#passing the torch / Inuyasha AU

[whirling-fangs]

@tsukuharuko ♥'ed for an Inu/yasha verse starter!

Ever since Inosuke had picked up that weird shiny rock, the world had gone crazy.

Inosuke had been lured in by the shine of it. It was brighter than any acorn he had found before, so bright that it even seemed to keep on shining after the sun had disappeared. That was the sole reason why Inosuke had gathered it in the first place... but he had never imagined that so many creatures would be after it.

At first, he rather enjoyed all the attention. The shiny rock had brought many strong opponents to him, and he had defeated every single one of them... until he fell into that odd cavity in the ground. He figured it was the entrance to a cave, where he could recover from the injuries he'd sustained, but the ground kept getting further and further.

Until he found himself in that horrible, horrible place.

It was too loud. Humans crawling all over the place, machines that blew smoke and roared louder than a bear. He couldn't feel any youkai coming after him anymore, but this was worse. Way worse.

Inosuke leapt to the rooftops, unsure where to even look for shelter, when a peculiar smell caught his attention. In his panic, he hadn't realized how hungry he was. The smell came from the house below him, wafting from an open window. Inosuke dropped inside without a noise, a grubby hand reaching for the steaming pot... when he felt it. A presence behind him. He had been so focused on the food that he failed to feel it coming.

[petri808]

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Inukag Royalty AU

If the day was an example of the life, she’d lead here, then she was certainly grateful to have found it. But while she’d swore to herself not to reveal where’d she’d gone, the guilt of leaving Sango in the dark wore too heavily on her conscience. So, before she’d change her mind, Kagome penned a letter to her friend to let her know she was okay and settled into a new place. She didn’t provide a lot of details, just that it was in a neighboring kingdom with a respectable family, ending the letter by begging the woman to not say a word to anyone for fear of reprisal. Kagome would rather Sango flee than suffer for her wayward decision. Perhaps Sango could come here? Kagome sighed as she laid in bed staring at the ceiling. It would be nice to have her friend around.

She processed how much of a whirlwind of a day it had been. Such a blur to go from arriving in a strange new city and ending up as a part of another royal household. Is it just her destiny to be stuck in a castle? At least, this time the pressure felt lower. Sure, it was a bit nerve wracking to be a Princesses Lady in Waiting, but Rin was an adorable child to attend to and the family a joy to be around, minus Sesshomaru who still made her anxious. The royal family, oh the queen was quite a beauty. Kagome could see why the Inutaisho would fall such a wonderful woman regardless of heritage. And their son… her heart skipped a beat just thinking about the man. Inuyasha was very handsome indeed with his broad chest and long white hair tied up like his father, with adorable fluffy ears perched atop his head. Kagome swooned at the sight of his flashing golden eyes. He was cordial with her, albeit a bit flirty… or not, that might have been her imagination. “It was just a kiss on the hand,” Kagome chided herself. Nothing more than a gentlemanly gesture. She exhaled and closed her eyes. ‘I think I’m gonna like it here…’

Meanwhile in another part of the castle…

“Son, remember you are already spoken for,” the Queen counseled. “I was young once and I’m not blind. I saw the way you were looking at her.”

“Mom. I was just being nice,” Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “I’m not gonna do anything to jeopardize the treaty.”

“I trust you won’t.” She kissed his forehead. “Good night son.”

“Night mom.”

But as he watched his mother leave the room, Inuyasha knew it might be easier said than done. There was just something intriguing about this Lady in Waiting that made him want to learn more about her. The others had been older, boring, matronly, and not very interesting whereas Kagome was close to his age and not only very, very beautiful, but based on the dinner conversations intelligent too. The other attendants would sit quietly only watching Rin, but she engaged with them correctly as if this were normal for her. ‘How odd…’He mused and threw himself back onto his bed. But who was he kidding? Even if he wasn’t betrothed, as a Prince he had to marry a Princess… which Kagome Tanaka was not. He smiled and closed his eyes, ‘we could still be friends though…’

The following morning after breakfast, Kagome kept her promise to Rin to visit Buyo. She wanted to make sure her horse was adjusting well to the new stable, and the child was eager to meet him. Rin happily petted and groomed the horse while Kagome chatted with the stable hand about anything the man should know about Buyo’s quirks. Buyo was a docile horse since it was bred to carry a royal, but it could be picky about certain feeds. They were there for about half an hour when they were interrupted by none other, but Inuyasha and another man.

“We meet again,” Inuyasha kissed Kagome’s hand with a smile. He then ruffled his giggling niece’s hair. “This your horse?” He questioned the woman.

Keeping her emotions in check, Kagome smiled demurely. “Yes, your highness. His name is Buyo.”

“Beautiful steed…” Inuyasha ran a hand over the horse’s neck. “Like it’s owner.”

Kagome flushed bright red, but now the man accompanying Inuyasha snorted a laugh, gaining everyone’s attention.

“You hush Miroku,” Inuyasha growled.

“Sorry, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen you flirt before,” the man jested back.

“I’m complimenting the woman, is that a crime?!”

Ignoring the Prince, the man then stepped towards Kagome and bowed. “Where are my manners. My name is Miroku and I am the princes first guard.”

“Kagome Tanaka,” she bowed as well. “Princess Rin’s Lady in Waiting.”

