InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Strength of Bond ❯ Test Me ( Chapter 20 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: The fools joke… uh… no lemon. I have had a request on translations to be placed at the beginning of the story. I'm still not sure I will, but I have decided that all Japanese words, except for the more obvious ones like names, will be posted just to make sure you don't forget some of the phrases.

Warnings: None.

Chapter 20

“Put your pens down now. The written portion of this test is now completed. Line up quietly and we will head to the Maryokubunseki Aki,” Kaede stated at the front of the room. The girls in the room rose from their desks and filed out of the room and traveled down the hallway of the school. Silence drew over them, each worried and excited at the same time. What kind of miko would they get to be?

Such a thought crossed Kagome's thoughts. She had no doubt that she had enough power in her system to be really strong at some sort of gift, but she seriously hoped she would not end up as Gishikiyou Miko. Imagine how badly she would be teased if it turned out that her powers were only useful to perform dances, like the Kagura. That had to be impossible with the level of power the others had sensed in her, didn't? Or maybe she had useless powers that could not really do anything other than simple illusions and dances. She shook her head. Not possible. At least she hoped that was not possible.

The girls lined the walls and waited for their turns. Most of the time the girls were in and out of the room in less than a ten minutes. Others took longer. As each girl came out, they carried a small badge in her hand that they would hold out to Kaede and she would hand them the appropriate fuku. So far Kagome counted out five gishikiyou, three hoken'i, one semete, two bouei, two rinshoushinrishi, and one fuhenteki. There were still six more girls to go till it was her turn. She tapped her foot softly and hummed a little tune to pass the time.

Finally, after a long wait, it was her turn. She was the last one to go in. She entered through a plain black door that slammed behind her to immerse her into darkness. Her eyes strained a moment before a beam of light flickered on over a single metal chair in the middle of the room. She made her way to it and sat down. The only light in the room was blaring down at her, as if she was in an interrogation room instead of undergoing a magical analysis. Everything around her was pitch black, but she knew that there were people there, watching her.

As if they read her thoughts, an elderly female voice spoke, “Higurashi, Kagome is your maiden name, correct Taishou-san?”

She swallowed stiffly and replied with a weak yes. Her eyes scanned around as she tried to find who had spoken. The voice had not sounded remotely familiar, so she could not place a face to the voice at all.

A different female disembodied voice followed, “Your bonded is the male inu-hanyou Taishou, Inuyasha?”

“H-hai.”

The same voice continued, “You do realize that because you were given out of turn that there is the possibility that you will be removed from his care. That said, do you think you will be able to control your powers and keep your mind when the bonds are broken?”

“Nani?!” Her stomach turned. What did they mean break their bonds? They could actually break her bonds to Inuyasha? How was that possible? Why were they even asking?

A different voice, one she seemed to recognize, hissed, “When your bond is broken, you will no longer have control over your powers. Your mind could be shattered. The question was, girl, could you handle that?”

Kagome knew that voice. The venomous bite of it was familiar. Who was that woman? Had she met her before? She paused as she finally digested what the woman had said. Her eyes narrowed and she snapped, “I believe this was a magical analysis of my powers, not a debate on my personal life with my mate!”

“Silly girl,” said another female voice. “We are allowed to ask any questions of our potential students to determine whether or not they are suitable to be in this school. Answer the question.”

She snarled back, “I will not answer it. I don't know why you are asking such things of me, but I insist that you cease them at once.”

“If you want to attend this school you will answer young miko.” It was the first voice again, the gargled one from an elderly woman.

“Fine, you want an answer, I'll give you one. My bonded and I are one, we cannot be broken. Even if one of us dies, our bond will remain for eternity. Nothing can break our bond.”

A derisive snort followed that statement. “All bonds can be broken. Would you like too see how easily it is to break a bond? Let's take your hanyou mate. It is known that youkai have a tendency to not remain loyal to their women, even ones that supposedly only take one mate a lifetime. It is easy to break bond when mates no longer care for each other.”

The color drained from her face. Would she lose her mate to such a thing as an affair? NO! That would never happen! Inuyasha may not love her, but she had more faith in him. He could not be that cold hearted. He was not like that!

“Ah, poor little miko. Youkai, especially hanyou, are filth. They are easily swayed by power and pretty faces. You know in your heart, he will not stay with you.”

“NO!” She screamed and stood from her seat. “Shut up! You don't know anything! Inuyasha is an honorable man and he cares for me deeply. He would never abandon me! I don't know what kind of youkai you have encountered, but the Taishou family is honorable and just. So back off! You have no right to judge my bonded or myself in this way!”

