-but that meant nothing! She was a teenage girl that was allowed to have hormones that were separate from her romantic desires.

Without completely thinking about it, Kagome picked up a few homemade, chocolate chip cookies, poured some milk, and put them in front of Inuyasha. He blinked a few times, and then shot a timid smile. “Thanks, Kagome.”

“No problem.” Stifling a yawn, she moved to grab a broom when Inuyasha caught her wrist.

“Hey,” he said, and his voice was softer than usual, like it was every time she got him alone. “You’re looking pretty tired. You don’t wanna be all worn out before our training tonight. Gimme the apron and broom and siddown for a while.”

“N-nah, I’m okay…”

“It wasn’t a question.” Before she could protest, he snatched away her broom and made his way around the counter while putting in his demon-hearing specialized earbuds for music while he worked. Knowing he couldn't be swayed, she gave him her apron with a sigh and headed to the kitchen to pick up her backpack; she’d been avoiding her English and math homework, and she wanted it done to have a free weekend.

Her mother was in the back, loading the dishwasher. “Hi, Mama. Need help?” she asked when she’d gathered her things.

“No, I’m fine here, sweetie.” Her mother closed the washer and began the next load. Kagome leaned up against the sink beside her. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to make Inuyasha all salty by making you work more.” Her mother gave a wink.

Kagome looked away. “Oh, don’t worry about him. He can’t go getting whatever he wants by throwing little tantrums.”

“I suppose. And I doubt I could get him angry like that other boy, Koga.”

Reminded, Kagome gave a grimace. “Ugh, I don’t get why those two can’t just get along. They could be friends if they tried!”

At this, her mother let out a laugh. “Oh sweetheart, really? You don’t know why they don’t get along?”

Letting out a huff, she offered a weak shrug. “Well, I guess they’re both kinda like alpha males. That’s probably it.”

“Perhaps a little,” her mother admitted. “But the main reason is so simple. Inuyasha is jealous, of course. He’s that type of boy.”

“Jealous?” Kagome frowned. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Inuyasha is easily as powerful as Koga, even if he’s only half. Inuyasha’s father was a king among demons, so the half doesn’t really matter… I guess he could be angry about Koga calling him a ‘mutt’ or ‘halfbreed’ all the time.”

“Not jealous about power,” her mother scoffed. “About you.”

Kagome blinked, and then shakily pointed to herself. “M-me? What does it have to do with…me?”

“Considering how Koga asked to marry you,” her mother giggled, “I assume he rather fancies you.”

Kagome flushed. “W-well that may be, but he’s not really my type.”

“I can see that. But Inuyasha still doesn’t like competition for you. He reacts most violently when it seems as if Koga is threatening to take you away for his own. It’s a simple concept.”

Comprehension dawned on her: Mother thinks Inuyasha is into me.

“Whoa, whoa!” Kagome squeaked, waving her hands frantically. “No, it’s not like… no! Trust me, there’s no chance he actually… he’s in love with his ex-girlfriend! It’s nothing like that!”

As she said it, the ugly little monster that had been growing around her heart decided to speak up. It’s true. He could never care about you as he cares for her. He’s going to ditch you as soon as he gets Kikyo back. He won’t need you as a friend anymore, or anything else you truly desire to be with him. Why waste his time with you when he could have her? She’s more beautiful, desirable-

Her mother’s teasing voice brought her back to reality. “Well, I certainly don’t see him devotedly protecting her, taking care of her, spending all his time with her-”

“That’s because she’s trapped in a bad situation and he can only help from the sidelines! I’m trying to help him… get her back…” she trailed off, the nausea swirling in the pit of her stomach. Right. She’d help him get Kikyo back… and then Inuyasha would have no more use for her.

That’s right, the monster encouraged. Wouldn’t it just be easier if Kikyo wasn’t in the picture? She doesn’t deserve his love anyway-

Kagome put a halt to her mind right there. I can’t believe I thought something like that! I’m the terrible, undeserving one, for thinking such horrible things!

“-gome? Kagome, are you alright, dear?”

Slowly, she nodded.