Miroku took hold of Kagome’s hand and leaned in with a devious grin. “Someone as lovely as you should be my wife, not dealing with guys like the prince.”

“W-What?!” Kagome sputtered out in shock.

Inuyasha quickly grabbed Miroku by the shoulder, spun him around and shoved away hard. He then snapped at the man to get their horses ready so they could leave. “My apologies for this idiot,” he growled at his friend while addressing Kagome. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.”

“I-It’s okay!” Kagome waved her hands to wipe the air clear not wanting to cause any trouble. “I was just caught me off guard.”

“It’s not okay. He needs to learn to keep his loins in check,” Inuyasha grumbled. There was a brief awkward silence starting to brew, so he quickly changed the subject. “I’ll see you at dinner?”

“Oh, um, yes, I’ll be there your highness.”

“I look forward to it. And please, call me Inuyasha. Your highness makes me feel old.”

Kagome blushed at being so informal, but who was she to refuse the simple request of a Prince. “Okay. Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha tipped his head to the woman and leapt onto his readied horse, giving it a good snap of the reigns to usher it forward behind Miroku’s. As soon as they were out of range, he moved to trot beside his guard.

“You’re such an ass!” The prince snapped at his friend. Embarrassing me like that! I ought’a have you reprimanded!”

“Oh please,” Miroku rolled his eyes at the tirade. “I did that to confirm my suspicion.”

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You like this one,” the man jested with a big grin on his face. “And I don’t blame ya, she cute!”

“Keep your hands off her if you wanna keep them!”

“Oh, yeah,” Miroku burst out laughing. “You do like her.”

“Keh! Rin really like Kagome. So, I’m protecting my niece’s happiness.”

“Uh-huh, tell yourself that if it makes you feel better.”

“Just shut up and let’s get this over with,” Inuyasha ended the conversation. They had a problem nobleman to deal with in the next village over and he wanted to get back in time for dinner.

It’s not like Inuyasha planned to do anything wrong. What was the big deal about being nice and making a friend out of the Kagome? He didn’t have that many people to talk to aside from palace staff anyway. So okay, as the days passed, sometimes he would watch from a distance as the woman tutored his niece to make sure they were safe. Isn’t that what a good uncle would do? Inuyasha liked seeing Rin so happy and this was the first attendant who she honestly got along with it. The child was always smiling with Kagome who would tutor the girl with such a level of patience and understanding the others never possessed. And at many a dinner, the child would talk about the new things she was learning. Inuyasha could see the effects growing on his parents too who were treating Kagome less like a servant and more like the daughter they never had. From dresses and accoutrements fit for a noblewoman, Kagome was made up to look like a member of the family. He didn’t know if it was simply to make sure the woman stuck around long term or if there were other reasons for their behavior because it didn’t matter to him.

A few weeks later, Inuyasha was arriving home late in the evening after a day’s journey. He was tired from the trip and ready to crash. But as he walked past the library, he noticed a bit of light still on inside it. That was odd because the servants would never leave a torch or lantern burning at this hour, especially in the library with all those precious tomes.

“Hello?” He called out. “Is someone in here?” He heard a shuffling sound and walked towards it, finding Kagome sitting in a chair with a book on her lap surprised to see him. “Oh, hello Ms. Tanaka. You’re up late.”

“Sorry,” the woman apologized. “Did I disturb you?” She asked worried that she shouldn’t be there.

“No, no,” he gestured with a wave of his hand. “I was just surprised to see anyone up.”

“Oh,” Kagome flushed. “I um, couldn’t really sleep, so I came in here to read.”

Inuyasha walked closer, looking at the book. “What ya reading?”

“It appears to be a history book about this kingdom. I thought I should learn more about it since I’m here.”

He sat down on a chair across from Kagome. “I see,” he chuckled, “then you’ll probably learn more than I know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Studying and reading was never my thing,” the prince shrugged. “It drove my mom and tutors crazy.”

“Oh,” Kagome giggled, with her hand covering her mouth in gentile fashion. She pushed the book next to her lap on the chair. “So, how was your trip?”

Inuyasha slouched down. “Tiring. Dealing with nobles are either boring or just irritating.”

She laughed again. “I understand.”

“You can?” His brow raised.

Realizing she’d spontaneously made such a statement, Kagome back pedaled. “I mean I can assume it’s not fun. Doesn’t seem like fun.”

“You’re really strange for a commoner you know, especially a female.”

“I-I’m not sure what you mean.”

“It’s just unusual. You don’t talk and act like any that I know. Which isn’t much, but when you speak it’s just different, like take when you talk with my parents, you can hold a proper conversation with them as if you’ve done it before.”

“I, well, I mean it’s probably my mom’s influence. She was around nobles a lot and raised me to reach for higher standards I guess.” Kagome’s voice softened as her anxieties rose. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”

Inuyasha sat up and leaned forward with a soft smile. “On the contrary. It makes you a lot more… intriguing.”

Just the glint in Inuyasha’s eyes, made Kagome’s cheeks heat up. There was intent behind them that made her heart race and body weaken. ‘Pull yourself together girl!’ She swallowed slowly. “A-A good intrigued?”

“A good intrigued. I don’t have a lot of people to talk to here. Servants aren’t generally educated or interesting. Bureaucrats bore me. Miroku I swear all he thinks about is sex. But you remind me a lot of my mother, a combination of beauty and intelligence with a big heart. My niece was lucky to have found you that day in the marketplace.”

