Chapter Text
Inuyasha’s ears twitched as he stared at Kaede, his mind struggling to reconcile the presence of the old woman with the memories of her younger self. “Kaede...? No that’s… Kaede's a kid,” he stated, working through the strange emotions that built up.
Jinshi shook his head before his deep voice graveled out, “Inuyasha, fifty years have passed.”
Inuyasha blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. If this was Kaede, then how old was Kikyo?
“Kikyo must be really old now too, huh?” Inuyasha remarked, his voice tinged with disbelief and confusion.
Kaede’s expression softened, a look of sorrow passing over her features. “Inuyasha, Kikyo is not old,” she said gently. “She died the same day she sealed ye to the tree.”
The words hit Inuyasha like a blow, making his ears perk up in shock. “She... died?” he echoed, a strange sense of relief washing over him. He almost asked how, but should he even care? Kikyo, the one who had betrayed him, the one who tricked him into loving her. He accepted becoming weaker for her! Inuyasha had every intention of using the Shikon jewel to turn into a human so they could be together.
Kikyo lied. She never intended to use the jewel on him, a half-breed. Instead, she falsely accused him and shot him with an arrow. An arrow that supposedly had left him sealed to a tree for fifty years. He was glad she was dead. It was a relief to know that she wasn’t out there, that she couldn’t hurt him anymore.
But Kaede’s next words halted his relief in its tracks. “Aye, she did. But ye must understand, Kagome is her reincarnation.”
The room fell silent, the weight of Kaede’s statement sinking in. Inuyasha’s eyes widened, his gaze snapping to Kagome, who looked just as shocked as he was.
“Reincarnation?” Kagome repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. “You mean I’m... I’m Kikyo’s reincarnation?”
Kaede nodded, her expression solemn. “It is not just yer appearance that confirms this, Kagome. Ye carry the same spiritual powers, and most importantly, ye carried the Sacred Jewel within ye. That is proof beyond doubt.”
Kagome felt a chill run down her spine as she remembered the villagers who had begun to believe she was Kikyo returned. The thought unsettled her deeply. She had her own identity, her own life, and the idea that she was somehow connected to this ancient priestess, who had lived a completely different life, was disturbing.
“A-ah… no, that can’t be true,” Kagome nervously chuckled. This was way too farfetched for her. As a matter of fact, when is she finally going to wake up? Kaede, noticing the young girl's disposition moved closer to her to help her before she got too overwhelmed.
Inuyasha, on the other hand, felt a swirl of conflicting emotions. The betrayal he had felt from Kikyo was still raw, and the knowledge that Kagome, who looked so much like her, was her reincarnation only complicated things further. He didn’t know how to process this information, how to separate Kagome from the painful memories of Kikyo.
Kaede quietly spoke to the… strangely dressed girl and he hated that he related to her feelings of denial and disbelief. Inuyasha couldn’t wrap his mind around all this shit. The last memory he had before waking up was Kikyo’s icy stare before he slipped into oblivion. It was like it happened yesterday and now. And that girl, she’s literally Kikyo but she’s not because she is some freaking reincarnation?
Jinshi, who had been silent throughout the exchange, decided it was time to intervene. He could sense the turmoil in Inuyasha, the confusion and anger that were simmering just below the surface. “Inuyasha,” Jinshi said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go on a hunt. It will help clear your mind.”
Inuyasha glanced at Jinshi, the familiar comfort of his presence offering a small measure of relief. He nodded, willing to follow Jinshi’s lead if only to escape the overwhelming emotions that were threatening to consume him.
________________________________________
The hunt was a welcome distraction. Jinshi led the way, his movements silent and fluid as he tracked their prey through the dense forest. Inuyasha followed closely behind, his senses honed on the scents of the forest and the thrill of the chase. They moved as a unit, their instincts perfectly aligned, a testament to the bond they were rebuilding.
After a few hours, they managed to bring down two bucks, their powerful forms collapsing under the weight of their skillful strikes. They carried their catches back to the empty hut, the scent of blood of a fresh kill filling the air as they began the process of stripping the hides and preparing the meat.
Inuyasha’s hands moved with practiced ease, his claws cutting through the tough hide as he worked. The act of dressing the deer was almost meditative, allowing him to focus on the present moment rather than the tangled web of emotions from revelations he had been caught in earlier.
