Dejavu

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Thanks to all my reviewers, you all remain my inspiration in writing the succeeding chapters of all my stories, long after the caffeine high has run dry. Thank you for your support and patience!

:O)
Chie

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Chapter 4:

“Haul your ass Kagome! Sitting in class all the time made your flat ass lazy!” Grumbled Inuyasha, his eyes scowling at her climbing figure, from his vantage point at the well's wooden rim.

“Hey! I wasn't the glutton that stuffed the backpack until it's on the verge of exploding!” Huffed a red-faced Kagome as she pulled herself along the thick leafy vines that thrived in the humid confines of the bone eater's well. Her grasp slipping every now, as the heavy burden on her back required more focus and effort than she had first thought.

“Hey! I wasn't the glutton that stuffed the backpack until it's on the verge of exploding.” Repeated the hanyou in the best Kagome voice he could muster, puckering his lips into girlish pout. “Tch! What a pain! You're not carrying Kaede-baba for crying out loud. So quit shifting the blame.” He mumbled further, crossing his arms irritably across his chest and tilting his head upward in a flair of masculine arrogance.

“OSUWARIIIIIII!!!!”

SPLATTTT.

“*^%+#!!”

A flushed Kagome emerged from the well. Beads of perspiration trickling down her face and neck, even as she collapsed wearily on the ground. Panting heavily, she wipes her forehead with the back of her hand, momentarily closing her eyes and steadying her erratic breathing. She reaches across her left side, flicking lightly at Inuyasha's white triangle ears.

“Mphmmm..fpnts..” came the muffled apology.

“I'm sorry too.” Whispered Kagome, as she cracks one eye open. She winces a tangent as she sun's fading light assault her vision. She slowly raises up her arms, spreading out each digit of her fingers against the orange-blue sky, observing lazily with half lidded eyes as the sun's dying rays filtered through.

'Wait a sec! It was already dark back home when we left. Why is the sun only setting now, here in the feudal era? Could something be affecting the time portal? Could it be closing soon?' She panicked inside.

The gritting sound of dirt and loose pebbles crunching against each other alerted Kagome to the hanyou's attempt to lift himself from the deep impression he had created on the ground. She rolls to her side, pushing against the patchy grass covered soil with both hands, languidly seating herself into a more suitable position so as to stand with ease. She twirled quickly in a semi-circle, feeling someone watching her.

“Hmmmm...”

“W-What are you looking at?” Snapped Kagome, backing away a couple of steps from the now crouching hanyou.

“You know, now that I've had a clear view of your behind. I can clearly see the reason why it took you long to climb out.” he narrowed his eyes in a scrutinizing look. “You've been living the sweet life back home eh? Kikyo never had a caboose that jiggly....”

“OSUWARI!!!!..(SPLAT)...Take that you insensitive jerk! This time it's personal!! Oh and don't pop a hemorrhoid lifting yourself out!” Bellowed Kagome as she angrily stomped off, unknown to her the puncture wounds from Shin's fangs glimmered briefly.

'Dammit! This last sit feels like a whole mountain range on my back, what the hell's goin on?'

Inuyasha with veins popping at random on his dusty forehead, fights hard against the spell, as he tries to incline his head upward to gain better leverage, but an invisible force gripped his head, forcing it hard toward the ground. Gnashing his fangs until they ground noisily against each other, he paused briefly. He could feel the tension build around his neck. His eyes widened in realization.

'Oh sh't! If I don't stop my neck will break!'

PLUNK.

“Shtufid fitchhhh n har hermphal efshode! Yarrrggghhh!! Screamed Inuyasha as he waivers against the unrelenting force of the subjugation spell.

(Trans: Stupid bitch and her hormonal episode)

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Shin's room.

“Will you embrace the light? Or be consumed by the darkness within?”

“Kagome!”

Shin eyes snapped open. He grasped his aching head with both hands, groaning aloud as he turns to look at the clock hanging on the wooden wall.

“7pm.” He snorted. “I must have been too into my meditation.”

He stumbled out of the lotus seating position, standing up to his imposing height. Re-adjusting his haori and hakamas, he walked to the private balcony where he gazed out the city scape with unhindered views. He takes a deep breath bracing both hands on the cold metal railing with his head bowed. His hair whipped around him being lifted by the billowing breeze.

He sighs heavily. The visions in his meditations perplexed him. Was Kagome truly the key to overcome this curse of his? A flash of her smiling face crossed his mind. He shook his head in anger. Never, he couldn't do that! Not to her. Not to such a sweet girl, he will find another way, he had vowed to himself earlier that he would protect her at all cost.