If Kagome’s cheeks burned any hotter, she’d look like a tomato from his compliments. “I do adore Rin,” she smiled genuinely. “She’s a bright child that reminds me of me when I was her age. When I’d set out into the world on my own, I never would have imagined ending up like this.”

“It was quite the shock when my brother adopted her,” Inuyasha chuckled. “I’m sure you probably thought the same thing, cause he’s not exactly friendly and yet that girl was able to pull some humanity out that frankly I didn’t believe existed. Rin has a gift for gauging people in a way an adult could spend a lifetime trying to achieve.”

“You really love your niece.”

Again, Inuyasha laughed. “Ask her how grumpy I was when she first arrived.” But a sudden yawn cut him off. “Wow, I really am tired. I guess I should get to bed.”

“I probably should too,” Kagome agreed, or she’d have a hard time waking up for Rin in the morning.

Inuyasha stood up to leave, then hesitated. He walked up to the woman and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Good night, Ms. Tanaka,” he smiled and turned to leave.

“G-Good night, Inuyasha,” she stammered out as her hand reached up unconsciously to touch the spot he’d kissed. ‘Oh… my…’ it tingled against her fingertips. “Um, Inuyasha?”

He stopped and turned his head. “Yes?”

“Please,” her voice full of nervous hopeful energy, “you can call me Kagome.”

Inuyasha’s eyes widened with surprise, but a smile instantly overtook him. “Very well… Kagome. Pleasant dreams.”

Once he was out of view, Kagome buried her face in her hands. What was she thinking?! Though to be fair he started it by being so flirty! ‘It’s just my name!’ Informal, but not world ending. She bundled the book up close, put out the lantern, and rushed back to her room. ‘Get your head together!’ It would be stupid to read too much into this. He was betrothed and just being nice, nothing more. But if only… ‘argh!’ Now she really didn’t think she’d sleep that night!

[that-gal-kay]

This little ditty is called Kay’s first attempt at a Lams AU, originally written last January. I finished it in one day and never posted it for no real reason other than this fic is strange. Anyway, enjoy Treasure Hunters AU, slightly inspired by The Mummy, slightly inspired by (probably) an episode of Inuyasha, slightly inspired by the weirdness in my own brain.

*** 

“Are you with me?”

Hamilton stops partway through the enormous entry and half turns to look at Laurens, light from the torch in his hand illuminating the area around him. The air rushes past Laurens, stale and musty and strangely warm for a temple supposedly sealed for some eight hundred years. Some feeling of this is wrong prods at him as he steps inside. They’ve done this for years, the two of them, and they are good- very good, at their chosen profession. Laurens is not one to hesitate, but something about this place in particular puts him on edge and makes his heart beat faster and—

“Laurens?”

He shakes his head, meets Hamilton’s concerned gaze, and manages words more confident than he feels, “I’m fine. I’m with you.”

When he picks up his pace to catch up to Hamilton, that dread rises up again.

This is wrong.

Get out

Every sense screams at him. It’s irrational. There is nothing to worry about. Not only should there be nothing but artifacts inside, but they are the first humans to set foot on this ground in centuries. Next to him Hamilton is talking about something to do with their assignment, something they’ve both studied for well over three months, but Laurens does not hear it.

Laurens stops again, vaguely aware that Hamilton immediately does too and turns to stare at him. A flicker of worry crosses the other man’s features. He extends a hand, but stops short before curling his fingers around Laurens’ jacket. They’re both sweaty and dirty and right now physical contact is something neither of them want. “Are you all right? The air in here is,” A pause; Hamilton doesn’t need to describe the stale stench. “If you’d rather wait outside I can get the stone and—”

You will never leave here

“No.” Laurens’ voice sounds weak in his ears, so he clears his throat and tries again. “No. I just thought- I’m fine.”

It’s unconvincing to say the least, but slowly, steady gaze trained on Laurens’ face, Hamilton steps back. They want this- they both need the money that comes with retrieving this artifact. Laurens is certain that short of him bodily forcing the both of them back the way they came, they are not leaving here without it. He’s thankful that Hamilton does not ask again if he’s all right. The musty air and uncomfortable heat are toying with his head, that’s all.

“According to pretty much every story written about this place, the stone is inside the innermost sanctuary. Only the heir to the throne was allowed access to it after each king died- and they had to go through some purification ritual before they could touch it. Even the high priests were never allowed to lay eyes on it.” Hamilton steps a few purposeful paces ahead of him, holding his torch up a little higher.

Laurens gives the uneasy feeling churning in his stomach a final push back, setting his jaw firm and determined to ignore it. Jefferson is paying them far too much for him to turn tail and rush out of here like a child frightened by a ghost story.

The flame from Hamilton’s torch illuminates the walls on either side of them. There is plenty of space for them to walk side by side, but Laurens trails just behind, attentive to the art on the walls rather than the nagging unease.

It’s obvious that the stone they’re after was held in high reverence by the society that built this temple. Every painting, every etching on the temple walls seems to depict it in some way. Laurens recalls in his reading that these people believed the stone was a gift from the gods sent to assist kings and queens, and thus it was kept so secure, deep within the temple.

