IrisWritus

This will be my working master post focused on the Inuyasha series. I have never used Tumblr for fanfiction, like at all, so forgive any mistakes as I figure out how I want to use it.

For now I will post a snippet and a link to AO3. In short if you like something you read and want the most up to date of the story I would check AO3 as I post there first, and more frequently, but a direct link to chapter updates will likely make it here eventually.

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IrisWritus (AO3 Works Page) Click below the Read More to see work summaries, story links and chapter posts on Tumblr.

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I got Tomodachi Life and my first Miis were the BG3 crew. My Tav character had a dream and it resulted in this gem of the whole crew at the time dancing. (Sorry I can't record my switch properly so its a video from my phone)

Story Summary: Kagome graduated, but her lack of experience has left her stuck working for her training temple for the last four years. She is finally given the opportunity to accept an overlooked job as a field assistant to a researcher stationed in the city. After a questionable start to her relationship with her new employer, she quickly finds out that stepping away from the shelter of the temple has left her vulnerable to a hidden reality that she never knew existed. As she questions everything she believes to be true, she agrees to help her employer reach deeper into a dangerous past that could end with changing everything, or ending them both before they can succeed.

Alternate Universe (AU), Alternate Universe Religion, Fantasy, Romance B-Plot, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Inuyahsa x Kagome, Miroku x Sango

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If you want to read the full thing it is up to date on AO3. I plan to upload the chapter snippets here, but the full story will be on AO3.

IrisWritus (AO3) | Read this story on AO3

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Chapter 9 - Knowledge

Kagome is still trying to recover from the intensity of the nightmare she had. She can't understand why it happened or what any of it means, but she is terrified to close her eyes again. She confides in her new boss in hopes he will have some advice to help her overcome this hurdle.

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Kagome found herself sitting back at the desk in Miroku’s cluttered living room. A brush pen sat beside her lazily waiting for a chance to be useful, but Kagome chose to let herself sit in silence.  She stared at a blank sutra paper not even bothering to pretend to care that she was obviously not doing anything productive. 

She hadn’t managed to get much sleep. She spent longer than she wanted to admit writing down what she encountered during her recall. And she hated how afraid she was to close her eyes again. Even after working through her thoughts in words and going as far as attempting to draw what she remembered, the possibility of slipping back into the chaos kept her on edge. Miroku hadn’t mentioned anything about her episode either. She could only guess that he was holding himself back from commenting to be polite. What did you say to someone who you found in the state she was yesterday? 

It was just a dream.

None of it was real.

There is nothing for you to worry about. 

He seemed to return to business as usual without a hint of reaction outside of making sure she was okay. He came to The Den for breakfast this morning, walked back with her to his house, then he directed her to work on sutras while he lounged on the couch flipping through envelopes. Same as it had been since she started her apprenticeship. 

Kagome had spun through the thought of trying to bring up the situation. She had to prepare herself for the possibility of Miroku's lack of reaction being correct. What if she was just overthinking things? But Miroku wasn't aware of how abnormal the whole situation was. She had dozens of those dreams and there were far too many elements that had never been a factor before. She just had no idea how to say them without sounding like she lost The Mother's sense. 

She couldn't keep it to herself though, or she would never have peace again. She could write Grandmother Keade, who was fully aware of the effects of her dreams. She had meant to reach out to the woman after arriving, but circumstances had pushed that from her mind. It would take time for a response though, and seeing as she could barely get to sleep now, she wasn't sure if she would survive long enough to wait. 

She swallowed her thoughts. If she kept dwelling in them she would never be able to answer the questions burning holes through her senses. 

“Miroku?” Kagome finally let herself speak, knowing she couldn't back down once she started. Miroku sat up on the couch, looking over the backrest so he could see her sitting at the desk. She shifted in the chair to face him, but it was easier to keep her eyes trained at her hands folded in her lap. “Can I ask you about-” she hesitated, picking her words. “Well maybe I should explain first.”

“Is it about your night terror?" 

“What?” Kagome looked up, taken aback that he was anticipating the conversation.

“I’m just guessing–given yesterday–that you might want to explain. I wasn’t going to pressure you though. Things like that can be personal.”

Kagome pulled her eyes away from Miroku and returned to staring at her hands like they would guide her on what to say.

“It was…more than a night terror,” she began, cutting a glance to see if he had already decided she wasn’t worth listening to. He twisted his lip into a contemplative pout but didn’t interrupt, he just took a deep breath and relaxed himself into the cushion to settle in for her to elaborate. 

