Unbridled, Unvoiced Passions by MS Cascata

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Unbridled, Unvoiced Passions

A bittersweet love story

Chapter 1

Her vision was failing her again. The pain of illness that had settled within her body not a week earlier had decided to rear its ugly head again; it could not have chosen a more inopportune moment.

The ogre, having seen his chance with her distraction, lashed out at the girl with a vicious strength. Her body soared across the clearing and made harsh contact with the base of a cherry tree, effectively offering her mind over to the realm of unconsciousness.

Her comrade screamed the injustices of harming such a pure creature, but with their leader down, who was going to stop him? Just as he reached out to take possession of the glass vial containing several shards of the precious jewel he sought, a hot pain lanced through his body.

He was struck in several places, once through his back, once across his right arm to the middle of his stomach, and again from his left ear to his right cheek. The ogre felt his body separate and die long before he would have even realized what had occurred.

Sango stared unblinkingly at the sight before her. There was Inuyasha, out cold from blood loss and a hard blow to the head. Miroku lie beside her barely moving yet still breathing, Kirara was wrapped in her arms with poison contaminating her blood, and Kagome was curiously poised at the base of a tree still very much unconscious, but alive nonetheless. Her fear, however, came not from her friends' lack of well being, but rather the reason they were all still breathing.

He stood over them regally and, after assuring his self that none were lost to the netherworld, turned and left. Just as he reached the boundaries of her limited hearing range, Sango felt his parting words breech her conscience.

"If you refuse to teach her to properly defend herself, then you must protect her with your own life"

She didn't have the strength to wonder at Sesshoumaru's protection over Kagome more than a simple 'why does he care?' With that, Sango succumbed to the darkness of her battered body.

Her injuries were far too serious for her to handle without the miracles of modern technology. It was that reason alone for Inuyasha's reluctant agreement to grant her such reprieve. She would return within a month anyhow.

With delicate care, and years of practiced ease, the downtrodden half demon lifted his friend into his arms and carried her to the bone eaters well, the time portal of power. Not a single glance of worry or hesitation was given as he leapt into the depths of magic and allowed his cargo and himself to be taken.

The moment Souta saw the unmistakable red of Inuyasha's fire rat clothing, he was outside running to greet his sister. What he met, however, was an unconscious, battered mess of a girl hidden somewhere beneath a collection of dried dirt and blood.

"MOM!"

Kagome had awoken in the covers of her childhood bed with her mother and a bandaged Inuyasha watching her as though afraid she was going to fade away. She was glad for the comfort her bed offered, but the looks were a bit too unnerving for her to really enjoy it.

She didn't quite understand their intense gazes until she tried to sit up. Her body, teeming with an assortment of cuts, bruises, and broken bones, had protested any movement with a searing white pain. Her slightly surprised gasp brought the onlookers back to her injuries as she settled into her position again.

When Kagome first attempted to piece together the reason for her discomfort, she found nothing but a blank wall. Yet, when she relaxed and pondered her most recent memory a bit, she could distinctly make out a very large and hairy hand colliding with her body; all was black after that single moment, though it seemed like an eternity.

When she realized that her body ramming into a tree caused her crash of pain in her memory, she let out another gasp as though preparing herself for the onslaught of pain that was sure to follow such a blow.

She was suddenly quite aware of her broken arm, leg, and tailbone. How lucky was she that her back was not one among the list of injuries aside from a few cuts and bruises.

Kagome glanced to Inuyasha, then to her mother and back again to Inuyasha. He had obviously saved her, but the damage had already been done. Would her mother even allow her to return to the past after this new turn of events?

Inuyasha, she noticed, had been sneaking glances at her mother since she had waked. His ears found themselves a good home pressed against his head with each look, while his eyes held a bit of fear and yearning in them. Apparently her mother had already 'spoken' with the distraught half demon.

Kagome wanted very much to know what was said but knew well that she would be subject to a very watered down version of the encounter. She knew it didn't matter in the end, but her curiosity was a strange curse that was hard to sate, as it was to avoid. She was simply inquisitive by nature.

"Morning"

Kagome laughed nervously at her pathetic attempt to open with casual talk, but the silent tension was really beginning to bother her. All words froze and died on her tongue when she noticed Inuyasha's wide eyes and her mother's look of pure fury. Obviously her mother was angry with her, very angry.

She watched as her mother hovered over her prone body, checking bandages and poking bruises. When all seemed fine there, she moved to the desk and checked the pills and water.

As soon as Mrs. Higurashi's mind was settled that her daughter would survive with no impending injuries, she glanced to her daughter and then to Inuyasha. With that she swiftly left the room, closing the door with an audible click, and insuring that the fear of a mother was instilled into the hearts of the young adults.

Kagome had slept for a few hours with Inuyasha keeping watch over her, but though her healing body was exhausted, she had slept a good day already and could find very little rest.

When she woke, she spoke with Inuyasha about the battle with the ogre and was thoroughly confused when he said that he didn't defeat it himself. Someone else must have, but all of her comrades and herself were incapable at the time; something was missing.