He debated back and forth to himself unsure about his next course of action. Kagome's face once again haunting his mind. His grip tensed. Creaking agonizingly, the metal railing yielded under the intense pressure, contorting in unsightly creases and disrupting it's otherwise smooth straight finish.

“Kagome.” He breathed out. Something was unsettling the beast within, he could feel it. The coiled tightness that was usually present was gone. In it's place, the cold shuffling feeling on the pit of his stomach. He closes his eyes, breathing the mingling scents in the crisp night air, trying to determine with his acute sense of smell, the girl whose face had soothed the fury of his bestial side.

“Mieta.” ('Found you') he growled in satisfaction. A sly smirk weaving into his fine features. Still clad in his white haori and black hakamas, he jumped into the night air, partially transformed.

Negotiating the modern terrain with ease, he practically flies through the air. Immaculately jumping inhuman heights and running at an extraordinary pace. He grins like a predator, as adrenalin rush through his being. This single moment in time where both he and his dark counterpart work as one, in total agreement to seek out miko.

Almost as though in a vision in the recesses of mind, he followed the scent in a homely building. Delicious and comforting scents bombarded him, along with three distinct scents-none of which belonged to his main objective.

“A woman, an old man and boy.” He murmured, isolating each individual scent. The similarity of their scents to 'his' Kagome however, implied of their relation by blood. He stood silently in front of the sliding door still contemplating what to do.

Just then a frown darkens his face, as another scent hits him. His sudden anger coming out in a low pitch snarl, as his eyes narrow into dangerous slits. Shin could feel the darkness encompass him. This scent-no stench was driving him into a possessive rage he had never before encountered. The pupils in his eyes once again exploding in a crimson haze. The air around whipping around his form. He grits his teeth together barely restraining the immense power that often times drove him to the point of madness.

“Can I help you young man?”

His anger subsides, as his eyes quickly revert back to sun kissed depths, Shin spun around meeting the sage-like features of Kagome's grandfather. He bowed stiffly. “I am Natsume, Shin. Please forgive my intrusion into your home this evening. I attend the same school as Kagome. I was in the area and I thought to pay her a visit.”

“I am Kagome's grandfather.”

“I am honored to make your acquaintance.” Shin bowed again in a reverend manner.

'What a polite young man!' “And I am pleased to make yours.” He smiled. “However, Kagome is feeling rather...un-well so she has retired to bed early this evening I'm afraid. Her osteoarthritis you see.”

Shin narrowed his eyes, a flicker of scarlet flashing briefly. 'He lies!' gnarled the beast within. Kagome's grandfather jumps back noticing the slight change in the teenager's demeanor, his thin wrinkly lips breaking in a twitchy smile.

“With all due respect sir. I escorted her back just this afternoon, she was well enough to run up the steep incline of the stairs, unhindered and without any problems.” Shin remarked coolly, observing the now sweating old man shake with trepidation.

“Eh hehehe. Well perhaps her gall stones started acting up-we did eat a rather greasy slab of meat.. I told my daughter never to buy that cheap...”

Shin's eyes narrowed further, his expression grim and unflinching. Kagome's grandfather gulped nervously, his already wobbly knees, knocking noisily together.

“Would you believe, a sudden hysterectomy? No?... What about severe menstrual cramps that had her bowels tied in knot?”

Shin raised an eyebrow.

“If she had no wish to have any visitors this evening, you have only to say so sir. Please do not insult my intellect by playing me a fool.”

“Young man, I have no wish to insult you... I... I wish it were that simple to explain.... You obviously know that I've lied to you, but believe me there is a good reason why..... I am only trying to protect my granddaughter.”

Shin regarded him a moment, inferring that the old man spoke the truth this time. “She is not here then?”

Kagome's grandfather looked up, aghast at the perceptive nature of the youth. “H-hai.”

Shin closed his eyes sniffing at the dissipating scent of Kagome along with the other scent he had detested, he wrinkled his nose at the strange and infuriating stench. He followed their scent trail leading to the small wooden shrine that housed the sacred well, with Kagome's grandfather skulking in the background, biting his nails. The teenager stopped in front of the wooden door. The old man praying silently behind him.

“Strong magic emits from this place roujin.” (roujin: elderly person)

Kagome's grandfather froze, his last breath still in his lungs.

“Tell her, she has no reason to fear me. She may keep her secret if it is her wish. I will permit it.... for now.” He said casually, his proud form walking away.

Kagome's grandfather with gaping mouth and bowed legs, keeled anime-style to the ground.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

With the Inutachi.

