Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Demon Nature	By : Shardetector Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > InuYasha/Kagome Views: 25046 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I own nothing of InuYasha. No money/profit is being made from this story. This story was purely written to entertain InuYasha crazed fans and myself.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
*At long last I present to you CHAPTER10! I am deeply sorry to my readers for my VERY long absence. I won’t bore you all with the details, its just this past year was filled with family deaths and cancer scares. I’m glad to say my mother is now cancer free! But due to the stress of this past year my creativeness left me for a while. However, I am back with bells on! I want to add that I have went back on ALL of my previous chapters and updated them. Some were minor things, like typos and details or lil plot holes, but mainly I felt my writing style had matured some especially since the very early chapters so I went back to modify those to read better. Again, a HUGE thank you to those of you who left me reviews. Your kind words helped keep me passionate for this story over my long absence. I hope you all enjoy this chapter 😉*
**UPDATED**
Demon Nature
Chapter Ten

Kaede’s breath caught when she finally emerged in the clearing where a violent dispute was already in progress. Yet it wasn’t the sight of the warring parties that froze her to her spot. No, it was the combination of the sight of white hair, dog ears, and baggy red hakama; and the odd feeling of her sisters’ presence. As a wave of conflicting emotions rushed her all at once, her one good eye widened taking in the spectacle.
Before her was the man who had attacked her village. Stolen the Sacred Jewel. Killed her sister. The tales of his evil deeds had only grown more heinous with each generation that passed the stories down. To the point where she almost believed them.
The majority of her life he had been pinned to that tree, and she had come to believe her once fond memories of him had been the work of a child’s imagination. Made up fabrications created to help her cope with the loss of not only her sister, but him as well. For in one day, they both had been tragically and violently taken from her; and she didn’t even have the closure of knowing why.
All she had were the stories. The warnings and dark tales told to prevent the children from venturing into InuYasha’s Forest. Tales told to make her hate him. Because she had to hate him, right? If what they said were true, she had no choice but to hate him.
Yet, seeing him here now, freed from her sisters’ spell; moving, breathing, alive once more… Transported her through time; back into her youth. She didn’t stare at him with the eyes of a hardened old woman, but with the innocence and admiration her former self had once possessed. Gone were the horror stories; the rumors, the curse of his name. All she saw before her was her friend… the man who had teased her, picked on her, watched over her, saved her… The man whom she had prayed to the Kami would one day truly become her big brother…
Her onii-san was alive. How could she hate him when all she felt was relief?
Tearing her eye away from InuYasha, Kaede turned her attention to the young lass sitting on the ground next to the monk. Taking her appearance in, Kaede couldn’t believe how much she resembled the dead Kikyo. At first glance her mind had wanted to believe that it was her deceased sister. The woman’s exterior looks along with her strong unique spiritual powers were so similar to that of Kikyos’ it was no wonder Kaede almost thought she was staring at a specter.
Upon closer inspection, however, Kaede could see and feel the differences in this lass that made it clear she was not Kikyo. Physical features aside it was the spiritual ones that amazed Kaede. This woman had Kikyos’ power, yet they were so much stronger than Kikyos’ had been. With this fact accompanied with the information the village men had given her about the Sacred Jewel being torn out of the girls’ body, Kaede knew it could only mean one thing…
The Taijiya’s heated voice quickly followed by InuYasha’s intense one snapped Kaede out of the past and her wonderings, slamming her back into the here and now.
“Bastard!”
“Bitch!”
Kaede narrowed her good eye as she reached into her breast pocket retrieving what she hoped would resolve all this violence as peacefully as possible. Her years of experience and miko training coming back to her, telling her she had to take action now. With tempers as high as they were, she knew there wasn’t much time left before someone got seriously hurt.
Closing her eye and chanting a quick incantation, awakening her sisters’ dormant magic; Kaede’s brows scrunched in concentration and concern. Screams of pain from the mysterious girl reached her ears, soon followed by a demonic growl from the man she knew very well. Tuning out the world, she concentrated and did not open her eye until she felt her sisters’ magic spring to life.
The sight of the young monk being thrust into the air by his throat was the first thing her poor vision took in; causing her old eye to widened once more. As she observed InuYasha’s appearance, his face having changed drastically so, a sense of trepidation found her. Kaede prayed she hadn’t acted too late as his deadly snarl and cold voice reached her ears; the beads of subjection taking off to find their intended target.

