"Sealed Past" Ch. 16 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 16

Ranma stared without any real thought into the space above the teacher's head. Not really paying attention to the History lecture being given. It was about a period of time he'd lived through in his previous life anyway.

It was funny, how he'd felt these past two months as he'd slowly, as Kasumi had first put it, finished growing up. His personal life wasn't utter chaos anymore, but he didn't hold out much more hope of either the Sunset Shrine or the Full Circle Dojo remaining a sanctuary for much longer. They'd find him eventually and he wasn't really looking forward to the day they did.

Couldn't they all just leave him alone? This incensed nagging day in and day out about where he was going, who was he with, and just who was his fiancée?

One thing he didn't understand was that no one had notice that he was no longer affected by the Jusenkyo Curse. But then again he wasn't exactly being tossed into pools anymore so maybe that had something to do with it.

He was thankful for Kasumi shielding him from as much as she could. But it wouldn't be to long before Nabiki's mercenary instincts kicked into an even higher gear. Soon she'd really start investigating where and why he was disappearing so regularly. In fact, it might be best if he took up the Higurashi's offer to live at their place. It would simplify his life but first he'd have to say his good-byes here.

Now, how in the world would he manage that without everyone screaming blue murder?

. . .

"Thank you," Nabiki said pleasantly as she quickly calculated the amount all of Ranma's fiancées and enemies had paid her for her information. She surveyed the group gathered around the table eagerly waiting for her to begin speaking. Well might as well make the most of this.

"As you are all aware, after school Ranma no longer returns to the Tendo house."

"Mean tomboy scare airen away," Shampoo hissed as she glared at her rival.

Before Akane could make a retort and a fight break out between them, Nabiki hurried on. "I have managed to learn that he spends most of his evenings in the city in a place called the Full Circle Dojo."

The group of martial artists frowned, they'd never heard of this dojo or anything about a style related to it.

"Is it just a gym?" Ukyo asked curiously. Perhaps that would explain why it was unknown among them.

"No. It is a martial arts dojo."

"Well? Why don't we just go there and confront him?" Akane said angrily.

"We won't be able to get through the front door. Private membership. Invites only." Nabiki explained.

"How airen get in then?"

"It seems that the invitation was extended by the dojo master, Toyota Shippou."

"Toyota? Isn't that a line of cars?" Ukyo questioned.

"Yes, he's also the current Chief Executive Officer of the automobile company."

"How in the gods' names, did Ranma meet the CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation?" Akane demanded.

Nabiki shrugged, she was an information wiz, but she wasn't that good.

"Well, even if we can't get in, all we have to do is wait for him to leave and then confront him about what's he's been doing." Akane continued.

"I said he spends most of his evenings there."

The gang looked expectantly at the middle Tendo child.

"No, I don't know where he goes those nights he's not training at the Full Circle Dojo. It's sporadic enough that I'm not seeing a pattern yet so I haven't been able follow him successfully as of right now."

The group sat back with loud dissatisfied grumbles. Just what in the hell was Ranma up to?

. . .

Raising his knuckles to Kagome's bedroom door, Ranma gave a quick rap on the wood.

"Come in!" Kagome called out in a distracted voice.

Opening the door, he was unsurprised to see her seated at her desk like she'd been whenever he'd come through the Bone-Eater's-Well to drag her back for more shard hunting. Only this time he knew that she wasn't studying for junior high exams, but for senior university level medical courses. He spoke up hesitantly, "Is it alright if we talked?"

Kagome looked up from the paper she was writing and gestured for him to have a seat on the bed. "Sure Ranma."

Sitting on the comforter, he scuffed his toe against the blanket, at a loss as to where to begin.

Kagome smiled faintly as she got up and sat beside him. Sometimes his mannerisms were so much like Inuyasha's had been, that it was hard to separate them.

"Can I still move in?" Ranma blurted out.

"Of course Ranma, Mama's been hoping you would ever since we told her you're Inuyasha's reincarnation." Kagome replied wryly, remembering her mother's enthusiasm… particularly for 'more' grandchildren.

"It's just—it's—I don't know how to break it to the others."

"I'm assuming that 'the others' you're referring to are those referred to as the Nerima Wrecking Crew?"

"Yes."

"Well, why don't you try simply talking to them? They're still people after all. Ones that at times can be reasoned with I expect."

Ranma nodded slowly, yes, at times they did think logically. "But I don't know how to. Talk to them that is."

"Pretend they're me," Kagome suggested, "After all you can talk to me, and I'm a girl."

Ranma gave her a very droll look. "I don't ever want to think about them like I think about you Kagome."

Kagome bit her lower lip as she felt a blush creep across her face. More and more frequently she'd caught him looking at her with a hot, devouring look in his eyes. His grey eyes full of old sensual knowledge.

Refocusing on his face, she was unnerved to find it inches from her own. "Ran—"

"Shhh…" Ranma said softly as he placed a thumb over her lips to halt her speech.

Kagome's breath caught in her throat as warmth began to pool in her lower body. A warmth that intensified as Ranma's thumb traced her lips before his hand slid along her cheek into her hair to cup her head.

Ranma felt the aroused satisfaction hum through his body as he finally touched Kagome's lips in a possessively devouring kiss. The inner dog demon howling in predatory triumph as his mate lay beneath him once more.

"Sealed Past" Ch. 15 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 15

"Well?" Akane demanded arrogantly as Ranma stepped though the doorway.

"Well what?" Ranma replied crossly, his body ached these past few days from head to toe from sparring with Shippou, Kouga, and occasionally Sesshoumaru relearning his natural demon attacks as well as the flow of the demonic energy through his body.

Kagome had explained, as his soul was that of a demon, his body was a natural conductor of demonic energy, which was why so many curses had attached themselves to him so easily in the first place. Even though all of his former demon gifts bled over into his new form, it was still difficult relearning and performing everything in an entirely human body. And then there had been something about his recent 'transformations' being the result of the demon soul coming to the forefront…

But he was still in no mood for any lectures from the hot-headed tomboy.

"Where have you been?" Akane demanded as she watched Ranma drop his shoes beside the door.

"Training," he replied shortly as he strode past her into the kitchen.

"Training where?" She demand as he took a bottle of water from the fridge and began guzzling.

Ranma paused, slowly lowered the bottle as he gave her a very cold look. Drinking the rest of the water he tossed the empty container into the recycle bin. Giving a careless shrug as his answer he moved into the living room.

"Saotome Ranma! I demand to know where you've been!" Akane shouted at his back as she stormed after him.

