#inuyashaxoc

[otomesakura20]

All together

I can finally put them all together! 🥹I’m happy to finally have finished this. I’ve included the single versions too.❤️

✨This fan art is not for use in a ship competition as to prove which one is best. So please mind your preferred ship in peace as I’ll do the same. Kindly disregard if you don’t approve or made you uncomfortable.✨

[shawtygonemad]

My Dog Eared Hero: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Nursing Fractures  

Katara started to slowly come out of her sleep to the smell of something cooking. She scrunched up her face from both the fragrance in the room and her body being sore. Not sure if it was from the ground she was sleeping on or the injury on her back, but regardless she sat up and stretched.

“She’s finally awake!” a small voice said. 

Katara opened her eyes to find the young fox demon, Shippo, sitting in front of her with the kitten Kirara. 

“Sleeping until noon. Some things never change,” Kagome giggled as she turned the food roasting on the fire. 

“It’s just a good sign that she’s healing well,” Sango smiled.

“That could be. However, this is how late she usually sleeps whenever she comes home to visit us,” Kagome teased.

“Hey, it’s that damn time change! My body clock gets all messed up from jet lag,” Katara pouted. 

There was a break in their conversation after that. Katara noticed a few members of their group missing. She had officially met them all when her and InuYasha returned last night. Kagome was shocked to say the least when they both walked in together. She was properly introduced to Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and the Priestess Kaede who’s hut we were currently residing in. They were all really kind to Katara even after the fiasco she put them through when she first arrived here.

“Where are the boys, and lady Kaede,” Katara asked. 

“There were rumors that demons were nearing the village, so they went to check on things,” Sango explained. 

Katara didn’t even flinch at the thought of demons this time. Normally she would be put into a panic attack at the very thought. She must be getting used to this place. Speaking of which…

“Kagome… Do you think I would be able to travel home?” She asked her cousin.

“You want to leave already,” Shippo whined.

“I just, I want your thoughts, Kagome.”

“I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to since you managed to get here. However, you didn’t have any of the shikon jewel shards on you, so I’m not really sure how you managed to pass through,” Kagome wondered.

“Maybe there’s something here that you’re connected to,” Sango therorized. 

“What could possibly be here that I’m connected to,” Katara questioned. 

They were suddenly interrupted by InuYasha bursting through the door. He scrunched up his nose and smelt the air. He practically drooled. 

“Something smells good. Is lunch almost ready yet, Kagome?”

“Just about!” Kagome said as she kept turning the food over the fire.

The demon suddenly plopped down and sat beside Katara. His arms were in his kimono. He didn’t look at her as he spoke. 

“Figured you were dead when you didn’t wake up this morning,” he said blankly.

Katara just stared at him with a cold face. “Well thank you for caring about my well being,” she said sarcastically. 

“Heh, why should I care about the life of a puny human,” he scoffed. 

She just stared at him in amazement. “Because most of your friends here ARE humans, dumbass!”

“What did you call me,” he turned towards her and growled. 

“Dumb.Ass. Is my Japanese not clear enough for you? Maybe I should explain it to you in English?” Katara suddenly switch to her native tongue. “You’re a dumbass!” She yelled in English.

“I have no idea what you just said, but it seems like you’re looking for a pounding,” InuYasha growled while holding his fist up as a warning.

“I am in need of a good pounding, but not from you, buddy,” Katara shouted back slyly.

Sango let out a small gasp and quickly covered Shippo’s young ears. InuYasha turned his beat red face away from her in embarrassment. 

“Gah, you’re just like that perverted monk,” he stuttered out.

“What, getting embarrassed over talking about sex,” Katara teased him.

Before InuYasha could retort back Kagome butt in. “Alright, you two knock it off!”

“But (he) (she) started it,” the pair said together.

“Well I’m finishing it!” Kagome stated, before giving Katara a look. “Kat, this isn’t like America, or our own time for that matter. People around here are not used to talking publicly about… you know…” 

“Yeah, yeah! Fine. I’ll keep my remarks to myself,” she finally stated. 

They were all suddenly removed from their conversation when a loud child’s cry could be heard somewhere outside. It sounded like they were in pain. Katara’s nursing instincts kicked in and she sprung up to run out the door. She scanned the area for the crying child. Luckily she spotted a group of kids carrying a crying little boy back into the village. He looked to be around 10. Katara rushed over there so assess the situation. 

“What happened,” she asked them calmly, taking control of the situation.

“He fell off the stone wall over by the river and hurt his foot,” one of the boys said quickly. They all looked freaked out.

“What’s wrong,” Kagome asked as she ran over with the others. 

“He hurt his foot,” she told them before turning to address the kids. “Can you put him down gently so I can have a look?”

The kids placed their friend on the ground before stepping back to give Katara some room.

“What’s your name,” Katara asked the little boy.

“Sh- Shiori,” he stuttered in pain.

“Shiori, my name is Katara. I’m a nurse, so I’m going to have a look at your foot, okay?” She explained to him.

“P-please don’t hurt it more,” he cried.

“I’m going to be as gentle as possible.” She calmly explained before getting to work. 

She softly lifted his ankle with a hand while the other was inspecting it. It was extremely swollen and already starting to blacken with bruising. It could be broken, but they couldn’t know for sure without medical technology.

“Can you move your toes?”

The boy cautiously wiggled all of his toes. 

“That’s a good sign,” she smiled at him. “How about moving your foot?”

The boy quickly shook his head no.

“Okay. Well the good news is that I don’t think it’s broken since you can move your toes. The bad news is that this is a severe sprain. It’s going to hurt to walk on it for awhile, so what I need you to do is follow the R.I.C.E. steps.” Katara explained.

“Rice?” Miroku question.

“Rest, ice, compress, and elevate. Sango, can you go find some wrap so I can find him a make-shift brace?”

“Of course!” She replied before hurrying off.

“Kagome, you don’t happen to have any ibuprofen on you, do you?” Katara asked her cousin.

“No… but I do have some Tylenol!”

“Okay, that’ll help with his pain. We just need something that’ll help with the anti-inflammatory,” Katara sat and thought. “Is there any herbs that you know of around here that’ll help?”

Everyone was silent for a moment before InuYasha spoke up. 

“What about Polygonum Cuspidatum,” InuYasha questioned. “My mother gave me some when I was younger. I had a tendency of getting hurt a lot.”

Katara gave him a soft smile. “Why am I not surprised?”

“I’ll go look for some,” he quickly said before disappearing with the others to retrieve their items.

While they were off, the little boy’s parents arrived and Katara explained everything to them. The others finally returned, so Katara got back to work. Kagome gave him some Tylenol while Katara tightly wrapped his foot and ankle into a temporary brace. InuYasha returned with the herb, and told the boy’s parents that the best way to take it is to mix it in with some tea.

“I would take that about twice a day,” Katara explained to the family.

“Thank you so much, for everything,” said the boy’s mother while her and her husband began to carry their son off home.

Katara got up from her crouched position on the ground and dusted her jeans off.

She turned and saw the group staring at her.  

“What,” she questioned.

“That was amazing! You knew exactly what to do,” Sango praised.

“Well it is my job after all,” Katara chuckled.

“Wait, you finally got your certification,” Kagome asked excitedly.

“I did,” Katara responded proudly.

“That’s so great! Congratulations,” Kagome squeaked as she hugged her older cousin.

“Thank you.”

“With how much all of us get injured, we could really use someone like you around,” Miroku said.

“Yeah, Katara! You should stay with us!” Shippo exclaimed.

Kagome turned to Katara with an excited gasp. “I would love that!”