Jinshi’s deep rich voice broke up the silence, “I should have taken you with me to bury Jaihao. I have failed you Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha looked up, his claws in the middle of rending bloody muscles, “I get it, I fucked up and… and I got him killed.”
“Do not,” Jinshi’s voice was stern, “The fault will always lie with me. You will never carry my guilt for me.”
“Jinshi, I got in the way-”
The sharp look that Inuyasha got had him snapping his mouth shut with a click of teeth, “I bear the responsibility. I allowed you two to explore and learn your surroundings without thinking about summoning Longwei to protect you both from a distance.”
“Jinshi…”
“The fault lies with me. You missed fifty years of your life. I will make up for it.”
Inuyasha warred with his anger and the strange feeling he couldn’t name, blooming in his chest, “I am not a damsel in distressed asshole.”
“You are no damsel. You are my packmate, Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha burned hot and his ears twitched. He turned his attention back to his kill with a disgruntled ‘Feh’. Whatever emotion he was feeling, he willed it to die a thousand deaths. Inuyasha and Jinshi resumed dressing their catch in silence.
As they worked, Kagome approached the hut, her steps hesitant as she neared the two demons. She stopped short when she saw them amid their task, the sight of the freshly killed deer and the blood staining their hands making her stomach churn. She had never seen anything like this before, and the raw reality of it was unsettling.
Jinshi and Inuyasha both looked up at her, their gazes steady and unreadable. For a moment, Kagome felt like an outsider, intruding on a world that was foreign and dangerous. She swallowed hard, trying to muster the courage to speak.
“I... I wanted to share a meal with you,” Kagome said faintly, her voice wavering as she forced herself to meet Inuyasha’s eyes.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, suspicion flaring as he looked at her. “What are you up to?” he asked, his tone defensive.
Kagome bristled at his question, crossing her arms over her chest. “What do you mean, what am I up to? Out of the two of us, you’re the suspicious one!” she shot back, pouting slightly at the accusation.
Jinshi continued to dress the deer, his hands moving with practiced precision as he listened intently to the exchange. He didn’t intervene, letting the two of them work through their tension on their terms.
Inuyasha huffed, his irritation growing. “You’re the one wearing weird clothes and acting all strange. If anyone’s suspicious, it’s you.”
Kagome’s cheeks flushed with frustration. “I was just trying to be nice! I wanted to clear up any misunderstandings between us.”
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, not entirely convinced by her explanation. “Yeah, well, I’m not buying it. If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
Kagome hesitated, her confidence faltering under Inuyasha’s intense scrutiny. “Do you... do you hate me?” she asked quietly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Inuyasha scoffed, dismissing the question with a wave of his hand. “If I hated you, you’d know it,” he said bluntly. “It’s Kikyo that I hate.”
The admission hung heavy in the air, the weight of it pressing down on both of them. Kagome frowned, her expression softening as she took a step closer. “But I’m not Kikyo,” she said, her voice gentle. “I’m Kagome. Can’t you see that?”
Inuyasha’s response was immediate and harsh. “I don’t care who you believe you are. Have your identity crisis elsewhere and fuck off wench,” he muttered, shoving a piece of raw meat into his mouth and chewing it with deliberate intensity. The taste of the fresh kill grounded him, but his words were sharp and meant to push Kagome away.
Jinshi, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up. “Watch your language, Inuyasha,” he chided, his voice calm but firm. Despite the reprimand, there was a glint of amusement in his eyes, though his expression remained stoic.
Kagome huffed and stomped in annoyance, “Fine you jerk! I hope you get worms!”
Feeling a mix of anger frustration and confusion, she turned on her heel and walked away. Kagome was starting to feel nauseous anyway. Her stomach churned at the sight of the raw meat and the tension that hung between her and Inuyasha. As she left, she couldn’t help but wonder about the demons in this era, about what they ate, and how different they were from the humans she knew.
Jinshi and Inuyasha continued their meal, consuming the deer raw as it was healthier for their bodies. The fresh blood and raw meat nourished them in ways that cooked food could not, and the act of sharing a kill was a bonding ritual that went beyond mere sustenance.