Ranma gave her an irritated look, "Why?" He demanded bluntly in return.

The youngest Tendo child stuttered angrily in response, before snapping, "That's not the point here!"

"What is the point here then?" Ranma asked raising an eyebrow arrogantly. "I am simply training away from the dojo and instead of a pleasant hello when I step through the door I get yelled at by you." Ranma said as he jabbed a finger at her chest.

"This is my house and you live here so you have to answer my question." Akane snapped. "Where were you?"

"Akane, as you so often seem to forget. I'm legally an adult now and the only person that I am accountable to in this situation is your father, as he is the landlord. And Tendo-kun knows and approves that I'm continuing my training. So you have no right to demand to know where and how I spent my time!" Ranma snarled in return.

"Now excuse me, I have to go study for the classical myth exam tomorrow. Good night." With that he whirled on his heel, bid their avid audience a good night as well and made his way up the stairs to his own room.

"He's right you know Akane-chan," Kasumi said in a motherly tone of voice.

"He's right about what?" Akane whined.

"You're not his keeper." Kasumi replied bluntly. "As a courtesy he tells me every morning when he expects to be home, and so far he's always been extremely punctual. He's not getting into trouble, in fact if I didn't know for a fact that he's training I'd almost think he's getting tutored."

"What?" Four surprised voices chorused as one.

"I thought at least you would have known Saotome-kun, your son's marks have improved dramatically these past few months." Kasumi said with an innocent expression, gleefully drinking in their gape mouthed faces. "In fact, he'll have no trouble now graduating from his freshmen year of university. Unlike someone I could mention Akane-chan."

Akane turned red under her sister's sharp reminder of her own low marks. Mumbling an excuse she hastily left the living room to retreat to her own bedroom.

"That was out of character Kasumi-chan," Nabiki said as she returned to her accounting books for her university studies in commerce.

"Not really," Kasumi replied with an airy smile, "I merely believe that Akane-chan should set her priorities straight. She spends too much time worrying about Ranma-kun and there's really no need."

"Huh," Nabiki replied as she cast a glance at her eldest sister. Something was up.

"Besides, things are finally starting to settle down around here, and the peace is so nice. I don't want to see it disturbed."

Yep, Nabiki thought, something is definitely going on that could bear some looking into. Now that Kasumi had mentioned it, she hadn't see any other of Ranma's friends around lately either, except the Amazon girl and pizza cook when they made deliveries.

And if she remembered correctly, they hadn't seemed to know where Ranma was either. Who knows, she might even be able to answer her little sister's questions about what Ranma was doing after school for her… for a small fee of course.

"Sealed Past" Ch. 14 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 14

Ranma lay sprawled out on the dojo floor, skin glistening with sweat as lungs heaved for breath. The spectators, especially the humans, sat with agape jaws and bulging eyes, not since Lord Shippou had seriously sparred against Lord Kouga a decade ago had they seen such intensity or skill.

"Damnit mutt," Kouga's voice muttered from across the room.

Tilting his head Ranma smirked at the sprawled form of the equally exhausted wolf demon. "What? You didn't think 'cause the body's human I can't still kick your mangy ass?"

Kouga banefully eyed his long time rival and declined to answer.

Ranma's smirk broadened as he finally sat up.

"Don't be such a sore loser Kouga," Shippou teased as he and the senior priest dropped the shielding spell around the room in order to protect the structure from demonic attacks and flying bodies.

"Neat trick," Ranma grunted heaving himself to his feet, thinking of all the times he'd had to repair the Tendo dojo after a fight with Akane, "Could use something like that back at home."

"So what are you called now mutt?" Kouga asked as Ginta and Hakkaku helped him to his feet.

"Saotome Ranma," Ranma replied.

The wolf lord nodded in acknowledgement before gesturing to the wolf demons accompanying him. "I'm sure you remember Ginta and Hakkaku and these three are my youngest pups, Kiba, Tsume, and Bara."

The two males and one female bowed respectfully to their father's opponent, confused by the conflicting scents of normal human and dog lord that they were smelling from him and unsure of what to do.

Ranma cocked his head at the three young wolves, memories coming to him, "So you an' Ayame had another litter."

Kouga nodded proudly before directing his next question to Shippou. "How's Kagome doing?"

"Handling it," Shippou responded honestly.

The wolf grunted in acknowledgement, "If she ever needs to get a way for a while, remind her that Ayame and I are always happy to have her stay for a bit."

Ranma frowned, definitely not liking the innuendo in the conversation.

"I would not worry wolf," an icy voice spoke from the doorway.

Turning, everyone's attention was drawn to the man standing there in a grey business suit, gold eyes framed by wire-rimmed glasses. Authority and power radiated from him.

Kouga and the other wolves bristled. The great demon lord's long held dislike for them still strongly evident—they were lucky Lady Rin was forgiving or the tribe would have been wiped out centuries ago.

Ranma fully faced the dog demon, memories flashing past his mind's eye. Early times of cruelty and hardship. Later times of welcome and comfort.

"Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru greeted regally as he looked at the reincarnated form of his sibling.

Breaths from those who hadn't known were sucked in in shock, particularly the three wolf pups. This was the Lord of the Western Land's younger brother?

. . .

Ranma looked with a half smile at the dog pups playing about on the lawn under the watchful eye of their caretakers and mother. It had been an experience meeting those rowdy balls of energy and being reunited with some of the elder ones who he remembered.

Turning from the window he looked at the opulent room of the library surrounding him, noting the items that had been acquired by his elder brother during his sixty year 'death'. His eyebrow quirked at one of the weapons on display.

"Isn't that…?"

"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied, seeing where he was looking.

"So what, I died and you took all my stuff?" Ranma said jokingly.

The dog shot him a droll look as he approached the display case, "Most of it I have passed on to your mate's family. I believe you'll find most of it in the shrine's storage, but there is something else that I must return to you."

Reaching into the elegant case Sesshoumaru lifted a battered and rust covered katana from its stand. Turning he walked to Ranma and handed the sword to him.

Ranma turned the ancient weapon over in his hands but left it sheathed; a faint smile on his face. "It's been repaired," he said softly, remembering his last vision of the sword was it snapping under a bomb dropped by a traitorous dog.

"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied, "My fang was used."

He glanced up at his brother and gave a lopsided smirk, "I had enough trouble learning how to wield first my father's fang, then my own, and now I've got to learn yours?"

"Can't do it?" Sesshoumaru said blandly.

Ranma's smirk turned into a true one. "Nah, I can handle it."