Katara didn’t respond right away. She glanced over at InuYasha expecting him to make some smart remark. He stayed silent, but she caught him studying her curiously. This made something in her chest tighten. She quickly looked away.

“I don’t know…” Katara started.

“C’mon Kat! Please,” Kagome begged.

“I guess I don’t really have anywhere else to go,” Katara said slowly. It never really hit her until now. 

“Don’t you have-” Kagome began but was cut off by Katara.

“I sold everything when mom died. The house, the furniture, everything.” Katara started to get choked up, but forced the tears back down. “Without her, I don’t have a home anymore,” she whispered.

Kagome noticed her cousin was in distress and pulled her in for another hug. “You do now,” Kagome said quietly in her cousin’s ear. “With us.”

[shawtygonemad]

My Dog Eared Hero: Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Ghosts from the Past

Katara floated back into consciousness. Her neck was a little stiff from sleeping at a weird angle. What was she even sleeping on? It was warm and comforting, but also rose and fell on occasion. Curiosity peaked Katara's interest, and she opened her eyes to find a resting half demon. Katara let out a soft gasp as she flung herself out of InuYasha's arms. What the hell was going on? Why was she asleep on him?!

The sudden movement must have startled InuYasha awake, because his eyes flung open as his body moved into a protective stance. Once he saw the situation he relaxed.

"You're awake," InuYasha said.

"Yeah. Why the hell didn't you move me last night," She asked embarrassed. She completely broke in this man's arms last night then fell asleep on him. How pathetic was she?

"I didn't want to wake you," he said as he looked away from her, a small blush rising up his cheeks.

"Oh," she said as she looked down, feeling totally pathetic. "Thank you for… being with me last night."

"Don't worry about it," InuYasha said nonchalantly as he stood up. "Like I said last night, I know how it feels to lose a mother. I had no one when I lost mine, so I figured you might need someone," he said while blushing once more.

Katara smiled and pulled him into a hug which threw InuYasha off completely. "Thank you," she said once more.

InuYasha had always been uncomfortable with physical interactions since no one ever really dared to be near him. Though he would never say out loud, he really enjoyed the touch. Especially from Katara. Just the thought made InuYasha more uncomfortable and confused, so he gently pushed the girl away.

"C'mon, we better get going. We're supposed to go back today," the man said as he began to head towards the house.

A few moments passed as Katara stared after the man in confusion. "Right…" she finally said before shortly following after him.

The pair walking into the house to find the entire Higurashi family sitting at the

breakfast table with worried looks. As soon as they saw Katara and InuYasha walk in they all jumped up from their seats.

"Katara! InuYasha!" Kagome yelled in relief.

"Katara, honey, I'm so glad you're okay," Auntie said while pulling her niece in for a tight hug.

"We were really worried about you when you never came back last night," Sota said.

"That devil woman leaves destruction everywhere she goes," Gramps practically growled. "I'm surprised she's able to step foot on sacred land."

Katara let out a laugh before going around the table and hugging the old man from behind.

"I'm sorry for making you worry," Katara then gave her grandfather a quick kiss on the top of his head before stepping away. "Besides, I think you need to put the spirituality on those sutras around the shrine."

"They work just fine!" Gramps shot back.

Katara pointed a thumb in InuYasha's direction before smiling. "Clearly not. Also they allowed the 'devil woman' to step foot here."

Gramps just pouted before continuing his breakfast. InuYasha sat down with the rest of the family to eat while Katara went upstairs. It wasn't too hard for her to pack a bag since she never had the chance to fully unpack a few days ago. One thing was for sure, she needed a shower before venturing back into the feudal era. About 45 minutes later Kagome came up to tell Katara that InuYasha was getting antsy and ready to go. Katara finished up her shower and grabbed her backpack full of essentials - including a heavily packed first aid kit.

The girls said goodbye to their family before heading off down the well. The trip went smoothly like always and before they knew it they were back in the feudal era. They re-grouped with everyone in Kaede's village before setting out on their next adventure. Everyone was relatively quiet on the journey.

Miroku and Sango led the way with Shippo and Kirara on each of their shoulders. Kagome was behind them walking her bike and quietly chatting with InuYasha. No doubt drilling him on where they were last night. Katara was taking the back while just aimlessly watching the beautiful countryside. It was an overcast day, but it didn't make the scenery any less beautiful. The peace was interrupted by InuYasha.

"So Katara, who was that crazy red haired woman at your mother's funeral," InuYasha turned around and asked bluntly.

"Unfortunately, that was my father's mother," Katara told him.

"How come I couldn't understand what she was saying? Was she speaking that other language you yelled at me in the other day," InuYasha questioned.

"Oh! Is she from that place you're from? The U. S. A.?" Sango asked.

"Yes, my grandmother is from the states like me and speaks predominantly English. Although her company does business overseas, so she can speak a little bit of other languages," Katara explained. "But she's a big snob who hasn't taken a liking to me until now."

"Why's that," Miroku asked curiously.

"I'm a 'bastard child born out of wedlock, and to an immigrant no less!'" Katara mocked her grandmother.

"She seriously said that to you," Kagome exclaimed, furious.

"Kag, when I was 5, my mom and I ran into her at the grocery store. I went in for a hug and she said 'don't touch me, you filthy child!'"

"Oh she is going down the next time I see her," Kagome vowed confidently.

"I'm sorry you've had to endure that," Miroku said sympathetically.

InuYasha just couldn't help but stare at this woman. He has never connected with someone like this so deeply before. Not even Kikyo. They were so similar and different all at the same time.

The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. Once night time rolled around they were able to find a small place of lodging to stay at. It was one room and nothing special, but it was a roof over their heads during this rainy night. Everyone was getting settled in on the floor except for InuYasha who propped himself up against a well with his sword in his lap. Katara was snuggling down into her blanket when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She rolled over and peaked her eyes open to come face to face with her baby cousin.

"Yeah," Katara whispered.

"I'm going outside to use the bathroom," Kagome whispered to her cousin.

"Need me to come with," Katara asked groggy.

"No, I'll be okay."

"M'kay," Katara murmured before falling asleep.

She wasn't asleep long before they were all startled awake by a distant scream. It sounded like Kagome. Katara quickly sat up and looked to her left to see that Kagome had not returned. She stumbled out of her blankets as she ran out the door with the others to find the Miko. It was dark and misty out. The only source of light was the partially clouded moon.

"Kagome!" InuYasha yelled.

"Kagome, where are you," Katara asked loudly.

Shippo lit some of his foxfire for some more light. The group continued searching the area until Sango yelled that she found Kagome. Everyone ran over to the young woman who was pale as a ghost and shaking like a leaf. Her brown eyes were wide as tears streamed down her cheeks. She was staring at nothing in the distance.

"Kagome, what's wrong," Katara asked as she held her cousin at arm's length while accessing her for any injuries.

"He… Kat, do you see him," Kagome's voice shook.

Katara looked in the distance where Kagome's gaze was and saw nothing.

"I don't see anything, Kagome. What's going on? What do you see," Katara asked, slightly frantic.

"I- I see my," Kagome began, but stopped when Shippo's foxfire suddenly went out.

"F-Father?" Shippo whimpered as well, while also looking into the distance. There was nothing.

"Shippo," Katara asked as she looked over at the small boy.

As she looked around at all of her friends they seemed to be in the same state as Kagome. Frozen in shock, fear, and disbelief. They were all individually staring at nothing. At least nothing that Katara could see. Even InuYasha was affected. Tears welled up in his eyes but refused to fall.