Another voice spoke for the first time, “Such faith you have in him, and yet you have known him for such a little time. Nevertheless as carrier of the Shikon no Tama, you should represent the miko community as an unbounded individual. The jewel is dangerous in the hands of evil men and youkai, and yet you defend your mate to be faithful to you.”

“Stop! What are you talking about?! How do you know about the Shikon no Tama?”

Silence. “The announcement went out this morning that the Shikon no Tama had been reborn. The Magera Council had kept this event secret, but a reporter this morning has released this information to the public. That is the main reasoning of these questions,” spoke the elderly voice again. “We must come to the conclusion of either training you or not. How you respond to our questions will depend upon whether or not you will be trained in this facility.”

“What does this, the fact I have the jewel and I am bonded to a hanyou, have to do with the sky being blue?”

A dark toned voice responded, “Hanyou and youkai wish for power, and therefore are drawn to the powers of the jewel. You have the jewel. What will prevent your so called `mate' from stealing the jewel and making a wish? Or better yet, stealing the jewel and breaking your bond?”

Kagome sighed in annoyance. She took a seat, and rubbed her head as if to wave off a headache. “I have given my full trust to my mate. He would never do as you say. Now, will you get your act together and do the analysis?”

“We aren't finished with our questions yet, girl.”

“Well I am. Either do it or not, but be warned for I can't guarantee that my powers won't lash out at insolent pricks like you.”

Silence greeted her before the snide female voice she vaguely knew said, “We don't train insolent children in this school. We only point out the reality of your situation. If you cannot beat that, it's your own fault.”

She rose to her feet again, the fire of anger burning in her eyes. “No. You point out the illusions. The reality is that Inuyasha is my mate, my bonded, my husband. MINE! There will never be a separation. If that makes me ignorant, then that makes you blind and despicable. I would rather remain untrained than deal with close minded, selfish, know-it-alls who think they are above the rest of us. If I have to choose who to stand beside, it will always be my mate and my family. You are not important to me. You are not even powerful enough to deserve my attention. There's your reality. Your so called `power' is nothing more than a figment of your own imagination.”

She turned around in the room, daring them to answer. “So are you going to test me or should I get someone more qualified to? After all, my mother is the High Miko and my brother-in-law is the Inu no Taishou, supreme ruler of the youkai, and member of the Magera Council, which none of you are. They are not as pathetic as you to question me with stupid things such as my choice of mate. My mate and I are not under the governing of you your stupid rules. Not even the Magera Council can take him away from me. He's mine now, get over it. I won't let you or anyone else take him away from me.”

