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Suffering and Rebirth	By : scattered-dimensions Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 8853 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters. This is for fun not monetary gain.

Chapter List
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If there was one thing that always amazed him about Kagome it was the way she could go from happy and jovial, to forlorn and crying, to angry and screaming so loud he had to cover his sensitive ears to keep them from bleeding, all in the span of moments. Now was just one of those times and all InuYasha wanted to do was crawl into a hole somewhere to escape the scary version of his friend and a possible sitting.
“Damn it, InuYasha!”
Or twelve.
She had been back for an entire week and already she was bossing him around. He just wanted to help. She said she wanted a place of her own so she wouldn’t be imposing on Sango and Miroku’s privacy. So, he found her one. She also said she didn’t mind them living together that way he didn’t have to sleep in the trees. So they did. She never said she would go into raging fits every time he brought home something that bled for supper or when he would track in dirt that could easily be swept up or if he didn’t bathe to her specifications.
Today, he had done everything on that list and was cowering in a corner clutching his bathing supplies to his chest with a white knuckled grip waiting for the storm to pass. He dared not move and draw unnecessary attention to himself when she was like this. Miroku hadn’t been joking when he said she would come back to herself. It had happened with a vengeance.
“I don’t see how anyone who walks around barefooted can track in so much dirt. Uggh. There’s blood mixed in with it, InuYasha, and it dried.” She ranted while scrubbing the floor.
InuYasha felt a chill go down his spine and he gulped. She was going to say the word any minute now, he just knew it. There were a lot of bloody footprints.
“As sensitive as your nose is, I would think you would want to get this mess off of you as fast as possible, not bring it into your home. I live here too, you know… Eww, this one has fur.” She continued.
He just wanted to melt into the cracks of the wood flooring and disappear.
Everything had been going good today. They had shared a laughter filled breakfast and he helped her in the garden afterwards. They had spent the rest of the day doing odd jobs for the villagers earning a meager penchant. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to sustain them for a short time.
They had visited Miroku and Sango. Their afternoon had been filled with giggles and the laughter of children. It made InuYasha’s heart nearly swell out of his chest when he saw Kagome holding Kaori. She’d make a wonderful mother and it wasn’t the first time he’d thought that.
When he killed their supper, he made sure to clean it in the woods so that he wouldn’t spoil the day they had shared. He didn’t think twice about walking into his own home. Huge mistake.
She’d been so happy to see that he only brought in the steaks and she had cooked it without complaint. The meal was delicious and had been eaten while they talked about the children and their crazy antics. He got to tell her about the plan he had to make her a tub like the one she had in her time and she had been so excited. Their conversation was a hodgepodge of random subjects and the most pleasant one he’d had in a long time. She had smiled nearly the whole day.
Her happiness didn’t last, however, because during the meal clean up, she began to reminisce about her mother’s cooking and it sent her into a sobbing fit. He had attempted to comfort her with a hug, which she openly accepted sending his heart into a gallop.
That had been the beginning of the end for him.
She dried her eyes and right before she pulled out of his embrace, she discovered the barely noticeable splatter stains on his garments, then the blood caked footprints leading from the door to where they’d been sitting. She exploded.
Now, he was fearful for his health and anyone else’s who came through that door.
“Honestly, InuYasha, you should be the one doing this.” She grumbled.
He would gladly clean it up if it spared him her wrath, but he had learned from experience, nothing would satisfy her in a moment like this and he would get sat into oblivion. Yes, it was best to just remain very still and very, very quiet.
Before he knew it, Kagome was standing over him with her hands on her hips, the sleeves to her haori tied up around her shoulders to keep them from getting dirty. He flinched. Here it comes.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself, hmm?” She asked tapping her foot impatiently.
“Sorry.” He nearly squeaked and he saw her countenance soften.
She sighed and dropped her arms. He took a chance and stood up hoping against hope that it wasn’t a stupid move.
“Me too. I just don’t feel like myself lately. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.” Kagome said apologetically and InuYasha felt some of his anxiety fade away. “That doesn’t mean tracking bloody footprints in the house is okay.”
He felt the tension within his chest come back to life with those added words of admonishment and began looking for an escape route.
“It won’t happen again, promise. So, I’m going to bathe…if that’s okay.” He said nervously inching around her slowly.
Kagome nodded and he slipped out the door quickly taking the bucket of soiled water with him. In reality, he hadn’t even noticed what he had done until she saw it and now he felt like a fool. Kagome could get sick because of that mess. He really did need to be more careful. Sometimes he forgot how fragile humans really were.