"InuYasha, can you hear me? You have to snap out of this," Katara said, as she shook him.

"Katara… it's- it's my mother. She's here. She's back," InuYasha said quietly.

"InuYasha, she's not really there! You're just seeing things!"

"Katara," a voice too familiar to her called her name.

Katara turned around in this mist to find no one besides her friends. It was her mother's voice she swore she had heard.

"Katara, you need to listen," it spoke again. It was her mom. She was sure of it!

"Mom?"

"The demon of the mist is making your friends relive their grief. It's feeding off of it and slowly draining their life force. You need to clear the mist and stop that demon," the voice told her.

"But how am I-" Katara started, but was cut off by the voice.

"Slay the demon, Katara. It is what you were meant to do."

None of this made any sense to her. How was it feeding off of everyone's grief but her own? Out of everyone here she had the rawest sad energy. Besides, how was she even supposed slay this demon?! She couldn't even see anything besides a small green light back in the trees! Wait. What was that light?

Katara stepped through the tree line and followed the light. This was probably a terrible idea since she had no weapons on her for defense. Once she saw the object in question her nerves died down. A tall skinny bottle was sitting on the ground. It was what was giving off the green light. The design had some golden leaves edged into it along with some ancient Japanese writing. Mist was pouring out from the top of the bottle. All she had to do was break this thing, right?

Something in the mist behind her gave a hiss. Katara quickly spun around to find a very large snake demon. Its glowing red eyes peered down at her as it bared its large sharp fangs.

"What is it that you think you're doing? How are you not affected by my mist," the beast hissed once more as it slithered closer to Katara.

"Clearly you're not a strong as you thought you were," Katara barked.

"Oh really," It said as it began to slither around Katara like a predator stalking its prey. "I can practically taste the sadness radiating off of you. It's curious how this mist isn't affecting you."

Katara needed to think of something and quick otherwise she was going to be eaten. How the hell was she going to break that container? Breaking the container would kill this demon, right?

"Hmm, maybe that grief wasn't enough for you. Perhaps you need something newer… more fresh," the beast spoke slyly before landing his eyes on the closest person to them. InuYasha.

The demon went to move away from Katara, but luckily she caught on to his plan quickly. She began to bolt towards InuYasha only to be flung forward by the swing of the demons tail. Katara went flying and smashed face first into the ground, practically eating dirt. Lucky for her the demon actually helped her get closer to InuYasha more quickly. She stumbled to her feet and closed the distance between her and the white haired man.

"InuYasha!" she screamed as she grabbed his arm, ready to push him out of the way.

Katara noticed the snake just feet away about ready to attack. Her body went into fight or flight auto-pilot. She quickly reached down and grabbed InuYasha's sword. The sword was ripped from the sheath and Katara swung it at the demon just in time. She managed to cut a deep slice near its neck. The demon howled as blood sprayed from the wound and onto Katara's face.

She looked down at the bloody sword. Didn't Kagome say it got bigger and powerful once it was out of the sheath? It just looked like a rusty old sword. But it got the job done. The snake curled up in pain trying to heal its wound quickly. The injury must have weakened the mist, because the others seemed to be coming out of their dreams completely dazed.

"Mother?" InuYasha asked slowly as he looked around in confusion. He thought his mother was right in front of him.

Katara had no time to waste and began to sprint back towards the bottle.

"I am going to eat you alive," the demon snarled as it quickly slithered after her.

Katara slid to a stop near the bottle. She stared to demon straight in the eye as she raised the Tetsusaiga above her head.

"Bye bitch," she growled at the demon before slamming the sword down on the bottle hard.

The green light began to get brighter and brighter as the mist swirled around Katara. Once to bottle was fully broken it was like a bomb had gone off. The force threw Katara backwards onto the ground. She rolled a bit before coming to a complete stop. The wind knocked out of her. She just continued to lie on her back trying to catch her breath. The sword lay limply in her open palm. She stared up at the stars in amazement. She just killed her first demon! She was pulled out of her thoughts by some panicked yelling came towards her.

"Katara," Kagome screamed.

She was suddenly surrounded by all of her friends. Katara gave a relieved sigh that they all seemed unharmed. She moved some bloody hair out of her face to get a better look at them.

"Are you guys okay," Katara asked.

"I think we should be the ones asking you that," Sango said while extending her hand out for Katara to take.

She graciously did, and was hauled back up to her feet.

"You reek of demon blood," InuYasha scrunched up his face.

"What, no 'Thank you for saving my life, Kat'?" Katara just rolled her eyes. "Here's your sword." Katara handed the bloody weapon back to its owner.

"So that blood on your face isn't yours," Shippo asked, almost in tears.

"I don't think so, mostly," Katara reassured the boy.

"Kat," a voice said.

Katara looked over at Kagome. "Yeah?"

Kagome looked at her, confused. "I... didn't say anything."

"Katara Jane," it said once more.

No one ever called her by her middle name unless it was her mother. She followed the sound of the voice and froze in place. Her mother was there, clear as day. The woman looked exactly as she did before the cancer took over. Short brown hair just past her ears, and a toned, slightly muscular physique. She gave her daughter that soft smile she saved only for her.

"M-Mom?" Katara asked, frightened that this ghost would disappear any moment.

"Aunt Suki," Kagome asked, shocked, from right behind Katara.

"How are you here, " Katara asked.

"I've been here this entire time," Suki reassured her.

"But how… why wasn't I entranced like the others?"

"You were able to have closure with my death. You're friends, unfortunately, were never able to have closure with the death of their loved ones. But on my last day, you laid with me in my bed and held my hand. We were able to say our goodbyes," Suki softly explained.

"Yeah, until you sent me out of the room," Katara growled at her mother.

"Honey, you didn't need to see that."

"Bull! I wanted to be there for you!"

"I know you're mad, and you have every right to be," Suki said.

"Good, because I'm pissed!" Katara shouted as tears came to her eyes.

"It's alright to hate me. You deserve to hate me," Suki said with a tone of sadness in her voice. "When your father died I hated him for it. I was alone, pregnant, and scared. I hated him for it, and it's okay for you to hate me for leaving as well."

Tears were now thoroughly running down Katara's face. Her fists were balled so hard that her knuckles turned white. She growled at the woman in front of her.

"How. Dare. You." Katara strode forward to her mother and gave her a shove. "How dare you leave me here all alone!"

A sob escaped Katara. Suki instantly came back forward and held her daughter as she collapsed to the ground, a sobbing mess.

"Come back. I need you! Please come back," Katara said through her sobs.

"Katara," Suki spoke to her daughter sternly. This forced Katara to raise her gaze to her mother. "Stop it. You do not need me."

"But I do," the girl cried.

"No, you don't. I raised you to be a strong, independent woman. You can miss me, and want me back. But you do not need me. Just look what you did here today all by yourself. You didn't need me. Besides, it looks as if you have a strong group of friends behind you. You're going to be just fine, sweetheart," Suki gave her daughter a kiss on the head before standing up and stepping back.

"Wait, you're leaving," Katara asked, even more saddened at the thought.

"I have to. Consider this your proper closure since you weren't with me when I passed."

"Mom," Katara spoke once more. "Tell dad I said hello."

"I'll be sure to do that," Suki smiled. "I love you to the moon!" Suki shouted before slowly starting to fade away.

"And I love you all the way back," Katara whispered as she watched her mother completely disappear and finally move on.

Katara continued sitting on her knees at her spot on the ground. Her gaze stared straight ahead while she tried to process everything. She didn't answer the voices that called to her. She didn't even snap out of it when Kagome got on her knees as well and wrapped her arms around her cousin.

