50 Years Too Early

Chapter 5: Hair, Blood and Fights

Inuyasha stared at his hand as he lay in his tree. It was still warm. He traced his palm with his finger trying to simulate Kikyo's soft touch. He had known women were soft creatures. In the short time he had with his mother, he had learned how fragile and delicate women were. But when he had first encountered Kikyo, soft was not a word he would have used to describe her. Powerful, yes. Threatening, yes. Cold as ice, definitely.  But never soft, at least until today. Save for a few calluses on her fingers from her bow training, her skin was like cotton or the silk of his mother’s robes. From behind his eyelids, Inuyasha could still see her light brown eyes staring up at him, remorseful. Her smooth voice still rung in his ears when she apologized to him. “I’m sorry” were two words he hadn’t heard in the longest time in earnest. From a human no less. In his experience if a human said “I’m sorry” to him, he was in danger. Either someone who allowed him spend the night was about to kill him for “the sake of his soul” or worse. But when Kikyo said it he didn’t feel on edge at all. His stomach seemed to jump and his heart beat a little faster. Looking at her face then made Inuyasha for a moment forget about the Sacred Jewel.

At that thought Inuyasha growled and shook his head. Forget the Sacred Jewel? What was he thinking! He needed to be become a full fledged demon. The jewel was the only path to that power. As beautiful as she was, Kikyo was still in his way to becoming a full demon. The next time he saw her, he would defeat her. He sniffed the air, identifying her scent quickly. It was the smell of faint herbs, incense and...Water...? She must have been by the lake, most likely taking out another demon. He wouldn’t be denied this time. This time the jewel would be his!

He leaped off the tree with his familiar smirk on his face. Just as before Inuyasha could see himself victorious over Kikyo with the Shikon jewel in hand and the powers of a fully fledged demon flowing through him. Nothing would stand in his way this time. But he made his way through the forest he felt his hairs stand on end. He felt a nudge in his stomach as if his instincts were trying to give him some kind of warning. Something wasn’t right in the forest. A quick survey of the area showed no imitate danger but a lifetime of experience had taught Inuyasha that sight alone was not the best indicator of safety.

His ears twitched, taking in every sound while his nose searched for unfamiliar scents. He heard the simple chatter of the villagers a good 80 yards or so away. Four birds were nested in the tree to his immediate right with six others to his left. There was a demon spider perched not too far away from him. The demon was still but Inuyasha could feel its eyes on him. It was most likely trying to figure out if he was a threat to it. Inuyasha scoffed. Other than venom spider-demons of that size posed no real threat to him. He took another sniff of the air and took a human scent. But it was human mixed with a demon’s scent. Another sniff revealed it to be the scent of various weaker human scents mixed together with a stronger demon scent. Inuyasha lowered his ears. While stronger than the human scent, the scent of the demon was too faded or weak for him to locate it. The demon scent wasn’t moving but the human scents were. How was that possible? Was demon using some ability to mask its scent? But then why would a demon need to that? Most times if a demon sensed him in the area, it would just attack straight away. Why the need to hide itself? Inuyasha gritted his teeth. The danger was there but it was as if it was just out of reach. Like predator stalking prey, allowing the prey to believe it safe before striking. Inuyasha slammed his fist into his open palm. He was no prey for some lowly demon and he was going to show this bastard that he didn’t know who he was messing with. He took another sniff. The weaker human scents were moving, towards the waterfall. Towards Kikyo.

Inuyasha sprang off the tree branch with a new vigor. The Shikon jewel moved to the back of his mind.

“You just picked the wrong guy to screw with.”

OOOOO

“Aw man, that’s cold!” Kagome squealed as she entered the river. She was only submerged up to her ankles and already her entire body was shivering. Her arms flew over her naked chest and rubbed her shoulders in a vain attempt to keep warm. She turned to Kaede who sat on the riverbank, washing the many mud stains off her robes. “How do you guys manage to do this?”

Kaede only giggled at her as she scrubbed the uniform. “Sister Kikyo warned you not to go in the water bare, Lady Kagome.”

“Well how else do you expect me to take a bath?” She stared at the clear water and saw four fish begin to nibble at her toes. A new feeling of terror and revulsion ran up her spine. Her loud shriek scared them off. “Now there are fish in her too!”

“It’s a river Lady Kagome,” Kaede reminded her. “Fish are a good sign that the river is healthy.”

“Says you…” Kagome replied. “What I wouldn’t give for some hot water and shampoo right now…”

Kaede dipped the uniform into the water and continued her scrubbing. “The longer you wait Lady Kagome, the worse it’s going be.”

Kagome sighed and shook her hands, as if trying to shake off the cold. “All right, all right. Just think of it as the pool. Just dunk your head and it’ll be fine.”