The two had talked about the stay that her mother was suggesting; it was more of a punishment, Kagome mused. Somehow, they had to convince her mother that she was very much capable of making the decision to go to the past on her own.

Now, sitting before her mother arguing her point, she was convinced more than ever that the woman was trying to punish her by keeping her from the past. She knew it would take much more than just a declaration of age and experienced wisdom to gain passage back through the well, but she wasn't sure exactly how to go about it.

Her mother understood the importance of Kagome's fate as the protector of The Jewel of Four Souls, and she also knew that Kagome was much more mature than most her age, and wise beyond her eighteen years. That, however, did nothing to fuel Kagome's argument; a fact that she was becoming increasingly aware of, as her mother seemed not to budge from her decision.

The decision itself wasn't bad, as Kagome would still be returning to the Warring States Era; it was only a year in coming is all. Kagome had calmly restated the importance of returning to complete the jewel before more chaos ensued, while inside she was screaming and ranting like a child. There had to be a way to make her mother understand...there just had to be. She always had before, so why not now? What made this return so different?

Three hours passed with the pair in argument and the arguments themselves were beginning to sound a bit repetitive. Neither of them had any more points of discussion or opinions; they were at a sort of check on the chessboard of time.

"Mother. We aren't getting anywhere. Why don't we continue this in the morning? I am rather tired."

Her mother nodded in assent and stood to retrieve dinner. At the door, she turned and smiled a victory at her daughter.

"We may not be able to solve this yet Kagome, but until we do you are staying here. So in a way I would count this as my win, wouldn't you?"

Kagome gave her mother a wry grin and chuckled. Her mother was sweet, but she was devastatingly smart when it came down to strategizing. The woman was simply expert at getting her point across and her word made final.

A few minutes later dinner was brought up and dishes taken down once emptied. She was grateful to her mother for the hard work and sacrifices she had made over the last three years, but she still could not agree with staying in the present for an entire year when she had such a pressing duty to tend to.

Of course, there was always a bit of a smile when Kagome thought about the inarguable six months she would have to endure due to her broken bones. It would be the perfect time to catch up on her schoolwork and study for her exit exams.

Kagome counted the months on her fingers and nearly squealed in joy when she realized what six months really meant for her schooling. By the time her body was done healing, she would have already taken her exit exams and quite possibly entrance exams for college. The best part was that Inuyasha couldn't tell her 'no' this time; he had to wait the six months, same as her.

At that thought, Kagome did squeal. She was going to enjoy the next six months free of burden and life threatening demons. And Inuyasha couldn't do a damn thing about it.

That night Kagome found sleep all too easy. Her dreams were filled with fresh air, large forests, and silly children enjoying the sun. To her it was the perfect world, free of demons physical and technical. Yes, she was going to enjoy these next six months.

The first two months back in the present went off without a hitch. As a matter of fact, Kagome would count them quite successful in her attempt to finish off her high school years on top.

She had been able to stay ahead in her assignments and was even able to take an entire week to refresh her mind on some past coursework that she had had to skim through due to impending battles. Even her math studies were doing better, but they had been improving since her sophomore year.

Tenth grade was like a cool breeze after a blistering summer for Kagome. When classes had commenced, she had politely requested that she be given a home course due to frequent 'illnesses' so that she might graduate with her original classmates.

The school thought it a brilliant idea and was quick to comply, thus giving Kagome the opportunity to hunt the jewel in the past and knowledge here in the present. The arrangements had worked like a charm.

With her studies improving, and her priestess abilities taking leaps and bounds to unlock their depths, Kagome was beginning to see herself in a new light. Her mother had smiled when she explained her newfound air and told her that becoming a woman was something every girl should cherish. She had grown a new respect for her mother that day, one that was very much unexplainable, yet somehow necessary as a part of growth.

There were many things Kagome had yet to learn, she knew, but she was all too willing to let those lessons find her on their own time. Being considered a woman by history standards for quite some time and now a woman by modern standards, Kagome felt a bit pressed to hold onto a few remaining innocent trademarks to remember her childhood a bit longer.

The memories of the feudal era danced across her memory as she sat on the step of the shrine facing the courtyard. She had a dreamy sort of smile on that the tourists probably put down to a woman in love.

'Oh yes, I'm in love' she noted, 'with the past'. She smiled at the thought and winked at a young girl passing by. The woman-child looked to be no older than Kagome had when she began her journey in the past and appeared to have the same innocent outlook on life as she had those precious few years ago. The blush was adorable and Kagome idly wondered if she had looked that cute when she was still so naive.

Kagome's brows knit together in a miffed confusion. Here she was at home, trying to enjoy the freedom from responsibility, and what does she do but think of nothing else. Perfect distraction she made herself; she couldn't even keep her mind away from her friends and family there. She was beginning to feel a bit homesick, odd that she was at home then too.

That was that then. She was going to get nowhere on her bum just waiting for something to occupy her mind. The past few days she had been coming out to watch the tourists in hopes of a distraction from the feudal era and her duty.