---

Kagome was desperately trying to come to her senses. It had all happened so fast; yet, time seemed to have slowed down for her. From the moment the priest grabbed her mark she knew everything had accelerated into an even more dangerous situation. She knew she needed to take action but her mind and body were in two different places and she was having a difficult time getting her body to listen to what her mind was demanding of it.
The pain she had felt was like a hot piercing burn that had took her down to her knees. It had started at InuYasha’s mark on the juncture of her neck and shoulder and shot straight to her heart. Thankfully, the instant the holy man’s touch had been removed the pain had stopped; however, now she was left with the sickening nausea that resulted from the pain.
Moving her hand from clutching at her mark to cupping her mouth, Kagome vaguely made out the sound of InuYasha’s venomous words while she fought the urge to evacuate her stomach. She supposed it wouldn’t have been so bad if she hadn’t been so caught off guard by it. Though, in the back of her mind she could hear InuYasha’s warning voice.
“If the mark is touched by anyone besides the mated pair, it could have very negative reactions.”
Boy did it ever… It was like her entire body was physically rejecting the other man’s touch.
Kagome forced herself to take deep breathes trying to calm herself; but the more control she gained over herself the more InuYasha’s emotions invaded her. Her stormy-blues widen at the brutal fury she felt pouring out of him. Lifting her head and turning toward him, she gasped seeing the poor monk being suspended effortlessly. Five sharp talons piercing the flesh at his neck, locking him in a death grip.
InuYasha was going to kill him. No, InuYasha is killing him she realized as the priest’s already weak attempts at removing the hand squeezing the life out of him started to cease. His arms becoming too heavy for his oxygen deprived body to continue to even hold up, let alone struggle against his unmoving demonic assailant.
Swallowing rapidly in an attempt to beat down her gag reflex and not empty her gut, Kagome had barely managed to croak out InuYasha’s name when tiny spherical objects began to appear out of no where around his neck. Astonished and bewildered at the sudden new development, she could only watch as the… purple beads?... created a necklace around him.
Kagome’s brain was still trying to comprehend all that was happening, when she heard two separate female voices simultaneously cry out.
“Speak the word child!”
“You fucking bastard!”
The first voice was aged and had a calm sense of urgency about it. Like the speaker knew all hell was breaking loose but refusing to cave under the pressure of panic. It didn’t outright command respect; automatically you just knew this was someone whom you showed the courtesy to and Kagome found herself wanting to follow the instruction given.
Yet, however clear and strong the first voice was the second was on the verge of insanity. Kagome instantly recognized the voice of the female warrior and had become very aware by now the sound of Taijiya’s anger. This was not anger though. This was the sound of a desperate woman facing her worse fears. The sheer raw emotion of it had Kagome ignoring the other woman and turning her head to face the slayer.
Dread sank deep in her already sickened stomach; watching in slow motion as the Taijiya searched madly for her fallen sword from the spot InuYasha had knocked her to. The brunet’s intentions were clear as day; she was going to kill InuYasha or die trying.
Kagome knew the later of the two was far more likely, especially in his current state. Perhaps it was foolish of her placing so much confidence in his abilities, but she knew no one was a match for his strength. He had only held back for her sake, but now…?
Now she needed to take action. She needed to do something to stop all this madness. But what? What could she possibly do?
“Quickly child, speak the word!”
The calm aged voice broke into her panicked mind once more, instructing her in something important she was certain. However, Kagome’s clouded mind only muddled further; not understanding the importance of a word in this situation. Or what word it was exactly she was supposed to speak.
“What word!?”
Her voice had a hint of confusion to it but was overwhelmingly pleading as she saw the slayer spot her weapon. Gods they were out of time. She was out of time.
“Only your word can contain his spirit, speak it now before there is further bloodshed!”
Kagome wasn’t sure how she knew she could trust the elderly voice. She supposed the wisdom held in it reminded her of a teacher addressing their student; encouraging and assisting you in the right direction. Subconsciously, her mind made the decision for her.
As she helplessly watched the Taijiya charge with her sword leading the attack, she turned back around to InuYasha. InuYasha was killing the monk. The slayer was going to try to kill InuYasha. All for a misunderstanding that could be resolved if they all would just sit down and talk?!
Scared and angry, Kagome was over everything being out of her control.   Eyes locking onto two adorable white triangles located at the top of InuYasha’s head, the word magically came to her in a breath that filled her lungs in a rush.
“Sit!!!”