“Shouldn’t be much further,” Hamilton comments. He shifts, hands his torch back to Laurens, and digs through his pack for a flashlight. “Most temples of this style weren’t built more than a hundred yards long or—there!”

Hamilton’s flashlight focuses on a huge door of dark stone a short distance ahead of them. It runs from the floor to the ceiling and seems to be sealed tightly shut.

Leave. Do not open the door.

Laurens follows him to the doorway, grips the torch tight as Hamilton presses his weight against the stone. The door doesn’t give in the slightest. Hamilton grunts in frustration, pushes back, then tries again.

Nothing.

Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out.

“Ham,” Laurens takes a step toward him and stops. Unease surges through him. His heart pounds, nearly deafening in his ears. He can’t even be certain he spoke Hamilton’s name out loud. It does not seem to matter though, Hamilton ignores him.

Hamilton steps back with a frustrated hiss. He turns the flashlight to focus on one side of the doorway, then the other. “There must be some kind of weak point, a way in even for a builder that—oh!”

Laurens doesn’t notice the reason for the sudden excitement at first. Hamilton scurries a few steps off to the right, flashlight shining over something carved into the wall. Symbols- writing.

When Hamilton reaches up, brushes his fingers across a few of the embedded symbols, it takes everything for Laurens not to scream for him to stop.

Don’t

“Maybe we could call for an expert- someone who can read the language,” Laurens comments, focused entirely on Hamilton and not the engraved writing behind him.

“I can read it,” He says with a scoff. Hamilton shoots him an annoyed look, lifts his flashlight again to the wall, and begins to do just that. It’s slow and a little uncertain, but at that moment Laurens has to concede that Hamilton has done his homework and then some, to read a language dead for centuries. It’s impressive. A few seconds and Hamilton trails off. He takes half a step back and shakes his head, confused.

Laurens tilts his head, “Is something wrong?”

It’s too late

“It keeps saying that only an empty vessel can pass through the door and possess the stone,” Hamilton’s brow furrows, he turns a full circle, glancing at the ground.

“A bottle?” Laurens offers with a shrug.

Hamilton shakes his head, mouth tight, “Probably more along the lines of something to carry the stone in once it was brought out. Nothing here now, though,” He steps to one side, studies an impression in an oddly colored clay brick. Laurens hears him mutter something about the end of the ritual as he brushes his fingers over the top of it.

There’s an imprint of a hand in the middle of the stone, Laurens sees it clearly as he ventures a step closer. Hamilton presses his own hand against it.

This time Laurens does shout for him to stop, but not quickly enough.

He does not know what he was expecting, but the moment Hamilton’s hand presses against the imprint his entire body goes rigid, head thrown back, mouth open wide in a silent scream. That posture lasts barely a moment before every ounce of energy seems to flee his body, leaving him sagging, barely standing, but his palm still seemingly glued to the stone. His flashlight falls from his lax fingers and flickers out.

Laurens drops his torch and rushes to pull him away, but it seems that Hamilton is somehow now, despite how weak he seems, made of stone. It is impossible to move him.

He hears two words rasp from Hamilton’s throat.

“Laurens. Run…”

Every part of him wants to obey and run. He’s wanted to run since they set foot inside this temple, but he will die before he abandons Hamilton. Laurens tries to wedge himself between Hamilton and the wall, break the contact that way, but there is not enough space. He shouts, curses, tries to shake his shoulders, slap his cheek, but there is nothing, no reaction. Hamilton does not seem aware of anything.

The trap- whatever it was, releases him suddenly. Hamilton steps back awkwardly and Laurens rushes to grab him. This time he allows fear to guide his reaction.

“What was that?! What the hell were you thinking? Alexander what—”

There is no reaction from Hamilton. Their gazes meet briefly and Laurens’ jaw drops in horror when he sees no recognition, no awareness in his glazed eyes. His mind flickers back to what Hamilton read from the wall barely two minutes ago.

Only an empty vessel can pass through the door and possess the stone

Hamilton steps past Laurens as if he weren’t there at all, and moves back to the door. As he steps toward it, the giant doors instantly begin to open. An eerie air rushes out and puts out the forgotten torch, plunging the temple into darkness.

Laurens is alone in the black, surrounded only by the sound of his own breath.

You should have listened. You should have listened

All is lost

[mrfeenysmustache]

A String of Souls

Chapter 6

Pairing: InuKag

Genre: angst, romance, SORT OF soulmate AU

Summary: Kagome Higurashi lives in a world where everyone has a soulmate, and they don't have to wait long to find them. She is more than happy with the person fate has chosen to stay by her side, but as soon as Happily Ever After can begin, it's ripped away. Fate, it seems, can be a cruel mistress. Or maybe not... Time travel/Soulmate AU/No jewel/InuKag

—————

A.N: Couple of things... First: SO SORRY about more than a MONTH in between this chapter and the last! I don't like going that long between updates. I have a reason: Along with this story AND my Pushing Daisies crossover that is also in progress, I'm also currently writing what I expect to be a pretty big project. It's taking up most of my plot bunnies lol I won't be posting on that for a while yet, I think, because I'd like to have a lot of it written and most of it planned and brainstormed. It's an Inuyasha/Thor/Avengers crossover. SO BE READY FOR THAT! Second: THANK YOU to all who have left faves, follows and comments! I love you all.

If Kagome wasn't convinced before that she'd somehow managed to time travel, she was convinced now.

