Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Pasts Uncovered	By : FlameWolf666 Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female Views: 4653 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own or profit from Inuyasha. This story is just for fun!

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Author’s Note: This story will be a bit of an experiment for me. I hope you enjoy what you read. Please don’t be shy to let me know? Your comments sustain me~

Chapter Two: The Awakening

    The next day, I woke up sore from sleeping on the ground. Getting to my feet, I placed both hands in my lower back and arched my spine forward; cracking it. Sleeping on the ground would take some getting used to and I dearly wished I had a tent or at least a sleeping bag. Living with camp cooking was also going to take some getting used to. I would have to eat what we could catch unless we came across a travelling merchant or a village that needed our help. In all honesty, I was lucky Kagome was forcing us to stay near the village until I was acclimated.
    Having had a bit of a shock when she came here herself, she could sympathize with my predicament more than anyone else. Still, it felt a bit strange to be around someone her age when I was twenty-eight. It felt even weirder to be reliant on her going back to the past for me. As much as I hated to do it, I would have to ask her to pick up some supplies. Just as soon as she let slip about the well. Unfortunately, it didn’t look like that would happen this morning.
    Yawning, the young girl waved to me enthusiastically; a groggy Shippo rubbing his eyes while he sat in her lap. Carefully gathering the fire rat robe that had been given to me, I was dismayed to find it had been covered in all manner of gunk from contact with the ground. Giving an apologetic glance to the watchful hanyou, I showed the damage to both Kagome and Sango. Grimacing, the two women got to their feet to gather their own laundry. “Its okay Jade. We had to do some clothes anyway. I brought some detergent from my time and we can wash it in a near-by river. Just try to stay close,” advised the teen before we were moving off into the dimmer forest.
    While thick, the trees still let a fair bit of light through; giving the entire place a slightly magical feeling. Closing my eyes as I breathed in the fresh air, I was honestly surprised by how pure and sweet it was. Gone were any traces of pollution or smog, a pleasant change after years of city life. I could smell the grass, the bark of the trees, even the faint scent of flowers. Another thing I noticed as we walked was an utter lack of noise. No cars, no people talking on their cell phones, no ambient honking. Just birds, the buzz of insects as the shush of the breeze rustled the branches.
    It all made me realize just how much I had taken nature for granted in my life. In the presence I had come from, forests like these were a rapidly shrinking resource. Honestly, this experience made me a bit grateful this all had happened to me; as confusing as it was. After the shock was wearing off, I was finding I liked it here a lot. Not to mention meeting people that had been heroes of mine since I was sixteen. Though, that part still felt very surreal. I probably wouldn’t ever get over that particular feeling.
    Smelling fresh water brought me back to myself in a snap, excitement filling me in an instant. Even with how I had come here, I loved the water and I couldn’t wait to see how clean it was here. I wasn’t disappointed. It was sparkling clear, so clear that I could see the fish struggling to swim in the current and the rocks resting in the sand on the bottom. I almost hated to befoul it with soap and dirt. At least, with how fast the water was moving, it wouldn’t be mired for very long. Rolling up the pants of my jeans, I took the laundry soap from my fellow traveller from the future before entering the water.
    It was so cold, it was like knives on my skin; drawing a surprised squeal from my lips. “Good Christ that’s freezing!!” declared my voice without my say so, making me flush slightly when it echoed off the trees.
    “And now I’ve probably attracted every demon within a hundred miles. You’re really stellar at this whole thing,” I grumbled to myself, grimacing in apology at the others when they entered the narrow brook with me.
    Thankfully, neither of them really seemed put out by the noise. In fact, they appeared to be more amused than anything else. “You remind me so much of me when I first came here. Everything was new to me too. Oh... but I have a way to return home whenever I feel like it,” she explained, trailing off when she realized just how trapped I really was. Silence fell, the three of us bending to do our wash; soap foam swirling around our calves in a rainbow tinted slick.
    “How... how do you get back?” I ventured, despite knowing full well what the answer was. It was best I still appear ignorant, for all of our sakes.
