Chapter 11 Surprises Abound

[lynx212]

Falling Away
Fandom: Inuyasha
Pair: Sess/Inu
Warnings:PG- NC-17: Inucest and Some OOCness (Kagome)
Summary: How the Inu brothers became brothers again and more, only to have everything else in their lives fall into total chaos!
Note rating will vary. Please all that read and comment be honest with my 1st fic

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Chapter 11 Surprises Abound

(Kagome’s POV)

I can’t believe everyone is treating me like this. I don’t know what everyone’s problem is, but I’m not going to stand for this treatment much longer. Without my help they would have never defeated Naraku! They would still be looking for jewel shards if I hadn’t come along. Not to mention the fact that Inuyasha would still be pinned to that tree if it wasn’t for me. But are any of them grateful? No, not one of them, I have given up time with my family, put my education on the line, and risked my life for all of them and this is how they repay me?

They act like my wanting him to become human is the worst thing to happen since the thunder brothers. True, I was fine with him being a Hanyou when he was saving our ass on a daily basis but I always assumed when things settled down and we no longer lead the life of hunters, protectors, and saviors that he would gladly renounce his demon blood and come back to my time with me. Surely they didn’t think that I was going to settle down here and have quarter demon pups in a place where if you’re traveling you have to go dig a hole to relieve bodily functions in?

They had to be out of their mind.

I am more upset with that demon slayer than anyone. I can’t believe she struck me like that! And to make matters worse, no one did a damn thing about it. And what was with Sesshomaru playing big brother and protector to his half-breed brother all of a sudden? To make that even more shocking, why Inuyasha didn’t just kick his butt? Instead he just stood there like a wuss and pleaded with him. That makes me wonder if I really know any of these people at all.

Then there’s Shippou he has all but ignored my presence for days now and he clings to that slayer and Hanyou like they are something to him. If it were not for me he would still be some orphaned brat roaming around in the forest and that’s even if he would have managed to live this long without me. He wouldn’t even have become part of this group if I hadn’t stopped Inuyasha from killing him when we all first met and he stole off with the jewel shards. Then the fact that that exterminator is just fine and dandy with taking over my place in his life is enough to make my blood boil! Now, to top things off the Kitsune just hopped on Inuyasha’s shoulder and left the hut like they actually like each other or something. If this keeps up I’m just going to go home and it would serve them all right if I never came back!

I think it’s about time I got my answers out of him, he said ‘later’ it is now later and I am not taking any lip for an answer this time.

(Normal POV)

Kagome began to exit the hut when Sango spoke up.

“Where are you going Kagome-chan?”

“To get some answers out of him – if it’s any of your business to begin with.”

If Sango took any offense to that remark she didn’t show it.

“Did it ever occur to you, to wait until he comes to you and that he will talk when he is ready?”

“What is wrong with all of you? Since when did everyone tiptoe around Inuyasha like he was fragile? He is brash, rude, and as ill-mannered as always.”

“Yes, he may be all of those things on the outside, but you of all people should know how he actually feels is entirely a different matter.”

“Look Sango, I will handle my relationship with Inuyasha how I see fit, you focus your attention on Miroku.”

“Houshi-sama and I are merely friends nothing more.”

“Yeah right, that’s why his hand always finds a home on your rear-end.”

“Things are not always what they appear to be, Kagome.”

“Well what ‘things appear’ to be now is all screwed up, basically because no one will mind there own business!”

With her shouts still thudding in the demon slayer’s ears, Kagome left the hut and a stunned Sango to seek Inuyasha. She didn’t search for too long before she found him helping a few villagers repair a wall to the building where they kept grain; he was holding the wall up while they nailed it in place. Shippou was there handing out water to the tired workers. Just about to make her presence known, Kagome flinched as a roaring sound swept through the village.

“Are we under attack?” one of the workers panicked; worry streaking across his sweaty features.

“It sounds like…” Kagome began.

“Miroku’s wind tunnel!” Inuyasha finished. He asked the men if they had the wall and when they nodded he was nothing more than red blur headed in the direction of that perturbing noise. Kagome took off in the same direction as fast as her human legs would carry her. Shippou on the other hand took off in the direction of Kaede’s hut.

“SANGO! SANGO!”

“What on earth is it Shippou? Your shouting almost caused my heart to still.”

“It’s Miroku; we all think his wind tunnel is back!”

“No!”

The Kitsune just sat there panting, trying to catch his breath, but before he could get his bearings he found himself being hauled up on the transformed fire-cat and shooting off towards that sound.

Inuyasha was the first to arrive and what he saw brought fear to his heart. It was indeed Miroku and his wind tunnel, but what was strange was the fact that the old priestess was just sitting there on a log like nothing was wrong.

“Have a seat Inuyasha and calm ye nerves all is well.”

“How can you say all is well if that damn curse is back?”

“I will explain when everyone arrives so I don’t have to repeat myself, I am sure if you are here the others are not far behind.”

Inuyasha began to move towards the monk when he was stopped by Kaede.

“Do not disrupt his concentration child.”