She straightened her shoulders when she realized that no one was going to speak. “All right, fine. I get enough children dealing with my younger brother.” She pivoted on her heal and headed toward the exit. She paused at the door, hand on the handle. “I don't need to go to this school anyway. In fact, I don't think I want to go to a school that discriminates against hanyou and youkai. It's actually funny in a way. You who rely on them to survive, cannot grow up enough to set aside your prejudices. Pathetic, really.” And with that, she pulled the door open and stormed out of the room.

~~~-~~~

Inuyasha and Kagome were currently curled upon their bed. Said girl cried and ate chocolate ice cream in front of him, while he surrounded her by his strength and arms. She'd been like this since he was called from work to pick up the distraught girl. He had learned from Kaede that his mate had told the analyzers, the heads of the school, to basically get lost. He was furious. Actually he was well beyond furious. It had taken all his strength to not walk in there and kill them all. How dare they do that to his mate?! And how the hell had there been a leak about the Shikon no Tama?! Wasn't the Council supposed to be better equipped to prevent this sort of thing from happening?

Instead of going and ripping off the konoama heads, he popped a call to his brother and went to take the girl home. The other students in the class tried to be sympathetic and comfort the her, but he noticed that it was all in vain. The poor thing was still lost in a silent, angry shock from what had happened. That was, until he showed up. As soon as she ran into his arms, the water fountains of her eyes turned on full blast. It nearly broke himself down, and was very close to just killing the witches of this school. He didn't though when he noticed that all the girls watched them in fascination and awe. He then noted why they stared so openly. The mark on her back, the same as his own, was glowing a dark purple. Maybe they shouldn't let girls wear fuku shirts that showed their bellies and lower backs when they raised their hands.

It had not been pleasant for him either. He could literally feel every emotion that was pouring from her and through their bond. Whoever said that being bonded was the best thing in the world, was on crack. This emotional turmoil and pain, ripped him apart from the inside. Funny that before his bond, he had always hated it when women cried. Now he actually found something that he despised more than anything in the world. Oh those hags would pay.

He leaned over Kagome's shoulder and stole the ice cream directly from her spoon. He had been doing that on and off for the past three hours, but she didn't seem to mind it that much. When they first arrived home, his keitai was ringing constantly. So, in order to maintain some semblance of sanity and help calm down his mate, he had turned the blasted thing off.

He watched the television with her in their room, and reluctantly focused on the `soap opera' that played. It was about a woman who was trying to find her boxer husband and reunite their family to give her son a father again... well at least that's what he could figure out through the loud sobs of his mate. He was still confused about what all the extended family members had to do with the plot and the couple to get back together again.

A soft knock on the door pulled his gaze from the television. “What do you want, Bouzo?”

“Ah, there's a message from Counselor Taishou, Sesshoumaru. He insists that you call him as soon as possible and that you turn your keitai back on.”

“Keh, you sure that's exactly what he said, Bouzo?”

“Eh… well he actually used the phrase, `get my baka otouto to call this Sesshoumaru immediately or your pathetic life will be short lived.' Not a very happy person is he?”

“Keh. Dully noted, Bouzo.”

The footsteps died away and Inuyasha flipped the phone on and checked the messages. “Forty missed messages? Nani shiyagaru?!”

Kagome turned her face to see the irritated and surprised look on his face. She watched as he pressed a button to dial, and then held the phone up to his furry ear. That had to look really interesting answering his phone in public places with his ears on top of his head. She wondered if they actually made keitai for youkai and hanyou whose ears or mouths were not in normal human positions.

“What do you want, Ani?!” A pause and a slight growl followed. “They were the temee!” Another pause. “Hell no! I want their heads for the insults they-” He was cut off. “She will not go back there until I have a formal apology, Sesshoumaru! You should be happy I don't want their damn jobs or their lives... though I do have every right to take them!”

Kagome, about to take another bite of ice cream, found her spoon in her bonded's mouth instead. She grumbled in annoyance this time. It had been cute the first several times. Now it was just plain rude. It was her ice cream. She was the one depressed, not him. She sighed. He was still very cute when he stole from her though. Like a puppy.

“They insulted our family, Sesshoumaru! I don't know what kind of kuso they are giving you, but they are lying!” Another pause. “Chikushou! They made my mate CRY!”

She flinched at the loudness of the comment. She focused a worried gaze on her bonded, who seemed to by foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. Okay, not so puppy-like anymore.

“Get me that apology or I'm taking them out either the civil way or the illegal way!” He snapped the phone shut.

“Gomen nasai, Inuyasha. I've messed up royally, haven't I?”

He glanced down at her, and his hard gaze softened immediately. “Iie, Kagome. You did nothing wrong, nothing wrong at all. Whoever was the leak is the one who's at fault here. If information hadn't been revealed, you wouldn't have been subjected to those prissy ketsu miko and their irrelevant questions. Besides, you defended me, us, and our bond. I could never be upset about that. You were in the right.”