    “Oh, that’s easy. There’s a well near the village that connects to... Hey, I wonder if you could go through too... You’re from the same time I am, at least judging by your clothes,” the young girl responded, smiling brightly at me.
    It wasn’t too much longer before we were getting out of the melted ice that was calling itself a stream. Rolling down my jeans to protect my legs from the now biting air, I found myself hesitant to try what she had suggested. While at the worst I would fall, I could break my ankle. A possibly crippling injury in this era. There were no modern doctors. Just healers that were doing the best they could with the limited knowledge they had. It wasn’t advisable to risk serious injury. Maybe, for now, it would be best to allow her to go alone.
    Besides, her time wasn’t really mine. Her stores would be different as would the layout of the city. She could always just get what I needed and I could pay her back with whatever money I scrounged up during our travel. Though, I doubted money from this era would have much practical use for her. At worse, it would be a beacon to any of her friends that happened to see it. “Don’t worry, I can get the stuff if you want. You don’t have to pay me back either,” whispered a voice to my right while a small hand landed on my shoulder. It was like she had read my thoughts.
    Looking down at her, I smiled while I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer but I wouldn’t feel right asking you to spend all that money on me and not give you back anything for it,” I reasoned. I was surprised when she merely giggled.
    “Who said anything about spending money. I have some extra camping stuff from my father and my mom has extra clothing that should fit you. Don’t worry about it,” came her reassurance while she and Sango led the way back to the small camp.
    As soon as we were back, we were breaking down the camp. Handing Inuyasha his still damp robe, I got to work as well. I had to pull my weight once we got out in the wilderness and there was no better time to start than now. Besides, I hadn’t grown up in the heart of Tokyo. At one point, I had lived in a small village much like Kaede’s. The only difference was that we’d had the modern conveniences. As a girl; my father took me camping, fishing, everything. I still knew how to gut and bone a fish, knowledge I was certain would come in handy now.
    Making sure the fire was buried and out, I helped pack up the small amount of items we had. Inuyasha simply watched for a few moments, frown softening ever so slightly. Shaking his silver haired head, he bent to help. Then we were all entering the village, Shippo scampering off to talk to some of the human children that were his friends. Chuckling, Kagome jostled her pack before casting a slightly analyzing glance at me. Nodding, she placed her large, yellow backpack inside Kaede’s hut before grabbing my hand and heading for the exit to the village once more. “Gonna head home for a few minutes. Jade needs some things from my time and I think I’ll be the only one who can get them for her,” she explained before heading down a very faded, overgrown footpath.
    Paying no mind to the complaints of Inuyasha that quickly faded into the background, I followed; taking in the majesty of the trees around me. In all honesty, it hurt my heart that they would be gone in my time. They had lived for so long, only to be plowed over by the out of control expansion of mankind. Returning my gaze to the path ahead, I saw a rickety, vine covered well. The only artifact of this time that would be in Kagome’s version of the future. Besides Goshinboku of course.
    As we got closer, I became aware of an energy pouring off the man-made object. While it didn’t feel malicious, it certainly felt powerful; tingling my skin. Walking up to the aged wood, I placed a hand on the splintered surface. I had seen this object many times in the anime and just feeling the roughness of the unfinished wood under my palm really brought it all home. This was all real. I had somehow fallen into this separate dimension and I was stuck here. Shaking my head, I stared into the seemingly endless depths of the well.
    Yet, it wasn’t just black. There was a faint, purple glow hovering where the bottom would be. The longer I stared, the stronger the glow got. Blinking, I backed away while Kagome hopped onto the edge of the portal to her time. “You sure you don’t want to try it?” came a slightly cajoling tone from her, as if she knew what I had just seen. Licking my lips, I shook my head.
    “Maybe next time,” I responded watching as she slid into the pit with no fear at all.
    Biting my lips against my urge to call her name, I watched her as she fell. To my amazement, she seemed to slow; almost floating for a few seconds before disappearing. Shuddering, I backed away until I bumped into something rather solid. “Came t’make sure ya don’t get eaten on yer way back,” grumbled a mid-tone from above, the tone telling me who it was before I had even turned around.