"But?" Sesshoumaru said with a raised eyebrow, sensing something remained unsaid.

Ranma's face became solemn as he looked at the katana in his hands. "In this life, I've never used a weapon of any kind. In fact, I rather despise the fact that people depend upon a tool instead of their own bodies to become better fighters. On top of that, this is a guardian weapon, meant to contain my demon blood."

Sesshoumaru looked curiously at the black haired man that looked exactly like his brother had during the new moon.

"I no longer have any demon blood."

The great dog demon blinked, he had not considered that fact. "That is true…"

Ranma held the sword out to his brother. "Could you keep it? Tessaiga(1) no longer has a place in this era."

Sesshoumaru looked at the sword then back at his brother. It appeared more had changed than just Inuyasha's appearance.

The dog inclined his head in acceptance as he reached out and took the sword, walking back to the case he placed the sword next to the two others that it had resided with since the end of World War II—Tenseiga(2) and Tōkijin(3).

---

Footnotes:
(1) Tessaiga: alternately spelt as Tetsusaiga, this sword is the treasure found in the tomb of Inuyasha's father. It was made in order for his father to protect Inuyasha's human mother. It grows in size and power whenever it is used to protect a human life. Eventually in a battle with Goshinki the sword is broken and must be repaired by Toutousai. The blade becomes difficult for Inuyasha to wield for a time. As Naraku grows in strength Inuyasha must power the blade up to break his barriers, which he ultimately does with the help of Shiori. (Cited from "Wikipedia" and "The Inu-Yasha Companion.")
(2) Tenseiga: this sword is Sesshomaru's blade forged by Toutousai. The sword is not able to cut, but can heal any wound. Mastery of the blade can even bring someone back from the dead. (Cited from "The Inu-Yasha Companion.")
(3) Tōkijin: after Inuyasha kills Goshinki, Sesshomaru comes upon his remains. He takes them to Kaijinbo who forges this blade for him. Tokijin is such a massively evil sword that it takes control of Kaijinbo and forces him to fight Inuyasha. Kaijinbo dies, and Toutousai warns Sesshomaru against using the blade knowing he will suffer a similar fate. Of course Sesshomaru is far superior than anyone else and wields the evil blade with absolute control. (Cited from "The Inu-Yasha Companion.")

"Sealed Past" Ch. 13 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 13

Ranma looked up at the sign before him, reading it aloud, "Full Circle Dojo. Is there any particular meaning to the name?"

"No, not really," Shippou replied, "It used to be a gymnasium but when I turned it into a dojo I never really got around to changing the name. And now it would be too late because most demons are familiar with it. Besides, my wife says it fits."

Ranma shrugged, "Whatever. What style do you teach?"

"Nothing and everything." Shippou replied with a short laugh.

"Huh?"

"The Full Circle Dojo is unique, even by demon standards because the only requirement is that you have to be a demon, or know of demons. Your fighting techniques and the training you have doesn't really matter, because here it's anything goes, much like you said your own style is. Some of my scariest members are the priests and priestesses actually. They may not know how to throw a punch, but damned if they don't know how to throw their power around." Shippou said, as he nodded in greeting to the doorman.

"Really… what does their 'power' do to demons anyway?"

"It depends on the spell and the power of the spell-caster. But it can be as painful as a light sunburn to three-degree burns."

"You mean it physically harms you?" Ranma questioned as they entered the building, feeling the Other practically growl with glee.

"Not usually. It's your spiritual energy that gets burned. Not many religious spells affect our physical bodies, just our spirits." Shippou explained.

"Huh…" Ranma replied thoughtfully as they stopped in a doorway; looking at the people currently sparring in the dojo for a moment, surprised to find that be he and the Other reached the same conclusions regarding each fighter's skill level. "Just curious… what about Kagome?"

"What about Mama?"

"What do her powers do to a demon?"

"She incinerates, spiritually and literally." Shippou answered bluntly.

Ranma threw the fox a sharp look of stunned disbelief.

"I'm serious, even before Mama became the Shikon-Priestess, her powers were almost unheard of and now… it's best to think of her as a superconductor when everyone else is merely batteries."

"Shit." Ranma breathed, the Other nodded vigorously in the fox's support.

"Yes, shit." Shippou agreed grimly. "But enough of that, I'd like for you to meet—"

"Hey Fox!" A masculine voice called out sneeringly. "Who's the new pet?"

Shippou's lips twisted slightly into the beginning of a snarl as a dog demon strode arrogantly towards him.
The demon was wearing tight black jeans and a white t-shirt with the arms torn off. His long black hair was pulled into a low ponytail, a piercing above one eyebrow, and pointed ears decorated with numerous studs. He was the picture of rebellious youth. A sneer twisted his otherwise attractive face into an ugly expression.

Ranma blinked. His face a mask of befuddled confusion as the Other grew stronger. "That's impossible," he blurted out, "He can't be Inuheishi. The bastard's dead."

The demon hesitated in mid-step, confused surprise momentarily wiping the sneer from his face. What did this human know about Inuheishi?

"This is Genken, Inuheishi's younger brother." Shippou explained with a growl, surprised himself that Ranma had seen the resemblance to Inuyasha's killer.

"Oh," Ranma replied, his expression clearing with relief.

"So? What's it to you?" Genken said with renewed arrogance. He loved rubbing it into the fox's face that it had been his brother that had killed the legendary Inuyasha, the nine-tail's adoptive father.

Even if it had cost his family their place in Court and demon politics, the Seibuinutaisho Family couldn't hide Inuheishi's crowning achievement, killing the Lord of the Western Lands younger brother. Making the power of their lineage a force to be reckoned with.

"Nothing," Ranma replied with a dismissive shrug, "It just meant I'd have to kill him again."

"What?"

"Let me tell you a little secret," Ranma whispered in a confidential manner, leaning towards the dog demon's face. Within he slid the leash free of his inner dog demon, allowing all that he was and all that he had been to slowly emerge.

Genken sucked in his breath as the human's scent suddenly changed. The guy no longer smelled like a human male, but now began to reek of great dog demon.

"Your brother's dead," Ranma growled in dog demon with bared fangs, eyes beginning to bleed demon crimson, "But I no longer am."

Genken sucked in a breath as he took a stumbling step backwards in shock. What did this bastard mean?

Ranma's growl deepened into a demonic grin, as the pupils of his eyes slitted and turned an iridescent blue. Along his cheekbones, faint ribbons of purple began to appear.