The world seemed to right itself as her mother wrapped her in a hug. “I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to upset you. I remember how hard it is to be in love.”

“M-me? In… huh?”

“Well, do you deny that you’re in love with him? Inuyasha?”

Her face felt especially hot at the mere idea that she was discussing this with her mother. She opened her mouth to outright deny such a silly notion, but found that words would not come out. Why wouldn’t they? It was a simple thing to say. I’m not in love with him.

Yet, thinking such a thing only sounded like someone hiding on a cloudless, summer day, covering their eyes and screaming that the sun didn’t exist.

So instead, her heart clenched, she looked down, and remained silent.

Mother may have said something, but Kagome was too consumed in her mind that was overwhelmed with a tsunami of acceptance. She had always been open to love, but perhaps her subconscious had been protecting her in denial, because…

Loving him would be internal suicide.

Yet, now it was flooding her, all the pent up longing and joy that splintered her bones. Flashes of his smile, laugh, the safety of his arms, the admittance that she never wanted to wake up and see another on the other side of the bed-

“I’m screwed,” she sighed to her mother.

“I don’t think so,” her mother said, kissing the top of her head and giving a last smile. With a dizzy head and a groan, she swung her backpack over her shoulder and gloomily slumping back. She was hit with it all again when she saw him, white bangs held back by his red bandana that had been made into a sweatband. Inuyasha was leaning down, focused on getting every last crumb into the dustpan. Trying to push her rising emotions downward, Kagome took a determined seat in his vacated spot, where she took out her worksheet.

Indeed, frustration took place of her uncertainty and internal shrieks; everyone else in class had gotten the assignment done within the class, but Kagome had needed to look several words up in her dictionary app. She was perfectly fluent in modern English, but this old English stuff was absolute gibberish, especially when put into a poem and asked to be interpreted.

Muttering words under her breath that too much time around Inuyasha had taught her, she pulled up google translate… “What the world is Eeahmbeek pentahmeeter?”

Inuyasha looked up at her and set his broom aside. “What?”

“Exactly! What! What? What is this?!”

“Chill out, spaz,” he told her, walking around the counter to stand behind her. “What’s the problem?”

“Shakespeare is the problem, Inuyasha. I speak English, but not… this!”

Squinting at the paper, instead of laughing at her, he frowned in something that looked almost close to sympathy. “Oh, yeah. I remember being totally confused when I was learning English. It took a cram crash death threat course from Sesshomarpoo for me to get this stuff… want help?”

She blinked up at him. “Oh. Sure, I guess…”

“Here, this is pronounced ‘iambic pentameter,’” he told her patiently, pointing at the two words in the instructions she’d scribbled down in her notebook above her assigned poem. “It’s the type of rhythm of a sonnet, which is the name of this kind of poem. A line goes like ‘ba-BOOM, ba-BOOM, ba-BOOM, ba-BOOM.’ Like a heartbeat. The structure, like the teacher was asking about here, is fourteen lines, four stanzas. This one has two quatrains, or groupings of four, and two triplets, which are groups of three lines. Sometimes they have different amounts in the stanzas. Like, in his eighteenth, it has three quatrains and one double at the bottom. The So long as men can breathe and eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

“Oh,” she said quietly, impressed with his memory over such things that she didn’t think he’d care about. “Thank you… so I guess I’m also confused on some of these words and references… what is a…” She squinted at the page. “Plaeets? Leerey? And Orpheus? Encompass? Ecstasy?”

“Firstly, it’s called a lyre.” She shot him a glare at his exasperated tone, but he ignored her. Why did I have to fall in love with such an asshole? “It’s an instrument, like those little harps you see cherubs carry in paintings. Plaits are braids. Orpheus is a character in Greek mythology that played such beautiful music that it opened the gates of the underworld itself to try to bring his wife back to life. Encompass basically means to contain, or encircle. Ecstasy is a really intense, good feeling, and also a name of a drug, so if someone asks if you want some, you should say no despite the first definition.”

The weight of all the homework confusion lifted from her shoulders. “I see. Thank you very much, Inuyasha. It’s sweet of you to explain. You sure know a lot about literature, for a half-demon hoodlum.”