She smiled weakly, but lost it a moment later as she spooned another mouthful of chocolate.

“However,” he began and she paused before she took the bite, “I would have preferred that you had blasted those temee miko instead of just yelling.” He then stole the surprised girl's ice cream from her spoon. Slowly, a small smile flickered and gained force. He leaned down, nuzzled his nose into her neck, and placed a wet open-mouthed kiss on her collarbone.

The television flickered and suddenly a news report cut into their program. They stared at the screen for a moment in confusion, before it registered that they actually were looking at the Mageran Council's inner chamber. The majority of the nine members had grim looks upon many of their faces, but a few still seemed rather unaffected to the normal eye.

“Isn't that your brother?” she asked.

Inuyasha stared at the ever stoic youkai, who for once actually looked slightly ruffled. It was so subtle that no one other than himself, Rin, or Jaken would have noticed. “Something is very wrong.” He moved the ice cream and spoon from the bed and positioned the girl more securely into his embrace.

The Counselor Lama rose and stood for a moment in front of his seat. “News has reached the public this morning about an historical event that has occurred. The Mageran Council therefore finds it prudent to address several important issues that have come forth. These issues will be answered as best as we can at this present time for the public's own information.” He then sat back down.

Kagome watched as the first council member spoke, it was her mother. “In regards to the rebirth of the Shikon no Tama, it is true that it has reappeared. It currently resides with an untrained miko who was the one the possessed the jewel within her body. Her name is Taishou, Kagome and she is bonded to the inu-hanyou, Taishou, Inuyasha. We, therefore, ask the community to remain calm and not to do anything that could cause significant problems for our community and that of the humans. Said miko is also known to be a responsible, good, young woman and will not allow for anything harmful to occur because of the jewel.” Loud noises shouted out as reporters and some audience members commented. “We shall answer questions to which we can and see fit to answer.”

A speaker for the room, rose from the side of the benches and took a stand in front of the podium. He motioned to the first hand he saw of the reporters.

A man stood. “Is it true that their bonding was illegal and broke the very rules the Council has established?”

“The operation we use to pick bonded partners was out of turn, yes,” spoke Kong Fang. “But it in no way broke any rules established by the Council.”

Another reporter stood. “If the girl was chosen out of turn would that not be a breech in the decrees set down by the Council?”

“There was no breech,” Zahara Kamaria spoke softly. “The pairing was still done by the Council and ruled by a Counselor. If there had been someone else authorizing the pairing, then there would be a problem.”

Another reporter stood. “This miko of the sacred jewel is bonded out of turn and to a hanyou. Shouldn't the bond be nullified to place the sacred jewel and miko with a human counterpart or none at all?”

“The bond between the miko and hanyou can no long be nullified,” spoke Mateus Roque. “The pair are not only bonded in our decree, but also in youkai and human bond ceremonies. While magically, we can sever the soul bond, and an annulment or divorce can nullify a human marriage, youkai bonding cannot be broken in any form that won't result in the complete destruction of the bonded' minds and souls.”

Another man stood. “Well isn't that convenient. How long did the Taishou Clan know about the girl and the jewel she carried so that the sacred jewel would fall into their hands?”

Sesshoumaru spoke, his coldest glare focused on the reporter, “The Jewel did not come into existence till after my brother and his mate's bonding was complete. This Sesshoumaru does not take insults to my family lightly and thus I suggest you hold your remarks to yourself. Furthermore, no one in my household nor in my family knew the girl carried the jewel.”

“But wouldn't any youkai be able to sense the jewel? Surely a Taiyoukai such as yourself should have been able to sense the jewel.”

“I was the only one who sensed it,” spoke the Dalai Lama. “The girl's miko power was so great that even without the jewel within her, she could have been nearly a holy child. Her amassed powers were the perfect hiding place for the jewel. Not even I was able to pick it up until I physically read her powers. Therefore, blame cannot be extended to any family member involved in this bond.”

A female reporter stood then. “Was it not you, Counselor Lama, that had given the hanyou the girl and why did you make such a decision?”

“I am the one who allowed the hanyou to pick the miko out of turn, yes. Why I did? A youkai has the ability, even at a young age, to know who is their intended mate. A bond was already formed between them long before they were even conceived. Ask any youkai who has found their soul mate, and they will tell you the same. I allowed the boy to have her because I could sense the bond that connected them.”

“Has such an incident like this bond between two people ever happened before?”

“Yes,” spoke Sarah Lilac. “I knew who my mate was the moment I saw his void. It's a very common experience for hanyou and youkai.”

Another reporter stood. “It is said that the miko was a responsible girl, but it has been found that she yelled at the members of the Hinagiku Gakkou. She also verbally insulted the very teachers and heads of the school she was to be trained in. How can we trust a girl who walks out of her analysis and insults her elders and superiors?”