Sitting on the floor of Kaede's little hut, she glanced around and took everything in slowly.

'It's all so ANCIENT. How did I even get here...'

"Well child, ye said ye had explanations."

"Oh, right... well, you see... we aren't really sure what's going on. I guess you could say that I'm not from around here. I fell down a well on my family's shrine property and woke up here. Inuyasha helped me out of the well on on this side. I had no way to climb out."

"I see. And Inuyasha, how did ye manage to break my sister's curse?"

"I don't know. I just woke up and pulled the arrow out. Simple as that."

"Hm."

Kaede stroked her chin and eyed them speculatively. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, but he was glaring at Kaede with his arms crossed firmly across his chest.

"I'm sure ye know this, Inuyasha, as ye we're there, but Sister Kikyo is dead."

The ears on top of his head snapped back and sadness filled his aura. Kagome felt her own heart shudder in response. It was a fey feeling, and she rubbed her chest to make it go away.

"She died... that day?"

"Aye. From the wound ye inflicted on her."

"I never put a scratch on her, old hag! Not a single scratch! I never would have!"

His aura was writing in pain and anger. It felt harsh and overwhelming and Kagome wondered why she having so much trouble muting her ability to feel it. Usually she could drown this part of her powers out if she needed to. It was as if his soul was demanding to be seen by her.

Kaede stared at him with a hard glint in her eye, weighing his response.

"I know."

"What?! Then why would you say-"

"I was testing ye, Inuyasha. I know not what sort of feelings ye may harbor towards us or my sister. Ye fell into your sealing slumber believing she'd turned on ye. I simply wanted to know if ye held any feelings of animosity or vengeance."

He glared at the old woman and then huffed in agitation, nodding for her to continue.

"We figured out the culprit behind BOTH of your demise several years after. A very injured man my sister had been tending to in secret had fallen in love with her. Before he could pass on, he gave his body to a hoard of demons and was reborn. I'm sure he planned to sow discord between ye both and take her for himself, but the demons had no plans of being tied to a priestess and killed her instead. He came back looking for that jewel that rumor keeps placing here. We have managed to chase him off, but he's still lurking around somewhere."

"So, that wasn't Kikyo who... it was him?"

"Aye Inuyasha. He is a shapeshifter. And a crafty one at that. Tell me, what did ye and my sister plan on doing that day?"

His cheeks burned red and Kagome's brows disappeared into her hairline.

"She said... she said she'd found a spell. One that she could use to make me human. And we could... we could have a normal life."

Kagome couldn't stop her horrified gasp as disgust and disbelief and, oddly enough, guilt pulsed through her.

"She was going to turn you into a human?!"

Inuyasha's brow furrowed as he stared at her, confusion painted all over his face.

"Yeah?"

Kagome's heart squeezed in an unexplainable way. She would have been alarmed by it had she been in more normal circumstances.

"But why?" She whispered almost brokenly, and Inuyasha tilted his head to the side as he considered her.

"So we could be together."

"But that's... that's... that's terrible! If you want to be with someone, you don't try to erase half of them!"

Inuyasha's face grew red with a mixture of embarrassment and anger, his voice rising over the rapid thumping of his heart.

"Hey, it wasn't her fault I was born this way!"

His words seemed to have the opposite effect he'd intended them to have. She didn't immediately understand and sympathize, didn't grasp the fact that a hanyo and a priestess had no business together, and cleansing him of his demonic blood was the only way to be together. Instead, her eyes and her scent grew ever sadder, and it seemed as if she was seeing straight to the bottom of his soul.

"Yeah? Well it's not your fault, either."

He blinked, his ears laying back down on his head as he allowed her words to filter down through the fuzz that now filled his brain.

That was something he'd always believed about himself, but to have someone else just... get it like that? He'd never, ever received that kind of understanding from another person before, and he wasn't sure what to do with it. He looked away, crossing his arms and hunching his shoulders defensively.

"Kaede-Sama, is such a thing... even possible?"

Kaede glanced at Inuyasha, who still looked pointedly away though one of his ears had perked in their direction, still interested in their conversation.

"I believe I know what spell my sister intended to use on Inuyasha, and no. It would not have worked. I'm sorry to say Inuyasha, but ye need to know the truth."

"Keh. Don't matter now, anyway."

"Indeed it does not." Kaede turned back to Kagome. "Now child, how about ye? Where do ye come from where doorways hide in wells?"

Kagome pulled at a loose string on the pants hem around her ankle, nervous that her only reasonable explanation would be rejected and she'd be chased from this village with torches and pitchforks.

"Um... it's not really where I'm from... so much as when."

"Come again child?"

"I think... I think I might be from the future. The future of this village."

"How would such a thing be possible?"

"I don't know." She shrugged helplessly and Kaede stared deep inter her eyes, searching for truth or a lie or something. She felt the old woman's spiritual aura begin delicately prodding at her own and she tried not to cringe away in defense.

"I see. There is a familiar signature in your aura, child. I believe I may be able to give you at least one answer. Whether it will lead only to more questions, only time will tell."

"Familiar... signature?" Kagome felt her heart rate begin to rise and a faint dread set in. For some reason she knew the knowledge about to be imparted to her was going to change everything, and there was no way to stop it.

"I believe, young Kagome, that you may be the reincarnation of my sister."