Dawn.

“I warned you not to stuff yourself when we're on the go.” retorted the hanyou standing a few feet away from the hunched figure of the miko. “Figures you would be the one holding up the group again!”

“Shut up Inuyasha! All your screaming isn't helping!” yelled the kitsune pup, perched precariously on top of rock jutting out of the ground. With worried eyes he scanned his adopted mother's face.

“Why don't you shut up runt before I smash head of yours full of nuggies!” Threatened the hanyou balling his clawed hand into a tight fist. Shippo squealed then shrunk back behind the rock throwing a dimunitive pebble at the hanyou's head. It bounced off with a soft thunk, after which the hanyou's low growl was heard.

Kagome retched noisily behind a lush evergreen shrub-partially adorned with red berries. She was covered head to toe in green and purple fleshy bits, still clinging to her like parasitic segments. The unsettled nature of her stomach continued to hurl what she had for breakfast. She could taste the bitter bile coat her tongue, the sour smell combined with the youkai parts adorning her clothes, aggravating her nauseated state further.

Inuyasha snorts irritably in the background, having crossed both arms across his chest while tapping his right foot on the dirt road in an impatient gesture.

“You wanna save some of what you ate Kagome?” he grumbled glaring hard at the teenage girl's back.

“Inuyasha! Be quiet!” Shushed Sango, massaging Kagome's back in soothing motions.

“Fine! But we're not stopping for a mini break for another two hours, until we reach Ishi (stone) Pass.”

Inuyasha's ears picked up, swiveling north-east of their location, he growls in sharp pants. He drew the fang slowly, crouching silently to a fighting stance. Miroku and Sango followed his lead, knowing by experience what the hanyou's posture and short growls meant.

A scuffle of many feet later, and the tachi found themselves surrounded by a dozen men, all having prostrated themselves on the dusty ground.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, sighing heavily as he returned the tetsusaiga back to it's scabbard. “Great! Now a band of geezers and their canes want to pick a fight with me.”

“Please, give us the honor of staying in our village for lunch.”

“Heh?” Guffawed Inuyasha, he and the tachi suddenly finding themselves at odds with the request made by one of the old men.

“I am Toshi, headman of our village, not far from here. It would be an honor to serve under your distinguished company. Please accept our humble invitation.”

Inuyasha tapped the side of his temple awhile before breaking into a sly grin.

“Oi! Jiji (old man) lift your face from the dirt, we'll take you up on your offer.”

Miroku scurried up to the smug looking hanyou. “Are you sure we want to do that? For all we know this could be a trap.”

“Well damn, Naraku must really be one desperate shit, if he had to conscript a bunch of old bastards, who look like they're already half way to their grave.” snorted the hanyou.

“But we don't even know why they came here to us.” Miroku whispered.

“Tch! Isn't it obvious bouzo? I rid their village of a pesky centipede youkai. Their showing us their gratitude. Besides, aren't you glad you don't have to do a fake exorcism for us to get a free meal?” Inuyasha winked at the frowning houshi.

“I don't know Inuyasha, something about this doesn't seem right.”

“Psh!” Inuyasha turned back to the elder. “We'll go.” he said with a nod.

“Splendid!” His face beamed brightly, turning to one of his company he spoke with an excited tone. “Tell the others to ready the village! Prepare a magnificent feast! For...uh, begging your pardon most honorable sirs and ladies, but may this lowly servant be so bold as to know your most honorable names?” He looked to Kagome, who stood to Sango's side.

Inuyasha scurried in front of Kagome, pointing to himself he puffs out his chest.

“I'm Inuyasha, this is Kagome, that's Sango, Miroku and this whimpy kitsune brat is called Shippo.”

“Hey! I am not whimpy!” Protested an infuriated Shippo.

“Keh! Whatever runt!”

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

At the village an hour later.

“Steaming bowls of fragrant rice, sizzling platter of wild boar, succulent grilled fish, sweet stir fry of game. Oddles of nooddles!.. Yum!” Shippo's mouth watered as he looked longingly at the delicious spread before him. He licks his lips, wide eyed with claws extended in readiness for the upcoming feast.

“Please eat your fill! All these have been prepared especially for all of you.” Smiled the Toshi warmly.

“Great!”

The kitsune sprung from Kagome's shoulder, eyes gleaming with a crazed look.

“Youkai are at attacking!”

Inuyasha snatches Shippo mid leap, rounding him like a ball, then passing him to the startled miko.