Staring in fear, the scent of a great demon overpowering, snippets of conversations about a demon with such a transformation flashed through Genken's mind. About a legendary half-breed that no demon had ever stood against alone. A half-breed who's blood lust when transformed made the battlefields of the Sengoku Jidai look like a walk in the park.

"Dogs apart!" A voice shouted within the dojo as the sudden flaring of aggressive demonic auras attracted everyone's attention.

"Let me!" A man said wolfishly.

The spell-casters merely rolled their eyes skywards, the wolf lord was always looking for a reason to fight, especially with the dogs.

Taking a breath, a senior priest, a man in his mid forties, released two bolts of purification power. Not enough to seriously harm the feuding dogs, but enough to definitely get their attention.

Genken reacted in the predictable manner, he instantly retreated, his own powers fading beneath the lash of the pure energy. Shippou-sama's companion however reacted in an entirely different manner. He reflected the energy bolt, sending it back to nip at the priest.

"Holy shit," one of the priestess' cursed wide-eyed.

"I didn't think anyone could do that," a young wolf breathed with bug-eyed incredulity.

"I know of demons that can," the wolf pup's father and pack leader said forbiddingly. Eyeing the black haired stranger with renewed interest the wolf took an even deeper breath to catch and identify the demon's scent.

"But my lord, the only demons were know are the royal dogs!" One of the pack members protested.

"Exactly," he replied with a savage grin, "Hello mutt."

"Hello wolf," Ranma's grin was just as demonic.

"Sealed Past" Ch. 12 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 12

Kagome smiled faintly as she glanced outside her bedroom window, pen stilling on the paper before her as she watched the fight between Shippou and Ranma, Souta and Grandpa on the sidelines shouting encouragement or insults as the mood struck them. Boys, apparently some things never changed.

She was pleased to note this morning, that the dazed look in Ranma's eyes had disappeared after spending the night with them and that right now he appeared to be moving with his usual grace. Shippou's suggestion, of sparing together, had been the right one. Fighting was the one thing that had been a constant in both his lifetimes and it would allow that stick line that Ranma had erected between himself and his soul to bend. Something that desperately need to happen if he was to remain sane.

Kagome sighed softly as she slouched back into her seat, mentally kicking herself for not seeing the possibility that he would fight himself. It was something that was so typical for Inuyasha to do, why would Ranma be any different?

Sighing again, she dropped her pen and pushed back from her desk. She'd lost interest in her essay so it would be best to leave it be for now. Looking back out the window and listening to the insults traded between the foursome outside, she decided it was probably best if she called them in for lunch.

She smirked, if nothing else it would cut down on the cuss words being shouted.

. . .

Ranma smirked at Shippou as the fox barely managed to dodge from yet another School of Indiscriminate Grappling technique. Revelling in the sense of freedom that fighting always brought, particularly now as the Other made no move to fight for control and instead was entirely content to fight with him.

The Other snorted as he dodged the fox's returning blow, taunting gleefully "You're going to have to do better than to use something I taught you!"

Kagome's sudden appearance in his vision almost caused him to stumble, leaving him to scramble away from Shippou's second attack, internally fighting the Other who suddenly insisted to be with the older woman.

He remembered the Other's surprise upon realising that this body was younger than the woman it was promised to, but soon after that had been its glee at realising the advantage that it gave him. Ranma grimaced, remembering quite vividly just what 'advantages' it had thought about. Shit, he'd never had sex with anyone before and suddenly all he could think about was the heated memories of doing so five hundred years ago!

"Yo, you okay?" Shippou questioned, his own demon senses sensing the sudden shift in his opponents own aura. The presence of the demon had suddenly gotten stronger, and spotting his mother out of the corner of his eyes, he could very accurately guess why.

"Fine," Ranma muttered as he shook his head, trying to dislodge the memory fantasies.

Shippou chuckled, remembering clearly his own reaction around Souten after meeting her again two hundred years after their first meeting and her 'challenge'.

"I'm sorry," Kagome said with an apologetic smile, "I didn't mean to interrupt, but Mama will have lunch ready shortly."

"No problem," Shippou said with a grin, "I was just about to give youngest a break."

"Youngster?" Ranma protested, "You calling a youngster, kit?"

Kagome's smile grew, relieved and deeply pleased to hear such things from Ranma. Speaking like he was meant that he was slowly accepting who he was.

"Ha!" The nine-tail's retorted, "I'm not nineteen years old!"

Ranma glared right back, "This body's nineteen twerp, the soul's over five hundred!"

Kagome giggled at the argument the two were engaged in as they began to make their way to the house, Souta and Grandpa stifling their own laughter as they trailed behind.

Ranma blinked as a thought struck him, "Huh, pray I never have to tell it to them."

"Them?" Kagome questioned curiously, Ranma had made comments like that before, but she'd never really been curious enough to ask before now.

"Yeah," Ranma said with a grimace and shrug of distaste, "The Tendo's and the others."

Kagome looked back at him as the group made their way into the kitchen. He'd mentioned the Tendo's before, something about living with them, and there'd been bits and pieces about the others such as being engaged to too many women, but not much.

"You've mentioned the Tendo's before, who are they? And what about these 'others'?" Kagome asked as she began to help her mother distribute the food.

Ranma grimaced again, figuring that he should probably talk about them. "The Tendo's are the family that my old man and I are staying with, there's Soun with his three daughters, Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane. Kasumi's nice, Nabiki's a mercenary bitch, and Akane's a hot-headed tomboy."

Kagome blinked at the descriptions.

"The other's I guess you could say are the weirdoes that my life got involved with someway or another. One of them is 'cause of the curse, another one is because my old man was selling me off in marriage to half the Eastern world and she actually tracked me down, same reason for the other two, marriage that is, and the rest is 'cause of school."

Kagome and the rest present all blinked. That had been confusing. But fascinating.

"So these 'other's'," Kagome questioned teasingly, "Do they have names?"

"Yeah," Ranma replied with a snort, "But it's easier just callin' them the Nerima Wrecking Crew."

Silence. Broken only by Ranma's contented slurping of his lunch. Slowly the silence dawned on him, looking up he blinked at the thunderstruck expressions of those before him.

"What?" He asked self consciously.

"The Nerima Wrecking Crew?" The chorus of voices was high and flabbergasted.

"You're a member of the Nerima Wrecking Crew?" Kagome finally managed to croak out.

"Yeah…" Ranma drawled slowly, getting the itchy feeling between his shoulder blades that now might be a good time to get the hell out of Dodge.

Kagome gave a little chuckle as she slouched back into her seat, "Why am I so surprised? You did have a knack for making trouble."