This was it. She had finally closed the last chapter of her old life. Katara glanced over at her cousin before leaning her head against the younger girl's. She felt oddly content like a weight was finally lifted off of her shoulders. This was the beginning chapter of her new life, and she couldn't wait to get it started.

[shawtygonemad]

My Dog Eared Hero: Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

         “You guys are leaving already,” Shippo tearfully asked.

           “Just for a little while,” Kagome reassured him.

           “I have some loose ends that need to be tied up before coming back,” Katara informed her new friends.

           Loose ends as in putting her mother to rest. They never had a chance to celebrate her life before Katara fell into the feudal era.

           “We’ll be back as soon as we’re finished,” InuYasha roughly said while leading the girls to the edge of the well. 

           Katara looked down the well and gulped. She was slightly afraid of the journey back. Katara looked up in surprise when someone grabbed her hand. It was Kagome. Kagome gave her older cousin a reassuring smile. Soon the trio took the leap off the edge of the well and down into the darkness. 

           Katara held her breath as they kept falling in blackness. It wasn’t as scary this time since she had other people with her. She just hated the free falling sensation that made her heart slip into her throat. Before she had time to really panic they were surrounded by blue orbs as they entered the present day once more. They climbed up the latter that was built into the stone. It must have been installed as soon as Kagome started to travel back and forth. 

           As soon as they all walked through the front door of the house they were faced with Kagome’s mom. She looked shocked and relieved to see us.

           “Kagome, welcome home.” As soon as she saw Katara, slightly behind the pair, she let out a gasp and embraced her niece. “Katara! I’m so glad you’re okay!”

Auntie leaned back and placed a hand on each of Katara’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry we never told you any of this, honey. I would have never wanted you to find out like that.”

“It’s alright, auntie,” Katara gave her aunt a soft smile as she placed her own hands over the one’s on her cheeks. “Everything has been explained to me. We’re all good.”

“Who’s that at the door,” an older man’s voice came from the living room. 

“It’s your oldest granddaughter,” Katara yelled back. “You better get in here old man. I have a few words I’d like to have with you.”

Soon a short, grayed, old man slowly came walking through the door. 

“Well if it isn’t my wayward granddaughter who decided to go on a vacation after her mother died and refused to return my daughter home to me,” Grandpa shot.

“Father!” Auntie exclaimed in surprise. InuYasha and Kagome just stood back in shock. They had never seen the elder Higurashi act so coldly. Katara wasn’t fazed. 

“And if it isn’t the old geezer who traumatized me as a child with horror stories about demons, only to allow one into his home like he was your own family,” Katara retorted. 

“Someone needed to toughen you up! All your mother did was enable you,” Grandfather frowned.

“Don’t make me put you in a nursing home old man!”

“I will write you out of my will, little girl!”

The room was silent as the two stared each other down. It wasn’t until Katara cracked a smile that gramps started to laugh. Truth be told the pair had been in constant contact since Suki’s diagnosis. Even after her death they remained close. Gramps didn’t like the idea of Katara taking a road trip after the death of his daughter rather than returning home. However, after a long heart to heart he realized that it helped with Katara’s grieving process. As for their banter, they had always been like this. Just not quite as harsh when Suki was around or they would both get a beating. 

“Get over here, you brat,” he grinned as he opened his arms for a hug.

Katara pushed past everyone to give her grandfather a big hug.

“Welcome home, sweetheart.”

Katara squeezed her grandfather before giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, gramps.”

Gramps peered over his granddaughter’s shoulder to eye his eldest daughter

before speaking quietly to Katara.

           “You brought the good stuff we’ve talked about, right,” he asked with a sly grin.

           American tobacco and alcohol is what he was referring to. ‘Suki would have wanted us to have an enjoyable time.’ Gramps had told her over the phone when he asked her to bring those items for the celebration of life. 

           “What good stuff? Father, what are you two planning,” auntie asked as she crossed her arms.

           “Nothing,” they both grinned at the woman before quickly heading upstairs. 

           “We have people arriving in an hour, so I want you all to be ready and presentable by then,” Auntie informed them.

           Everyone went off to get ready while InuYasha stayed behind in the kitchen to get auntie a hand with organizing the food and drinks. Katara soon came down the stairs in a black knee length dress that had black lace sleeves. She was also wearing small black heels. Her hair was down in loose curls. She looked at InuYasha once she was at the bottom of the stares.

           “What,” he asked once he noticed her gaze.

           “You’re not going to change?” She asked as she gestured to his red kimono.

           “Uh… no,” he stated. 

           “You’re going to wear that to my mother’s funeral,” she practically growled.

           Auntie noticed the sudden change in mood and practically swept InuYasha away.

           “Don’t worry, dear! I’ll be sure he gets changed as well,” she reassured her moody niece as she led InuYasha away to change.

           Katara ran her hands through her hair and let out a deep sigh. This was going to be a long service. She decided to sneak outside for some tobacco use before the guests arrived. She walked over towards the steps of the shrine and lit up a cigarette. Katara took a long drag before exhaling the smoke. Smoking was not a regular thing for her. It only happened when she was high strung. The only other time she did this was when her mother was first diagnosed. 

“Mind sharing one with this old geezer,” her grandfather asked behind her.

Katara turned around with a sad smile and offered him one. He quickly lit up, and inhaled along with Katara. 

“You know she would hate this,” Katara said softly, gesturing to their cigarettes.

Grandpa just chuckled. “She would be furious.” He took as pause as he began to reminisce. “The first time your mother brought your father here to visit I had asked him the same thing I asked of you. After dinner we went out for a smoke and Suki caught us behind the well house like a couple of teenagers! She even told your grandmother on me!” He let out a loud laugh. “We were both in the dog house that night.”  

“I can about imagine,” Katara laughed as well.

“Are you two smoking?!” The voice of her younger cousin shouted behind them. 

The two quickly turned around while hiding their cigarettes behind their backs. Kagome strode over to them wearing a black pencil dress and flats. Katara’s eyes almost fell out of her head when she saw InuYasha beside Kagome. He was wearing a black suit and tie. His ears were also hidden by a black bandana. He looked incredibly handsome. Which shocked Katara and made her feel a little uneasy at the thought.

“Well don’t you two clean up nicely,” gramps grinned trying to avoid the subject.

“Is that your dad’s suit,” Katara also added.

“Don’t try to hide it. It reeks of tobacco over here,” InuYasha said with his nose scrunched up. 

“You’re a nurse. You should know that’s bad for you,” Kagome added.

Katara frowned and brought the cigarette to the front. She took another long drag before blowing the smoke upwards.

“Well no one asked for either of your judgments. I cope with shit my own way!” Katara growled as she threw the bud on the ground and put it out with her heel. She then pushed passed the two and stormed off towards the family’s shrine. Guests would arrive at any moment. 

The service went by fast, but Katara spaced out during most of it. She just kept thinking back to the last few memories she shared with her mother. Suki was Katara’s best friend and vice versa. However, it appeared that Suki also had an impact on many others. The shrine was packed full of people. Some of her childhood friends from Japan, distant relatives, but a lot of people from the states. Most of her coworkers from the hospital made the trip here to celebrate Suki. People she went to university with also attended along with some professors that had her in school. Her mother was a much loved woman. 

Before everyone left to go into the house for the after dinner, everyone insisted on giving their condolences to Katara. She felt slightly relieved to be mostly speaking English with these guests. Once the family finished greeting the long line Katara noticed one person was left standing at the back of the shrine. It was an older woman who clearly has had a lot of work done to herself to try and look young. She had long fiery locks that matched her personality perfectly. Katara’s stomach dropped as soon as the woman started to approach her. 