“Elders! The youkai who attacked our village last fall are back, this time in greater numbers!” shouted the pimply youth in great alarm. He staggered in the room, his clothes disheveled and his top knot in utter disarray.

The elders whispered amongst themselves, worry etched in their faces, even as their their frail forms shook in fear. The village headman-Toshi, merely nodded his aged face, not betraying any emotion. But the life behind his eyes, faltered with each word the youth spoke. The tachi observed them in silence, exchanging worried glances.

Inuyasha clears his throat, meaning to break up the tense atmosphere. The headman, turns to him holding up his right hand with an air of authority.

“I will speak with them. Please, do not trouble yourselves.” He bowed politely then abruptly left the room, leaving the tachi speechless.

“Hey!” called out Kagome. The pocked marked youth turned to her, his eyes downcast. “How serious was the attack on your village that fall?”

“T-They destroyed e-everything.. we al-alone are the s-sole survivors... They want this l-land for themselves, but we have no wh-where to go...” he stammered, his eyes still averted shyly from her.

“Inuyasha.”

“Keh! You heard what the headman said, we shouldn't trouble ourselves.”

“Demo.... they're all defenseless! You saw yourself when we walked through the village. There are no able bodied men capable of repelling any youkai attack. We have to help them!” protested Kagome. She stood up facing the glaring hanyou, both hands on her hips, returning his glare with much resolve.

“Tch! Females!” huffed the hanyou, throwing his arms in the air. He squatted down, waiting for her to climb onto his back. Kagome stood behind him blinking. “You want a formal invitation? Get on!” said Inuyasha rolling his eyes.

“Thanks Inuyasha.” smiled Kagome, hugging him as she braced herself on his back.

“Baka, I can't 'sit' here and let anything happen to you.” joked Inuyasha. He wouldn't tell her vocally, but he admired her fiery spirit and kind soul. Kagome nodded then smiled, she straddled him. Leaning a bit forward to leave him room to hold her by her thighs. Inuyasha hitched her legs higher up his waist as he stood up earning a surprised 'epp', from the teenage girl, now blushing furiously. The hanyou too now wearing a pink rouge on his high cheek bones.

The observant houshi watched their display with interested eyes. He paused, a tiny lamp lighting above his head.

“Sango!” Miroku said in all seriousness, squatting down as well on the tatami floor, offering his back to the baffled taijiya. “No need to be modest! I will be your Kirara for today!”

Inuyasha shook his head. Kagome sighed wearily. Shippo rolled his eyes.

Sango twitched uncontrollably balling a white knuckled fist.

SUPER BOINK.

“Leave him. We need to go now.” ordered Sango.

“Gladly.” retorted Inuyasha jumping out of the open shoji screen, Sango following close behind riding on a purring Kirara.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

At the village entrance.

“We told all of you to leave this land!” Barked an Inu youkai. He stood twice the size of Toshi, having only one eye. The other was covered with a dirty gray eye patch. His shaggy brown hair floated in the gentle breeze gathering in a bundle on his left hip. “I guess your foolishness knows no bounds. But then again you are only insects, I shouldn't expect much from any of you.” he sneered.

Inuyasha skidded as he landed alongside the headman, his eyes trailing to the menacing youkai bellowing orders in the Inu tongue to his company.

“Oho! A hanyou too?”

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, motioning for Kagome to go to where Sango and Kirara stood. “What of it? At least I'm not some half-wit mongrel who preys on old foggies for lunch!”

The youkai leader snarled viciously in the air. His presence looming large as his jaki encompasses the surrounding area.

“Do you not fear the wrath of the Lord of these lands then, you stubborn dog?” shouted one of the elders.

“Why would Lord Sesshoumaru even look at vermin like yourselves?”snorted the youkai leader.

“We hold no favor in his eyes, that we know! But that hime yonder bears his mark of intent. Or are you all too foolish to even notice?” shouted Toshi.

Inuyasha snarled, blinking back streaks of crimson rage that boiled underneath his skin.

“A human?” the youkai leader bared his fangs at Kagome. He leaps to her side in flash studying her intently. He did not lay a clawed finger on her in case the mark mentioned by the human headman prove true. Kagome gasped audibly, lifting one hand to lightly brush over the fang wounds, now oddly heating up. He sniffed her neck, eyes dilating in fear, even as the angry form of Inuyasha stalked behind him in fury.

“Get away from her!” growled the hanyou. The youkai elder smirked at Inuyasha.

“You should've run, pup. For you have touched another youkai's intended.” The youkai leader flexed his claws, looking at them as they elongated to sharp points. “Yes, I can smell your despicable scent on her. Even a hanyou like yourself should've realized what that mark meant.”