As her voice echoed throughout the clearing all parties halted for a moment, astonished, as the magic of the beads took effect. One second InuYasha was standing, with the almost lifeless monk dangling from his death grip. The next, his body was forcibly jerked down to the ground so violently it left a small crater around him. The priest, having fallen from InuYasha’s clutches during the process, lay near gasping for breath.
Seeing the holy man suck air into his lungs, gave Kagome little relief as her own lungs seized up on her. Her heart ached feeling as though she had betrayed InuYasha and she waited eagerly trying to spot movement from him. What had she done to him?! Why wasn’t he moving?
A feminine battle cry had her jerking her focus back towards the Taijiya. Having momentarily forgotten the threat, being too stunned by whatever the hell it was she had done to InuYasha, Kagome’s brain scrambled to make sense of the insanity. Obviously, the slayer’s training allowed her to process the abrupt change of events quicker than normal, and she was once again focused on her personal vendetta. Her mark now an easier target, she was already closing in…
“I’ll kill you!”
Panic fueled Kagome, giving her strength to move her weighted body at a speed she didn’t think she could ever hope to achieve again. All she knew was she had to beat that woman to InuYasha. She had to reach him first so she could protect him!
Through her peripheral sight she saw as the brunet warrior raised her sword higher with each running step closer she got to InuYasha. Squeezing her steel-grays tight, Kagome dove forward letting out a scream in hopes of stopping the Taijiya… and prayed that for once she could repay her savoir and save him.

---

Sango was hardly ever caught off guard in battle. She never found herself in a situation that she couldn’t take control of or think of a plan of attack. Years and years of training had prepared her and made her into the perfect calculating exterminator. It was something she prided herself in; her ability to remain calm under pressure. She wore her pride as a slayer both figuratively and literally as the Taijiya armor protecting her.
Apparently, her armor had a crack in it… A very lethal one that could lead to her own demise.
For as soon as she saw her husband being lifted into the air like a ragdoll, his face masked with pain as demonic claws punctured his throat, she froze. Sango couldn’t control her own body as she watched, horrified, at what was being done to Miroku. It never had truly occurred to her that they might one day run into a demon they couldn’t handle.
She briefly held on to the hope that he would still get himself out of the situation with a spiritual ward or some trick up his sleeve. But as she saw the fight leave him she knew everything had happened too fast, he just had not had the time to defend himself… it was up to her. If she didn’t get her ass in gear she was going to lose her idiot husband and she would be damned if someone else killed her idiot!
“You fucking bastard!”
Rage and terror moved her as she frantically started searching for her sword. She had dropped it when that beast had unexpectedly knocked her for a loop, but she knew it couldn’t be far. Vaguely the voices of the old priestess and the young girl registered in her mind, although Sango couldn’t comprehend the words in her state.
She was filled with triumph when her brown eyes finally located her weapon. Racing for it she jerked her sword up from the ground and charged toward the vile youkai. She had covered maybe half the distance to her target when the young woman they were here to rescue let out demanding piercing shout.
Her pursuit was paused and her footing faltered, her fiery auburn orbs watching in astonishment as an invisible force dragged the demon InuYasha down to the ground. As the youkai’s body forcefully hit the dirt Sango’s eyes found Miroku and frantically assessed his condition.
Relief flooded her being at the sight of him drawing breath into his lungs. Tears rapidly sprang into her chocolate eyes, burning and blurring her vision. All she wanted to do was run to her husband. Make sure her sight wasn’t lying to her, care for his wounds…
Eyes having landed on Miroku’s throat, Sango’s gaze turned heated once more as she fixed her stare on the arrogant demon who had tried to kill her husband. The arrogant demon who now lay motionless on his stomach… his back exposed. Her Taijiya instincts came roaring back to life, honing her focus on one goal.
Letting loose a battle cry, Sango propelled her body forward. Eyes narrowed, focusing on her target, she pushed herself to cross the remaining distance between her and her kill. She would be damned if she missed this opportunity to rid the world of vile vermin such as that thing.
Readying her blade, Sango’s aim was locked on where his heart would be. Victory was so close she could almost taste it. With one thrust of her sword, she would save an innocent girl, recover the jewel, and avenge her husband for what had been done to him.
However, she was not expecting the young woman to throw herself on top of the unconscious demonic man. No sooner had the woman’s scream reached her ears, then the sight of her red clad form filled Sango’s line of vision.
“No!”
