InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ An Intentional Solitude ❯ A Service ( Chapter 2 )
The meeting, what does he want from her?
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Adventure | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.22.2006 | Updated On: 08.10.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.8K | Visits: 1.0K | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: Inuyasha's not mine, niether is his brother *tear* *sob* *cough* *choke*....... Ok I'm alright now.
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Kag ome kept a close watch over the girl as she searched the brush for healing herbs. Rin was humming as she pulled up mushrooms and put them in a brown sack Kagome had given her.
“Kagome-sama?” Rin asked cheerfully.
“Yes Rin?” Kagome turned towards the girl.
“Where are your companions?” The question was innocent enough, but Kagome’s breath caught in her throat.
“They…they’re gone.” Kagome turned from the child, to hide her sadness. She fiddled with a branch of sage, turning it over in her hands, and then placed it in the basket slung over her arm.
“Oh.” Rin replied quietly, she understood, “I’m sorry Kagome-sama.” Kagome stood still for a moment but jerked out of her solemn state,
“Well Rin, it’s never good to dwell on things.” Kagome smiled, “Say, would you like to go wading? There’s a small stream nearby and I think we’ve gathered enough here.” Rin smiled at the priestess and nodded. She tied the sack full of mushrooms shut and Kagome gathered her bow and quiver up. As they walked along a small path, Kagome pointed out different healing herbs and flowers. Rin would stop to pick them and set them gently in Kagome’s basket.
“Thank you Rin” Kagome smiled down at the girl as she plucked the various plants from their places. “How old are you now?” Rin looked up again and smiled,
“Twelve years Kagome-sama.” Kagome chuckled to herself ‘So she’ll be nearing her teenage years soon, have fun with that Sesshoumaru.’
“Tell me Rin, do you still travel about with Lord Sesshoumaru?”
“Yes, and Jaken too. Though we haven’t traveled much since the dark hanyou’s demise. Jaken and I usually stay in the confines of Sesshoumaru-sama’s palace while he goes out and patrols the land.”
“Palace?” It had never occurred to Kagome that Sesshoumaru would have a palace. He never seemed like the type who would be confined to just one place. Then again, he was too clean and regal to just live out in the wild.
“Hai, it is a beautiful and grand place. Maybe, Sesshoumaru-sama will take you there someday.” Kagome laughed at this,
“I don’t think the great lord would want a miko in his dwelling dear Rin.” ‘Or would he?’ Kagome thought ‘He took kindly to Rin didn‘t he? Then again, Rin never shot at him or swung a sword in his face’ Kagome frowned, what would he do at their next meeting? She knew she had to give Rin back sometime, which was quite a down-trodden thought, for Kagome had quite enjoyed the company of the child.
“So what are you doing in these lands?” Kagome was actually quite curious to know. He was after all, near a human village in pretty much the middle of nowhere. ‘He could have taken a different route far from the village, why had he ventured so near? Had he come to find someone, or, er, kill someone?’ Kagome gulped as her mind jumped around, ‘Revenge? For all those arrows?’ She shuddered at the idea. She looked down at Rin walking beside her, ‘Behind this girl could be my impending doom.’ Rin’s voice broke through her paranoid thoughts,
“Sesshoumaru-sama said he needed to patrol lands, but I think he’s just bored. I was so happy when I convinced him to let me go!” Rin paused for a moment, “I hope he comes for me soon.”
“Oh, so you don’t enjoy my company?” Kagome teased.
“Oh, I very much do Kagome-sama! It’s just that, I told him I was going to go pick mushrooms and then that demon chased me! I don’t know how far I ran, probably far from the place I told Sesshoumaru-sama I would be!”
“I’m sure he knows where you are, his senses are extraordinarily good aren’t they?”
“They are.” Rin replied and brought her finger to her chin, as if in thought. “Kagome-sama, if he knows where I am, why hasn’t he come for me?” Kagome wondered about that too, why hadn’t the taiyoukai come for his ward?
“Perhaps, he knows your safe with me.” As they approached the stream, the sound of running water could be heard, “The stream’s just ahead Rin.” Kagome smiled as the child darted off ahead of her. Kagome caught up with her and laughed as Rin jumped in the stream, holding her yukata up out of the water.
“Oh Kagome-sama! The water’s perfect, come try it out!” Kagome laughed as she slipped off her sandals.