Kaede began to rather stones and sticks. “I’ll have a fire ready.”

“Thanks, Kaede, you’re the best.”

Kagome took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut. The image of the school pool formed behind her eyelids. Mind over matter, she thought. Mind over matter. After a mental count of three she dove head first. The cold ran up her skin making her shudder at first but after a few strokes under water, the cold seemed to roll off of her. Still couldn’t replace the bathtub back home though.

Home…

She was starting to wonder if she would ever see it again. Kikyo and Kaede were great and really made her feel welcome but she had a home already. She had a life and a family who was probably worried about her. Plus school. Panic swept through Kagome as remembered the math quiz in three days. She could barely understand it before, now with this little break it might well be Greek on the board when she got back! Or rather if she got back. Then again, if it meant missing Math, maybe she could stomach being here for a little while longer.

Kagome swam up to the surface and took long breath of air. But was quickly reward with a harsh cold draft and that made goosebumps rise on her skin almost instantly.

“Yep…just like the pool…” she shivered. “Get used to the water, next thing you know the air is freezing.”

Kaede waved her to the shore. “Lady Kagome, your clothes are ready.”

Kagome spotted roaring fire, which gave her more than enough reason to return to the bank. But as she made her way in, she spotted something on the ledges above the river. Or rather someone…and he was in all red.

Kagome’s shriek echoed through the area but the loud thwack of the rock she hurled at Inuyasha along with his plummet to the ground, echoed louder.

“OW!!!” The dog boy growled rubbing the new bump on his head.

Kaede turned to injured Halfling. “Are you all right Inuyasha?”

“What the hell did you do that for!” he yelled.

Kagome quickly took cover behind the bushes and began to dress. “Serves you right for spying on me you peeping tom!”

“Shows what you know!” Inuyasha shot back. “Like I really came all the way here just look at a dumb girl like you!”

“What did you call me, dog boy!”

“You heard me!”

Kaede stepped between the two of them as if she were a shield against their bickering words. “Inuyasha why did you really come here? Was to see Sister Kikyo?”

Inuyasha paused and looked away.

“Knowing him he wants to take a peek at Kikyo too!” Kagome called.

“I dare you to come over here and say that to my face!”

“You make it sound like that’s challenge!”

“Well it is!”

“Challenge accepted!”

“Lady Kagome,” Kaede piped up. “Perhaps that isn’t such a wise…”

But Kagome, fully dressed, stormed out from the bushes, her face flushed with anger. Her harsh breathing drowned out Kaede’s pleas for her to calm down. How dare this creep try to weasel out of peeping at her, and then try to do the same to Kikyo? In front of Kaede no less! She was nose to nose with him like in their last meeting and she could swear she saw the sparks fly between them.

“I said, you’re just here to peek at Kikyo. Is this close enough to your face for you?”

“You really think I’d even think to do something like that?”

Kagome folded her arms. “Oh I see. Kikyo isn’t good enough to peek at. Is that it?”

Inuyasha reeled back. “Of course not! I’d jump at a chance to look at her!”

Kagome shot forward, her finger inches away from his nose. “Aha! You admit it!”

Inuyasha’s eyes widened in realization. “T-That’s not I what meant!”

“You heard it straight from the horse’s mouth,” Kagome said. “You heard him too, right Kaede.”

“Um…yes….but….”

“There you go!”

Inuyasha nearly pulled out his hair. “You know I’ve never hit a woman in my life, but your ass is pushing it!”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“That’s enough from both of you,” Kikyo’s stern voice said.

Kagome felt herself freeze at her twin’s voice. She approached them in her thin white robe with her wooden bucket in one hand. The bottom folds of her robe still dripped with water while the robe itself still clung to her body. Kikyo stared at the two of them the same way Kagome’s mother would stare at her and Sota during their fights. That look that made Kagome stomach fill with shame and guilt. She glanced at Inuyasha who couldn’t even bring himself to look at Kikyo.

“Would the two of you please explain this ruckus?” Kikyo asked, her voice all but daring them to lie.

The earlier fire that fueled Kagome’s anger had diminished. She could only stare at her bare feet and kick the stones in a vain attempt to make herself invisible. But motion only seemed to catch Kikyo’s attention.

“Kagome….please explain.”

“Hey why are you singling me out?” Kagome said, suddenly reminded of the time she and Sota accidently broke a vase. “Ask dog boy over here….he was the one peeping at me.”

“What did you say…!” Inuyasha growled.

“Inuyasha….” Kikyo warned.

At her warning, Inuyasha’s growl lowered to small grunt. “I wasn’t peeking…” he muttered.

Kikyo sighed. “Kaede..?”

“Um…I was washing Lady Kagome’s robes while she bathed in the river. Inuyasha came by when Lady Kagome came up for air and I believe she got the wrong impression,” Kaede said.