Her eyes blew wide and her jaw dropped and her heart beat beat so fast and hard she could hear her blood rushing through her ears. She looked over at Inuyasha, who was staring at her with a look of bewildered astonishment before she felt his own demonic aura probing hers. He reared back, apparently finding what he'd been looking for, this 'familiar signature,' and he got up and stalked out of the hut without a word.

Kagome couldn't imagine how he must be feeling, faced with the reincarnation of the woman he'd hoped to build a life with. He probably needed some serious space. She turned back to Kaede, completely unsure where to even go from here.

"Kaede-Sama... are you certain?"

"Oh yes. Most of your aura is your own, Of course. But the core of it, the core of your soul, is much the same. I would recognize it anywhere."

She felt sad and confused, and like she didn't quite fit in her own skin anymore. She wanted a bath and large mug of her mother's tea.

"Well, what now?"

"I know not, child. I know not."

"Ok then," she responded, determination filling her and warming the places in her that had chilled with this recent revelation. "Tell me more about this shapeshifter. Where can we find him?"

She had every intention of trying to get home, but she would glean as much useful information as she could to give to Inuyasha before she departed. She hoped her departure and the death of the man who had tried to ruin his life would give him peace. She hoped he'd find a place to belong and people to accept him as he was.

And she hoped she'd be able to forget him, and this whole strange adventure, and move on with her life.

[whirling-fangs]

The Dog, the Cat and the Boar

As long as humankind could remember, the wild lands of Japan had always been inhabited with Yōkai. Some large, some small, some dangerous, some inoffensive. Some evil, some benevolent.

The Dog, the Cat and the Boar cared little for such labels. They could not remember how long they had known each other. Their differences only cemented their bond, one's qualities complimenting the others' flaws. They were a team.

They were a family.

The Dog, the Cat and the Boar roamed the lands together. They were all the ruler of their own domain, and they would sometimes part to attend personal matters – but at the end of each quest, they would always meet up for a celebratory banquet.

Together, they were unbeatable. There was no enemy fearsome enough, no army large enough to take them down when they combined their strength.

Their downfall could only come from inside.

The humans and the yōkai were always bound by a precarious balance, begging to be shattered. It only took one spark, one death too many, to light the fire.

The Dog believed that humans were fundamentally good, and worth protecting against those that evil had irremediably tainted. The Cat believed that humans were the root of all problems, and that a peaceful coexistence was nothing but a pipe dream.

The Boar could not pick a side. He watched helplessly as his comrades grew further and further from each other, too set in their own ideals to see what they were losing.

Decades worth of memories. Of shared meals, shared laughter, shared smiles. Three similar trinkets, carved out of their own fangs. How odd for the Cat to be the most sentimental of them all – the Dog and the Boar had laughed, as they happily donned their friend's gift.

The Boar fled the bloodshed. He refused to let his memories be tainted by what had become of his comrades. He departed to the lands he had long left behind, to the mountain that had been the command center of his turf.

He was never to part from it again.

The years passed. Leaves grew anew on the trees, only to turn yellow, orange, red, lying a thick carpet across the lower slopes. Snow covered the mountains and melted away, turning lazy brooks into mighty rivers. The Boar listened to the wind, to the distant news its howls carried all the way to his mountain.

When he learnt of his old friends' untimely demise, he was not surprised. A single tear rolled down his cheek, before he brought his axe down the large log at his feet. Timber for the winter to come.

A simple life. Away from the rest of the world, away from the wars, the famines, the plagues. The Boar stopped listening to the wind's cries.

Until the old world came crashing into his old cabin, in the shape of a disheveled woman.

She was but skin and bones. Her face deformed from being bashed in, clothes torn over her bruised body. Tears had frozen over her mangled visage, her feet and hands turned blue from hypothermia.

The Boar ought to have chased her off. Had she not felt the demonic aura that surrounded his mountain, warding off any creature that bore even the slightest hint of ill intent?

The barrier only let the animals through. Only their hearts were pure enough to cross the sheer manifestation of the Boar's will.

As the Boar opened the door, and the woman collapsed into his arms, he was struck with a realization. This one's heart was not tainted. He had never seen such a pristine soul, gleaming with such force despite the abuse she must have endured.

The swelling of her face subdued with intense care. Her traits angelic, one eye gone blind from the repeated hits. Eyes that shared the same vibrant green as the young leaves of early spring.

The Boar's favorite color.

The weeks turned into months. The months turned into years. The woman's pursuers never came looking for her. The Boar's heart opened again, day after day, letting the radiance of the woman's soul seep into his old wounds. Cure aches that had festered for decades on end.

The Boar thought he couldn't be happier.

He was soon proven wrong.

The little one had his mother's eyes, and his father's ears. Every time he laid eyes upon that small form, allowed those minuscule fingers to wrap around his thumb, the Boar could feel his heart grow another size.

What a fleeting, fragile little life that was. There was nothing he wouldn't give in order to protect it from harm.

Dark clouds gathered above the mountain. They announced a storm unlike any other, one mighty enough to rip the trees apart and turn the rivers into devastating streams. The Boar led his family away from the cabin, into the deeper, higher caves, where they would be safe from the landslides and the floods.

Lightning parted the skies. The Boar felt the barrier, or rather, what remained of it, shatter all around him. For every wound that healed inside his heart, the barrier had grown weaker.