Story Summary: Kagome graduated, but her lack of experience has left her stuck working for her training temple for the last four years. She is finally given the opportunity to accept an overlooked job as a field assistant to a researcher stationed in the city. After a questionable start to her relationship with her new employer, she quickly finds out that stepping away from the shelter of the temple has left her vulnerable to a hidden reality that she never knew existed. As she questions everything she believes to be true, she agrees to help her employer reach deeper into a dangerous past that could end with changing everything, or ending them both before they can succeed.

Alternate Universe (AU), Alternate Universe Religion, Fantasy, Romance B-Plot, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Inuyahsa x Kagome, Miroku x Sango

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If you want to read the full thing it is up to date on AO3. I plan to upload the chapter snippets here, but the full story will be on AO3.

IrisWritus (AO3) | Read this story on AO3

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Chapter 8 - Nightmare

Kagome finally has a chance to explore some of the city on her own. She sees first hand why Miroku might choose to keep a low profile, when her uniform garners a reaction she didn't expect. She retreats back to the comfort of what she knows and tries to find answers in words, but they quickly spiral into a nightmare.

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Walking around the city alone was a different experience for Kagome. She stuck to her word and hadn’t gone far from Miroku’s townhome or The Den, but every time she thought she understood where she was headed, she ended up being turned around. She had made a mental note of some of the landmarks, which was the easiest way for her to remember where she was, but she still managed to get her orientation wrong. The area was so busy she got swept into the foot traffic and struggled trying to wrestle herself out. It would take some practice to be able to jump in and out of the crowds without Miroku leading the charge to create a path for her. After finally managing to walk around a general loop of the surrounding city blocks a few times she felt confident enough to let her attention drift. 

Miroku’s home was on the edge of a divide between a predominantly residential area and some commercial spaces. Tsunagari was almost like an odd pyramid. Smaller shorter buildings on the outer layer that grew to the sky near the center. Around this area, the buildings were about two stories and mostly homes that started to bleed into storefronts. A sporadic store appeared on the corner, then a few in a row and then an entire block. There looked to be apartments and living spaces above most of the business. They were similar to the multi-family, tightly packed homes she had seen when she first arrived, but they had less living space to make up for the stores on the bottom. 

The composition of the area, when considered together, contained everything someone would need within a relatively short distance. Like its own little town nestled inside the much larger city. It was probably the only way for a place as large as Tusnagari to function and it was helping her understand some of the repetition she had seen when she arrived. Though it was still confusing to see why a coffee shop needed to be on every corner. 

She slowed as she passed a group of women crowded around a shop. She didn’t hear any music or cheers, so it probably wasn’t a street performer this time. Her curiosity got the better of her so she wiggled though the moving crowd to join the line of stagnant observers. She inched her way over and smiled as a large window came into view. Behind it, mannequins adorn various outfits in the vibrant colors common in the city. They were dressed for fall with shawls, hats and fur pieces draped over the shoulders to complement the clothing beneath. 

Window shopping, another thing capable of stopping the busy masses in their tracks.

Kagome stared at the clothing in question. She wondered what the pencil skirt would look like over her slimmer thighs. She had seen shapely women pull off the look well. The garment squeezed in at the knees and hugged the hips to tighten around the waist. It normally held in a blouse that was tucked into the skirt to show off the chest. She didn’t think she would be able to pull it off, but that created another question for her. 

Why only display one style? 

There had to be some women who chose a different look, it seemed odd to only show one in the display. At the thought Kagome found herself glancing at the women also looking in the window alongside her. None appeared to be wearing the style already. But the whole point was marketing to get them inside, so it made sense. She knew that bigger stores would use flyers and slogans to entice new patrons, but what percentage of people did that actually work on? 

Would these women choose to go inside? 

Kagome was so focused she barely noticed how long she was staring at the scene, though she wasn’t really seeing it. It was more like picking it apart to look at each piece individually. 

The large window prominent on the busy sidewalk, the elegantly posed mannequins and the store choosing one of the brightest colors it had to put on display. A choreographed routine and the women standing to look inside were the dancers. Eventually one of the women in question risked turning her head and caught Kagome’s eye. Their gazes locked and she looked quickly down at Kagome’s uniform then darted her eyes away.

“Sorry Sister,” she gave a small bow. “Have I done something ill advised?”

Story Summary: Kagome graduated, but her lack of experience has left her stuck working for her training temple for the last four years. She is finally given the opportunity to accept an overlooked job as a field assistant to a researcher stationed in the city. After a questionable start to her relationship with her new employer, she quickly finds out that stepping away from the shelter of the temple has left her vulnerable to a hidden reality that she never knew existed. As she questions everything she believes to be true, she agrees to help her employer reach deeper into a dangerous past that could end with changing everything, or ending them both before they can succeed.