“Here I come!” Kagome leapt into the shallow water, holding the bottoms of her hakama up.
“Hey! You splashed me!” Rin whined and splashed Kagome a bit.
The two girls’ laughter could be heard echoing throughout the forest. Delicate ears picked up the mirth dancing through the trees. He smiled a bit ’Even in her years the miko still has some of her youthful spirit’ He closed his eyes and kept listening to the splashes and laughter, ’Rin seems to bring that out in others’ He sighed, he needed to go retrieve her before nightfall, and it seemed the priestess was in no hurry to return the girl. He rose from his seated position, ’Perhaps I will play with the miko’s senses for a bit’ He closed his eyes and flared his aura. If she hadn’t felt his presence before, she would have felt it now. He gracefully started pacing towards the sources of glee, ’This could be entertaining’ he thought and continued on his way.
Back at the stream Kagome and Rin’s splash fight was abruptly interrupted as Kagome’s posture straightened swiftly. ’A demon’ her eyes grew wide, for what she had felt was most definitely a very powerful youkai, but as soon as she looked at Rin she calmed down, ‘Sesshoumaru….’ But as soon as she had realized it was most likely him and not some other demon, she froze up again. Her mind wandered back to her previous thoughts ‘Revenge?’
“What is it Kagome-sama?” Rin tugged at Kagome’s sleeve, breaking Kagome free of her thoughts.
“Um, I’m not sure, let me see for a moment.” The aura wasn’t close enough for Kagome to decipher who exactly it was, she needed to wait for the demon to come closer before she could determine if it was indeed the youkai lord. The aura flared again as it’s source approached their location. ’Yep, definitely him’ Kagome sighed, and stepped out of the water, ’I’m gonna die. I’m going to be torn to bits. He’s going to rip me apart, or at least do very painful things to me.’ Kagome shuddered as her memories flashed before her eyes. She remembered him standing tall and arrogant as poison shot from his hands and engulfed her, the fear she felt peering up at his true form, and then later again with tessaiga. He was dangerous, so very dangerous. Even if Kagome’s miko powers had increased over the years, she still wasn’t sure if she had what it took to take him on if he decided she was prey. His prey. Kagome gulped and helped Rin out of the water, the priestess put on her best “Wee! Let’s go find your Lord Sesshoumaru!” face and smiled.
“I believe Sesshoumaru is near, would you like to go find him?” Kagome asked Rin, who was straightening out her yukata. Rin immediately jumped up at the sound of his name.
“Hai hai! Very much so!” Kagome gathered up her things and took hold of the girl’s hand. Every step she took, Kagome’s already diminished confidence withered away. His aura was just so strong, so powerful. It shook Kagome to the bones, yet it was somewhat soothing, being basked in something so intense and dynamic. Kagome decided that the knowledge of what lay behind the aura was what caused her fear, the ambiance itself was rather pleasant. ’Wait, what am I saying? It’s a demon! Hello! Earth to Kagome! Any demonic aura with this much power should be sending me into survival mode, not “Relax on the beach” mode!’ Kagome scolded herself and shook her head. ‘No! I have to be ready for anything, meaning I can’t be all relaxing and stuff!’ Kagome squinted her eyes, and tried to make herself go into attack mode, she sighed,
“No good...” She mumbled, she couldn’t help it, the tingly feeling it left in her was just too nice. ‘Stupid Sesshoumaru and his stupid misleading aura!’
“Did you say something Kagome-sama?” Rin looked up at the priestess,
“Yes, did you say something miko?” Rin jumped for joy, and Kagome nearly had a heart attack at the sound of the taiyoukai’s voice.
“Kami! Do you do that to everyone?!” Kagome clutched her chest and let Rin run to her lord. Sesshoumaru scoffed,
“I figured you would’ve realized my presence, I’ve heard many stories of your powers miko. Also the fact that I’m standing right in front of you, are you unable to use your sense of sight?” Kagome did not need his sardonic remarks right now, she was still catching her breath from the last time he spoke. Had there really been that much fear building inside her, or was it something else? ’Maybe the fact that I was almost caught ENOYING his aura…’ Kagome shook her head, ’No! That’s DEFINATLY not it! It’s the fear, yes! It has to be!’ Kagome frowned, her mind hadn’t put up much of an argument.