The Spider had not missed that chance. He knew all about the Boar, about his former comrades, about the past that the Boar had for so long tried to run away from. Like an old nightmare resurfacing, fate had caught up with him.

How ironic, for the Boar to finally take a side. A spit in the face of his dead comrades, was it not?

Rage festered inside the Boar's chest. The Spider needed nothing more to seep inside his soul, and seize a heart that had lost all its defenses.

When the Boar opened his eyes again, the scent of blood mixed with petrichor assaulted his senses. A terrible chill ran across his spine, from the warmth that coated his fingers to the rain that soaked his clothes. As his eyes fell to the ground, he felt the remnants of his soul shatter to pieces.

The woman lay sprawled across the ground, her arms outstretched towards the cliff upon which they stood. There was no light surrounding her. No pure glow, not even the smallest spark.

Her soul was gone.

The Boar collapsed to his knees. He brought her body to rest on its back, hands crossed above her chest. A final kiss placed on her forehead.

Before the Boar plunged his own claws into his chest.

The Spider would return to reap the rewards of his plot. As low as the mighty Boar might have fallen, the body of a Daiyōkai was always worth devouring.

The little one was washed away by the streams, until his wails caught the attention of a sorrowful boar mother. The sow brought the child over to her burrow, and nursed him to good health.

The Hanyō never worried about the past, neither did he think about the future. He survived day after day, discovering his own strength as he fought off the many demons that crawled over the mountain, looking for a master that had long departed these lands. The Hanyō's existence in itself was nothing but a rumor for the humans to fear.

Perhaps, someday, he would depart on a quest. Perhaps he would seek more power, better status, and a way to show the world just how strong he really was.

And perhaps, someday, he would figure out the meaning behind the odd little trinket that never left his wrist.

[whirling-fangs]

"Why are the old men so moody tonight? Go drink some herb soup and take a nap or something. Whatever old men do to stop being cranky."

[whirling-fangs]

" say it again, slower this time. " [ IY!AU ]

"TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON" PROMPTS // accepting!!

Breath in. Breathe out. Inosuke should have guessed that he wouldn't away with jumbling his words on purpose.

"... it's the miasma thing. The purple mist that makes your throat all itchy. I think... I've seen it before. On my mountain. Whenever I dug too deep into the ground, or I cut down some old branch, or sometimes when a creature died and its corpse rotted away... the purple mist was there."

By all accounts, he should have been writhing on the ground after the exposure to Naraku's miasma. It might not have been lethal, but it certainly should have given the boar hanyou more than a simple sore throat.

"It got less bad with time, though. Like it was fading away somewhat. More creatures returned to the mountain, the grass started growing again, the trees had more leaves than before..."

"So... I think I'm sorta used to it. That's why I'm not dying. I told you from the start, I'm really strong! I'm not 'boutta die to some stupid purple cloud!"

[whirling-fangs]

" it would seem like i have the upper hand now. " - [ IY!AU.... ]

PROMPTS FOR PLAYFUL AFFECTION // accepting!!

A choked chuckle escaped the hanyou's lips. He squinted at the index finger that gently poked into his forehead, the sharp blue claw hardly pressing into his skin at all.

Heavy breaths struggled to find the way out of his throat. He was absolutely winded, when the old youkai who peered down at him hardly looked fazed at all. Long white locks of hair came brushing the young one's face, almost mockingly, as if begging him to give them a sharp tug and resume their little fight.

A feat that might just be out of Inosuke's reach.

"Hah... you're not too shabby, for an old man." Inosuke laughed, or rather coughed. "Almost got me feeling... tired..."

It was quite the understatement. While Inosuke sported no wound, his energy had been drained to the bare minimum. He had put everything into their spar, after all, and he had expected Muzan to do the same... but he underestimated the vast difference in their respective stamina. Punch after punch, dodge after dodge, he could feel the gap spreading between their feet, imperceptibly closer with each time they fought.

"How come you still got that much energy... even though you're old as fuck? Or do you actually get more energy... the older you get?"

He had seen many a creature age and wither before. The beasts on his mountain aged exceptionally fast, when the young boar halfling hardly noticed the passage of time. Swine siblings would reach their adult size when Inosuke had barely grown a few inches. Rodents, rabbits, even the deer and the wolves would come to pass within a few snow seasons... but Inosuke had a feeling that Muzan didn't quite play by the same rules.

He was a Daiyoukai, after all. The greatest of all.

Inosuke gathered the remnants of his strength, so he could lift a closed fist towards Muzan's face. His knuckle came to sink into the other's cheek, pushing until Inosuke could feel the fangs underneath, before it came crashing by his side once again.

"... alright. You win this round. But next time, I'll get you! I'll eat a huge meal... I'll train suuuuuper hard... and I'll defeat you, neko-jiji! Just you wait!"

It would only be the 42nd time he made that promise. 43rd time's the charm, right?

[whirling-fangs]

@arrachnes ♥'ed for an Inu/yasha verse starter!

The moonlight crawled over Inosuke's skin. Daybreak was close, but the young hanyou couldn't tell if he had caught a single minute of sleep. He was done trying.

His steps guided him to the nearest river, so he could splash some cold water over his face and get his thoughts in order. He couldn't quite chase the heaviness from his chest, an ominous feeling creeping at the back of his mind, like he was forgetting about something important. An itch he couldn't scratch, one that was buried deep within his soul.