Alternate Universe (AU), Alternate Universe Religion, Fantasy, Romance B-Plot, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Inuyahsa x Kagome, Miroku x Sango

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If you want to read the full thing it is up to date on AO3. I plan to upload the chapter snippets here, but the full story will be on AO3.

IrisWritus (AO3) | Read this story on AO3

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Chapter 7 - Investigation

Miroku now having a new apprentice has to find out how to juggle keeping her busy while he still handles his normal activities. With a recent threat still causing him issues he consults with who he can to dig into his next move for his investigation.

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They were screaming at each other. Their voices boomed and echoed across the house like a war cry shouted before a battle. Their words were laced with venom. Toxic and deadly, each insult drained their target with sharp pierces to the heart. Tears stained both their cheeks, and each drop carried pain across their skin. 

Reika stared down her father, willing her eyes to shatter the unbreakable resolve he used to tear down her emotions so thoroughly. He saw no value in her or who she had become. A girl with dreams of being larger than life, who had become a woman chasing an idea that would likely never be. He said he would never respect her. 

And she hated him for it. 

Kagome felt her stomach twist as she remembered the pages she read. She had been flipping through the journal she found when she had the chance and while most of the initial entries were mundane, ones like the argument she thought of now weren’t shocking to find as the dates on the pages moved on. She had planned to skip over details like that, to keep some level of respect, but she found herself enthralled by the emotional weight of the feelings Reika carried. 

If someone were to approach her with a problem like this, seeking guidance and counsel, what would she say?

Of course every child deserved love, especially from their parents. Reika didn’t deserve to be told she was nothing, even in anger. But the temple’s teaching would favor the father. They would urge Reika to be realistic and make something of herself. Tell her that it was okay to dream, but if there is nothing to show from it, you should change your path. Being a boon to society as a whole is a better outcome, than chasing a reality that would never come to pass. 

Kagome wondered if she could do that. Pick a side and break someone's heart by dashing a person’s dreams or encouraging a child to sever the connection with their parent. Was there a valid in-between? A way to solve the issue where everyone could be happy? It was hard to tell, but after only a small glimpse under the cover of someone's life, Kagome had more questions than she could think to answer. She pressed her hand to her mouth and fought back a yawn.

Story Summary: Kagome graduated, but her lack of experience has left her stuck working for her training temple for the last four years. She is finally given the opportunity to accept an overlooked job as a field assistant to a researcher stationed in the city. After a questionable start to her relationship with her new employer, she quickly finds out that stepping away from the shelter of the temple has left her vulnerable to a hidden reality that she never knew existed. As she questions everything she believes to be true, she agrees to help her employer reach deeper into a dangerous past that could end with changing everything, or ending them both before they can succeed.

Alternate Universe (AU), Alternate Universe Religion, Fantasy, Romance B-Plot, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Inuyahsa x Kagome, Miroku x Sango

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If you want to read the full thing it is up to date on AO3. I plan to upload the chapter snippets here, but the full story will be on AO3.

IrisWritus (AO3) | Read this story on AO3

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Chapter 6 - Impressions

Miroku looks to his friends to help him get his new assistant established with a place to stay. Kagome is introduced to her new dwellings and just as soon as she settles in, she finds herself struggling to understand how she can adapt to her new surroundings.

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Arriving at The Den was surprisingly familiar for Kagome. It was a near copy of yesterday when Miroku brought her there. The early hour meant that there were only a few patrons scattered sparsely though the dining room and the whole place still smelled like breakfast food. Kouga saw them enter and Miroku watched his blue eyes narrow as they approached the counter. He didn’t immediately speak but the way he leaned on the counter and pursed his lip let Miroku guess what he was going to say. 

“What the hell do you want now?” Kouga grumbled. 

“Come now, is that any way to greet a cherished friend?” 

Kouga looked at him blankly, then glanced at Kagome who gave him a timid wave. He cut his eyes back to Miroku. “I’m sorry,” his apology oozed sarcasm. “What are you here to ask me for now?” 

“Not for me, but for my new assistant.” 

Kouga frowned, again cutting his gaze to Kagome. She immediately buckled under his stare and looked to the floor to focus on her shoes. Kouga gave a light chuckle and shook his head. “Care to explain?” 

“Certainly,” Miroku sang the reply enthusiastically and hopped up onto the bar stool like he was preparing to recount an epic. “Since last my friend and I graced your doors, I have had a change of heart. To make a long story short, I have agreed to take her on as my assistant on a temporary trial basis.” 

“How benevolent of you.” 

“It is, isn’t it,” Miroku agreed, ignoring the sarcasm still dripping from Kouga’s words. “And that is where you, one of my dearest and trusted confidants, could be a tremendous boon-” Miroku was silenced when Kouga used his hand to pinch his cheeks. The force made Miroku’s mouth pucker and mimic a fish for a moment.