He paused to dump the bucket in the underbrush along the path to the river. A flash of orange caught his eye and piqued his curiosity. He took off after the mysterious being leaving his bathing supplies and the bucket behind. He was in no rush to get home and a little distraction never hurt anyone. Besides, it would be smart to get dirty before his bath; otherwise she’d just sit him repeatedly.
He caught a glance of a furry creature bearing the same orange color out of the corner of his eye and altered his course to follow. He crashed through the underbrush at nowhere near his usual speed, trying his best not to overly frighten the creature. It didn’t smell demonic. In fact, it didn’t have much of a scent at all which was odd.
He was very invested in the chase at this point, but had to come to a skidding halt when he reached a clearing. His mysterious creature was a calico cat and it sat in the soft grass of the clearing looking up at him with intelligent eyes as if it was waiting for him. He regarded the feline for a moment shocked that he’d actually chased it through the woods. Damn his canine instincts. Well, at least nobody was around to witness it.
This cat was familiar somehow, but he couldn’t place it. He sniffed the air trying to jog his memory and discovered that the animal’s scent was no different from any other he had smelled before, but was a little weaker than he expected. He supposed that answered the question as to why he couldn’t sense it during his pursuit.
He crouched low to not frighten it any more than he probably already had, not that you could tell by looking at it. He never was a cat person, but Kagome might enjoy the company. He’d do anything to help her adjust to this life. She had Buyo in her time and this one had almost the same markings. Maybe this fuzzy thing would help her feel more at home.
“Hey there, little guy. You lost?” He asked feeling right foolish when the cat cocked its head to the side dumbly.
He rolled his eyes and moved forward. Surprisingly, the cat stayed put, its tail flicking back and forth. He was able to get within arm’s length of the feline with no reaction from it other than its assessing emerald gaze looking up at him warily. It had probably belonged to someone else. It certainly didn’t act feral.
He reached out a clawed hand and smoothed his fingertips over the cat’s head. He felt it go rigid under his touch, but it didn’t back away. Maybe the separation from its previous owner had been traumatic. He knew all about that. Having to fend for yourself in this world was no fun.
After a few more experimental strokes, InuYasha moved closer. Only then did the animal back away, its eyes wide and suspicious of his intent.
“I’m not going to hurt you. You hungry? I have food back at my place.”
The cat gave him what he thought was a glare, but the expression faded so fast he couldn’t be sure.
“What do you say? Warm bed, full belly, not a care in the world. My friend, Kagome is really nice…sometimes. Just don’t trail blood in the house.”
The cat took a step towards him, then another and another, until it was pushing its head up against the palm of his hand. This was a good sign. Now, all he had to do was pick it up and take it back. His redemption was so close he could taste it.
“Alright, I’m going to pick you up now.”
He scoffed at the idiocy of himself. Like the cat could really understand him. He went about the motion anyway and the feline allowed it. It even purred when he cradled it to his chest. He scratched it gently behind the ears and trudged back towards the hut he shared with Kagome.

“So InuYasha got you a cat?” Shippo asked watching the feline lounging on a shelf and Kagome nodded happily. “What did you do, BakaYasha?”
“Nothing, ya runt. Can’t I just be nice?” InuYasha grumbled from in front of the fire pit.
He hadn’t expected the kitsune to be here when he got back. It was embarrassing enough to be fussed at for not bathing, though Kagome was much gentler about it after she saw what he’d brought her, but Shippo, being a fox demon, would definitely pick up on the irony surrounding the gift.
Shippo stood there blinking at him for a moment, before bursting out in gut splitting laughter and rolling on the floor. InuYasha growled in frustration.
“It must…have been…really bad!” Shippo forced out through chortles.
Even Kagome hid her face behind her hand and snickered, though InuYasha knew she was just laughing at the situation not him. It still didn’t make him feel any better about it.
“Feh, whatever.” He rose from his seat and stomped outside.
Shippo’s laughter died down and he got up wiping the tears from his eyes. He shouldn’t have teased InuYasha like that in front of Kagome, but he just couldn’t help himself. A dog bringing home a cat for the woman he loved. It was so...InuYasha.
“Sorry, Kagome.” He perched on her shoulder just like he used to and wrapped his arms around her neck.
“It’s okay, Shippo, but you know InuYasha can be sweet when he chooses to. Just go easy on him.” She admonished with a gentle smile hugging him back.