His gaze rose from the surface of the water, sunk down again, only to snap upwards once more. For a split second, Inosuke could swear he had seen someone there. A figure clad in white, so vibrant in the glow of the moon crescent.

Inosuke rose to his feet. He could feel that same nagging tug in his chest, urging him to cross the river. To walk further from the old cat's hideout, and wander deeper into the woods.

Curiosity got the better of him. Inosuke was certain that the reason behind the dark pit in his stomach lay beyond that river.

He crossed the tumultuous waters in a single leap, without a glance back. The old cat would probably sleep until well after the sunrise, anyway.

Inosuke would be back before he noticed a thing.

[whirling-fangs]

😊 [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES] — not intimidating at all

how intimidating does your muse find mine? // accepting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Really? Even after I ripped the crystal from the youkai's neck with my bare teeth? Aren't you afraid that I might do that to your throat next? I'm scary when I"m really mad!"

A sigh. Maybe this girl was just impossible to scare... Or maybe she just hasn't seen him at his worst.

[whirling-fangs]

Not sure what's going on with the orange but what if Haruko was eating one while reading on the couch?

Careful, Haruko.

There might or might not be a boar youkai looming behind you, a grubby, dirty hand reaching out over your shoulder, getting closer, and closer... Only to suddenly throw himself forward and chomp the rest of the orange right out of your own hand.

[whirling-fangs]

since you don't want to tell me, you leave me no choice. / vaguely menacing Sess :3

"TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON" PROMPTS // accepting!

A snarl curled at the hanyou's lips. He kept a fiercely protective grip around the object of his interlocutor's interest – the little bracelet that went twice around his wrist, ornated with mismatched fangs. Inosuke's oldest and only belonging.

"I'm telling you! I dunno where I got that thing, 'cause I've had it since the day I was born! I didn't steal your old man's fangs, and there's no way you can prove they're his fangs, anyway!!"

He would sooner shred this guy to pieces than let him have the trinket. Sharp claws dug into the skin of his own wrist from how firmly he held the bracelet. If that dog-eared youkai insisted any further, Inosuke wouldn't hesitate.

Not even when the gap in their power was so ridiculous.

Inosuke could tell with a single guess. This one was a Daiyokai, one strong enough to make every creature in the vicinity cower and take refuge. Only Inosuke had refused to run, captivated by the raw power he felt coming from the youkai.

"Go ahead! Attack me! I'll mince you to bits, and then I'll add one of your fangs to my trinket!"

[whirling-fangs]

@musingmemories ♥'ed for an Inu/yasha verse starter!

The Soul Collectors gracefully danced in the air, swirling towards the ground in a mesmerizing whirlwing.

Pretty as the sight was, the creatures seemed distraught. Their pace quickened as they approached the ground, as if to lash at a target down below. Alas, the Soul Collectors were no fighters, and most had their hands busy with the souls of the departed they had gathered for their master.

To chase after youkai was a daily activity to Inosuke, but for once, he hadn't immediately tried to slay these ones. His attention was caught by the items they carried, his eyes widening at the sight of their shine.

Oh, he had to get the shiny thing for himself.

And perhaps he would get himself a good meal. These things looked as tasty as the long fish from the river, and they were much, much longer. They would make more than a grand meal – a feast, even!

So the boar had decided, as he stood with his fangs and claws plunged deep into the flesh of a writhing Soul Collector.

[whirling-fangs]

Peaceful mornings were rare as of late, Muzan was certain he hadn't known silence for years. The sounds of yelling, laughter, and the odd complaint from one of the bakeneko were more commonplace. Though in time he had learned to tune those out.

This morning, however, had been different.

The daiyokai sat in shared silence with his companion, the young hanyou who had brought so much chaos— and unprecedented joy to his life. Indulging in the quiet that came after a good meal.

Plum red eyes flickered down to watch Inosuke. The old cat was content to observe him. Paying close attention to his body language, as he brought his own steaming cup of tea to his lips.

After taking a sip of his drink and relishing in the warmth, Muzan finally spoke up.

"Did you enjoy your food?"

Peaceful was the last attribute that one would give to the wild hanyou.

The ravenous enthusiasm with which he devoured his sustenance betrayed his upbringing – or rather, lack thereof. He ate as if this might be his last meal, as if some bigger beast might spring out of the forest and try to steal it from him, but he ate with the largest of smiles.

There was no mistaking the large grin that followed each lick of his lips, as he tried to collect every last crumb of the delicious food that Muzan had prepared for him. The taste of it was nothing short of divine, to the point where Inosuke almost thought of pacing himself so he could savor it longer.

No could do. It was just too delicious.

Soon his breakfast was history, licked to the last crumb, even those that the boar had inadvertently spilled across the floor.

He finally lifted his eyes from the plate he'd been crouched over, bright green eyes peering into the old man's gaze, eager to give his final, and quite obvious verdict.

"It's the best thing I've ever eaten. I want more!" He demanded with renewed enthusiasm. "You should eat some of it too! There's no way you'll have enough energy to last the day if all you have is that weird leaf soup!"

"Then we should head into the woods and gather more food for later! Oh, I can go catch some fish! Did I ever show you how I can catch fish with my bare hands? We can make a big feast for everyone! The old men cats can eat with us too!"