“A minor misunderstanding caused all this commotion?” Kikyo said, making Kagome’s face turn red. She couldn’t deny that when put in those terms it did sound kind of stupid.

“I wouldn’t call that minor!” Inuyasha exclaimed. “She damn near cracked my skull with that damn rock she threw.”

Kikyo only chuckled. “Inuyasha, I was under the impression you were a strong demon. Surely a rock thrown by a mere mortal girl could not have caused you such damage.”

“I never said it damaged me…” Inuyasha muttered.

“Apologize, the both of you,” Kikyo said.

“WHAT!!?” the two cried.

“Me apologize to this self-centered, arrogant, perverted jerk!”

“You really expect me to give this stupid, whiney girl an apology!?”

“Yes and yes.” Kikyo replied as she took her spare uniform from Kaede.

“BUT-!”

One stern stare from Kikyo was enough to make Kagome’s skin feel as though she was back in the river. Any hang ups she over apologizing were vaporized in that one stare. No wonder the demons were so afraid of her. If Kagome had to fight Kikyo, her eyes alone would be enough to cry uncle. She glanced at Inuyasha who seemed to share the same sentiment since any anger in his eyes and voice were gone too.

“S-s-sorry…” he said between clenched teeth.

“Y-yeah I’m sorry too.”

Kikyo emerged from the bushes fully dressed in her spare uniform. “There, that wasn’t as difficult as you two made it seem.”

“Speak for yourself…” Kagome muttered. Another stare from Kikyo quickly made her regret that. Kagome made a mental not to introduce Kikyo to her mother one day.

“What was your true purpose of coming here, Inuyasha?”

“My true purpose?” he repeated.

“Yes. I highly doubt you came here for the sole purpose of causing such a hassle.” Kikyo straightened her uniform and offered Inuyasha small playful smile. “Besides, I believe if your true intent was to peek at me, you have done so at an earlier time.”

Inuyasha reeled back and looked away a shade of red forming on his cheeks. Kagome glanced at Kikyo and saw the same shade of red forming. Kagome could only laugh to herself. Could these two be any more obvious?

“I smelled something weird,” Inuyasha said finally. “Some demon smell mixed with human heading in this direction. I….wanted….to make sure you all were ok….”

“I-I’m sorry?” Kikyo said, her face an expression of surprise. Kagome had to admit she didn’t expect that from the dog boy.

Inuyasha snapped back with his usual scoff. “Keh! Don’t get the wrong idea. I just wanted to make sure no else defeated you, before I got the sacred jewel for myself is all!”

Kikyo sighed. Kagome raised an eyebrow. Was Kikyo…disappointed?

“I see. Well, I thank you for your concern.”

“Don’t thank me,” Inuyasha said, turning on his heel. “This whole thing turned out to be a waste of time.”

“Lady Kikyo,” a woman said as she approached the group.

Kikyo bowed to the woman in greeting. “Ah, good morning Sayaka.”

She was a middle aged woman in the same faded robes as the other villagers. She carried her infant son in a small sack on her back. “It’s my daughter,” she said. “We were working in the fields and she just suddenly collapsed. Could you please see what ails her?”

“Of course, I’ll see what I can do,” Kikyo said. “Come Kaede. This will make for good practice.”

“Ok, coming.”

As Kikyo began to depart she turned Kagome. “I’ll return shortly. Try not to fight.”

Kagome took a breath as Kikyo left and turned to Inuyasha. Maybe they just got off on the wrong foot. Kikyo managed to find a relatively decent side to him and Kaede certainly seemed to like him, so maybe she could do the same. From the way Kikyo described their encounters, Inuyasha was just a lonely spirit looking for his place in the world. His rough side was a result of growing up alone and being attacked at every opportunity. Maybe if she looked at him that way he wouldn’t be as much of a jerk. All she had to do was try.

“Hey,” Inuyasha said, catching her attention.

This was it. This was her chance to start over and get to know each other better. Maybe there was really was a nice guy underneath. “Yeah?”

“Get undressed.”

Or maybe he was just a perverted jerk!

The fire ignited in Kagome’s stomach once more and before she knew it she smacked Inuyasha over the head with the largest stone she could find.

“OW!!!!!”

“You’re such a pig,” she huffed. What the heck did Kikyo see in this guy?”

Inuyasha shot up to his feet, his face fuming. “I didn’t say get naked stupid! I just can’t stand seeing you in those clothes!”

“Why? Because I look like Kikyo?”

Inuyasha flinched as if he were just slapped. But looked away with usual huff. “That ain’t got nothing to with it okay!”