Afterward, Jinshi led Inuyasha to a nearby stream, the cool water provided a refreshing end to their hunt. They bathed together, Jinshi’s presence a comforting constant as Inuyasha awkwardly adjusted to the intimacy of the situation. He whined softly, feeling both embarrassed and content as Jinshi’s hands moved over his body, washing away the grime of the hunt.
Despite his initial discomfort, Inuyasha found himself melting under Jinshi’s attention, the gentle touch of the older demon’s hands soothing his frazzled nerves. The warmth of the water and the steady presence of Jinshi made him feel safe, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Once they were sufficiently clean and dry, Jinshi took the time to groom Inuyasha, much like he had the night before. He combed through Inuyasha’s long hair, removing tangles and smoothing it down with care. Inuyasha’s scent was fresh and strong, and Jinshi took the opportunity to mark him with his scent, reaffirming their bond.
Inuyasha’s face flushed a deep shade of red as he panted softly, overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through him. The intimacy of the act, the feeling of being cared for and accepted, was almost too much to bear. He squirmed slightly, trying to regain some semblance of composure, but Jinshi’s steady presence kept him grounded.
Eventually, Jinshi released him, allowing Inuyasha to escape the intense emotions that had been stirred within him. Inuyasha bolted out of the hut, his face as red as a tomato, the cool evening air doing little to calm his racing heart. He could still feel the warmth of Jinshi’s laughter, even though it was more a sensation than a sound, and he groaned in annoyance at how easily the older demon affected him.
________________________________________
As the evening bled into night, Inuyasha found himself wandering the village, his senses heightened by the quiet stillness that had settled over the land. The scent of the forest, the distant sounds of animals, and the faint rustle of the wind were all familiar, and comforting in their own way. The perfect atmosphere to stomp around in a knotted mess of feelings and scare the villagers who were heading home for the evening.
He grumbled about his packmate being a molester as a blush burned his ears. Were all packs like that? So touchy-feely? Inuyasha hated that it felt nice… and made him a little secure… and taken care of. He hated it. Inuyasha continued to contemplate his packmate and the necessity of what Jinshi called scent marking. While in deep thought, something prickled at the edge of his awareness, something that set his instincts on high alert.
He leaped into the trees, his movements swift and silent as he made his way toward Kaede’s home. The closer he got, the stronger the sense of unease grew, until he finally saw it—a demonic crow perched on a branch above the home, its red eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed in annoyance as he cracked his knuckles, a low growl rumbling in his throat. The presence of the crow was a bad omen, a sign that trouble was brewing. He knew enough about these creatures to recognize the threat they posed, and he wasn’t about to let it linger near his new pack— um him. Linger around him.
With another powerful leap, Inuyasha launched himself toward the crow, his claws extended as he aimed to chase it away. The crow let out a startled caw, its wings flapping frantically as it took to the air, narrowly avoiding Inuyasha’s attack. It flew off into the night, disappearing into the darkness as quickly as it had appeared.
Inuyasha landed lightly on a nearby branch, his eyes scanning the area for any further signs of danger. His senses remained on high alert, but the immediate threat seemed to have passed. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease, though, the nagging worry that Kaede had been right—Kikyo… Kagome… whoever was in danger, and it was only a matter of time before more demons came for the Sacred Jewel.
He gritted his teeth, why the hell should he care? If she’s Kikyo she sealed him to a tree for fifty years. If she’s this reincarnated girl who looks like a woman of the night, she almost enslaved him with subjugation beads. The Shikon jewel was important but it’s that girl’s job to protect it, not his. Besides he promised Jinshi that he wouldn’t use the damn thing… Inuyasha was a man of his word. The wench was lucky that Inuyasha took a walk that night.
With one last glance at the night sky, Inuyasha jumped down from the trees and made his way back to the hut where Jinshi was waiting. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down, not with so many threats lurking because of the Miko.
As he entered the hut, Jinshi looked up from where he was sitting, his gaze steady and calm. Inuyasha nodded to him trying to stomp out the weird feeling that bubbled in his chest. Inuyasha sat against the wood of the hut, trying to create a little distance. It didn’t take long before the Inu-hanyou was shouting obscenities as he was forced into a cuddle with his touchy-feely packmate. He really hated these weird emotions.