“Grandma,” Katara spoke slowly, in English. “What are you doing here,” she asked.

“Oh you know,” the woman said as she took a few steps and looked around the shrine. “I was in the neighborhood for business and thought I would pop in. I wanted to pay my respects to my granddaughter,” she smiled at Katara.

“Oh? So I’m your granddaughter now and not just some bastard child?” Katara spit out bitterly.

“I had been thinking long and hard about it, and I know my son would have wanted me to be in his daughter’s life,” the woman seemed unfazed by her granddaughter’s anger.

“Well you’re 21 years late! You can’t pick and choose when to be a grandmother! Besides you disowned my father when he told you about the pregnancy. Mom even said you kicked her out of his funeral,” Katara practically screamed.

“Now, now, you don’t need to get so worked up. And is that what she really told you what happened? I swear, that girl was full of stories. She had to be escorted out, because she was making a scene.”

“Well excuse her for being 8 months pregnant and emotional! She was attending the FUNERAL of the love of her life and the father of her unborn child. Of course she’s going to fucking sob!”

“You are not welcome here,” Gramps finally butted in, and in perfect English. “You are nothing but an evil woman who has brought sorrow to my family.”

“I don’t believe I was talking to you,” she snapped at grandfather.

Suddenly an explosion of arguments happened between Katara’s grandfather and grandmother. Even her auntie go in on the action. Katara started to breathe heavily as angry, sorrow, and anxiety began to build up on her. Kagome placed a comforting hand on her back while InuYasha just stood back and awkwardly watched, not knowing a lick of English.

“Stop it,” Katara whispered.

“What was that,” Kagome leaned in to hear to cousin.

“Stop it, stop it, stop it, damnit!” Katara screamed. The room fell silent and stared at the girl.

“This is my mother’s funeral for Christ sake!” Katara sobbed. “Can’t we just celebrate her in peace, is that too much to ask?!”

Katara then bolted from the shrine with tears quickly rolling down her face. She needed air and to be alone. She ran to the place that seemed to always be drawing her in: the sacred tree. She hid behind it and out of sight from the world. Her knees gave away and forced her to sink down to the ground. Katara wrapped her arms around her knees and silently cried there for what seemed like hours. After a while, soft footsteps approached her.

“Katara,” a male’s voice spoke.

Katara was surprised when she looked up to see InuYasha standing before her.

“Are you okay,” he quietly asked.

“Yeah,” she said hoarsely. 

“Do you... mind if I sit?” He asked while gesturing to the place beside her.

Katara just nodded. InuYasha quickly took a seat beside her. They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the other’s presence. 

“I’m sorry about your mother,” InuYasha started awkwardly. Katara stayed silent. “She had a lot of people here who seemed to care about her.” Another beat. “My mother passed away when I was really young.”

“I bet you had your father though,” she said quietly, full of bitterness.

“I never knew my father. He died minutes before I was born,” he informed the girl.

Katara in took a sharp breath at this news. “I’m so sorry.” She didn’t mean to be so mean to him. “I never knew my father either. He also died a month before I was born.”

“It seems like we have a lot in common.”

“I just,” Katara started to get choked up again. “I miss her so much! I don’t know what I’m going to do without her.”

Katara began to cry again. This made InuYasha extremely uncomfortable. He hated to see women cry. Sango, Kagome, his own mother. But for some reason he especially hated to see this woman, Katara, cry. He was unsure of how to comfort her, so he did what he would with Kagome. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her close. Katara noticed this and took advantage of the physical touch she didn’t know she needed so much. She wrapped both arms around his waist and cried heavily into his chest. InuYasha just sat there quietly while holding this broken girl. 

[shawtygonemad]

My Dog Eared Hero: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Healing Wounds

A sharp pain in her back woke Katara from her dreamless sleep. Her eyes slowly opened to a darkened room. It looked like a small hut. She was currently laying on a bamboo mat next to a fire pit that was in the middle of the room. She was alone which both eased and slightly frightened her. What happened and why was she in pain? Better question, where was she? Another sharp pain stabbed through her back as she took a deep breath. Everything came back to her just then. The well, her falling, that half demon chasing her, and almost getting eaten by a giant troll! Her adrenaline shot through her once again and her fight or flight instincts were telling her to flee.

She sat up completely and ignored the pain she felt. Katara had to find Kagome and get them out of this place! It looked like Japan, but not the one she knew and loved. The red haired woman slightly pushed the bamboo shade-like door to the side as she peered out. It looked like she was in some kind of village. There was no sign of that demon or Kagome anywhere. It better not have done something to her!

Katara figured the coast was clear and exited the hut. She stumbled out into the middle of the crowded village. The people walking past her just gave her odd looks, but never said anything. Katara cautiously began to walk around looking for her cousin. This place was so weird and ancient looking. Everyone lived in huts that had stones on the roof to hold it down. How odd. It looks like something they would do back in the feudal era. She was drug out of her thoughts by something tugging on the bottom of her black shirt. Katara looked down to see a child maybe 6 years old. She also noticed 3 more a short distance away observing the situation.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” the little girl said.

Katara crouched down to her level.

“Yeah honey, how can I help you,” she asked kindly, having the nurse in her come out.

“We wanted to know why you were dressed so funny,” the little girl asked quietly.

Katara looked down at herself and noticed that she was still in her favorite jeans. Although they were now dirty and ripped. She was also still wearing her combat boots. Katara didn’t see how she was dressed strangely until she noticed that everyone in the village was wearing kimonos. How the heck should she even reply?

“Oh! Well… that’s because I’m not from here. I’m from a different country that wears clothes differently from you.” Well that wasn’t necessarily a lie.

“That makes sense! Where are you from?” The little girl asked, intrigued.

“Very far away,” Katara replied.

“You must be homesick. I remember when mommy and daddy took me on a trip to visit the village over for 2 whole days. I got very sad and my heart got the tummy aches. That’s when they told me I was just homesick,” the little girl babbled on.

“C’mon Haru! Let’s go play,” the little boy from the distance whined.

“I gotta go now! Bye nice lady!” The little girl waved before rejoining her friends.

Katara stood back up and folded her arms while watching the children run off with a smile.    

“You’ve always been really good with kids,” a familiar voice sounded from behind Katara, making her jump.

She spun around to come face to face with her little cousin. Relief flooded her. Katara reached out and pulled Kagome into a hug.

“Kagome, I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that to you,” Kagome softly chuckled.

“I’m fine, but we need to get out of here and quick,” Katara hurriedly said while grabbing her wrist. Kagome pulled her back.

“No, Katara, wait. Just… let me explain everything to you. Let’s go somewhere and talk,” Kagome said, before guiding her cousin away from the village.

The cousins sat down on a small hill that overlooked the watery rice fields. Kagome then began to explain everything to her cousin. How she first fell down the well, breaking InuYasha’s spell to the sacred tree. She told her about how she was the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo, and that the sacred jewel was ripped from her body. Kagome ended up shattering the jewel and now her and her friends have to travel around the country to collect the broken shards. They’re racing against time, because everyone and their mother was after these shards. Including this half demon named Naraku that seemed to have pissed everyone off in this country. Also, they were in the feudal era??

Katara’s head began to spin as she tried to wrap her mind around all of this information. Kagome noticed this and stayed quiet while letting Katara process everything.

“Wait, so you’re the girl from grandpa’s story,” Katara suddenly realized.

“Uh, what are you talking about,” Kagome asked.