Ranma cautiously began to relax, maybe there was no need to flee.

"But still," Kagome said with a glint in her eye as she straightened. "That's no excuse for all the damage you guy's have done over the years. Isn't that right Shippou-chan?"

"Right," Shippou replied with a bloodthirsty grin, recognising his mother's mischievous glint.

"And you know what that calls for." Kagome said suggestively.

"Yes!" Five voices chorused.

Ranma decided that he'd relaxed too soon as he found himself buried underneath a pile of bodies, with one intention on their minds as they followed General Kagome's orders.

It seemed he'd been sentenced to death for past misdeeds—by tickling.

"Sealed Past" Ch. 11 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 11

Ranma slowly emerged from sleep, awareness seeping into his conscience. His mind foggy, only remembering through the haze with some clarity the exorcism from two days ago and snippets of conversation with Kagome after The Incident.

Chaotic images flashed through his mind. Martial Art tournaments. Demons and monks battling. Grey buildings that speared into the sky. Castle fortresses and flat rice fields. Samurai and bandits. Kids in school uniforms. A mountain valley of springs.

Desperately he pushed them all aside, focusing on what his senses were telling him instead of the Other inside.

Movement in the house as others awakened, the sounds of the never sleeping city outside his window, the light clatter of pots as Kasumi began breakfast in the kitchen.

The Other growled at being ignored, forcing itself forward for it would not be ignored or denied. His senses expanded tenfold.

Nabiki was in the bathroom, muttering something about his actions last night while in the shower. His old man was on the dojo porch with Soun as shōgi pieces whispered across the board. Akane was in her room dragging a brush through her hair. And someone was approaching his room from the roof.

Eyes snapped open to look at the beams above his head, tracking the soft male footsteps above him. A combined animal and human growl escaped from his throat as his nostrils flared. Past and present blending together.

"Happousai."

. . .

Happousai chuckled soundlessly as he sneaked over the Tendo's roof, only a few drops of water dropping from the overfull bucket he carried. He'd missed the boy last night but intended to make up for it today.
Swinging over the eaves he swung through Ranma's window—and was seized by a strong hand that slammed him back against the frame. Eyes bulging he looked up at the form holding him pinned against the wall. Ranma had never been able to catch him before.

Canines bared as a growl rumbled in his chest, Ranma snarled, "Morning old bastard."

The founder of the School of Indiscriminate Grappling would have squeaked if he could. All that emerged was a muffled sound from beneath the hand that was wrapped around his throat.

Ranma shook his body like a dog would. Drops of water sprayed about as they were shook off, some droplets landing on his captive's face.

Impossible though it seemed, Happousai's eyes widened even more until they were fairly bulging from his head. The bucket of water had been spilt upon Ranma when the boy had seized him, but he was still a guy! When the hell had the boy gotten rid of the Jusenkyo Curse?

A chuckle like growl issued from Ranma's throat as he sensed his captive's surprise. He stood, hoisting his old man's "master" into the air as he did so. His expression shifted unexpectedly, to one of puzzlement.
Happousai tried to squirm away as Ranma hauled him closer and sniffed him!

"Flea?" The tone was curious as the hand around his neck loosened a touch.

Happousai blinked and swallowed hard as he started up at Ranma's face, only now sensing that there was definitely something different about the boy's aura. No one, not even his two prize students knew of his heritage, but to have the boy guess it through scent meant only one thing….

The senior martial artist cautiously poked at the boy's aura, turning pasty white when it—whatever 'it' was—poked back. Realisation struck. There was now something truly demonic within the boy.

Ranma shook his head, fighting something inside as he dropped the School of Indiscriminate Grappling's Creator to the floor. Happousai wasted no time in fleeing. Throughout his long years he had had the misfortune to encounter those who were of purer demon blood or even those of demon souls.

Whatever Ranma had become, it would be best to stay out of the boy's way until the division between 'man' and 'animal' was settled.

. . .

Genma glanced over at his son as the boy entered the dojo, also keeping a close eye on his shōgi partner to insure that some pieces didn't 'miraculously' move. He snorted as he saw that like last night, the boy had his arms wrapped around his torso and a definitely unfocused expression on his face.

Those were the actions of a weakling and that shudder last night? Unacceptable. Still, all he was really interested in was the new technique the boy had displayed last night. Such transformation spoke of a great skill.

"Well boy?"

Ranma's head turned towards the voice, not really registering anything but the impatient tone, still trying to grapple with his inner turmoil. Maybe Kagome had been right. Maybe it'd been too soon to come back to the Tendo's. He snorted, knowing that he'd done it out of typical masculine stupidity that insisted he didn't need help of any sort.

He'd always been able to handle anything that his whacked out life had tossed at him before. Why should now be any different? Just 'cause he had this thing inside him didn't mean that—

"Boy! I am talking to you!"

The Other growled at his old man's tone and he was a little surprised to find that it agreed with him at all. Ever since he'd left the Sunset Shrine grounds it'd been fighting him, demanding to be let out. But most importantly, it had been fighting him to go back.

The Other wanted absolutely nothing to do with anything here. All the Thing was interested in was Kagome.
He shook his head in mute stubbornness. No, he wouldn't go back to the Shrine. He would deal with this on his own.

"Boy!"

Ranma swayed to the side, cleanly avoiding the blow that his now fully irate old man had thrown at him.
Genma growled, even when the boy had avoided his kick, he'd still been ignoring him! Such things were unacceptable!

"Genma!" A voice snapped out.

Turning around, the eldest Saotome male drew to sharp attention when he saw his master seated on the dojo porch beside Soun.

"Leave the boy be, the technique you are curious about has not been fully mastered yet." Happousai said imperiously as he drew on his pipe, trying desperately to hide his nervousness. If Genma fully managed to rouse what was inside the boy now... More sweat broke out on his brow.

"Master?" Genma questioned in confusion.

"You will see it in time," Happousai said in a firm voice, indicating that the subject was to be dropped. Puffing a ring of smoke he warily eyed not the boy's body language, but the strength of the boy's aura. The stronger the aura, the more awake the demon would be.

Ranma blinked, distantly curious that Happousai seemed to know what was going on. But he had more importing things to worry about—like contending with his own real 'inner demon'.

. . .

Kagome hummed slightly as she whisked the broom over the flagstone ground, pushing her own concern for Ranma to the back of her mind in order to enjoy the soft afternoon weather. She really didn't think that it had been a good idea for him to return to his own home so soon after the awakening of Inuyasha's soul, there was no telling what could happen.