“W-well don’t go gettin’ used to it.” Oh, it was so easy to make him blush. “An’ I’m not a hoodlum! For your info, spaz, I’m very cultured.”

“Well, if you’re so cultured, maybe you could show me what this iambic pentameter means?”

Eyes alit with the challenge, he swept up the paper. “Listen close to the rhythm, padawan. I’m gonna show you how a badass reads Shakespeare.” He cleared his throat and read out in a flowing, mesmerizing voice,

“If I should think of love, I’d think of you

If I should think of love

I’d think of you, your arms uplifted,

Tying your hair in plaits above,

The lyre shape of your arms and shoulders,

The soft curve of your winding head.

No melody is sweeter, nor could Orpheus

So have bewitched. I think of this,

And all my universe becomes perfection.

But were you in my arms, dear love,

The happiness would take my breath away,

No thought could match that ecstasy,

No song encompass it, no other worlds.

If I should think of love, I’d think of you.”

He ended in a ringing silence where she stared at him without any air entering or exiting for much longer than was healthy. Yes, she understood iambic pentameter now. How the words moved like waves, and when read by someone you were in love with, they washed into you, cleaning out any thought that could be bad and wrapping around you-

“Kagome? You with me, dorkface?”

Shaking her head so that her short hair fell into her eyes annoyingly, she coughed. “Y-yes! Yes, thank you. I understand now.”

“Good. ‘Cause if you tell anyone else in the universe that I read that cheesy-ass poem, I will piss on your shoujo manga collection that you didn’t think I knew about.”

“Creative as ever, Inuyasha. I won’t tell.”

After giving (or an attempt of) a stern nod, he returned to sweeping with intense concentration.

Some silver hair fell into his face, and she thought dreamily of tucking it back and kissing those golden eyes closed.

Damn, she thought with a sigh. So, so screwed.

Once she’d finished her homework, her mother released her to her defense lesson with Inuyasha for the night. The ride was peaceful and warm as ever, easier now that neither of them had to tie hair up. It still brushed across her cheeks like feathers.

Once they were in the little gym in his house, he told her as she began her stretches, “I’d like a shower from when that soup got dumped on me earlier. Would you mind waiting for a bit?”

“Go ahead,” she told him gently. At least he was asking, this time. “I’ll do some warm ups.”

“Good idea. I’ll be out soon.”

The door closed behind him, and she ventured to the punching bag where she began to wrap her wrists and hands with fabric. Inuyasha insisted it was essential: “If you don’t have that on, you’ll bust your knuckles and hurt your wrists with the impact. Wraps or nothing at all.”

She’d only run through one sequence of hits that he’d taught her before the door eased open and she turned to see Sesshomaru enter. Kagome raised her eyebrows in surprise, but merely offered him a wave and a “Good evening, Sesshomaru-sama.” He’d always subtly seemed to appreciate the ‘sama’, and it was essential to stay on that guy’s good side.

He offered a nod. “Higurashi-san.” Then, he eyed her fists and bag, the area around her. “I admit, I’ve become… curious, as to Inuyasha’s teaching methods. I haven’t heard any gun firing in our small range.”

Eyes narrowing in confusion, she stammered, “W-well of course not! That would be illegal, and… firing range? Wouldn’t that scare the rest of the building, on top of being illegal?”

“Certainly it’s illegal,” the chief of police said, waving an airy hand. “I’ve lived far too long to agree to not be able to practice with weapons in my own home. This room is extremely soundproof. Only a demon could truly hear anything happening, and everyone in this building is a human.”

“O-oh. Okay. Um, well I don’t want to do anything illegal-”

“If you’re joining the fight to end Naraku’s reign, then by simple logic, you will need to learn how to shoot a gun if you’re even going to be slightly useful,” Sesshomaru cut her off. “My brother not teaching you is unacceptable.”

“Uh.” Kagome scratched the back of her head. “Won’t you… arrest me?”