“Mongrel! She doesn't belong to him! Senkon Tetsuo!”

Inuyasha and the youkai leader faced each other, circling around all awhile growling and snarling, conversing in their Inu tongue.

“You'll die this day hanyou!” spat the other Inu in a guttural tone, taking out twin kodachis. (kodachis: short sword)

“Keh! I've heard that before you pathetic meat sac!”

They lunged at each other, one of the Inu leader's kodachis gouging Inuyasha's right shoulder. He howled in laughter, reveling in the blood that flowed freely down the hanyou's back and chest. Inuyasha used the close proximity to his advantage, he swiped one claw at the crossed kodachi blades, then used his other hand to draw tetsusaiga free from it's sheath, cutting down the youkai leader in one clean sweep. The youkai leader's body dissolved in air, dispersed like ashes in the billowing wind, while the rest of the youkai fled for their lives.

The villagers gave a loud cheer, even as the triumphant hanyou looked grimly at Kagome, his pinkish eyes narrowing a fraction. Sango remained motionless by Kirara, troubled at the new turn of events. She pats Kirara's head in comforting fashion. Inuyasha, still huffing slightly from his fight, returns the fang back to it's scabbard. He walks to Kagome, his eyes boring holes into her. He flicks his gaze on the mark on her neck for a moment. Kagome clamped it unconsciously with one hand, Inuyasha's stern look however made her put down her hand, bearing the mark open to his scrutinizing gaze. Kagome shifted nervously not able to meet his eyes. They stood facing each other in silence, with Sango looking on in worry. The breeze continued to blow, picking up a tendril of Kagome's hair arranging it over one shoulder in a modest way, as if to cover the mark.

“Kagome what the hell's this?” he ground out accusingly, pointing to her neck.

“I-I don't exactly know.”

“Think! There is no way a bite mark like that could just stamp itself on your neck without you knowing it!”

Kagome shook her head, her mouth trembling at the prospect of being the feared Taiyoukai's would be mate. The events surrounding Shin's transformation adding fuel to her confusion and disorientated state.

“S-Shin-senpai! Oh god!” she groaned bowing her head on the palm of her hands. A quiet sob wracked her hunched form. Inuyasha's ears flattened in guilt. He was mad at the situation but he didn't really want to hurt Kagome. He hated her tears.

Slowly the hanyou moved to embrace her. Protectively wrapping his arms around her slight form.

“We'll find a way out of this I promise.”

“I d-didn't know.. I'm so confused.” sniffed Kagome, lifting up her tear-streaked face to his.

Inuyasha growled again, covering the top of Kagome's head with his clawed hand.

His senses suddenly exploded in reaction to the presence of coming entity.

“Fuck! This just keeps getting better and better!” he remarked sarcastically. He moved the bewildered Kagome behind him, once again brandishing out the fang in readiness to face the coming opponent.

A luminous sphere of light descended on the field, a thunderous roar accompanying it. Inuyasha snarled ferociously, his body vibrating with rage. The sphere coalesced to a more humanoid form, bearing the hereditary insignia of the west on his face.

“Sesshoumaru! Stay where you are.” Inuyasha, motioned for Kagome to go back next to Sango and the other villagers. “You ain't laying a claw on her you bastard! Contrary to what your guard dogs told you!”

Sesshoumaru's face remained indifferent, looking instead to Kagome. Again the miko feels the heat radiate from the mark, she touches it with her index finger while biting her lower lip. They looked at each other in fleeting moment of silent recognition. The taiyoukai frowns.

“What sorcery do you practice miko? I once held you to be of more reputable nature than to stoop to mere trickery like the hanyou Naraku.”

“How dare you compare me with that arrrgghhh! Look here! I wouldn't be caught dead, wearing your hicky mark mister. But I had no choice in the matter!” screamed an outraged Kagome.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the miko's outburst.

“What are you gonna do Sesshoumaru?” growled Inuyasha.

“Isn't it obvious little brother? She is not fit to live after such travesty.” replied the Inu lord grimlyas he took a step forward. Kagome flinched as the chilling sound of Tokujin being drawn out, played in her ears.

“Oh no you don't!” cried Inuyasha placing himself midway between his half brother and Kagome.

Sesshoumaru smirked, observing the jealous fit his younger sibling was exhibiting.

“She's not yours!” bellowed Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru paused, then smiled. He blasted Inuyasha with Tokujin, the hanyou barely escaping from the deadly shot.

“The mark states otherwise little brother.”