Nearly The Same
Chapter 7: Donuts…
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or YYH … or Cosmo.
Inuyasha could practically feel his chapped lips quivering as he watched Kagome cradle her now red hand with it's partner. Her bangs draped over here eyes, but he could already tell. He could smell it. She was actually crying.
"Sometimes, Inuyasha… I really wonder about you," she began shakily, turning her back to him. "The jewel is done. And if you really cared about me at all, you wouldn't have jeopardized my life in my time. So what is it that you need from me, that you need to keep me alive so badly?!"
The hanyou's eyes widened, not fully believing the words that were exiting Kagome's mouth. Finally, his expression turned to one of anger. His fangs gritted together, and his claws began digging into his palms.
"Is that really what you think? Do you think that I went there because I needed you for another fucking adventure? You think I don't care? You couldn't be more wrong. And if that's really what you think, you certainly don't know me, and you shouldn't be here at all," he snapped.
"Yeah. Maybe you're right," she said softly. Inuyasha let his guard down, and released a soft sigh. She had only taken three small steps forward before he just couldn't bear to keep himself silent as she walked away, possibly for good.
"Dammit! Hold on, Kagome!"
She had only turned just slightly to face him, when she was shocked to feel him embracing her, tightly, and it gave her the feeling that he just didn't want to let go. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Kagome."
"So, Yusuke, what exactly do you know about this latest case that we do not?" Kurama inquired with a small, all-knowing smile.
"What? Who said I knew anything?" Yusuke attempted, avoiding eye contact and letting off a highly suspicious whistle.
Kurama and Yusuke were standing outside a local convenience store waiting for Kuwabara and Botan. Kuwabara claimed that he needed "supplies" for their trip, because "Who knows how long this dumbass mission will take! I need a huge supply of candy!". Would you know that the guy was eighteen years old?
"Do you not know me at all, Yusuke Urameshi?"
"Besides, when does Yusuke ever know anything about anything?" Botan quipped cheerfully, her arms full of two grocery sacks, both filled to the brim with what looked like a lot of unhealthy foods and beverages. Kuwabara, on the other hand, had just walked out of the swinging door behind her, his head bent over a… Cosmopolitan magazine? What was wrong with this picture?
"You worthless twit," Hiei could be heard muttering from against the wall. No one had been aware of his presence. Well, everyone except Kurama, that is.
Yusuke rolled his eyes before he got back to their barely started conversation. "Anyway. I don't know much. I just think that I might know someone… associated to this demon we're after."
"But, the demon is in a completely different era, Yusuke, I'm slightly confused," Botan replied, shifting the bags in her arms. Kurama seemed to immediately see her dilemma, and of course, came to her aid. Queue Yusuke rolling his eyes once more, before he continued.
"I guess I don't really understand it myself. We'll find out the whole story when we get there, right?"
"Not unless I slice his head off before he manages to spew off any answers," Hiei said with a grim smile. Just then, there was a shrill ringing sound coming from within their little circle of friends. Kurama muttered a small, polite apology before he shifted the sack he had taken from Botan to the other arm and reached into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone.
"A demon carrying a human designed cellular device. Not exactly something you see everyday," Yusuke groaned rudely, knowing exactly who would be calling, and not exactly feeling all warm and fuzzy inside about it.
"Keiko, … No, this isn't a bad time, and I'm certainly happy to hear from you," Kurama cooed into the phone, taking subtle steps away from their group.
"He's lying on both counts!" Kurama yelped, chuckling as he did so, before he turned his attention right back to his magazine. "Did you know that there's a pretty interesting trick you can do with a donut …?"
"I suppose information like that would certainly be useful to you, now wouldn't it!" Botan said, amazingly cheerful, although she had just burned Kuwabara. Badly. Which was strangely out of character for the normally kind and thoughtful Spirit Guide. Even Hiei was looking at her curiously.
"I mean…" She was blushing incredibly, and avoiding eye contact with the puzzled face of her dopey friend. Luckily, she didn't need to redeem herself, as Kurama reentered the scene with a wide smile on his face, and his familiar and comforting demeanor.
"Alright, are we ready to begin?" he asked.
It was peaceful in Kaede's hut, which was very unusual for her residence. As small as it was, it was very normal for the 10 by 10 room to be bustling with a variety of characters, and of course, Kaede herself. But at the moment, she was picking herbs with the village children, Shippou and Kirara, teaching them all their medicinal uses and purposes. Sango and Miroku were out doing… God knows what. Frankly, Inuyasha wasn't interested and certainly didn't care, because chances were, it was disgusting.
Kagome was sleeping peacefully, her cheeks brushed with a red tint from her emotional day, and her face still banged up from her encounter with Mikamoto. It had only been a couple days since then, but her bruises were still healing painfully slow for Inuyasha, who was more than tiring of seeing the reminders etched on her normally perfect complexion.
The nap was certainly needed for her, the last few nights hadn't been nearly filled with the sleep that she desperately needed. And at least with Inuyasha, she could rest easily and know that she would be completely safe.
He was sitting remarkably close to the fire burning in the center of the room, his arms crossed over his chest like they normally were, and his stunning eyes closed tightly shut, most of the time. Occasionally he would peek out of the one closest to Kagome, just to make sure she was breathing easy.
He was very relieved that the argument with Kagome had been resolved, for the most part anyway. He was positive that this was a 'forgive, but never forget' situation, and quite frankly, he wasn't sure he blamed her. But, regardless, he couldn't be more thankful for the outcome. Kagome was safe, she was happy, and she was here.
Botan had lead them all to a secluded, shaded area in a nearby wood, and had, miraculously opened a portal to the half-demon's era. Apparently the so-called 'Grim Reaper's abilities were much more than any of them were aware of. Just as they were about to step through the portal, Yusuke looked at her curiously.
"You're not going with us?" he asked, looking at her as she was already climbing atop her oar. She smiled and cheerfully shook her head.
"I've got people to lead to the Spirit World and all that…" she said with a wink. Somehow, it had slipped the Spirit Detective's mind. It was still hard to imagine the Grim Reaper as someone like Botan. She wasn't skinless or fleshless, she didn't have the dark black robe and the disgusting and coldhearted demeanor that was portrayed in all the television programs and fairy tales. She was a blue-haired vixen with a British accent. 'And a niiiice chest,' Yusuke reminded himself mentally, releasing another suspicious whistle.
"Anyway, have fun on your mission!" she squealed, riding off into the sky on her unusual mode of transportation. She was certainly an odd one, far too cheerful to be dealing with so many dead people on a daily basis.
Shrugging, as the last of the group walked through the portal, he followed behind, and it closed behind him.
This alternate era was certainly something he hadn't been expecting. Well, to be honest, Yusuke wasn't exactly positive what he thought he would find here. He didn't think it would be a desert terrain and dozens of volcanoes and dinosaurs or anything, but he wasn't expecting this.
It was something out of a fairy tale, it seemed. The lush terrain, the uncountable number of trees, and no immediate sound aside from a few birds chirping and what sounded like water running nearby…
Everyone else seemed equally as puzzled, but Hiei and Kuwabara were the only ones not expressing it. However, the latter was already reaching his large hand into his goodie bag to pull out what looked like a can of soda pop.
Yusuke strongly resisted the urge to plop down on his ass and just lean back and take a nap, but they had a mission to accomplish. He wasn't entirely happy about it, but he knew he owed Koenma, and he knew what his job was. But, what he didn't know was-
"Where the fuck are we supposed to find this guy?"