“Arrogant….stupid…” Kagome grumbled, but quickly put on a smile and looked up at the demon. “Well now! What a nice surprise! The great demon lord of the west, right here in my neck of the woods.” Kagome tried her best to sound convincing, but it just wasn’t enough.
“Do not mock me wench. This meeting is not ’nice’ nor is it a ‘surprise‘.” Sesshoumaru looked down at the girl standing by his side. “Rin, go. I must speak with the miko.“ Rin smiled and nodded and ran off into the trees singing. Kagome’s stomach clenched again, she had hoped that Sesshoumaru would not harm her in front of Rin, so as long as the child was near, Kagome was safe. However now he was but a few meters away, and she knew he could quickly close that gap, and end her life.
“Gomen, Lord Sesshoumaru, what is it that brings you here?” Kagome tried her best to remain hopeful, maybe, just maybe, he’d let her go unscathed.
“I require a service from you.” The demon lord replied bluntly. ’Ok well that’s good.’ Kagome thought ’At least he’ll let me live long enough to perform this “service”, wait, what?’ Kagome was baffled,
“A service?” Kagome dumbly replied.
“Please don’t tell me your ears have failed you as well. Yes, a service. I have heard that you’ve grown into quite the powerful miko, one who helps both ningen and youkai alike.” Kagome thought for a moment,
“And? What makes you think I’d help you? After all, the attempts at my life haven’t exactly left me in a pleasant state.” Kagome immediately clapped her hands to her mouth ’I didn’t mean to say that!’. Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed.
“Because wench, if you don’t, there will be more attempts to take your life, I guarantee it.” Kagome smiled weakly,
“Um, what I REALLY meant was, uh, how can I be of service to you?” Kagome tried to smile convincingly and all but failed, ’How is it that such a powerful miko can devolve back into a scared little animal when gazed at by those piercing golden eyes.’ Kagome thought wearily to herself.
“I require use of your purification abilities.” He smirked and his gaze softened a bit.
“For what?” Kagome was actually very curious now, this great demon lord, one who scoffs at the very idea of human aid, was asking for her help.
“There is a cursed youkai cave, far off to the west, it is causing minor inconveniences in my lands. It releases hoards of youkai at every full cycle of the moon. I am unable to destroy it, for it erects a barrier every time I go near it. I need you to destroy the barrier and purify whatever it is, that is sending out these youkai.”
“You can’t kill the demons yourself?” Kagome replied. Sesshoumaru quickly bit back,
“Of course I can wench, it is the fact that they seem to be coming interminably, which is why I am seeking your aid. Besides, the slaughter of such low ranking youkai brings me no joy and it’s becoming very tedious dealing with them.” Kagome had about had it with his smug comments.
“And if I refuse?”
“You won’t, you can’t. Unless you don’t value your life and the lives of the people of your village.” Sesshoumaru glanced behind Kagome, in the direction of the village she protected. ’Jerk’
“How long will this take?” Kagome replied impatiently.
“Two weeks to arrive, and two weeks to return.” ’Well I guess riding his back like I used to do with Inuyasha was out of the question.’ Kagome thought sourly, ’Hey wait!’
“A MONTH?! Are you out of your mind!?” She yelled a bit louder than she had intended.
“Yes, a month. Woman, you had best hold your tongue while speaking to me, I will not be spoken to in such a brash tone, especially by a ningen woman.”
“I have a name you know.” Kagome replied, a bit calmer than her last remark.
“I am aware, but I will use it when I choose.” As soon as Kagome started to open her mouth for a rebuttal the lord cut her off, “And I will hear no complaints of it.” Kagome quickly shut her mouth. “Good. Now, we will be leaving sunrise of tomorrow morning. Meet me in this same spot and we will begin our trek.” With that, the demon lord turned and walked in the direction Rin had run off to, leaving Kagome to stand frozen in the middle of the path.
As Kagome lie in her hut, her mind wouldn’t let her rest in the late hours. ’How dare he?! Just barging in here like he’s so great! Stupid demon! Stupid nice aura! Stupid service! Stupid EVERYTHING ARG!!!’ Kagome clenched her teeth as the memories of the events of the day flashed before her eyes over and over. I am aware, but I will use it when I choose. What a JERK!’ Kagome thought bitterly, ’Though, I am a bit surprised that he might actually remember it.’ With that Kagome shot up, her eyes grew wide and she gasped. She brought her hand up to her mouth, the short but hot breaths shot over her fingers.
“He remembers me!”