“Doesn’t he need to wrap that thing back up and put some beads on it or something?”

“Patience Inuyasha…”

“Well if that thing’s trying to engulf him he doesn’t have time for me to be patient!”

“All is not what it seems child.”

He was about to argue the point further when Sango arrived on Kilala with Shippou, Kagome soon following after them. Miroku turned slightly, his eyes greeted by all his friends. Although he found himself troubled by the worried looks on their faces, deciding he should probably try to shut it off now and that is precisely what he did. No sooner than he shut it off did Inuyasha dart over to his side.

“Are you okay Miroku?”

“I am fine, my friend, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Keh,” Inuyasha muttered indignantly, “you didn’t scare me.”

“Whatever you say, Inuyasha,” Miroku said with a smile.

The stubborn Hanyou simply folded his arms across his chest and stuck his nose in the air, then turning to look at the old priestess. “You care to tell us what the hell is going on now old lady!?”

“I will indeed, my outspoken friend.”

“Don’t speak to Kaede that way Inuyasha, it’s no wonder she doesn’t want to answer you,” Kagome scolded.

“Well we’re all waiting!” Inuyasha continued, ignoring Kagome’s comment.

Slowly, much to Inuyasha’s dismay, Kaede began to tell them of her suspicions as far as Miroku and his wind tunnel was concerned, and how it was intended to be more of a gift than a curse. A myriad of expressions met everyone’s face, as Kaede began to speak of how she also thought that the wind tunnel was more a form of energy than an actual wind. When she said this, she looked over to see a very confused Monk running his left index finger over the palm of his right hand.

“What is wrong child?” she asked him.

“‘An energy’ you say? Do you really think so?”

“It would have to be.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You don’t think all those demons and such would really ‘fit’ into your hand otherwise do ye?”

“I guess…I never really thought about it that way.”

“I would guess that energy might dissolve things or maybe even move things from one place to another, like a portal.”

The group started walking back toward the village with Miroku and Kaede bringing up the rear, the old Miko couldn’t help but smile at the young Houshi as he looked at his hand in amazement instead of fear, and seeing that change warmed her heart. It had really pained her a great deal to see the horrifying weight that the young Monk had to bare when they were still chasing Naraku, at times she could see the Hanyou trying to lift his spirits but in the end the weight would remain.

“You will have to practice now, hai Houshi-sama?” asked Sango from up ahead.

“Yes Lady Sango, I will.”

“I hope you know that you will have friends alongside you as you begin this new journey.”

“You are very kind Lady Sango.”

“Yeah, you’re not getting rid of us that easily monk,” snorted Inuyasha in mock aggravation.

“I’m not sure exactly what’s going on, I’m just glad it’s not going to swallow him any more, and as long as that doesn’t happen I’m happy,” piped Shippou from his perch on Sango’s shoulder, which is something he has grown almost too big and heavy to do.

When they all reached Kaede’s hut she immediately set about going over some old parchments and dusty books to figure out some ways of helping Miroku with his new gift as well as some further training for his developing holy powers. Over their past few years of travel, his spiritual powers had grown and had really only been trained in the heat of battle, now that things had simmered down, Kaede thought that some proper training and focus would do him a world of good.

“Would ye care to join us?” Kaede asked of Kagome.

“Not really, now that the Shikon Jewel is within me I am strong enough to take on just about any evil spirit that comes my way.”

“I understand that ye strength has grown child, but ye mind and ye will still need to be trained to compensate for that.”

“Thanks Kaede, but I’ll still pass.”

“Suit ye self, but if ye ever have a change of mind ye know where to find me.”

“I can even release my purification powers as force bolts now, so I don’t have to risk being in contact with a demon to stun the living snot out of it.”

(Sango’s POV)

When Kagome said ‘it’, out of the corner of my eye I saw Inuyasha flinch and make his way toward the door. I listened to Kagome continue on about her improved powers and let a little time pass before I too slipped out the door in search of the half-demon. Finding him sitting in his favorite tree just staring out into the horizon, I noted how tired he looked, exhausted in a way that only comes from within one’s soul and for this, something in me weeps for his pain. But I intend to show him that he has more in this world that just Kagome. I am sure that if he looked hard enough, he would find more than he ever dared dream was there.

“Are you just going to stare at me all day, or are you going to say something?” he asked huffily. I believe it was an attempt at his usual sarcasm but it had no real bite to it, not like before.

“I thought I might just stare,” I reply, trying to goad him a little.

“Keh, suit yourself.”

“Oh come on, Inu-sama is that the best you can do?”

“My best will only and always be a half-assed effort no matter what I do.” With that, he dropped out of the tree and out of my sight. It took a couple of minutes before the full implication of his words hit me, when it did, I shot off into the woods after him. After a while of running directionless, I stopped, a deep breath bunching in my lungs in anticipation of my next words that bellowed out into the forest.

“YOU ARE NOT AS ALONE AS YOU THINK YOU ARE!” I stood there panting and trying to gather myself, when suddenly, I heard a twig snap behind me.