“Certainly not, foolish human,” he snapped, striding forward. “I’m the one suggesting it, am I not? And no one would believe you if you told them anyway, so I am unconcerned as to my own reputation. Now get to that midpoint so that you don’t shoot my stupid brother when he returns and prepare a firm stance.”

She gave the argument a last try, though she hurried to the center line like he asked. Usually, she’d put up more of a fight, but this was Sesshomaru, and she’d be a liar if she didn’t say he was terrifying. “Sesshomaru-sama, I r-really don’t think… Inuyasha told me he didn’t want me learning. He’s taught me a lot with hand to hand and other weapons, and he protects me well when I can’t do it myself.”

“Clearly he does not think you are capable of taking care of yourself. I simply think you must be forced to learn even if that is the case-”

“H-he knows I can! That’s not his point; he’s not being disrespectful-”

“Stand firm and take this.”

Knowing now that it was unavoidable, Kagome sighed and took the foam ear plugs and police handgun that he was holding out. It was heavy, dark, smelled like it had been freshly oiled.

“Hold it up towards those targets, straight. Are you right handed?” His voice was muffled from her plugs, but still easily understandable.

“Yes.”

“Then bend your left arm slightly so that you can take the recoil.” He stood to her right, not close and hands clasped behind him. “Put your left hand on the bottom to hold it up and straight. Yes, like that. Now keep that hand away from the top back; it’ll spring backwards and hit you.”

“Okay… like this?”

“Yes. Now widen your feet and prepare for the gun to recoil up and backward. Line up the center of the target with the notch in the back of the gun and the sight in the end of the barrel. It should be centered and flush with the top of the notch in your perspective, and that pointing at where you want to shoot. Do you understand?”

She gulped, and lined up the sights as he’d instructed. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now pull the trigger.”

She breathed in, and as she breathed out, she squeezed.

Kagome squeaked as the shot sounded and the gun jumped up and back. The bullet tore through the outside of the second circle. She didn’t know how she felt about it… part of her was afraid that she could create such an effect. Another part felt empowered. She peered up at Sesshomaru, who gave a nod. “That wasn’t terrible.”

Well, that was about as close to a compliment that he would ever give. “Um, thanks.”

“Try again.”

She did. And he’d told her to try until she could get that black bullseye three times in a row. Eventually, she lowered her shaking arms for a break, at which point she asked hesitantly, “Sesshomaru-sama? May I ask you something?”

His eyes were dull. “Can I stop you?”

Sighing, she continued anyway. “Why do you act like you hate Inuyasha so much?”

Kagome didn’t really expect an answer, but as she raised the gun again to try another shot, he told her, “Because I hate him.”

Bang. She scoffed. “No, you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t have offered him a home. You wouldn’t have shown interest in his life and friends. You wouldn’t have come to save him on the New Moon. You wouldn’t have gotten mad at him for not contacting you when he was going after Naraku, because you would’ve been satisfied with getting a shot in at the end. You wouldn’t be teaching me this, because you and I both know you only want me to learn so that I can protect him if I need to and you’re not there.”

His golden eyes flashed, outlined by the shocking magenta, and she wondered in fright for a moment if she’d gone too far. But after a weighted silence, he muttered, “I never would have thought my brother could be interested in such a nosy and perceptive woman.”

“Hey!” she protested, but he seemed most indifferent to her indignancy.

“What is my relationship with my brother to you, human girl?” Oh dear, back to species instead of last name.

“I think it upsets him,” Kagome said. “He seemed more depressed and angry about your argument than Naraku getting away, that night of the New Moon. I think… deep down, he’s always wanted your approval. For you to be proud of him and be his family.”

Sesshomaru’s nose wrinkled slightly. “I share no concern for familial bonds and other human emotions. I am a demon-”

“I think that the idea that humans and demons have different emotional capacities is, excuse me, complete bullshit,” Kagome told him simply. “It’s a stereotype that humans and demons have been taught since childhood, so that they feel they must live up to the standard of being more or less emotional. At first, I thought there must be a difference because Inuyasha seemed more vulnerable on his human nights. Then I realized I knew other demons that had emotions just as strong as any human…”

Kagome gave a shrug, and shot the gun again before she went on, “I think all evidence points to Inuyasha being under a sort of placebo effect on New Moons. He thinks humans are more emotional, so that’s how he acts. He thinks demons are less, so when he’s back to half, he acts less emotional. If you think you’re supposed to be feeling a certain way, eventually you convince yourself that you are, right? I think you, Sesshomaru-sama, are under a lifelong placebo effect, a delusion that because you’re a demon, you can’t feel like we can and are therefore above our petty emotions.”