Unable to stop her forward momentum, Sango cursed as she was forced to alter her aim. Her sword punctured the youkai’s left shoulder, just above the woman’s head full of black hair. Stormy eyes glared heatedly up at Sango, and all she could do was stare back in bewilderment.
“Don’t hurt him!”
As the young woman’s shaky words registered in Sango’s brain, she found herself at a loss for her own. Why would this woman protect her kidnapper? Just looking at the poor thing you could tell she had been through some shit; hell, there was still a fading bruise on her face! Yet, she risked her life to protect the man, no, to protect the demon who had done all this to her?
“Bu… but why…”
Sango’s voice trailed off as she heard Miroku let out a groan from his place on the ground. Quickly her eyes left the strong burning gaze of the young girl and found his purple clad form. Kirara was already by his side, nuzzling the side of his face and it briefly occurred to her that the tiny kitten had yet to assist her in battle which was very unusual for her small companion.
Seeing as Miroku tried to bring a shaky hand up to his still bleeding throat, all thought left Sango as she couldn’t help but to go immediately to his side. Leaving her sword embedded into the youkai’s shoulder for good measure, she rushed over to access the damage done to her husband. Her eyes still flickering intermediately over to her opponent and the young girl, keeping tabs on their movements.

---

Kagome was relieved when the slayer left to check on the monk. She really didn’t want to have to fight the woman, but she would have done so if it meant protecting InuYasha. Her relief was short lived however, when she raised her head to see that the slayer had left her sword right where it was… Still piercing through InuYasha’s shoulder.
Now she knew InuYasha could take a lot of damage, he had proven that to her many times in the short amount of time they’d known one another. And she knew intimately how his body was built different than hers. Rationally, she knew that this was probably just a minor injury that would be gone by tomorrow.
But Kagome was anything but rational at the moment.
Without thinking she quickly wrapped both hands around the blade and jerked it up, desperate to get the weapon out of his body. Having so much adrenaline pumping through her, she didn’t even register as the blade cut into both her palms.
As soon as the sword was out she tossed it to the side with clang. Immediately leaning her face down to find InuYasha’s dirt covered one, she gently started shaking him and calling out to him. Desperately searching for signs of life and that he was ok, she was relieved to notice he was in fact still breathing.
That was good, that meant she hadn’t killed him with whatever magic the old lady had tricked her into performing on him. Still she was worried that he hadn’t responded yet. What if he was more seriously injured than what he appeared to be? What if he had internal damage she couldn’t see!?
“InuYasha!”
Fear was thick in her voice as she tried and tried to get a response out of her hanyou.
“InuYasha, speak to me!”
Nothing.
“InuYasha you better speak to me or I swear I’ll never forgive you!”
Kagome knew the logic of that declaration was completely unfair, because how could you possibly hold it against someone for not speaking to you if they physically couldn’t? It was illogical, and while she was trying her best to be calm that was an extremely hard thing to do when you thought you had just seriously damaged the man you love.
Her breath caught in her throat though when she finally spotted movement from him. She watched worryingly as his nose gave a twitch before grimacing his face, his thick black brows drawing together as if he had a killer headache. Finally, he let out a groan and opened his now again crimson-honey eyes.
Relief flooded her and Kagome couldn’t help the pitch of her voice as her excitement came bursting out.
“InuYasha! Are you ok?!”
As he went to push himself up, she instantly eased back off of him to help him however she could. One small dainty hand placed at his back, the other on his chest to help bring him up slowly as he transitioned into a sitting position. Half way through the maneuver Kagome heard the small growl he let out right before his angry eyes locked onto her worried ones.
“Fucking hell woman! You knocked me out and got me stabbed, what do you think?!”
Kagome was stunned for all of a second. Her emotions changing rapidly from the initial relief at hearing him finally speak, to anger after his words registered. Not to mention InuYasha’s own incensed emotions flooding into her only added fuel to the fire. In no time she was launching back at him.
“Well excuse me for trying to help!”
InuYasha’s head was killing him, but he guessed that shouldn’t be a surprise since getting knocked unconscious will do that to you. Although he’d be damned if he admitted that he was in any pain out loud. When he had first come to it hadn’t been as bad. His mates worried voice growing louder and louder didn’t help it none. Trying to get vertical didn’t help it either. And the two of them arguing certainly wasn’t helping it.
He knew snapping at her wasn’t right, but the worse his head got the more irritated he got. His demon blood was already boiling because another male had had the audacity to touch his mate, and on his mark no less! It was already demanding that he reestablish his mark, his canines throbbed and his entire body hummed with the persistent need.