“I believe you are misinformed,” spoke Gavan Lyel. “It was found that the initial confrontation was brought by the teachers. The lass was protecting her mate and defending her bond. If any fault or blame should be place, it should be on the prejudices of the school. Such questions that were asked of the lass during her analysis are strictly prohibited.”

“What action will be taken?”

“As of now, we are under debate on what course of action to take. We will take one last question,” responded Ahalya Kumari.

“What will be done about the bond and where will the pair be placed and dealt with if their bond is to remain approved?”

“That is also still under debate,” she finished. “We must adjourn this for the time. As a recap, we acknowledge that the Shikon no Tama has been reborn and currently resides with a miko and her hanyou mate. Actions against the school and how to deal with the situation regarding the bond is still under debate. Good Day to you all.”

The screen faltered and the news was gone from the screen. A new show was on now, but neither of the pair in the room were really paying it any attention. “Does that mean…” Kagome began.

“Over my dead body will they separate us.” Inuyasha pulled her closer and deeper into his embrace, his dark scowl still focused on the television.

“What if-”

“No `what ifs,' Kagome. They will not separate us, even if we have to move to Antarctica!”

“But-”

His mouth found hers and drove away her spoken fears. She yielded, sensing the same inner fears as herself. It was spoken fears, after all, that brought it closer to reality. He coaxed her gently as he nibbled upon her bottom lip to open her mouth. When she did, he delved into it, taking all he could and more. When she twisted more into his body to accept his kiss, he almost lost his mind.

The door flew open. “Kagome-sama! Inuyasha!” Miroku slide into the room. He wore a dark purple shirt, black slacks, and a long black trench coat. He paused, a goofy grin fell over his face.

“Kagome-chan! Did you see…” Sango's voice fell off as she entered the room to catch the scene. She wore a skin tight black body suit and pants with pink accents.

The disgruntled hanyou broke the kiss to pierce the roommates with a death glare. His long sleeved red shirt and blue jeans, hid the girl still in her green seera fuku from his roommates' eyes. His mouth was held in a tight thin line of disapproval. “Ever heard of knocking?”

“Ano… I was just… going to ask… if you caught the conference,” Sango stated, her hands fidgeting in front of her. “I guess you did.”

“And I should have brought a camera,” stated Miroku, oblivious to the line of sight that could mean his one way trip to see the kami.

Puffy, red eyes turned and focused out at the two in the doorway, from the entangled limbs. “We did,” Kagome whispered.

“Gomen nasai,” Sango murmured. “About the whole situation. If it helps any, Miroku and myself completely support your bond and we will even volunteer to help in any way we can.”

Miroku grinned. “Most assuredly, we will help in any way possible.”

“Hentai!” Sango smacked Miroku upside the head. “The houshi and I have to go now. Call from work. Tsukuyomaru-sama has excused you from your work with the MSS, and Suijin-sama has also excused from work with the RHMCI, as well Inuyasha. They said that your status will be reinstated once this whole… mess is finished.”

He grunted and muttered a few choice curses under his breath. “Feh.” With both his jobs on hold, how was he supposed to support his mate? He wasn't made of money! His brother was, but that temee could be such a stickler about it. What was he going to do now?

The door closed and soon it was followed by the flat's door being closed. The pair settled down again in silence, their thoughts running around. When had life gotten so complicated? It was a shock to them both when a little while later, the sound of an explosion rocked their apartment complex. They struggled from the bed and raced to the window. Another loud crash echoed down the block, followed by the flash of another blast. They held onto the wall and each other as the building shook and careened a bit to far for comfort.

“Earthquake? Terrorist attack?”

“Nope. That Kagome, is a youkai attack and from the looks of it, a really big one. Kuso.” Together they raced from the room heading for the stairs as another crash shook their building.

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Translation and Pronunciation Guide:

Maryokubunseki- (mah-ryoh-coo-boon-seh-key) Magical powers analysis.

Aki- (ah-key) Room.

Gishikiyou- (ge-she-key-yoh) Ceremonial, ceremony, rites.

Kagura- (ka-goo-rah) A sacred Shinto music and dance.

Fuku- (foo-coo) Uniform.

Hoken'i- (hoh-ken-e) Medical doctor.

Semete- (seh-meh-teh) Offense, method of attack.

Bouei- (boo-eh-e) Defense.

Rinshoushinrishi- (Reen-show-shen-ree-she) Clinical psychologist.

Fuhenteki- (foo-hen-teh-key) Universal, general.

Hai- (hi) Yes.

Nani- (nah-knee) What.

Konoama- (koh-noh-ah-mah) Bitch.

Keitai- (keh-e-tie) Slang for Cell Phone.

Bouzo- (bow-zoh) Lecherous monk (very rude).

Baka- (bah-kah) Moron, fool.

Otouto- (oh-toe-toh) Little brother.

Shiyagaru- (she-yah-gah-roo) Fuck. Nani Shiyagaru- What the fuck?

Ani- (ah-knee) Older brother.

Temee- (teh-meh) Bastard.

Kuso- (coo-soh) Shit.

Chikushou- (chee-coo-show) Damn it.

Gomen nasai- (goh-mehn nah-sigh) I am sorry.

Iie- (ee-eh) No.

Ketsu- (keh-sue) Ass.

Hinagiku- (he-nah-gee-coo) Daisy.

Gakkou- (gahk-koh) School.

Seera fuku- (seh-rah foo-coo) Female sailor collar school uniform.

Ano- (ah-noh) Well, why, ah.

Kami- (kah-me) God.

Hentai- (hehn-tie) Pervert.

Tsukuyomaru- (sue-coo-yoh-mah-roo) Hard to translate… basically a circular tsukuyo- which can't be translated easily into any English words. He is the bat youkai and father to shiori in the Inuyasha series.

Suijin- (sue-e-jean) God of water, a water nymph. She was the water demon goddess in the Inuyasha series.