“You were really little, but grandpa told us about a story of how a demon was pinned to our sacred tree for 50 years. It was only until a priestess came by and broke the spell. Kagome, that was you!”

Kagome let out a gasp. “You’re right! I do remember him telling us that story!”

“So Inuyasha is the reason for the scar on the sacred tree back home,” Katara frowned.

“Kat, he’s not as bad as you think! Deep down he’s a really nice guy,” Kagome reassured her cousin.

“Yeah yeah, you keep telling me this. From what you’ve told me, yes, he seems like a nice guy, but I still have my hesitations. I mean, he’s a living, breathing demon.”

“Half demon,” Kagome corrected.

“A demon is a demon,” Katara said sternly. “And you know Gramps would agree with me.”

“Actually…” Kagome began.

Katara narrowed her eyes at the brunette. “What.”

“Grandpa has actually met InuYasha before,” she began slowly. “He doesn’t mind that he’s part demon that much, and really enjoys his presence when he comes to visit.”

“Excuse me,” Katara practically growled. “That crazy old man drills into us about how demons, and evil spirits are bad. Don’t trust them, and try to vanquish them if possible is what he would always say! I don’t know about you, but he would go into graphic details with his stories that gave me nightmares. Hell, I still have them today on occasion. So now you’re telling me that he has suddenly become okay with the idea with demons. He’s all buddy buddy with one now?”

“Kat, calm down,” Kagome said softly.

“No, I’m pissed! My number one fear my whole life has been of demons, and now they aren’t so bad? What else have I been lied to about?”

Katara has no idea why she was getting so mad over the fact. Maybe because gramps practically traumatized her as a kid? Everything was just so overwhelming to her and it pissed her off like none other. Rather than caused more damage, Katara just took a deep breath, turned away from Kagome and began to walk off.

“Katara, where are you going,” Kagome called after her.

“This way,” Katara said through gritted teeth.

“Why,” Kagome asked again.

“Gotta.” Was all Katara said before disappearing back into the village.

Katara got more frustrated the further she walked. Soon she was on the outskirts of the village again. Just the opposite side from where her and Kagome were sitting. She had all of these emotions that she just needed to blow off. Without thinking she ran to the nearest tree and jumped up to catch the branch on the south side of it. She pulled her body weight up and began to slowly climb the tree. A voice pulled her out of her concentration.

“Find your own tree to sit in,” a male voice said.

This startled her enough to let out a gasp and loosen her grip on the branch. She slipped from the tree and landed on the ground. Her breath was taken away as a severe pain shot through her back. To cope with the pain she just scrunched her eyes shut, created a tight fist and slammed it against the ground in frustration.

“That wound will never heal if you keep re-injuring it,” the man grumbled.

Katara peaked her eyes open to see InuYasha peering down at her from the tree branch on the north side. She said nothing as she just laid there, trying to catch her breath.

“You just gonna lay there all day,” he asked.

“Yup,” she replied breathlessly.

“Feh, whatever,” he scoffed while folding his arms once more and looked back off into the distance.

After a few minutes of silence, InuYasha broke it once more.

“Aren’t you going to run off screaming again? I AM a half demon after all,” he said bitterly.

All of her previous anger drained from her body. He almost sounded self-loathing when he said that. It brought her back to what everything Kagome had told her. While trying to convince Katara not to hate InuYasha, Kagome briefly touched on his lonely childhood. Everyone in his previous village hated him and his mother all because he was a half demon. Most of them were disgusted and afraid of him. Katara’s reactions earlier probably forced him to relieve those dark memories.

Katara looked at the man in the tree as she sat up. “No actually. I was going to come looking for you eventually. I just wanted to say thank you for saving me this morning. Without you I would be dead.”

“What made you have the sudden change of heart,” he said with a frown.

“Kagome, actually. She told me everything, and I guess it all makes sense. Besides, I can’t be too angry at the man who has saved my baby cousin multiple times.”

InuYasha stayed silent, so Katara continued. “My mother taught me to have an open mind, and open heart about everything and anyone. She would have been really disappointed in how I treated you earlier, so for that I’m sorry.”

It was obvious InuYasha was uncomfortable with this situation. He’s never had anyone apologize to him before for discriminating against him. He appreciated her apology, but still didn’t fully trust her. He jumped down from the tree and stood in front of her. He offered his hand to her and helped her up.

“Let’s head back to the village. It’s getting dark, and I can smell that your wound has reopened,” he said quietly before turning his back to Katara and lead the way back to the village.

Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

[shawtygonemad]

My Dog Eared Hero: Chapter 2

Back for another chapter of the fanfiction no one asked for! Enjoy chapter 2 of the weird story. 

Rated M for mature language and cringe.

***

The concerned shouts from her loved ones died down as she kept falling, and falling and falling. Katara hadn’t hit the bottom of the well yet which concerned her. It was just darkness. Darkness - it reminded her of the Christmas she spent in Japan with her family when she was ten. Gramps had gathered his two granddaughters, Katara, 10, and Kagome, 5, to teach them some lessons on evil beings. Specifically demons. 

“For thousands of years before our time darkness fell across the land as demons roamed the Earth,” Grandpa explained.

“Demons? Don’t you mean dinosaurs?” Katara asked.

“Dinos! Dinos!” Little Kagome chimed in.

“No! These demons are far worse than dinosaurs. They’d hunt down every living human they could find and destroy them!”

“I don’t like this story,” little Kagome snuggled into her older cousin’s side, seeking protection.

Auntie noticed her daughter’s discomfort and picked her up.

“Father, I don’t think Kagome’s old enough to be hearing these stories,” Auntie reminded her father.

“Nonsense!” Gramps exclaimed. “It’s best to teach them young.”

Auntie looked down at Katara and gave her a soft smile. “Let me know if his stories are too much for you.”

“Too much for her?! She’s a Higurashi! Our family has been battling demons for generations! Legend has it that a demon was pinned to our sacred tree for fifty years, before a priestess released it,” Gramps explained to his daughter, who by now has walked off to help her sister in the kitchen.

“Did that really happen grandpa,” Katara questioned the elder.

“Of course it did - along with many other things. Demons are horrible creatures that live in the night, Katara. They must be vanquished. If you ever run into a demon, your best place to go would be some form of sacred ground. Demons are unable to walk upon sacred ground.”

“Really? Where can I find sacred ground,” Katara asked, curiously.

“My dear, we are currently sitting on it! The entirety of the Higurashi shrine is sacred ground. However, the safest places to go would be the well house or the family shrines near the sacred tree.”

Well gramps was wrong about that one! If the shrine was really sacred then that demon wouldn’t have been able to step foot into it. 

Katara was taken out of her memory as blue orbs of light engulfed her. The next thing she knew she was sitting on the ground at the bottom of the well. She looked up expecting to see the ceiling of the well house or even the faces of her family members. Instead, she saw a blue sky with a few white clouds passing over. Something wasn’t adding up.

“Hello,” Katara called. “Is anyone up there?” 

She waited a moment for a response, but received none. Katara saw a sturdy looking vine and began to climb up it. Once she was near the top something overshadowed her from the top of the well and startled her. This caused Katara to lose her grip and begin to fall. She would have fallen all the way back down if someone hadn’t grabbed her wrist. Katara looked up to see who her hero was. It was a young woman with brown hair tied loosely in the back. She was wearing a pink and green kimono and was stronger than she looked. The woman helped haul Katara up and over the wells edge. 

“Thank you,” Katara said as she flopped onto the grass in relief.

“You’re welcome,” the woman smiled at Katara. “Might I ask, why were you at the bottom of the well?”