Plus, he had an added dose of fear in the mix since what brought him around was the smell of Kagome’s blood. And thanks to that slayer bitch his vision was unclear and he couldn’t properly assess the extent of his wench’s injuries. He was also keenly aware that both the male and Taijiya were still in close proximity. Although they didn’t appear to be a threat at the moment. Still, all of that combined only caused him to be even more pissed off.
It was misplaced he knew, but he couldn’t help his foul mood.
“Help?! If that’s your idea of helping then don’t do me any favors!”
By now he was sitting up facing off with his mate. Although at the moment all he could see was a hazy version of her, his demon nonetheless commanded he check her for any damage. Blinking a few times to help clear his still blurry vision, thanks again to that bitch Taijiya, he tried to focus on her face. His irritation at her instantly eased up some when he was finally able to catch a glimpse of her watery blue-grays.
“What else was I suppose to do?! Let you kill a monk? He’s a monk InuYasha! I think the Kami would frown on that!”
Although outwardly she appeared annoyed and pissed at him, after taking a moment to focus on their bond, he knew she was just worried. Well worried and slightly pissed off because he had been a little snippy with her… But he was worried about her too damnit!
“No, you were suppose to stay hidden! To avoid shit like that!”
InuYasha watched as Kagome’s dainty brows scrunched together as she gently lifted his now blood-stained kosode to look at his shoulder, already fretting over his wounds. Her voice may have portrayed her annoyance at him, but her actions and her eyes told the truth of her concern. Internally he had to chuckle, because while they both were busy laying into one another verbally they were also both giving the other the once over physically. Acting just like a mated pair.
“And let you and that woman keep going at each other?!”
Though his vision was still slightly fuzzy, his eyes began scanning her frantically for injury as he only half listened to his wench as she kept on yelling back. Unable to see anything that would cause her to be bleeding, InuYasha took a few discrete sniffs to locate the source that he knew was there. His nose didn’t lie.
“I’m trying to protect you and this is the thanks I get?!”
While keeping up their banter, InuYasha was finally able to pinpoint the source of where she was bleeding. Halting Kagome’s fussing over him by grabbing both her wrists, he ignored her slight protest bringing both of her hands up for a closer inspection. Thanks to his demonic blood, and possibly a little help from the sacred jewel still hidden on his person, his eyes were healing quickly and he could make out that the cuts along her palms weren’t too serious.
“Stupid girl, look what you did to your hands.”
Immediately his wench puffed up ready to yell at him some more, obviously livid with him for calling her stupid. Hiding his smirk, InuYasha swiftly silenced her by bringing her right hand to his mouth and taking a long slow lick over the nasty cut she had acquired. His mouth instantly filled with his healing salvia as soon as his tongue made contact with her blood.
His smirk disappeared though when Kagome let out a small hiss. Halting his actions briefly, he sought out her eyes to make sure she was alright before continuing. Vision now thankfully much clearer, InuYasha didn’t like the grimace he saw on her face; but he was relieved when she offered him a wary smile.
Obviously, she wasn’t in any real pain, but that didn’t mean it didn’t smart. Continuing with his task he gave her palm several long licks. Unable to stop himself from lingering, since each time his tongue came into contact with her blood his demon screamed at him.
It was angry she was hurt in the first place. Excited to be healing her. Roaring for him to reinstate his mark. And gods did he want to fuck her.
For Kami’s sake this newly mated bond was gonna kill him, because now was not the time for any of that. Shit he shouldn’t even be taking his sweet ass time healing her because his enemies were still close by. Like sitting right next to them close!
As he switched from Kagome’s right palm to her left, InuYasha’s scarlet-gold eyes flicked over to where the Taijiya was sitting clearly baffled. However, the moment he looked over she gathered herself and instantly her intense gaze locked onto his, and if looks could kill he’d be a goner for sure. Then again so would she.
Eyes narrowing, he took her in completely, noticing how she now had the bastard-who-had-touched-his-mate’s head in her lap. And as harsh and unkind as her stare was towards him, how she handled the monk was the complete opposite. Her hand gently glided through his hair, brushing the short black strands carefully with her fingers. While the other held a cloth to his bloody throat.
Finished with healing his mate’s wounds, InuYasha stubbornly held the judging gaze of the slayer as he then proceeded to bring each of Kagome’s hands back to his lips to place a gentle kiss on her palms. Out of his peripheral vision he saw his wench’s pretty blush dust her checks and the sweet smile that took over her face.