“Stop with the flowery fuckery and just tell me what you want.” 

“Ywo awre nwo fwun,” Miroku slurred the words out. Kouga let go of his face and Miroku straightened himself on the barstool. “She needs a place to stay.” 

“You’re kidding right?”

“I am not,” Miroku replied flatly. 

“Does this look like a charity house to you?” 

“I-I could pay my stay,” Kagome managed to squeak the comment out over the growing frustration peaking in Kouga’s tone. He looked at her and his wrinkled brow rose in intrigue, but he didn’t voice any questions that might have crossed his mind. “I-I mean…I don’t have money now, b-but I can earn my stay.” 

“Well this guy sure as hell won’t be reliable for anything.” 

“That is unfair,” Miroku protested. “I will absolutely pay for her stay. She is my assistant.” 

Kouga didn’t reply. Instead he shoved his hand under the counter and pulled out a fist full of wadded up papers. He dropped them in a pile that toppled over and slid the individual pages across the wooden surface. Miroku shifted his eyes to them and slowly looked them over. Kagome did the same, and even though they were crumpled she could make out the letters I, O and U written in large scribbles on each of them with some smaller varying subtext on the bottom that was two squished to read. 

Miroku cleared his throat. “Fair point.” 

Story Summary: Kagome graduated, but her lack of experience has left her stuck working for her training temple for the last four years. She is finally given the opportunity to accept an overlooked job as a field assistant to a researcher stationed in the city. After a questionable start to her relationship with her new employer, she quickly finds out that stepping away from the shelter of the temple has left her vulnerable to a hidden reality that she never knew existed. As she questions everything she believes to be true, she agrees to help her employer reach deeper into a dangerous past that could end with changing everything, or ending them both before they can succeed.

Alternate Universe (AU), Alternate Universe Religion, Fantasy, Romance B-Plot, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Inuyahsa x Kagome, Miroku x Sango

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If you want to read the full thing it is up to date on AO3. I plan to upload the chapter snippets here, but the full story will be on AO3.

IrisWritus (AO3) | Read this story on AO3

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Chapter 5 - Trial

A tense situation leads to Miroku finding himself in danger while he has been distracted trying to handle Kagome. When she inadvertently helps and again shows signs of skills she has yet to fully understand. Miroku makes her an offer that can finally open the door for her to pursue her own path in life.

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Kagome woke up with her face pressed into the hardwood of the coffee table and incantations running through her mind. Every blink left the imprint of words and symbols in her vision, like they were burned into her eyelids. She stretched her legs out to bring the feeling back after being balled up in the tiny living room for the second night in a row. 

She rubbed her eyes, sliding her hands down over her cheeks as she sighed. She found her bag wedged under the table and pulled it free. She curled beside the couch on the floor and flipped up the flap. Wiggling her hand under the bundles of folded uniforms she felt for the journal tucked away at the bottom. Her fingers touched the smooth surface and pulled it free revealing the tanned brown leather binding that was held closed with a small strap banded tightly around it. She felt her hand once more into the bag and pulled an ink pen from the side pocket. 

She sat her back against the edge of the couch and balanced the book on her knees, pulling open the strap and turning to the first page, still fresh and unmarked. Keade had given her the journal and suggested that she continue to write down the details of her dreams to compare them to any documentation for differences. Looking at the incantations yesterday had her mind going wild with different spells she had memorized. She might as well get them logged so she could give herself permission to forget them, at least for a while. 

She started drawing the symbols as best she could using the ink pen. It was harder to replicate some of the shapes without the traditional writing brush, but the one Miroku had given her the night before had spilled over and dried onto the table. So she managed to get them to match her mind’s image well enough with the pen. 

As she finished the last incantation, she paused and flipped back through the pages. Most of them were sealing or purification rituals. The one on the wine bottle had been her focus before falling asleep, but the vast amount of clutter piled into the room explained why so many others came to mind. The items Miroku showed her made her curious so she looked around whenever there was a break in filling out the paperwork, and just about every other solid object scattered amongst the books had some form or variation of the spells printed on them. It wasn’t odd to find artifacts with these written on them. The paranoia of possessions and bad omens made nobles eager to have the Temple protect them with these seals. Miroku had a decent collection, though he didn’t seem to take very good care of them. 

Kagome closed the journal, feeling herself getting aggravated again. She rolled off the floor and crept into the hall. The house was quiet and she assumed Miroku had gone to his room to sleep. With him living alone, she had nothing to occupy her mind until he got up. She could wake him, but that would mean resuming the paperwork to send her back to the Temple and she didn’t want to deal with that this early. Instead she glided down the hall to where she remembered the kitchen to be.