Shippo felt his heart sore. He’d missed her so much. He’d gotten into so much mischief while she was away, but the only thing that kept him grounded was her soft voice in his head. He excelled in all his training just for her. He was still a kid, but he could protect her now.
“You hungry, Shippo?” He thought she’d never ask. He missed her cooking, too.
“Absolutely. Do you have any ninja food?” He asked excitedly and Kagome sighed.
“No. I didn’t pack anything, but a few pictures and some personal keepsakes before I jumped through the well. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. Pictures are more important anyway.” Kagome smiled.
“I do have some left over stew.” She said standing to get a bowl from the shelf.
Her new furry friend jumped down lazily and sauntered across the room completely ignoring them. Shippo watched the cat curiously. It smelled funny and not the way most cats do.
“Not very friendly, is it?”
“She just needs some time to adjust. Besides, cats are very independent creatures.” She explained setting the pot over the fire to warm up.
“What are you going to name her?”
“Hmm, I hadn’t quite figured that out yet. I just got her and I kinda want her name to reflect her personality. I guess it just hasn’t hit me yet.”
Shippo tapped his chin in contemplation.
“What about Shika?”
Kagome considered it for a moment, her brow furrowing while she looked at the lounging feline. She nodded and patted Shippo’s head.
“It’s perfect. Shika it is.”
The stew started bubbling signaling its readiness to be served. Kagome busied herself making a few bowls for everyone including Shika while Shippo walked over to the new pet to bestow some affection. He sat down beside her and began to stroke her back. She didn’t seem to object, but she wasn’t reveling in it either like most pets would. Leave it to InuYasha to find a strange animal.
“Here you go, Shippo. Be careful. It’s a little hot.” Kagome said handing him a bowl filled with stew and another with rice.
Shippo took them from her with a happy smile. She bent and patted Shika on the head gaining the same reaction from the cat that Shippo had gotten, complete indifference, but Kagome didn’t seem to notice.
“You hungry, girl?” Kagome asked setting a small bowl in front of the cat.
Shika stood and walked over to the proffered nourishment. She took a tentative sniff of the contents. Kagome could have sworn she heard the cat snort before raising its nose in the air and haughtily walking out the door of the hut. She looked over to Shippo who sat with a hunk of rice pinched between his chopsticks staring at the retreating feline with wide eyes. After a moment he turned to look at her.
“Maybe we should have named her Sesshomaru-sama instead?”
“InuYasha would just love that.” She giggled.
“Love what?” InuYasha asked pushing the door covering to the side.
He settled himself beside Kagome and she handed him a couple of bowls.
“Oh, nothing.” She said trying to keep her amusement under control.
“Yeah, I bet.” He said digging into his own food.
“How long are you staying, Shippo?” Kagome asked.
Shippo’s face turned serious and he set his bowl down.
“I was thinking about staying permanently.” He said.
“Shippo, I thought you liked your training.” Kagome asked.
“I do, but the only reason I went through with it was because you weren’t here, Kagome. Now that you’re back, I want to stay…I missed you.” He explained wiping away salty tears.
“Oh, Shippo.” Kagome reached over and gathered him into her arms.
He had grown since the last time she saw him, but not overly much. She stroked his hair while he tried his best to regain control over himself and before she knew it, he was fast asleep. She stood and laid him down on her pallet while he curled into a ball and softly snored.
“He took it pretty hard when you left. Shippo looks at you like a mother, ya know.” InuYasha said from behind her.
His words struck a chord in her and she turned, flinging herself into his chest.
“I love him, too. I love all of you.” She whispered into the soft fire rat robe.
InuYasha felt his face flame, but he couldn’t deny how right it felt to have Kagome say those words to him. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his nose in her hair. He couldn’t wait to tell her how he really felt.

Noriko watched from the shadows just outside the hut. She had been halfway across the yard when she heard Sesshomaru’s name mentioned. She doubled back, but nothing further was said on the matter.
She had cursed them all. She was allowing herself to be thought of as a pet. It was the perfect way to get the information that she needed, but there was no way she was going to stay around them every waking minute. Her sanity couldn’t handle it.
Her breaking point for the night had been when Kagome placed that bowl of common stew in front of her. Cat or no cat, she wouldn’t debase herself in such a way.
Noriko sighed and glanced back into the hut to make sure she wasn’t missing anything before heading home. She could definitely go for a long bath and a decent meal after the day she’d had. She couldn’t believe the mutt had actually chased her. Stupid dog. She decided to return in the morning. Perhaps they would be in a sharing mood then.
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Suffering and Rebirth