He knew he’d feel guilty for ruining the moment later, but he couldn’t stop the words that forced their way out. That Taijiya just really pissed him off…
“What the fuck are you starin’ at bitch.”
Sango felt an instant rage sink into her at the youkai’s words. She had calmed down some while she had been watching his moves closely. Observing as him and the young woman argued, ready to jump to her defense if needed. Yet the woman didn’t show an ounce of fear toward the demon. Their verbal banter seeming almost like a concerned married couple… and then the way the beast had handled her so carefully…
Then the vile thing had to go and spout shit like that to her. Instantly she was amped up to fight, her warrior nature front and center.
“Why you loathsome excuse of a demon, I’ll kick your-!”
“That would be enough of that now I think.”
Sango snapped her mouth close before finishing her sentence as the old priestess cut her off with a stern voice. Watching as Lady Kaede slowly walked passed her and Miroku continuing closer towards the demon InuYasha, she was about to shout out a warning to the priestess when suddenly her wrist was engulfed in a large warm hand.
Chocolate eyes widened as she quickly glanced down to see Miroku’s amethyst stare gazing up at her. He gave her a weak smile through his grimace, obviously still in some pain, and gently shook his head. Silently asking her to remain quiet and observe.
Kaede stopped just a few short feet from InuYasha and the young lass. Arms casually folded behind her back as she took in the pair from their place on the ground. Instantly she knew there had been a drastic misunderstanding somewhere as her old eye took in the protective gestures InuYasha showed toward the girl. Tucking the lass more to his side, putting himself closer to herself and others.
That and with how the girl acted toward InuYasha spoke volumes. Not only did the young thing show zero fear for the half demon, and he looked plenty fearsome, but she worried over him as well. Kaede herself had felt a fleeting ping of fear at seeing his features. She had never seen him in such a manner, and briefly she had had to wonder if the horror stories of her youth had been true about him.
Yet with the way that girl trusted him, Kaede found herself trusting in him again as well. Maybe it was foolish, maybe her own past feelings for the hanyou was clouding her judgement, but she was going to have faith in him once again. Finally, after 50 years of waiting, she was able to speak to her childhood hero once more.
“Ye have changed InuYasha.”
InuYasha narrowed his eyes at the old crone who was now addressing him, wondering not for the first time how so many people whom he didn’t know seemed to know him. He could tell from her spiritual energy that she was a priestess, but still she wasn’t any priestess he knew.
“And who the fuck are you, ya old bat?”
Meaning to insult her and make her back off, InuYasha was a little shocked when instead the crazy old woman smiled at him. Seeming truly amused at his response. Hell was she chuckling at him?!
“Ah, but ye still be the same InuYasha I once knew. Foul mouthed and hot headed.”
Growling low, InuYasha was starting to get real pissed off at the ancient looking miko. He wasn’t sure what game she was playing at, but he was in no mood to be screwed with. He needed to get Kagome away from all this so he could verify she was alright and get his demon half to calm the fuck down.
“Look I don’t know what y’er trying to pull, but I’m getting sick of some dried up old hag talkin’ like she knows me!”
Kaede didn’t try to hold back her chuckle this time at his flustered words.
“Ye truly do not recognize me then? It is understandable I suppose; 50 years have past and I have grown old… I am younger sister to Kikyo, Kaede.”
Watching as different emotions passed over his face before he quickly masked them, Kaede stood patiently and awaited InuYasha’s response. She noticed the slightest twitch of his nose before a small smile ghosted his face. As he finally addressed her again she couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“So, you’re the brat huh?”
“Aye, InuYasha… and I think we need to sit down and talk. There has been enough pointless fighting for today.”
InuYasha sat there for a moment overwhelmed with all the emotions he was experiencing. Happiness, sadness, fucking pissed off. His demon was scratching at the surface, its one and only priority being his mate. Feeling Kagome’s confusion through their bond wasn’t helping any in his emotional cocktail either.
He knew what Kaede said was true, they all needed to talk, but he was still dangerously on edge. Knowing he needed to be of sounder mind and hoping to relieve the pressure from his demon demanding he remark his mate somewhat, InuYasha turned slightly to Kagome offering her a smile before reaching into his kosode to retrieve the hidden jewel. Placing the tainted gem firmly in her hands, he let out a sigh before turning back toward Kaede and speaking again.