"Kagome?"

Perking up in surprise, she looked up to see Ranma standing between the torii pillars, that dazed expression that had been on his face when he'd left yesterday morning still slightly present in the glaze of his grey eyes.

"Ranma," she greeted warmly, concern worming deeper into her mind, "Would you like to come in?"

"Kagome…" He trailed off as he slowly walked towards her.

"Ranma? What's wrong?" She asked as she propped the broom against the stone fence.

"It wouldn't leave me alone."

"It?"

"This thing inside," Ranma growled angrily as he stood before her.

"Oh Ranma," Kagome said as her eyes softened, somehow knowing what had happened when he'd left yesterday. Like any young male, he was fighting what he didn't understand. And that was the very root of his problem.

"Ranma, don't you get it?" She said softly as she reached out and touched his cheek, "That 'thing' is you."

"Sealed Past" Ch. 10 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 10

When he woke he could feel the hot warmth of the sun on his face. Inhaling deeply, he was unsurprised to smell another person beside him. Opening his eyes slowly, his head pounding and body aching to the bone, he looked up at Kagome's dark eyes as she leaned over him, straightening the bedsheets.

"Who am I?" He asked, knowledge and memories he had no personal experience of crowding his head.

"You are still Saotome Ranma, a practitioner of and heir to the Saotome's School of Indiscriminate Grappling(1). But you are also the reincarnation of a half-breed dog demon that was born during Japan's Feudal Era." Kagome explained as simply as she could for now. More detailed explanations could be given later.

"You are also a reincarnation," he stated as he traced a hand along her side, along a scar he knew of, but had never seen. A scar from a centipede demon after a jewel that had been within her body.

"Yes," she breathed, stilling under his touch, "I to, am a reincarnation."

"As we decree it shall be. Two made one. This one soul divided nevermore." He quoted aloud, the words and their meaning echoing deep within his soul. His hands continued to trace the scars he knew her clothing shielded from his sigh.

"You came to our—my—his world through time travel. Together a pack was formed and an evil was defeated. The quest was given to you by the Gods themselves." Ranma mustered with unfocused eyes, "But it cost you and him each other. So the very Gods gave you an oath that the soul bond between you would be fulfilled as they had so long promised."

Kagome nodded at the summary of events that had occurred years ago, her eyes closed. Ranma could feel her trembling against his finger tips.

"Now I have something of dilemma. I understand now why you were so insistent that you weren't Kikyou. You were the same soul, but a different entity. You also didn't have her memories like I have his. And for some reason, his identity feels more natural than my identity now… perhaps it was because I lived for so long as a half-breed demon." Ranma muttered almost philosophically. "And then there's my life now as Saotome…. What do you want me to do Kagome?"

Kagome's eyes gleamed with unshed tears as she looked at him. "The choice is yours to make Ranma-kun. I cannot make it for you."

Ranma nodded, somehow it was the answer he'd expected. Unlike his family and friends that almost seemed to fight over him as if he was some prize to be won, the life Kagome was offering him was preordained. But he had in a previous life actually chosen that path. And that made all the difference of the world to him.

. . .

Kasumi looked with worried eyes from the kitchen doorway at the subdued group that had gathered in her family living room, eyes watching the clock as it relentlessly ticked away time.

Her father and Saotome-kun weren't even making an effort to appear involved in their shōgi(2) game as Nabiki flipped restlessly through one of her many magazines. Most unusually, the three infamous fiancée's were all seated around the table without engaging in all out war, morosely sipping tea.

There was a reason for the gloom that had settled onto the Tendo house and its name was Ranma. He had not returned home last night.

Late last night she'd called Ucchan's(3) first, only to learn from Ukyo that she hadn't seen him. A phone call to the Nekohanten(4)had revealed similar results. Soon afterwards, the two girls had shown up expressing their own concerns over his disappearance.

In the beginning, they had been confident that perhaps he'd been delayed and she'd just been overreacting, then as the night had passed, they had started blaming each other as the reason for Ranma missing status, but as the night had passed into dawn the squabbling between the three young women had halted. Their primary thoughts concerned with worry over Ranma's unexplained absence.

Another day had past and though they'd attended class in the hopes that he to would be at school, when he had failed to appear they had gathered at the Tendo's once again. The sun was beginning to set as night settled and still no sign of Ranma.

Hearing the unexpected snick of the front door being opened, heads swung from watching the clock to the entrance. There was a moment of tense silence before the door was pushed inward to reveal Ranma in the doorframe.

"Ranma!" A mass of voices chorused, anger being the predominate emotion displayed.

The black haired boy flinched mentally and physically from the aggravating volume.

"Where've you been?" Akane demanded crossly as she surged to her feet and glared at him. Ukyo and Shampoo voicing similar demands as they to surged too their feet.

Ranma fixed curiously unfocused eyes in their direction.

Kasumi and Nabiki exchanged curious frowns, each noticing with their own particular awareness, motherly in the first and mercenary in the later, that Ranma appeared… not sick per say, but decidedly… off balance.
Kasumi frowned, yes, 'off balance' was the best way to describe him at the moment. Ranma's skin was pale, grey eyes unfocused, and his face blankly mask-like, a facial expression common in someone that had just received a severe emotional shock.

"Ranma? Are you sick?" Her question brought a surprised halt to the demands being piled upon him by the three girls.

Akane looked at her sister, confused by the question until she really looked at her family's house guest, finally noting what Kasumi and Nabiki had already seen.

"Do you want me to call Dr. Tofu?" Kasumi continued to ask in a motherly tone of concern.

Ranma just shook his head as he finally stepped forward, heading for the stairs at the opposite end of the room that led to the bedrooms.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

Ranma just gave a nod, his disconnection from everyone growing more evident.

"Do you want anything to eat?"

Ranma gave another shake of his head as he continued to walk toward the stairs.

Deeply disconcerted by her airen's(5) uncharacteristic personality, the Chinese Amazon turned on Akane, the most convenient source for her anger. "What did mean tomboy do to airen?"

"I didn't do anything to Ranma you idiot!" Akane angrily snapped back, as the two women turned on each other in an attempt to turn the unfamiliar to the familiar, shouting at each other across the table. Her temper spurred, Akane lunged at her purple haired opponent, knocking the kettle of now cold tea water onto the Amazon.

Everyone froze as in a puff the form of the Chinese girl was replaced with a fluffy haired cat who gave a vocally surprised, "Meow."