The only real problem with that plan was the simple fact that the shrine was made for memories of those times and did nothing to help her release her tension. She needed to get back there soon.

Inuyasha had been visiting very little lately. He had mentioned that Naraku was showing himself frequently and was sure the final showdown was just on the back of the wind. She hoped with everything she had that she did not miss that fateful battle because of some stupid ogre and her weak human body.

The jewel was fairly safe, as a good chunk of it was in her possession, but that did nothing to rest her fears over the final battle with Naraku. She knew that she had played a large role in resurrecting the memories of his evil, and thusly would play the same in his demise.

The hunts for the jewel shards had been her way of preparing her mind and body for the assault of battle pain and evil such a day would sustain; there was no way she was going to miss her own grand finale.

Kagome let a breath of irritation and impatience blow her hair from her face. She wasn't going to find a distraction today, that much was painfully obvious. Perhaps she should just go inside and play a video game with Souta; she was getting rather good at his Bloody Roar series.

Her crutches were propped up under her arms and gave her a good balance to fix her kimono. She had taken to wearing the traditional garb when she no longer attended the high school and so no longer was in need of uniforms.

Her other clothing was comfortable enough for the adventures she went on, but they were a bit heavy to carry and far too expensive to keep replacing.

In the feudal era, her kimonos sold for pennies worth what her clothes cost in the present time, and she didn't have to replace them nearly as much. Besides, these clothes were considered wealthy in the past and mature in the present. It just paid to look proper.

Just as she was about to stumble her broken body into the house, a voice called out to her. She spun around slowly to see what the problem was and to correct him for startling her like that.

"Grandpa..." She growled something close to Inuyasha's voice of irritation and continued to berate the old man. "I am on crutches. If I were to have turned quickly because of your hasty voice and fallen, you would have needed your own pair to fall from."

Her grandfather chuckled and rubbed the back of his head in apparent embarrassment before continuing on with his intent for seeking her out. Kagome sighed and decided to let his miss slide this one time.

Really, he may have been a bit off kilter, but since relieving him of doctor diagnosis status over two years ago, he seemed to have wised up a bit. He wasn't nearly as quick with the scroll chanting, and he even seemed to have a few good stories, once you took out all the puff and praise.

"Uh, eh, I was just curious as to how you are doing"

Kagome instantly brightened up as she listened to the old man tell her about how worried he had been and how much he wanted her to get back to top physical health again. She really loved it when someone told her that they thought of her, especially with such care and respect; it was a truly good feeling to know you were loved.

"My arm is pretty much healed, if not a bit sore, but I'm working with it every day and it seems to be strengthening just fine. As for my poor tailbone, well let's just say that it still takes me a while to sit down."

Kagome's laughter brought a smile to her grandfather's face instantly. It was a gift she enjoyed, being able to brighten anyone's thoughts without really trying.

"My leg on the other hand is being quite the stubborn thing. I'm sure it's healing just as a normal bone should, but I have never healed this slowly. It's completely irritating."

Her grandfather smiled at her and placed his hands within the confines of his sleeves before continuing with his investigation. He had suspected that the young woman was homesick for the past and thought that he might have just the thing to help her along.

"That's good my dear, but I meant to ask how you are doing without jumping through the well. This is the longest you've been home in three years and I wondered how you were dealing with that."

Kagome gave her grandfather a grateful smile and sighed, thankful that someone might actually understand her predicament. He had piles of old things that she had seen in the past, she had even been the one to buy one of the kimono's in his special room...but don't tell him that.

Just as she thought that, she realized that he might have something to help her get through this, perhaps some old war scrolls she could read. It was obviously worth her time to at least ask.

Her pleading eyes must have relayed the message for her, as her grandfather turned heal and began to walk away with the one word 'come' command. She tilted her head in confusion and slight wonder before hobbling on behind him.

"Grandfather, thank you. You don't know how much this means to me"

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and turned to leave.

"Think nothing of it Kagome. At least I can get one kid in these times to appreciate the delicate balance of our history. You just don't spend all day in here, ok?"

Kagome nodded and turned to the room she had been given strict privileges to as a condition of her stay. She was allowed to come and go as she pleased so long as she kept the door locked at all times, and didn't stay inside too long.

Her fingers twitched with mounting curiosity. Gods what a curse that curious nature could be. There really was nothing worse than wanting to explore when you had already discovered everything about the home you lived in.

She shambled through the room for hours, picking up a few items here and there, inspecting a few trinkets every now and then, and of course reading every piece of parchment she could find. Her grandfather had to retrieve her at dinnertime since she had lost herself to the memories and treasures held captive in the small room.

Just as they were going to leave, Kagome noticed a small gap in the wood under the far wall. By all means, the entire structure should have no gaps like that aside from those familiar with the sliders of a shoji screen.

She would inspect it tomorrow, for there was an entire day worth of exploring just waiting for her, and the mystery of the small gap was a good one to sleep on tonight.

She paused in her thoughts and imagined herself jumping up and down with glee. Apparently she hadn't discovered everything there was to know about her ancestral home; there was still a mystery to be solved.