“I fell,” Katara replied plainly.

“You fell? But I’ve been waiting near here for most of the morning, and I didn’t see anyone fall in,” she explained confused.

“Well I-” Katara was at a loss for words as she finally took in her surroundings. 

They were in the middle of a clearing that was surrounded by a forest. This was definitely NOT Katara’s family shrine. How the heck did she get here? Where was ‘here’ anyway?

“I was with my family, and I stepped back too far and fell down the well. I was surrounded by some weird blue lights and somehow ended up here,” Katara tried to explain.

The woman just nodded along to Katara’s story, but was heavily analyzing her.

“You’re not from here are you,” she asked plainly.

“What gave it away,” Katara asked sheepishly.

“Apart from your story, your clothing style looks similar to a friend of mine. However the dead give away was your voice,” she explained.

“My voice?” Katara asked confused. “What’s wrong with my voice?”

“Nothing! You just sound differently to what I’m used to. Are you from Japan?”

“My family is, but I was born and raised in the U.S.A,” Katara said, slightly proud of her homeland.

“The U.S.A.?” The woman sounded it out like it was foreign to her. “What’s that?”

“America..” Katara said and looked at the woman’s blank expression.

“The United States of America? Still nothing?”

“That must be a country very far from Japan,” the woman stated. 

“Yeah. It is pretty far away.”

“Oh.”

Silence fell between them.

“I’m Sango, by the way,” the woman finally introduced herself with a smile. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Sango. I’m Katara. Katara Higurashi.”

“Higurashi? That’s the last name of my friend,” Sango exclaimed.

“Really? What a small world! Who are they?”

A noise started to come from the well. Adrenaline spiked in Katara. What if it was that demon or any demon for that matter.

“We need to go,” Katara said to Sango as she quickly stood up. Sango also heard the commotion coming from the well and stood up. 

A hand shot up from the inside of the well and gripped the edge. It was followed by a forearm clothed in a red kimono. Soon enough the head of that horrifying half demon popped up. As soon his eyes landed on Katara he let out a snarl.

“There you are!” He growled.

“Run!” Katara yelled to Sango as she began to bolt towards the tree lines.

InuYasha launched himself out of the well and flew through the air. He landed directly in front of Katara by just a few inches. That startled her and caused her to fall backwards on her butt. The half demon loomed over Katara and sneered at her.

“InuYasha, Kagome - welcome back! Oh, and who’s your friend,” Katara could hear a male’s voice from a distance behind her. She didn’t pay much attention to anything but the angry beast in front of her. 

InuYasha reached down and grabbed Katara’s forearm, yanking her up. Katara struggled in his grasp trying to get away.

“Heh! Good luck trying to get away from me. You’re just a pesky little human,” he smirked. 

He was too strong for her to escape. Before she could process what was happening, her body acted out of instinct. Her knee came up hard and nailed him in his manhood. This caused him to let go of her completely. He crouched over in pain. Katara took the opportunity to run into the trees. She ran as fast as she could. 

“Katara,” Kagome shouted, but Katara kept running. 

Her adrenaline was pumping and she wasn’t going to stop for anything. Katara jumped over tree roots, and swerved under branches. Her heart was pounding from both the running and the fear. She honestly had no idea what was going on, but she had never been so terrified in her life. 

Katara lost her footing and skidding down a large dirt ledge causing her to bump into someone. Other rather, something. So scratch out that earlier statement. THIS was the most scared she has been in her life. She tilted her head back so she could take the creature all in. This beast was at least 9 feet tall. It’s body was brown and scaly. It looked like a giant troll, but it's piercing red eyes made Katara realize not to say that observation out loud. 

“Well look what we have here. Looks like I’m having lunch early today!” The deep voice rumbled out of the demon.

“Shit,” Katara said loudly as she rolled out of the way. The demon’s foot landed right where Katara had just been.

“You’re going to look real good between my teeth,” the demon growled as he took another attack at Katara. 

This time she didn’t dodge quick enough and was sent flying into the dirt hill she slid down earlier. Katara groaned as a sharp pain spread through her body. She tried to move but the pain took her breath away. The demon approached her eagerly. So this was it. Katara always thought she’d be taken out in style rather than get eaten by some demon. At least she’ll get to see her mom again. 

“Iron Reaver Soul Stealer,” was shouted from above Katara.

She kept her eyes scrunched shut in pain, and the fact that she didn’t want to see herself be eaten alive. It sounded like a fight was happening, but it seemed to be short lived.

“You know, I’m getting really sick of chasing after you,” a familiar male voice spoke right in front of her. 

Katara opened her eyes to find out her hero was none other than that dog eared demon. He was crouched down right in front of her. His nose scrunched up a bit.

“I smell human blood. It must be yours. Can you sit up,” he asked.

Katara tried to move onto her elbows, but a sharp pain shot through her back. She inhaled sharply before responding.

“I don’t think so.”

“Alright, well this is probably going to hurt then,” he said.

“What do you - fuck!” Katara shouted out in pain as InuYasha picked her up bridal style. 

“Consider it payback for what you did to me earlier,” he said before leaping up to the top of the hill.

This man began to sprint at a high speed back through the forest. The sudden movement and pain began to make Katara a little motion sick. To prevent her from getting sick she just closed her eyes and faced her head towards the demons chest, much to her displeasure. After some time she heard a familiar voice shouted in worry.

“Katara! Oh my God!” It sounded like Kagome. “InuYasha, what happened?”

“She was about to become some demons lunch when I found her! It looks like she got a sharp branch stabbed into her back when she was attacked,” InuYasha’s voice rumbled through his chest and against Katara’s cheek. 

“How bad is it,” the soft voice of Sango asked.

“She’ll live,” InuYasha stated. “She’ll just be sore for a couple of days.”

The voices slowly started to fade away as Katara passed out. 

[shawtygonemad]

My Dog Eared Hero: Chapter 1

Hello all! Please read this cringey fanfiction I started to write when I was 11. I have tried my best to edit it, but I also don’t want to break my 11 year old self’s heart. Please read at your own risk.

Rated M for mature language and cringe. 

***

Katara Higurashi is a twenty year old woman from America. Her mother, Suki Higurashi, was from Japan while her father Jordan Lawther was an American. They met when Suki was an exchange university student. They fell in love quickly their first year of school. A year into their relationship Suki fell pregnant with Katara. The couple was surprised, but thrilled nonetheless. However, tragedy fell eight months into the pregnancy - Jordan passed away suddenly. He was on his way home from work when his car slid on some black ice and rolled into a ditch.

Suki was devastated, but knew Jordan wanted her to have a happy life with their daughter. So Sukie decided to stay in America and raise Katara there. They of course visited her family in Japan as often as they could. Suki and Katara ended up living the life Jordan and Suki planned. She was a doctor and Katara had a great childhood. 

A few months before Katara’s nursing school pinning Suki was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Barely a few months passed and she was gone two weeks after Katara’s twentieth birthday. It tore Katara to pieces. She ended up selling the house and everything in it. Her mother had planned on taking Katara to see the world after her pinning, so Katara decided to fulfill her mother’s wishes. Katara took the money she received when the house sold, and went road tripping around the country for a few months.

It took thousands of miles, 25 states, and a lot of soul searching for her to finally come to the fact that she needed to put her mother to rest. She had her cremated when she first passed, but couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye. Now she finally had to. She was going to take one last journey with her Mom to Japan. She was finally bringing her home to the Higurashi shrine.  