Heads frantically swung in Ranma's direction. He stood with one foot suspended over the first step.
A feline Shampoo trembled in the puddle of tea water surrounding her as carefully Ranma placed his foot back onto the floor before he turned slowly to look straight at her.

Breaths sucked in, the occupants of the room began to edge away from the pending explosion.

He was unnatural silent, as for the first time that night, his grey eyes really focused on something. Nerve wracking seconds dragged by, as slowly they heard the build up of a low almost canine growl deep in his chest.

Suddenly his grey eyes turned eerie blue as the whites bled crimson. Lips curled back in vicious snarl to bare unexpectedly canine like fangs.

Shampoo, far more sensitive in her cursed animal form, felt the alien presence roll over her in harshly drowning waves, swamping her in pure, unchecked, terror. The aura chokingly strong and menacing even to those who only had their martial artists senses to rely upon.

Kasumi stepped back into the kitchen and seized the pot of simmering water that was always left on the stove since the Saotome's arrival. Whirling around, she dashed the contents across the room straight at Shampoo.

Another puff and the trembling cat became a trembling Amazon.

The… 'presence' vanished. Ranma creased snarling, exhaling heavily as his eyes drifted closed. Wrapping his own arms around his torso, he gave a full body shudder before opening his eyes once again, turning back around and mounted the steps to his room.

The two men and five women left in the room, all deeply shaken by the events that had just occurred exchanged unnerved wide-eyed looks.

---

Footnotes:
(1) "School of Indiscriminate Grappling" is also referred to as "Anything Goes School," I am personally referencing from Viz manga translation.
(2) Shōgi: n. Japanese chess
(3) Ucchan's: the name of Ukyo's restaurant
(4) Nekohanten: trans. Cat Café, the dinner run by the Chinese Amazons
(5) Airen: (Cantonese) husband

"Sealed Past" Ch. 9 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 9

Kagome dipped the cloth into the water basin and wrung out the excess moisture before placing it on Ranma's forehead again. Night had fallen and the full moon's light spilled through the room's window and flooded across the bed.

Kagome gave a soft sigh as she stared at the moon's white surface. So many memories. Some of them bad, but so many of them precious. She only hoped that whatever her exorcism spell had done was not dangerous for this young man.

Reaching across to rewet the cloth, she started when Ranma's hand closed around her wrist like a vice without warning.

"Ranma-kun! You startled me." Kagome scolded as she gave her hand a tug. There was no response from the teenager lying on the bed. "Ranma-kun?"

A growl rumbled deep in his throat as his eyes snapped open. Grey irises turning an iridescent blue as the whites of his eyes bled crimson. Jagged lines faintly appeared upon his cheekbones before darkening to a sinister burgundy.

Kagome sucked in her breath as she stared in shock at the transformation occurring. A demonic transformation that she had not seen in over a decade.

The growl deepened into a full throated snarl as he tackled her to the floor. Canine teeth sharpening into real fangs, he bared them at her as he trapped her beneath his own body.

He tilted his head from side to side, seeing her and yet not seeing her. Lowering his head he sniffed from underneath her jaw to the delicate bones of her collarbone.

Kagome's breath hitched in her throat as his tongue warmly retraced his earlier actions.

"Mine!" The word was a snarled command.

. . .

Shippou shook hands with Souta when he opened the door in warm greeting. "Long time no see Uncle." The fox demon teased.

Souta rolled his eyes, his honorary nephew never failed to capitalize on the irony of this situation. Even though he knew that it had been five hundred years since Kagome had actually been older than the demon child she'd somehow adopted, Shippou still insisted on calling her 'mother' and everyone else by their relationship titles.

God help him if he ever had to really explain the situation to his schoolmates. Having them hear Shippou call him uncle earned enough reactions as it was. The man was over five hundred years old but as he was a nine-tails he appeared to be only in his very late teens or early twenties depending on the circumstances.

"So Mama actually had a spell go wrong?" Shippou asked as they made their way down the hallway and up the stairs to the spare room.

"From what she's told me, it didn't really go wrong, she just overshot the mark and exorcised something she shouldn't have."

"Ah…" Shippou responded wisely, yes, that was often the problem with his mother's incantations. They had too much power behind them, not too little as was usual in the magic community in these modern times. Being the Shikon-Priestess really had its disadvantages sometimes. She was really much better suited for purification rituals.

Giving a perfunctory knock on the door, they both walked through the doorway and froze in shock at the picture before them.

A demon crouched over the still form of Kagome. Demonic energy radiating off of him. As visible as heat waves on rock during a hot summer's day. A canine growl vibrated in his chest. Fangs rested dangerously close to Kagome's throat.

With a snarl of his own, Shippou leaped at him, the demon instincts to protect one's family taking over.

The unknown demon lashed out, the powerful physical and energy attack catching him full in the chest.

Shippou shucked in a breath as he smashed against the door frame, knocking Souta from the room. And realized from the demonic aura that the demon he faced was a great lord.

"What do you want with my mother?" Shippou hissed in demon, as he pressed a hand to the bloody claw marks that marred his chest. The human concealment spell he wore dropping from him, revealing the nine fox tails that lashed restlessly about behind him.

The demon merely shifted position, staying firmly between Kagome and himself.

Staring at the demon's unusual eyes, Shippou realized that he was in thrall, caught up in his demon instincts between forms. Luckily as long as one remained motionless, a thralled demon would not initiate an attack.

As long moments passed and his heartbeat slowed, intellect taking over demon instincts as Shippou realized something.

The demon's demeanour towards Kagome was more protective than threatening. Even when he had attacked, the demon had not moved. Meaning that he would have remained as a shield between Kagome and his own impulsive attack.

And then there was the demon's scent. It was the mixture of a dog demon and a human, not unlike the smell of a hanyou but different all the same. It was the essence of that smell however that nearly knocked the feet from under him. His father's…?

"Mama?" Shippou said softly and very gently, trying not to aggravate the demon.

"Yes?" She replied softly, not taking her eyes off the demon that had his clawed hands wrapped around her arms and held her against him and pinned to the floor.

"I want you to say Father's special word, the one that would activate his rosary spell."

"Why?"

"Just say it please," Shippou insisted quietly.

"Okay," she replied with obvious confusion and snapped out the command. "Osuwari!"(1)

The demon's reaction could not have been more immediate then if the true rosary spell had been cast. He flinched and let loose a loud whine as he released his grip on Kagome. Curling into a defensive ball much like a puppy would.

"My god," Kagome breathed as she sat up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "It can't be…"

Shippou found it to difficult to believe as well. Was this truly his father's reincarnation as promised?