“Yeah… I think we do.”
Eyes now completely golden and his face returned to normal, InuYasha heard the small gasp and could feel the heavy stare both coming from the Taijiya but paid her no mind as he held Kaede’s gaze. Although he didn’t miss the slight smile the old priestess donned at seeing his change.
“Let us start at the beginning, shall we?”
InuYasha waited for the old priestess to sit down and then per her request started from the beginning, back to the day he had been sealed to the Tree of Ages and the events that had lead up to his imprisonment. Unsure what Kaede had been told, or what she already knew of from that day he still wanted to give her his side of things. He watched her closely trying to read her, because while he didn’t want to admit it he really didn’t want her to hate him.
Although she seemed to be deep in thought as though something were troubling her, when she simply just nodded and seemed content to continue listening, he continued explaining. Now telling of the events on the day he was awakened and how he and Kagome met and how the Sacred Jewel came to be in his possession. He let out a small growl remembering how the village men had treated his mate on that day, grasping her hand to offer support for her and himself, he couldn’t stop the venom in his words.
“Several of the village men were nasty towards her Kaede. The one in particular, who actually harmed her and left her for dead, I already dealt with.”
Lost in thought over InuYasha’s account on what had happened the day he had been sealed to the Sacred Tree and her sister had tragically died, Kaede couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that settled deep in her bones. He claimed that he had left her sister behind to deal with bandit in the burning cave, caused by Kikyo’s own attacks against him.   Yet, Kikyo had had no trace of soot, smoke, or burns of any kind. No, her sister had been attacked by a youkai; with claw marks slashing deep into her chest…
Either InuYasha was lying, or there was something more menacing remaining unseen. A memory flashed in her mind’s eye of the bandit that took up residence in that cave. Kaede grimaced recalling how the man had put her at great unease as a child, remembering with perfect clarity his obsession with both the jewel and her sister. There had been something sinister in his eyes that had triggered her suspicions of him then, and now had her somehow discerning that he was behind the scenes pulling strings.
Deciding that she needed to give the matter more thought before speaking to InuYasha about it further, and also not wishing to discuss the subject in mixed company, she kept her concerns to herself for now. Focusing her attentions back on InuYasha as he continued his tale, she wasn’t surprised to learn of the abuse Katashi had demonstrated upon the young lass.
Having already come to that conclusion from Hiroshi’s explanation of that night, Kaede still turned to the young girl wanting absolute confirmation. She knew the villagers wouldn’t take the word of a demon, half even though he may be. Two human witnesses and their accounts on the other hand would be accepted with much less resistance. Especially since Kaede herself could attest that the lass was indeed not a dark priestess. While most of the villagers were still up in arms over the ordeal, thinking their comrade had been slayed in cold blood, she knew that once they had heard the truth they would all reassess what exactly had been seen and done that night.
“Is this true lass?”
It took Kagome a moment to realize the elderly woman was speaking to her now. Her focus was being pulled in many directions, but what held her attention the most was the odd sensation she kept receiving from InuYasha through their bond every since he came to. It was like penetrating waves of energy, as if he were excited and just a bit scared all at once. She knew he wasn’t afraid of anyone here, he wouldn’t have given the jewel to her otherwise, and once he had handed the jewel to her the feeling had muffled down some.
Muffled or not Kagome was still getting hit with waves, the size and intensity had just went down some. Each time a wave would come rolling over her, her body would feel strangely empty and InuYasha’s mark on her seemed to heat up and tingle.   She almost reached up to touch it once before remembering what kind of result that had.
She had been staring at InuYasha trying to figure out the strange sensation when Kaede had addressed her. Now trying to ignore the odd feeling and frantically trying to form a coherent thought she wasn’t sure at first how much information to give. She still felt slightly distrusting of the old woman for having tricked her into hurting InuYasha - which she still wanted to know what the heck happened there! - but the small squeeze he gave her hand helped calm and reassure her. Ultimately, she decided it was probably best to be as honest as possible, especially if it helped clear up this whole mess.
“Yes… when I first got here three men from the village found me and two of them were pretty terrible. I was hit, tossed around and dragged through the forest. The third man seemed kind though, he actually let me go when the centipede monster attacked. I’m pretty sure the man InuYasha kil… dealt with… was the same one who shot me with an arrow and did everything else to me.”