Fourteen hours later she found herself walking up the steps to the shrine of her ancestors. Katara’s grandfather, aunt, and cousins Kagome and Sota lived here. By the time she reached the top she was winded. Katara had her backpack, luggage bag, and her mother’s urn. 

It was quiet and no one was out and about which is weird since it was almost nine in the morning. Straight ahead of Katara was the sacred tree. It used to scare her as a child whenever she would visit. Something about it always made her skin crawl and her chest ache whenever she’d look at it. Even now, her chest felt a dull pain just glancing at it. To the left of her was the actual shrine and to the right of her was a pink house in which her relatives lived. As she approached she noticed her aunt at the kitchen window probably doing dishes. Her aunt glanced up and caught her eye. Within a second her aunt was gone and running out the front door to see her niece.

“Katara,” her aunt cried and she embraced her niece. “My sweet girl, are you doing alright?”

“Yeah, auntie. I’m fine,” Katara replied with a sad smile.

Auntie looked down at the urn in Katara’s arms and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Is that -” she began.

“Yeah, that’s mom.”

“Can I… can I hold her,” Auntie’s voice cracked which broke Katara’s heart.

“Of course,” Katara said as she passed her mother over to her sister. 

“Let’s get her all set up and then we can go inside for some brunch. How does that sound?” Auntie sniffled. 

Katara gave a sad smile, “That sounds great.”

Auntie and Katara took Suki’s urn and placed it in the family shrine. Auntie placed flowers in front of it while Katara laid down some treasured items that Suki loved. She also placed an old picture frame with a photo of her mother and father together.

“At least they’re together again,” Katara said softly.

“C’mon,  let's get you inside and feed you something. You must be exhausted from traveling all day,” Auntie guided Katara into the house.

“I’m alright. I’m used to traveling so it doesn’t bother me much.”

Once they were inside Katara sat at the table while auntie made her a plate of food.

“Where is everyone,” Katara finally asked.

“Well, Sota is at school. Your grandfather went to the marketplace, and Kagome -”

“I’m home!” They hear a young woman’s voice from the front door.

“Kagome, darling! Welcome home! You’re just in time. Katara just got in.”

“Katara? What are you doing here,” She excitedly greeted her older cousin by giving her a hug. “Wow, you seem so… different.”

Katara laughed, “That’s what happens when you’re no longer a sixteen year old.”

“But seriously, what are you doing here? It’s been awhile since you’ve came to visit,” Kagome asked.

“She doesn’t know?” Katara looked over at her aunt, confused.

“She hasn’t been home for me to tell,” Auntie began.

“It’s been six months! What do you mean she hasn’t been home?”

“What’s been six months?” Kagome asked, confused.

“Honey, sit down. I need to tell you something,” Auntie started to tell Kagome.

“I think I’m going to go up to Kagome’s room and unpack my things. I really don’t feel like sitting through another one of these conversations,” Katara said before getting up and heading upstairs.

Katara blew up the air mattress and began to unpack her little tote she bought for her mother’s celebration of life. Holy water, rose petals, heart felt relics, etc. As she began to unpack her clothes the window flew open and a man with long white hair and a red kimono was crouching on the window sill. 

“Kagome, did you really have to run off like that-” he began before stopping once he sees Katara.

“What the fuck,” Katara said loudly. “Who the hell are you?”

“Who the hell am I? Who the hell are you? Where’s Kagome,” He asked before leaping further in the room. 

That’s when Katara could get a better look at him. She saw dog ears attached to the top of his head, his eyes were golden, and his nails were long like claws.

“What are you, some sort of cosplayer,” Katara questioned.

The man held up his clawed hand and smirked at Katara. “Do these look fake to you?”

They most certainly did not. Katara paused a moment to take him in again. Everything looked so real. It was as if he came directly out of one of gramp’s crazy “evil creature” stories. If that was the case, then -

“Oh hell. You’re a… You’re a demon,” Katara concluded.

“Yeah, what gave it away,” the man said sarcastically and rolled his eyes. 

Katara quickly grabbed her bottle of holy water and splashed it on the man. He hissed in pain and took a step back.

“Gah! What the heck is that stuff?!”

“Be gone, demon! I don’t know what you want with my cousin Kagome, but you can’t have her!” Katara said as she splashed him once more. Grandpa would have been proud.

“Stop that! What the hell are you talking about? Ugh, you’re just like that old man,” the demon said. He must be referring to gramps.

If gramps couldn’t kill him then Katara sure couldn’t. She quickly ran out of the bedroom door and slammed it behind her. She ran downstairs to find her aunt and Kagome gone. Oh God, that demon probably killed them! She ran out into the yard and straight for the shrine. Katara was going so fast that she almost ran head on into Kagome and Auntie. 

“Woah, Katara, where are you going in such a hurry,” Kagome asked.

“We need to get somewhere sacred - now! It shouldn’t be able to get us there,” Katara quickly rambled and grabbed Auntie and Kagome’s arms and went into the building closest to them. It just so happened to be the bone eaters well. 

The demon must have seen them go into the building and before following them.

“Kagome what the heck is going on,” it asked her cousin. 

Katara took a step back closer to the well once the demon stepped inside the building with no problem.

“And who is that crazy woman throwing acid water at me!?”

“Acid water? Wait, what’s going on?” Kagome asked, confused.

“That demon pounced into your room and demanded to know where you were! So I of course threw holy water at it. I knew it would only stun him. I ran outside to find you and auntie. So I did what gramps would have done and entered someplace sacred in which no demons should ever be able to enter. I guess that didn’t turn out so well,” Katara explained. 

“Ohh! Katara, this is InuYasha. Yes, he’s a half demon, but he’s a good one. We travel together,” Kagome said. “InuYasha, this is my older cousin Katara. She’s from America. She’s in town due to some… unfortunate circumstances that just happened.”

“What do you mean that you’re traveling around with a demon - excuse me - half demon?”

“It’s a long story -” Kagome began. 

“How is gramps not losing his goddamn mind over this?!” Katara exclaimed.

“He’s still not very happy about it,” auntie lighted touched on the matter.

“Why are you even allowing this to happen. For one, she is only fifteen years old,” Katara accused her aunt.

“Darling, it’s a long story,” Auntie started.

Katara took another step back exasperated. Her calves were practically touching the well. “What is wrong with you people?! If one more person tells me it's a “long story” I might just lose it.”

“And you’re not already,” the demon, InuYasha, sarcastically asked.

“Katara, just calm down-” Kagome started as she approached Katara like a wild animal. 

“No! I will not calm down. You are all crazy for even trusting a de- ah!” Katara was cut off by tripped over the back to the well and losing her balance. She fell backwards and down into the well.

[myanimeaddiction23]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Higurashi Kagome/Kouga, Inuyasha/OC, Miroku/Sango (InuYasha) Characters: Higurashi Kagome, Original Female Character(s), InuYasha (InuYasha), Kouga (InuYasha), Sango (InuYasha), Miroku (InuYasha) Additional Tags: Action/Adventure, Romance, Love, Falling In Love, New Relationship, Mates, Mate bonds, Time Travel, Alternate Universe, Naraku hasn’t been defeated yet Series: Part 1 of Love in the Past Summary:

Kagome brings her new friend Casey to the Feudal Era. Something InuYasha and Kagome’s mate Kouga don’t like. InuYasha refuses to trust Casey. Until he realizes there are reasons why she wanted desperately to leave behind the present and jump head first into the past.

Will update summary as story evolves.

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Finally posted chapter two!!!! Sorry for the delay. I was sick all last week plus working overtime. Will hopefully post chapter three this coming week. Please comment, share, and give kudos if you’d like.