    “I appreciate that. I’ll be less helpless once Kaede awakens my sleeping power. Still... I’ll need to learn how to use whatever it is,” I replied, turning around to follow the vermillion clad half-breed back to the small hamlet.
    “Yer not useless. You know a fair bit about camping, at least from what I’ve seen already. Ya just don’t have a weapon to defend yerself with,” came a quick assurance, his words giving me some pause.
    While I couldn’t argue them, I hadn’t expected him to say them. The hanyou I knew was normally a bit more proud than that. Then again, maybe Kagome was changing him for the better. He had seemed a bit more willing to give me a chance than he would have normally been. Still, I knew better than to think that gave me the allowance not to pull my own weight. It was more important now than ever that I didn’t just sit on my laurels. Supplies were few and far between, the whole party would suffer if just one member didn’t do their share. “I just hope what’s awakened is useful,” I sighed, feeling apprehensive as we entered the small village.
    “Don’t worry about it. Even if its not, we’re gonna get ya all set up with a blade from Totosai,” came an assurance from my left, making me smile just slightly.
    “That is if he’ll make a blade for me,” I mumbled under my breath. The weaponsmith was notoriously picky about who he worked for. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t simply just run away because he wanted to avoid making me a weapon.
    “Why wouldn’t he? Besides, shouldn’t you be more concerned with who he is?” Inuyasha intoned, making me freeze in place. I had completely forgotten about just how sensitive his hearing was.
    “Erm, well, I... I figured he was a weapon maker and a high end one at that from the way you were speaking,” I reasoned, hoping against hope he bought it. Thankfully, he was nodding his head in agreement.
    “Makes sense. He’s an old youkai. He made both my sword and my brother’s. If I ask, he’ll probably make yers too,” he pointed out as we got closer to Kaede’s hut.
    Looking up at the bamboo door, I felt my apprehension spike. There would be no going back once I went in there, not that there was going back to a normal life in the first place. I had no clue how to get back to my own reality and I felt no real need to try too awfully hard. The family I had was fairly uninterested in my existence. My absence would go unnoticed by them. I also lacked any real obligations to go back to. At least not any that overcame the fact I was about to live out a show I had grown up with.
    I wanted to be here, as strange as it was. I wanted to see how close the show was to the real thing, let alone have the chance to actually be in the group. Just knowing I might be able to help them gave me the courage to swing aside the strung together slats, listening as they rattled in my wake. The first thing that greeted me was thick smoke from the campfire, stinging my eyes and filling me with the urge to cough. Squinting, I saw Kaede beckon to me through the smog. “Sorry bout that, this old house just doesn’t ventilate as well as it used to,” came an apology while I moved to her side.
    Shaking my head as I didn’t dare to speak, I startled when her arthritis twisted hand closed over mine. “Close your eyes child and try to relax. Relax and allow me to awaken that which has slept inside you all these years,” she murmured while my eyes fluttered shut on her command. Taking several, smoke filled breaths, I felt my consciousness begin to drift. Rather than fight it, I allowed it to happen; a strange chanting becoming apparent in the background. Keeping my breathing even, I allowed that too to fade away while warmth filled my limbs.
    Slowly, that warmth evolved into a burning sensation on my skin. Yet, it never got painful. Instead, it felt pleasant; curling around my limbs like an eager pet before disappearing into me entirely. Opening my eyes with a gasp, I looked down at my hands to see a faint flame surrounding them. Rather than panic, I simply closed my fists and took a breath; watching as they slowly faded. “You have a unique power. Nay, in fact you have two. One is over flame and the other is over healing,” came an announcement that brought my attention back to the elderly miko.
    “Now, you cannot heal everything just yet mind you. But you can handle small cuts. You’ll be able to handle worse as you practice but don’t try to do too much or you might hurt yourself. As for that flame power of yours, it may be best to ask Inuyasha to teach you how to use it,” came an advisement that had me nodding before she was finished.