His eyebrows had grown rather high on his forehead. “You are philosophical, for a whelp. I’m afraid I disagree.”

“The truth doesn’t require you to agree,” Kagome said lightly. “Doesn’t stop it from being true. In any case, my point is, after living so long, it must get tiring to just go through life without companionship, just focusing on vengeance and different jobs. You have the chance to have family, but you’re throwing it all away for some meaningless pride. Towards the end of your life, you’re going to regret all the lost time you could have shown your brother you cared about him, and had a relationship with him. That kind of pride is only for people too afraid to open up and show vulnerability to the ones they care for. I don’t take you for a coward, Sesshomaru-sama. Even if you don’t give a damn about a simple human’s opinion, this dumb human has it all figured out, and she’s gonna tell it to you anyway; show you love him before it’s too late.”

Too bold! she scolded herself in fear as she swallowed. Did you entirely forget who you were talking to?!

Indeed, his eyes were burning holes right through her, and Kagome realized that the last time she’d felt this terrified, she’d been under Naraku’s sword.

“I could break your neck,” Sesshomaru told her quietly in a way that made her shiver and take several steps away, “with the flick of a finger. You dare presume to tell me how to live?”

“Y-you won’t,” Kagome managed, trying to hold her chin high. “And I presume to merely advise, because Inuyasha deserves better, the family he always wanted.”

“If he wants a family,” Sesshomaru said stiffly, “human, and if you care for him enough to speak down to a pure-blooded demon from the line of the most powerful demon king, then why not bear him one yourself rather than lecturing me?”

She choked on air, and stood up straight with cheeks blazing. “Excuse me?”

The doors flew open, and relief flooded through her at the sight of Inuyasha’s enraged face. His blazing eyes landed on the gun in her hand, and he stormed towards them. “Sesshomaru! What the hell are you doing with my- with Kagome?”

“Teaching her what you should have a long time ago,” Sesshomaru said stiffly. He snatched the gun back from her hands. “I’d advise you in the future to also better teach your bitch to keep her mouth shut and nose out of others’ business.”

“What the fuck did you call her, you bastard?!”

“You’re the bastard.” And with a last look of malice, Sesshomaru swept through the doors and slammed them behind him.

“What an asshat,” Inuyasha snarled as Kagome regretfully removed her earplugs and tossed them over by her bag. She was surprised by Inuyasha grabbing her upper arms. Firm, but gentle at the same time. He was examining every inch of her anxiously. “Did he hurt you? What did he say to you? I heard shots… was he really making you…?”

“He didn’t hurt me,” sighed Kagome, hugging herself. “I mean, he did tell me he could snap my neck with a finger-”

“He WHAT-?!”

“I tried to talk to him about some stuff that he doesn’t want to talk about. He got mad. I’m fine. And yes, he taught me how to shoot.”

“That gives him no right to try to intimidate you! And I said I didn’t want you to have to a gun!”

“I’m fine, Inuyasha. A few harsh words isn’t about to scare me, and neither is learning to use a gun.” Going for her trump card, she reached out and took his hand. “Let’s drop it, okay?”

He was just staring down at their hands. The perfect distraction… and a definite bonus for me. So warm…

Demonstrating impressive self restraint (for him), Inuyasha let out a shaky breath. “Fine. I’ll tear him up about it later. And I won’t leave you alone anymore, where he can mess with you. Let’s do a quick run.”

Kagome had improved exponentially in running since he’d paced her more reasonably, and luckily, today they didn’t go too long; just because she was better at it didn’t mean she liked it.

After more repetitive maneuvers, strength training, and practicing on the bags, Inuyasha finally wiped the sweat from his brow and told her, “Alright. Wanna try some sparring?”