Kagome gritted her teeth. There was no way one person could be this infuriating! Sota was more mature than this jerk! A thousand retorts sat on her tongue, ready to fire at this red clad dog boy but Kikyo’s disapproving stare crossed her sight. Kagome bit her lip before she set off another fight and took another deep breath. Do this for Kikyo, she said to herself.

“Look, I don’t want get in another fight with you, so why don’t you come out and say what your problem with me is.”

Inuyasha folded his arms and looked away. “I ain’t the one with the problem.”

Kagome twitched, feeling her anger beginning to boil. “Ok…fair enough. I’m sorry I hit you with those rocks. Now isn’t there something you’d like to say to me….?”

“Keh, I got nothing to say to you.”

That did it.

“You stupid, arrogant jerk! I’m just trying to nice here!”

“A demon like doesn’t anyone to be nice!”

“Oh right, that’s why you turn to mush every time Kikyo’s around!”

“What’d you just say!”

“Don’t try to deny it. ‘I like Kikyo’ is written all over your face every time she’s around!”

“That ain’t true! And who you to be looking at my face anyways!”

“It’s only fair isn’t it! You peeked at me earlier!”

“Like I’d really waste my time trying to peek at the likes of you!”

“What’s that supposed to mean!”

“Exactly what I meant you stupid girl!”

Kagome growled and smacked the dog with another rock. “That’s it! I’m outta here!” She stormed off towards the bushes, smoke all but shooting out of her ears. Never before did she have to put up with an immature, self-centered, stubborn, asshole! Kikyo must have had the patience of a saint to be able to just tolerate him let alone find whatever microscopic soft side that existed.

“Hey, where you going?” Inuyasha asked, no doubt faking concern.

“I’m going home stupid!” Kagome stormed into the bushes, stomping every step. Kikyo had told her that the forest wasn’t safe and that all kinds of demons could be lurking around, but she’d rather take her chances in there than deal with this jerk.

“Fine!” Inuyasha huffed. “Go home see if I care!” With that he leaped into the forest, not even bothering to look back.

Kagome gritted her teeth as she continued to fume. That jerk didn’t even once use her name. Not once.

OOOOO

The hut in which Sayaka’s daughter laid ill was the same size as all the others in the village. The girl was pale and still. Small rises and drops in her chest were the only indicators that the girl was still alive. Kikyo approached the girl with a basket of herbs to lower fevers. From the river to the village, Sayaka had gone on length about the ails of her daughter, to which Kikyo only listened with half an ear. Most likely the girl merely fainted from exhaustion. She had no fever or any other serious symptoms.

The rest of her attention was back at the river. The altercation between Inuyasha and her reincarnation was immature, minor but admittedly, amusing. She had never seen Inuyasha so flustered or Kagome so flushed. In her interactions with him, Inuyasha always seemed so reserved as if he were holding countless things back. At the river today, she saw glimpse of what laid beneath and it was both fascinating and amusing. She only wished she could have a chance to tease him in the same manor at some point.      

But then….such a thought. It was so….childish, so immature of her. She was priestess. She had neither the time nor the leisure to think of such things. Yet here she was in front of a sick child with her thoughts lingering on such a childish notion. She closed her eyes to center herself as she had been taught, to push back against any worldly emotions. But even as she went through the breathing exercises and her mantras, that warm feeling, the same from when Inuyasha gave her his mother’s rouge, was not being push down. Rather it was pushing back against her training. Why? What was wrong?

“Lady Kikyo? Is something the matter?” Sayaka asked.

Kikyo shook her head. This was a matter for a later time.

“Sister Kikyo…?”

“I’m fine Kaede,” Kikyo said. “Go fetch some water while I grind these herbs please.”

“All right, I’ll be right back.”

As Kikyo began to work, she felt something. A light nudge against her awareness. There was something in this room. Some hidden danger that was close by. Kikyo stretched out her awareness but felt nothing at first. But then there was flick. A small spike of demonic energy entered the room.

“Lady Kikyo look,” Sayaka said. “My daughter is moving.”

Kikyo looked up in time to see the daughter float up from the floor and hover seven inches off the ground. Her eyes remained closed, her head hung and her arms were extended as if she were being stretched out. Kikyo narrowed her eyes. This was not normal movement. The daughter raised her arm and Kikyo saw what was controlling her. Some type of string or wire had wrapped itself around the daughter’s limbs and torso. Kikyo looked closer. It wasn’t wire, it was hair. Human hair.

“Stay back Sayaka,” Kikyo warned.

A nearby knife flew up to the daughter’s waiting hand.

The daughter shot forward and swung.

In a single stroke, blood filled the hut.

OOOOO

Yura sat on her with a giggle. From the vibrations she felt on her territory hairs, all the pieces were in the place. The demon stood and swung towards the village.

“Time for the fun to begin.”    

AN: As always tell me what you think and be sure to review! See you next chapter!