The clearing had grown quiet as Kagome gave a brief description of what had happened to her, well except for the low growl InuYasha gave when she got to the part of that horrid man shooting her with an arrow. All ears were eager to hear her side of things, particularly those of a certain slayer. Once it was clear Kagome had finished, the next voice to fill the area was the Taijiya’s inquisitive one.
“So… you’re saying this youkai… I mean, InuYasha… didn’t kidnap you and steal the jewel?”
At the Taijiya’s words a small amount of anger filled Kagome. She understood the woman had been given false information and was only there to save and protect her, but enough was enough. She was tired of InuYasha being made out to be this horrible monster that stole her away to be his captive! Hard eyes locked onto the slayers as Kagome made every misunderstanding very crystal clear.
“No! InuYasha saved me! He protected me from that centipede monster. He protected me from that awful man. Then, he healed me after what that nasty demon bug and awful man had done. He did not kidnap or hurt me. He has been the one keeping me safe and providing for me ever since I got here!”
Sango’s chocolate eyes had gotten wider with each declaration strongly given from the young woman. It was clear now that there had indeed been a mistake made, at least where it concerned the girl’s safety. Suddenly ashamed of herself for her hasty actions, she diverted her eyes from the intense stare coming from the woman. Now looking down into the pained lavender gaze of her husband, she felt even more guilt. If she hadn’t rushed into battle like she had then Miroku wouldn’t be laying here injured.
Still though he offered her a smile and as always it was charming and coaxed a small one from her as well. Without saying a word Miroku could find a way to give her guidance and ease her worries. Knowing what she needed to do, whether if at this point it was worth anything or not, Sango cleared her now thick throat to speak.
“I’m sorry.”
Glancing up to face the glare of the rightfully angered woman, Sango was amazed at the breathtaking smile she was now receiving from her instead. All traces of her anger were gone, replaced by nothing but kindness and forgiveness and it showed even in her voice.
“It’s ok. We forgive you.”
“Keh!”
InuYasha shattered the moment with a noise that obviously said he had other opinions on the whole “forgiving” thing, causing Sango to flick her now narrowed eyes at him. It was evident that she still had her suspicions of him and wasn’t quite ready to let him off the hook that quickly.
“And what about the Sacred Jewel? From what I heard that’s what got you sealed away for 50 years. How do we know you aren’t just doing whatever it takes to keep it for its power?”
InuYasha met the Taijiya’s glare head on, giving as good as he got. Being more of sound mind in his current state, he wasn’t as inclined to start brawling again. He realized the slayer had a right to be suspicious of him and taking a note from his mates’ play book, decided it was best to be honest here.
“It’s true I did seek out the jewel 50years ago for its power. I wanted to become stronger. And I did eventually steal it. But I only done that in retaliation from being betrayed. Kikyo hurt me, I wanted to hurt her. And no before you even ask I did not physically hurt her! I’m not a monster.”
He stopped here to wait for the Taijiya to shut her mouth. Having seen where her thoughts had immediately gone, he nipped that in the bud before she could even voice it. Once she clamped her mouth shut he continued.
“When I first woke up from that damn spell I was still pissed. Yeah 50years may have past for the rest of the damn world but for me it was like wakin’ up the next morning. So yeah, I still wanted the jewel and I took it from that bitch Mistress Centipede.   At no point though did I ever intend to harm Kagome. What she told you is true, I did save her and anybody that wants to mess with her goes through me!”
InuYasha stopped to give a menacing look not only to Miroku and Sango but Kaede as well. Making sure his point was made before continuing somewhat solemnly.
“I still want to become stronger, but not for the same selfish reasons now. I want to be better at protecting her. I thought the jewel would help me with that. These past couple weeks however have showed me how dark that thing actually is. It’s dangerous to use for too long. So, no, I’m not just doing whatever it takes to keep that damn thing.”
After InuYasha was finished Sango was silent for a moment letting everything sink in. She looked him over carefully, watching his body language towards the girl called Kagome. Deciding he truly meant no harm towards her, she had one last question.
“So why do you keep it with you if you know how dangerous it is?”
Sango watched curiously as InuYasha and Kaede made eye contact and lingered as if they both were silently communicating over a serious matter. When their features both hardened, she could tell that the conclusion of their silent conversation was grim. Even Miroku’s expression took on a solemn look, and Sango could tell it wasn’t from any lingering pain.   Finally InuYasha let out a long-aspirated sigh before answering her.
“Because Kagome’s the only one with spiritual powers strong enough to constantly purify the damn thing.”
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Demon Nature