The concept both excited her and was feared by her; she nodded anyway. They stood, face to face, on the mat, before he said, “Okay, you come at me first. Get some hits in.”

“You’re gonna annihilate me.”

“No shit! Now come at me, pipsqueak.”

Despite how Kagome knew he was hundreds of years (literally) out of her combat league, hearing him say that was sweet music; an actual invitation to attack him!

Kagome breathed out, and then ran, feinting a punch at his face before dropping low to trip. He ducked her fist and jumped with ease, sliding behind her, where she shoved her elbow. The damn boy always seemed to be able to slip away, and when he got bored of that, he’d simply block her attacks with a hand, keeping up with her like he could do it in his sleep.

It wasn’t long before she was completely wiped, at which she lowered her fists, groaned, and slumped to the floor. Kagome lay, spread eagle, on the mat, eyes closed and breaths heavy.

Following her lead, Inuyasha flopped down opposite her, head right beside hers so that when she looked over, she could see his smirking face upside-down.

Putting the back of her hand over her eyes, she panted, “Why do you have to be so good at this stuff?”

“Because I’ve had to fight people off from killing me since I was about eight,” Inuyasha said snidely.

“So maybe it’s not because I’m a total failure?” Kagome tried hopefully, turning her face to him.

He copied her position, upside down amber eyes piercing through her. “Maybe.” When she pouted, he rolled his eyes. “Kagome, you’ve been training almost every day for over five months now. You’re good.”

“Thanks,” she said, and surely the heat in her cheeks was from the exercise rather than the praise. “Only because I have a good teacher.”

Instead of using that comment to boost his ego further, Inuyasha was instead quiet for a moment before saying, “You really think so?”

“Think so what?”

“That I’m a good teacher.”

“Of course.” She folded her hands on her stomach. “You’ve gotten me this far without wanting to completely murder you, haven’t you? Why do you ask?”

“Well.” He hesitated, and then let words fall out, “I-I was thinking… I’ve never totally wanted to be anything… career wise. But… You know the college you’re going to?”

Kagome frowned. “Um, yeah. I kinda chose it because I know it.” She’d gotten accepted to a college not too far. Though she’d originally figured she wanted to be a nurse, lately, she’d come to enjoy-well, enjoy wasn’t quite the word, but feel fulfilled in-solving their mystery of Naraku’s crimes, and the defense training was thrilling… Kagome had written down that she would go for a criminal justice major. (She hadn’t told Inuyasha, wanting to avoid the accusations of how wanting to be a cop would make her in league with his brother. As if he didn’t know that Kagome didn’t really like Sesshomaru in the first place.)

For once, Inuyasha ignored her sarcasm. “Well, I didn’t say anything, but… I got accepted to the same school. And I was thinking about starting a business in teaching people defense.”

She sat up and gaped at him. “Inuyasha, that’s amazing! Congratulations! That’s a great idea! I think that’s perfect for you.”

His cheeks were pink. “Th-thanks. W-well… you’d be good at it too…” With a small huff, he sat up as well and looked away from her. Then he glanced back, and away again. Like a puppy that was not-so-subtly asking for food.

Narrowing her eyes, she tilted her head. “Are you… possibly asking me to be a business partner?”

“I didn’t say that,” he scoffed.

“Didn’t deny it, either.”

“And you didn’t answer, either.”

Kagome felt her eyes grow hazy as she set her face in her hands. “You know… wouldn’t it be cool if all of us opened a dojo sort of place? Miroku and Sango are good at fighting too, and Shippo is learning… we could call the company The Inugami.”

For a moment, his eyes brightened. “That’s… a good idea, actually.”

“We could even have it in Chicago--I’m sure many people here want to learn how to protect themselves.”

“Yeah! And we can have classes for different martial arts…”

“And basic self defense, maybe run some weapons-handling classes…”

The night spiralled away into wakeful dreaming.

#the inugami #inuyasha #inukag #inukag fanfiction #inuyasha fanfiction #kagome higurashi #my writing #my fanfiction

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