    “I was going to do that anyway. Thanks for the warning,” I responded before I was carefully getting to my feet.
    I was now aware of a subtle thrumming in my veins, giving me a slightly energized feeling. Clenching my fists, I fought to keep my emotions even while I exited the hut. Until I got my new powers under control, it was best I try to remain on an even keel as much as possible. Thankfully, Inuyasha was just outside and he seemed to know what was going on without me telling him. With a nod of his head for me to follow, he led the way into the forest. Without question, I did as he had asked; following until we entered a fairly barren looking clearing.
    The trees and ground had been scoured with what looked like the claws of a giant monster but I knew better. This was the work of his Wind Scar, a powerful attack that he was still working to master entirely. Shuddering slightly, I forced myself to ask what this place was. After all, I wasn’t supposed to know anything about his attacks. “I practice with my sword here. Far from where I can hurt anyone. This is where you’ll train too. I’m sure you can already feel the power flowing through you, right?” came his response while he slowly withdrew Tetsusaiga.
    Nodding, I held my hands in front of me; not surprised when they immediately began to heat up. “Simply focus and send it forward at a target,” came his command. With a slow inhale, I closed my hands into fists; willing the heat to rise until the fire within me was surrounding my hands. Glaring at a tree, I punched forward; sending a pitifully tiny fireball pittering to the ground. It fizzled out as soon as it appeared, making my cheeks heat from embarrassment.
    “That’s okay, no one gets it their first time. I’d be surprised if you were the singular exception. Just try again. Don’t allow yourself to give up,” he advised before swinging down with his sword to demonstrate his Wind Scar.
    Five energy streaks spread out of the huge blade, cutting into the ground like butter and travelling quite a ways before dissipating. Taking a deep breath, I simply forced my newfound energy into my hands once more; concentrating it into flames much more quickly this time. With the same punching motion, I managed to shoot out a slightly larger fireball that travelled just a bit further; giving me a small amount of encouragement. “Good! Keep at it,” rumbled the hanyou, letting me know I was in for a very long day. Likely, he wouldn’t let me rest until I had at least managed to hit a tree; a daunting prospect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hours Pass~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    “Again,” shouted the dreaded command, sweat shining on my brow while my aching arms lifted. I could see the sky turning orange above but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t allow myself to stop. Not as long as I could move.
    Forcing my power into my hands for what felt like the millionth time, I took some comfort in the fact that the fire around my hands was instantaneous now. Forcing the cobwebs around my weary mind away, I put everything I could into this shot. Releasing a cry I watched as a flaming sphere sped toward a trees, hitting the bark with a hiss and dissipating. I had enough time to see I had left scorch marks before I was collapsing into a brief faint.
    Only a few moments later, I was awoken by a splash of cold water in my face; splutters leaving me while I sat up. “Maybe we went a bit overboard...,” murmured a raspy mid-tone from above me before callused hands were helping me to my feet.
    “Still, you did really good for today. Few more days of this and you should at least be able to shoot a fireball. Next, we can work on other attacks,” he continued as he helped me stagger to the village.
    To say everything hurt would be a gross understatement. I felt like I had been run over by a team of trucks. I couldn’t help but be grateful we were being allowed to use Kaede’s hut tonight. I looked forward to the thin futon I would be given. While it didn’t have much cushion, it was better than the bare floor itself. I only had a week left in this veritable paradise. Then we were hitting the road to continue the shard hunt as well as find Totosai. Just thinking about it filled me with both dread as well as anticipation. I was so lost in thought, I was completely surprised to see Kagome had returned.
    With a wide grin, she was handing me a lime green backpack with a black sleeping roll strapped to the top. Flipping the lid open, I took in all the clothes as well as other supplies she had thoughtfully packed. There was even a first aid supplies as well as some items for when my monthly inevitably hit. I had to bless her foresight. Still, I wondered just how well Inuyasha would handle such an event. He was half canine and, while he was used to Kagome, I was an entirely different ballgame. Still, at least I would be prepared.
- 1
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Pasts Uncovered