Kneeling beside the demon, Kagome brushed his black hair back from his face and wasn't really surprised when he burrowed closer to her. Acting very much like a young pup that had just been badly chastised. The markings were slowly fading, as his whimpers grew quieter and quieter.

Taking a deep breath, Kagome dropped the magical barrier she'd kept between herself and the world since her separation from her dead love. The Shikon's power within howled with recognition of its bearer's other soul half. Tears streamed from her eyes and down her cheeks to drop onto the head resting on her lap.

"It's him," she whispered through her tears, "It's Inuyasha."

---

Footnote:
(1) Osuwari: vb. sit

"Sealed Past" Ch. 8 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]

Chapter 8

Ranma shifted nervously from one foot to the other, this was the night. Biting his lower lip he watched as Kagome finished painting the last ritual symbols onto the shrine floor.

"Okay, ready?" She asked as she lifted up her hakama's pant legs to insure that none of the writing was smudged by accident and stepped into an inner circle to face him.

He nodded nervously and swallowed. Praying desperately that this would work. Some of the items that were required were things right out of legend, literally. The fur of the fire-rat, the Stone Bowl of Buddha, the Swallow's Cowrie Shell, the Divine Sprig, and the Dragon's Crystal.(1)

"Don't worry," Kagome reassured as she picked up the Mirror of Life and held it before her as she faced him.

"Wait—what about the Shikon-no-Tama? I thought you said its power would be needed."

"I am the Shikon-no-Tama." Kagome said softly as around them the items and emblems began to glow.

"What?" Ranma asked in disbelief as Kagome began the exorcist chant. But that was impossible. The legends that he'd read and Kagome's grandfather had told him was that it was a jewel, not a person!

The eerie mantra rose in the air, the language one unlike anything he'd ever heard. The air was sucked violently from his lungs as a wind tunnel whipped about them for a brief moment, shattering the glass of water at his feet. Spilling the droplets of water all about him.

He felt the shift of physical self that always accompanied the activation of the Jusenkyo Curse. His anxiety increased, when suddenly not only could he see his reflection in the ancient mirror Kagome held, but it was his true, male form he saw, black hair with grey eyes.

The chant continued to rise and fall as power built within the shrine. He stared as Kagome began to glow, a bright, pale pink light emanating from her chest. Her whole appearance took on a mythical, otherworldly aura.

He watched in a combination of fear and fascination as slowly, his reflection in the mirror began to change. His masculine features were slowly melting into more feminine ones, until the mirror matched the appearance of his Jusenkyo Curse, red hair with the same grey eyes.

Unexpectedly Kagome gave the mirror a sharp twist to the right. Inside he felt a corresponding yank and then something gave way. His eyes widened as he sucked in his breath, it felt like something long abused had just been relocated. The relief was instantaneous.

Suddenly his eyes watered as a burning sensation radiated throughout him, an intensely painful sensation that dragged him into the blackness of unconsciousness.

. . .

"Shit, shit, shit!" Kagome let loose a long string of curses as she knelt beside Ranma and rolled him onto his back. When she'd been in the exorcism induced trance she'd felt something else give within Ranma's soul, something that was not meant to be removed.

When she'd come to herself, Ranma had been lying on the floor in his male form while wet so she knew that the Jusenkyo Curse had been successfully removed… as had something else. It was that 'something else' that worried her.

"Kagome-sama? Is everything all right?" A voice asked as the demon barrier projected by Shiori came down around them.

"I need you to go get Shippou-chan, Shiori-san," Kagome ordered the bat noble as she attempted to wake Ranma. "Something went wrong."

"Of course priestess," the bat hanyou replied with a bow of her head before giving a sharp nod of command to her followers for them to leave the Sunset Shrine and do the Shikon-Priestess' bidding.

"Souta-chan!" Kagome cried out, and soon heard the sound of her brother's feet pounding into the shrine.

"What happened Kagome-chan?" Souta asked anxiously as he saw the passed out form of his new friend, with his sister leaning over him.

"I don't know. But something happened that wasn't supposed to." Kagome replied, "Help me get him into the house. He can rest easier there until Shippou-chan gets here."

. . .

Fragments of memories flickered through his mind. Disjointed pieces of an incomplete whole.

Framed by a full moon the man stood. Long snowy hair cascaded down the figure's back, red tattoos stood out like flesh wounds on high cheekbones. A blue crescent moon on the figure's forehead contrasted sharply with slitted cold eyes a gold colour only seen in the most deadly of predators. The same man working industriously at a desk with wire-rimmed glasses perched upon his nose as pups tumbled about his feet.

Brother…

A glowing jewel that pulsed with its power resting on a shrine altar. A Shinto priestess standing before a torii as an arrow was loosened from its string. Black hair blowing in the wind, dark eyes full of tears.

Betrayed…

An enemy who constantly changed his form. His scent as elusive to track as the wind itself was. Dark haired with demonic red eyes. He was evil incarnate given a physical body.

Betrayer…

A young monk carrying a shakujou. Handsome face smiling even with the red print of a hand against his cheek. Rosary around his fist removed, hand cast out as demonic magic created a vortex of winds that sucked everything into a black nothingness.

Friend…

The bite of fox magic as a young one-tailed kit struggled to learn his magic. A head crowned with a reddish mop of hair. Green eyes gleaming with mischief, his face wreathed with a smile from his praise. Oil smeared across a cheek as the kit worked on an engine.

Son…

A brown haired woman wearing the garments of the demon exterminators as a giant bone boomerang whistled through the air. Dressed in simple summer clothes, the demon weapon resting beside her as she played with a two-tailed cat demon.

Friend…

The priestess again, only she no longer wore the garments of her station. Feeling the pain radiate throughout his body as she activated the subduing curse place upon him. The sensation of her soft hands stroking his head as his human body fought the poison injected into him.

Woman…

The woman with tears of pain and frustrations in her eyes and voice, a pain that he caused. Slumping to the ground with her own arrow in her back. The soft feel of her lips against his as the demon nature raged within, turning his vision red.

Bitch…

Sitting on the edge of an ancient well, her pureness like nothing he'd ever known. Kneeling beside him and offering him comfort as he wrestled with the knowledge of what his demon nature was capable of. Body entwined with his as they rested beneath a star strewn sky, a soul promise made.

 Mate…

---

Footnote:
(1) Refer to "InuYasha the Second Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass." Edit Note: Also, thank you to larkagurl2 for pointing out that I missed one of the sacred objects! Its people like you who pay attention to the details that really make us writers better at our craft.